Short Note: One year ago, I went to Sg Lembing together with high school mates. Guan Loo visited the place last weekend. They had a tour guide to bring them around, hence visiting more places than us, though still failed to go to the Rainbow Waterfall. Read his write up of the 1st and 2nd days.
Northern Thailand is the home to interesting and colourful ethnic minorities, known as the hill tribes.
Hill tribes live in the remote upland areas of Thailand, shying themselves away from the outside world. They migrated into northern Thailand during the past 100 years from the Asian interior, and are considered the most disadvantaged groups of the country.
There are seven broad hill tribe groupings: Karen, Lahu, Hmong, Lisu, Akha, Mien. For each of these, there are sub-categories and clans. Each hill tribe has its own language, customs, dress and spiritual beliefs. Their traditional ways of living are largely preserved, making them a fascinating cultural study.
Karen is the largest tribal group (more than 40%), followed by Hmong and Lahu. Chiang Mai has the largest hill tribe population in Thailand.
Nowadays, hill tribes earn their living via agriculture activities, household-based handicraft production and wage employment. In the past, their major source of income used to be opium cultivation, which was later substituted with other cash crops, such as cabbages and fruits, under the implementation of Royal project, by his Highness King Rama IX.
The three principal forms of land use practised in subsistence farming include pioneer swidden agriculture, land rotation and wet (paddy) rice.
There are several issues that the hill tribes are facing:
In the meantime, when more of them conform to the mainstream Thai society, they may lose their indigenous customs and languages. The traditional values and beliefs will be breaking apart, and they finally lose their identity.
There is always a dilemma between development and preservation. We never know, which is the best way to go.
Northern Thailand is the home to interesting and colourful ethnic minorities, known as the hill tribes.
Hill tribes live in the remote upland areas of Thailand, shying themselves away from the outside world. They migrated into northern Thailand during the past 100 years from the Asian interior, and are considered the most disadvantaged groups of the country.
There are seven broad hill tribe groupings: Karen, Lahu, Hmong, Lisu, Akha, Mien. For each of these, there are sub-categories and clans. Each hill tribe has its own language, customs, dress and spiritual beliefs. Their traditional ways of living are largely preserved, making them a fascinating cultural study.
Karen is the largest tribal group (more than 40%), followed by Hmong and Lahu. Chiang Mai has the largest hill tribe population in Thailand.
Nowadays, hill tribes earn their living via agriculture activities, household-based handicraft production and wage employment. In the past, their major source of income used to be opium cultivation, which was later substituted with other cash crops, such as cabbages and fruits, under the implementation of Royal project, by his Highness King Rama IX.
The three principal forms of land use practised in subsistence farming include pioneer swidden agriculture, land rotation and wet (paddy) rice.
There are several issues that the hill tribes are facing:
- Citizenship
- They have limited access to Thai citizenship. As such, their legal status fluctuates between “naturalized”, “alien” and “illegal”. Although majority of the first generation hill tribes have obtained Thai identification, the Ministry of Interior is cautious about granting Thai identity to newly immigrated hill tribes, due to their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
- Lack of sense of national identity due to their own distinctive linguistic and cultural background.
- Poverty
- Lack of opportunities for systematic skill development, infrastructure, income and employment.
- Production inputs are limited due to the lack access to basic social services, e.g. education, health etc.
- Land Settlement
- Land settlement is delayed due to their traditional way of living in small communities and frequent migration.
In the meantime, when more of them conform to the mainstream Thai society, they may lose their indigenous customs and languages. The traditional values and beliefs will be breaking apart, and they finally lose their identity.
There is always a dilemma between development and preservation. We never know, which is the best way to go.
4 comments:
I went to this same place 2 years back I think. Because the 3 girls in the 3rd photo seemed so familiar. =)
Mm... I think that even if the tribes are given a chance of development, they would still choose to preserve their own culture and lifestyle. There are some villages that are partially developed by the Thai government but the villages simply do not understand nor want to use the facilities.
Hey haan, i wonder if its my imagination but your neck really look long with the rings wraped around it.
I also like to experience different cultures in different countries. That's why cultural element is a must in my travel itenerary.
flying fish, did u feel they are "too used to" tourists? sometimes i wanted to snap their candid photos, but they posed for me by staying still... i dunno what to say... haha
chee hoe, i'm named as giraffe... in dream!!! you are the 1st one to say i've a long neck.. however if compared to the girl next to me, i'm still nothing, isn't it?
jam, agree it's something interesting. we then appreciate the differences..
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