Northern Thailand backpacking trip

Here are a bunch of pictures from my trip to northern Thailand in October during my school break. I went up to my friend and fellow PCV's site Garrett and also the city of Chiang Mai. Garrett's site is located in the province of Chiang Mai and the district of Mae Jam. His district has quite a population of Karen people, who are one of the many mountain tribes living in the north of Thailand. Most Karen people speak the Karen language as their first language and learn Thai as they go through school. This is true in most cases, but as we backpacked we definitely ran across some people (mostly older) who only spoke Karen, so we had to have our guide translate into Thai. The backpacking lasted two nights/three days and was some of the most up and down hiking I've ever done. Even though the mountains around the north aren't alpine, they are definitely steep! I also don't think many people around here have ever heard the word "switchback." "Straight on up" was more the phrase of choice to describe most of the trails we hiked on. It was really amazing to see this other side of Thailand that I had no idea existed. From the language to the houses to the food to the clothes the Karen culture is definitely a little pocket of something completely unique, even for Thailand.

Wat Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai City
Located on a high peak overlooking the city, this temple was definitely great to go see. They have a pavilion overlooking the whole city, and on a clear day you see everything in Chiang Mai.

The dragon staircase leading up the temple of Doi Supthep; supposedly the longest dragon statues in any temple in Thailand.

Getting ready to set out...I'm trying to puff up my chest so I can look as manly as Garrett! The dog just wanted in for the picture...he didn't actually come backpacking with us.

Definitely a candid moment. That's Garrett trying to work his GPS gadget and me scratching my head trying to figure out where the hell we are on the map.

After a little walking around we found our way to a rice shack in the middle of the mountains where we had lunch with some local Karen people working the fields.

This was after our backpacking trip. Near where we ended there is a tourist attraction of "long neck" Karen people. It's pretty exploitative...pretty much just staring at these people wearing rings around their necks as they try to sell you souvenir.

Same village...woman trying to sell cds of the folk music she plays.

I feel like this is a sign you would see on South Park, but they had them every few kilos to let you know what you were coming upon!

The central temple of Wat Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai City

With my friends Garrett and Danai

The second night of our backpacking we camped near a lake outside of a small village. This is the mist coming off the lake in the morning when we woke up.

This is the "mayor" of one of the villages we walked through. He walked with us in the morning for about an hour before headed off into the mountains to work in his rice fields.

After the long way down! We walked for about 12 kilos pretty much straight down and we were all definitely relieved to see the bus stop where we're sitting.

Sign post telling us where we had walked from. I think in total we walked about fifty kilos in three days.

A huge bamboo grove in the middle of a small village. It eerie the way bamboo creaks in the middle of a hot day when the wind blows. I don't know if I've ever heard anything like it.

Coming down a pretty tall we peak we happened upon a tiny village consisting of about five houses, twenty people and no roads going in or out...only footpaths.

Some of the kids who sat with us having tea and eating a fruit similar to grapefruit called "som-o".

An old woman who came to chat with us. The floor she's sitting on is a typical design for the Karen houses I saw. It's a woven bamboo that's really bouncy. It almost feels like you're going to fall through it if you step too hard, but it's great to sleep on because it's so soft.

With some villagers outside the lake town where we camped.

Walking through rice fields.

The first night we stayed with the family of our guide, "Sa-oo." Nice to sit down after that first long haul!

Sa-oo is wearing the white shirt; sitting with his family in the kitchen. Most of the Karen houses had a kitchen in one of the rooms inside the house. The rooms didn't have ventilation, so the smoke turned the ceiling black and could get quite smoky. I'm not quite sure why they don't have chimneys.

On the way uphill. Garrett, Sheila and myself.

Nice view overlooking the surrounding mountains.

Garrett, Sa-oo and myself.

Rolling hills.

Crossing the bridge into the tiny village we went to. Took a nice, freezing! bath in the river!