Our Great Adventure: Day 79 6/12/2014

We met our guide for the day, Lee at the guest house and jumped into a sorngtaaou (small pick up truck with two benches in the back) for the journey north to one of the national parks where we were going trekking for the day. Despite it being high season we were the only people on the tour which was great. Lee lived in one of the minority villages north of Chiang Rai. He's a qualified guide but actually works as a welder, taking guided trips when possible to supplement his income. On the way to the park we learnt about the local area and a little bit about what rural life is like now for the minority hill-tribe communities in Northern Thailand. We passed the government rangers on way in, there to stop illegal logging and poaching (although most animals are now extinct due to the effects of previous poachers). We soon headed off the main track and walked up through the jungle. The area was dense wih bamboo growth which provided a natural canopy from the sun. It was very humid and we both were going at a slow pace. Lee stopped to make us a bamboo walking stick which we were soon grateful of as we started to traverse the hill side. We learnt about rice farming, bamboo (there are something like 50 types of bamboo all used for different things), fruit and herbs. After a short time we reached an Akha minority village. The tribe continues to have it's own language and cultural identity although interaction with the majority culture and Christianity is evident. They have long since replaced their traditonal costumes for westerners clothes and subsidise their income from farming with work in construction and other manual labour. The presence of westerners in the village is clearly a common occurance and no one showed any interest in our visit! From here we headed passed pineapple crops (we were both surprised by how short the plants were), collecting banana leaves and bamboo as we went. After a river crossing (the bridge had been washed away however we could hop across stones) we stopped for lunch. Everything that was used was made by Lee from bamboo - the spit for cooking the vegetables and heating the water, the fire, utensils for cooking, cups, chopsticks, spoons and a plate. It was fascinating to watch Lee at work with his machete. The food was OK, noodles with egg, lettuce and carrot followed by pineapple washed down with fresh tea, the experience great. From here we walked up hill with views south to Chiang Rai and then headed downstream to Iykeaw waterfall. We then dropped down and walked through a tea plantation, according to Lee owned by a Chinese family who were driven out of China c50 years ago, finally reaching the road where our sorngtaaou was due to pick us up. Simon and Lee filled the time playing draughts on an outdoor board with stones and bamboo sticks. It soon became evident that the Thai rules were slightly different and Simon quickly got thrashed - twice! Two local boys then took over and it was great to watch them play at an amazing speed. There's certainly no time for contemplation in Thai rules. The boys then played 'train' which comprised of scissors/stones/paper and chasing each others pieces around the outside of the board with a huge amount of laughter which was lovely to watch and hear. By now our lift had arrived and we set off back to Chiang Rai for a very welcome dip in the pool at our guesthouse. In the evening we went into town for dinner at a local Thai restaurant. Nice food although possibly trying to hard to please westerners. Luckily Lewis Hamilton's brother was otherwise engaged on our way back and we certainly had a more sedate ride although took a very round about way to get back.