Of all of our Northern hill tribe interactions, the one that was the most profound experience was our homestay with the Karen hill tribe.
Our private guide, Pat, has a relationship with the Karen hill tribe so that we could experience the unique opportunity of a hill tribe homestay! It was an amazing experience.
The Karen hill tribe live in a remote area of northern Thailand's mountainous highlands and farm right to the edge of the jungle.
They have created environmentally sustainable rice fields. The rows of elevated land in the photo above are terraced rice fields. The Karen also grow corn, soybeans, and cabbage.
The Karen live in primitive conditions. The houses are on wooden stilts and the domestic animals such as the pigs, chickens and even cows reside underneath.
Their homes are modest and while you can't tell from the exterior of the photo below, the interior has a small loft as the upstairs level.
The "household" chores are the responsibility of the Karen women.
In the photo below, one of the Karen women is carrying water in her jug up to her home.
This Karen hill tribe's village was literally carved out of the jungle on steep hilly levels of hardened dirt.
There were water buffalo walking up the dusty path in front of us.
Our room had mosquito netting over our comfortable bed.
We awoke bright and early to water buffalo peering through our room's open-air window!
The Karen traditionally wear tunics and sarongs handwoven by the females of the family.
Many like to wear turbans of wrapped cloth on their heads.
The unmarried woman's dress is a long, plain white tunic worn down to her ankles.
The married women wear a sarong and a brightly colored Karen styled shirt with elaborate patterns and seeds sewn on it.
This rooster is a special hill tribe bird. It is tethered by a long leather leash. This rooster is periodically "released" into the jungle and will "hunt" for larger animals. The hill tribe men follow the rooster to locate the prey. We did not witness this, however, we were told that this is a common practice among hill tribes.
The meals were made with love and cooked over the open flame. The quality and quantity of food was fabulous. Here is our dinner with copious amounts of piping hot food. While delicious, we simply could not eat it all.
Our lovely homestay wife who prepared each dish over the open flame.
The following morning we had even more food! Pat, our guide, presented us with a special coffee the Karen women had made for us. It had honey on top.
This honey, I might add, was unbelievable. The hill tribe boys and men climb into the jungle trees and "rob" the hive of the honeycombs, always leaving some behind. The honey, for obvious reasons of hazardous duty, is highly prized. We were considered honored guests to receive it.
Pat also presented us with a delicacy for breakfast that the hill tribe wives had made for us.
Once a year the bamboo stalks are "ripe" and are harvested for this dish. The "husks" of the bamboo are stuffed with rice into the inside of the bamboo. This is then cooked over an open flame.
It is then eaten by peeling back the outer layer of the bamboo revealing the delicious sticky rice in the form of a tube which is then dipped in the honey.
We thought this filling, delicious dish was the end of breakfast but then the rest of the meal began arriving! The large circular woven bamboo tray was ladened with fruit and other main dishes of curry, noodles etc. Too much delicious food!
Here is the proud husband with his broad smile pointing to his wife. She was an amazing cook.
After breakfast, Jeff and I received handmade Karen bracelets that they made especially for us.
Here the two Karen women are taking off their handmade beaded necklaces to give to me!
All the members of this small tribe were genuine, kind and generous. The friendships that were forged during our homestay will live forever in our minds and in our hearts.
