8/12/10 (chiang rai)

Chiang Rai

This was our first full day in Chiang Rai and I was happy to find out that the internet at the Orchids Guesthouse has blazing fast speed. It was probably some of the fastest we have had since leaving the states and it couldn't have come at a better time. I spent the morning rebuilding my computer from scratch and was surprised at how fast it went. Most of the software was available for download and by lunch time I had set the wheels in motion to get myself back up to speed.

In the afternoon Annie and I visited the Hilltribe Museum and Education Center. Annie has a soft spot for what she terms the natives and we had visited some Hmong villages while in Chiang Mai. I really didn't know much about the tribes other than photos I had seen of the tribespeople in there colorful clothing. The museum was very interesting and a highlight of our visit in Chiang Rai. We watched a slideshow breaking down the demographics of the five local tribes and then toured the museum. The area the tribespeople inhibit is called the Golden Triangle and it is the region where Burma, Thailand, and Laos meet. The Golden Triangle has a long history of opium production and the tribespeople have been involved with the poppy fields since their arrival over hundred years ago. The museum had a historical timeline of opium over the last several thousand years and it is was fascinating to see the evolution of morphine and codeine that comes from the opium plants. The colonization of the Asian region basically came as a result of controlling the opium trade by the British Empire. It was also interesting to see the US involvement in modern day. I read an article about Western backpackers who visit Laos to hit the opium dens because it is something exotic while many of the young Asians consider it their grandfathers' drug. We also learned more about the tribespeople and their history. They each have their own distinctive form of traditional dress and traditions. The clothing that takes a year to make. Each is very beautiful and based on silver and vibrant colors. The hilltribes are not recognized by the Thai government and the people are not entitled to medical coverage and other social programs. They live a hard life living off the land in the higher elevation subsiding off of farming and are somewhat cut off from the rest of Thai society. The younger generation are more exposed to modern traditions and it is a little sad to see some of the hilltribes traditions fading.

Later that night we returned to the night market for some cheap food and beer and were entertained by the people watching and Asian stage entertainment. Annie also discovered a new Thai dessert that proved to be very popular with the locals. Usually when searching for food we go to the long line and it is a safe bet. The dessert had a consistency of tapioca and looked like colorful marshmallows. It came hot or cold and wasn't too sweet but very refreshing.

Comments

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Wondering if they have everyday clothes? A year to make the clothing is amazing and they must take a great deal of pride in it.