It’s the Chinese and Lahu New Year, which, this year happens simultaneously! Who knew when we planned to be in the hill villages of Northern Thailand that we would be part of this incredible vibrant celebration?
Lahu people are descendants of Chinese and, though they have established their own culture since they’ve come to Thailand, they still maintain some similarities.
Our experiences with the Lahu people were many. Several meals were shared in various homes. Interestingly, like Indian culture, many hosts think it's okay to serve food and leave the room for us to eat alone. But we got to share some meals together. Both men and women love to smoke their own home grown tobacco rolled in long sheets of maize and drink home made whiskey. Laughing is such a great way to share time with new friends!
The children inspire me! They so easily interact with us and they love playing. I teach them “Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun” and counting to 10 in English. They love to put on make-up and nail polish…not only on themselves but on others too. They love candy way too much, and play video games on hand held devices with amazing skill! They are happy with the simple things available to them, and, even with the many hours I spent amongst them, I never heard a Lahu child cry.... not even when this boy’s balloon burst! They are totally adorable and oh so, loving!
The dancing in the various villages was a performance and also inviting. Bright, ornate and colourful costumes indicate from which village each person is. The dance is similar to line dancing with a twist. A single musician plays the gentle music. Pipes of some sort or string instruments are often played so gently, all I could hear, sometimes, was the beat of the step. Now I understand what people meant when they said, “You’ll hear the dancing all night.”
We became friends with many of the people in the village. We met Sumbek on the second night of festivities. He was totally drunk and just wanted to play with us all. He ended up giving Kyle a jacket which is a typical pattern and design from his village. Opium growing has recently been discouraged here, but smoking opium brought in from Burma is common practice.
If it wasn’t for that 800-meter slope
walking up from the village, we might have even gone walking more. There was no
other way in to our home other than that walk. I suppose it got easier
the longer we stayed at the lodge. It was a visually spectacular walk, but it
definitely wasn’t easy!
While waiting for the dancing to begin, we
stopped in the café in the village to have a beer. The village is vibrant and
alive. We waited there a long time
and I got to observe the everyday events that take place, particularly with the
teenagers! They’re just like any teenagers everywhere!
I'm so happy that Paul and I look for ways to get out of the typical flow of the 'tourist'. Sometimes it's a bit scary, but, I find, all in all, that people are people everywhere and it's such a joy to get to know them and live in their world!
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