Expect the unexpected, as always!
Our journey started with Air Asia flight from Changi to Chiang Mai, it was about three hours flight. The flight was okay, Thai Air Asia have the better service compare to Indonesia Air Asia, isnt that obvious duh! Even tho the flight was re-scheduled one and half hours late but i can say overall the flight is smooth and all of us landed safe and sound.
Chiang Mai airport is not a fantastic or fabulous airport like Changi, it is okay for an International airport in small city. We took a taxi to the old town, cost us about 120B. Chiang Mai is divided to two main area, the old city which is surrounded by the wall and the new city which was built outside the wall. It took us about 15 minutes reached our accommodation, Mojito Garden, a small wooden buildings but cozy guest house. The room is affordable, I booked it through hostel.com. We stayed for a night at the guest house. The next morning we started early at 7 am and heading to Fang, a small city up to the north of Chiang Mai. We took the mini van for 150B and the journey about three hours. I did not see much what's around as I was sleeping during the journey. We reached Fang about mid day and picked up by Chino, our tour guide.
I was a bit skeptical about the trip and everything but this is just the beginning for an unforgettable trip! Chino is very nice guy and friendly, he gave us a brief about Black Lahu tribe, the village up in the mountain where we were about to visit. Chino is the grand son of the chief of the tribe, when his father passed away, his elder brother became the chief of the tribe. Lahu tribe originated from Yunnan and came to Thailand inhabit the mountain side, they plants coffee and tea for living. After the quick brief and lunch we were heading to the village, the journey was about one hour from Fang through the Orange farm, up the hill, through the jungle and the village suddenly popped up in front of your eyes.
There are two village, the first village we passed by is Red Lahu and then the village behind is Black Lahu, the population of the tribe is about 400 people and Red Lahu mainly is Christian, which surprised me more. The village is depending on the solar to supply the electricity to the houses. We stopped by at the coffee plantation and 'dragon turtle' pond. I had no idea how people made a coffee before, and now I know how. Our next stop was the host house whom accomodate us for two days. I did not explore much the house when we reached as we straight heading to the chief's house up at the hill. The Chief is a very quite man, he is far from my imagination which I imagine he would wear something more traditional with spear and some traditional instrument welcoming us, he is kinda modern and speaks perfect mandarin. The Chief was studying in Taiwan for few years where he picked up the language. He showed us the traditional cooking with bamboo. We cooked rice and some vegetables for dinner with bamboo in a bonfire. The view from the chief's house is amazing! After we had yummy dinner (that was another surprised, I never thought the food is superb) we headed back to the host house and went to watch Lahu traditional dance. The village is dark I barely can see the surrounding, after the dance we rest, preparing for the next day.
The third day in the village, I woke up quite early, had breakfast and this is the first time I saw the host family, there are 9 people in the family but still I dont have chance to talk/speak to them because we have tight schedule. We headed to the mountain, the journey was about one hour to the trekking point, we were guided by local guy called An Nan. He does not speak English and hard to communicate with him, he was disappeared few times and we were lost in the mountain. It took about 4 hours up and back to the point we started, I can't believe we made it. The path was stiff and bit dangerous when we almost reach the top. I lost my lens cap up there :(. We had lunch at the summit and then back to the village for resting.
In the afternoon, I had chance to speak with the host family daughter in law, her name is Fillai. She is a nice girl and can speak English. I helped her with cooking and she cooked amazing food. We had talk and then dinner. The village life is not for me, I watched them living their life so simple, working at the tea plantation, feed the pigs and chickens, as for Fillai, her tasks is cooking three time a day, a full time house wife's duty.
The last day in village, left me a little bit of sad feeling, I started to like the village, it is kinda refreshing and relaxing, a break from hectic city's life. We said good bye to the host family and say 'Ow bon ui ja' means thank you in Lahu's language, before we left the village we visited the school. The school is supported by government and I have to say even in the small village up in the mountain, the school is much more better than in Indonesia, the teachers are taking a really good care of the students as well the government. They are providing them milk, vitamin, and foods.
I am going to miss Lahu, even though they are not yet in 20th century but the experience, the people, the food are going to be missed.
