Thai Culture

Today began our adventure into the mountain region of Thailand, Chaing Dao. We began by visiting an elephant camp where we rode, fed, and watched the elephants. Elephants are amazing. They can learn many different languages although their official language is Kum. This is the universal language and from here, they learn many others including sign language and English. We were provided a wonderful buffet lunch followed by a bamboo raft ride. From here, Danny and I were taken to the hills and continued on our way. Our guide, Lin, spoke very good English. Along with this, she can speak Russian, Thai, and the official language of Chang Mai which I cannot pronounce or type. In Bangkok, people speak Thai, but not up north. It is a completely different language and has it's own alphabet. The tribes up north each have different dialects of which are hard to understand, even between those that neighbor each region. One of the most frustrating professions is a teacher because if you are a school that hosts many tribes, you must learn all the languages of the tribes, or teach the children Thai. We later learned that in many villages teachers must also be midwives because if a woman cannot make it to the hospital soon enough, she must call upon a midwife.

In Thailand, Bhudism is the main religion although Christianity is studied and practiced as well. Many study the Bhuddist teachings and will pray to be set free from material things. They wish to be free of hate, jealousy, and anger amongst other things. Reaching enlightenment does not happen for many, in fact it is incredibly difficult. Even monks who devote their lives to the study may not reach enlightenment. Meditation is also a difficult practice and for many can takes years of perfecting, if perfected at all.

Along the way to our hike, we picked up a man that we came to know as Uncle Komp. He was our leader in the hills as our guide joked she always gets lost. The two led us up a hill, through brush and streams and stopped to pick mushrooms along the way- dinner for later. They knew the mountains and the plants and would point out poisonous mushrooms. The logic is simple- if you see the ants dying after they eat the mushroom, it is no good. Or, if the mushroom is too old, do not eat it. Plants have amazing ways of healing including one that can rid the body of kidney stones and get rid of Malaria. Their way to kill cancer is simple as well, two lemons to one can of soda. I am not certain this would be the best route for myself, but it is much less painful than our western method of chemotherapy and carries far less side affects.

As we hiked further, we entered into a village tribe. This tribe tend to their farms together and help each other as a community. In the some tribes of the Thai culture, it is opposite of western thinking in that men come first. The term ladies first is non-existent. Women stay home to take care of the children (although they can work if they want) and their husband brings home money. When he comes home, his wife is expected to make him dinner, however she is not allowed to eat until he has began to eat. In a neighboring tribe, it is very different. Men stay home and they can have as many wives as they wish. The women go out to work and send home the money. They are also expected to serve their husbands and provide food along with other things.

After visiting the tribe, we came to our place of rest for the night. A small village-like cottage that hosts many people, often children in the nearby school. The rooms were nice and after a long day, the perfect place to rest. We ate hand picked wild mushrooms and crickets for dinner, which is enough to make anyone jealous. Paired with beer and other good food, the crickets were surprisingly good. Lin informed us that we were one of the few westerners to eat crickets. But, as we say, when in Thailand...do as the Thai's do. Within reason.

The government in Thailand is very corrupt and cannot be trusted, even by its own people. Lin had originally gone to university to become a police officer but after realizing how corrupt the system was, decided to become a tour guide. One of the issues of a third world country is the rich are very rich, and the poor are very poor. There is hardly a middle class. Lawyers and doctors, who make very good money in the U.S, only make okay money in Thailand. It is those who work in government that are rich thus leading to corruption. If they can make more money by doing something that may not be right, they will take the opportunity. Sadly, there is little that can be done however Thailand is a monarchy, known by its people as the Kingdom of Thailand. The people love their King and Queen. Whatever they say, the people will follow. They are good to their citizens and provide them land, means to sell their goods, access to schools and scholarships and ask for little in return. The Royal Project is a program which provides many things for its citizens and people can apply to become a part of this and receive money for school, help for their farms and more. The monarchy has no control over what is done, that is controlled by the government, however I did hear an add at one point claiming because of the King and Queen‘s graciousness, people within Thailand are allowed to study any religion they wish. Unfortunately, I did not ask why the monarchy would have say of this, when they have very little control or power over anything.