FEB 2019
Yes, the name "Myanmar" in nowadays, at that time it was called Burma
In February of 1982 in Chiang Mai. I wanted to take part in a hill-tribe-tour, a group tour,
but an ethnologist recommended to me:
"
→ Take the bus to Fang,
change to Tha Ton. There you must look for a pick-up,
which will transport you in Eastern direction".
At a certain point I should leave the car, walk uphill till I see some bamboo huts, called
Lisu Ban Lao Tha, and ask for Sak S., he certainly will welcome me as a guest.
There was only a forest track from Tha ton to the East. Those, who wanted to travel from Tha Ton to Chiang Rai had to take the boat upon the river called Nam Mae Kok. Furthermore, in those days, Thai people avoided staying in this area because it was not really a safe region.
I could not guess, that this visit to strange people would result in a strong friendship.
In the left hut the whole family and I slept
→ upon one large lounger. The right-hand hut
was the kitchen.
"Now I am among Lisu people. At the moment I am alone, I use the only small
oil lamp, which is in the house [...] the floor is stamped, the walls are woven with bamboo.
I washed myself in the dark behind a fence, which was behind the kitchen.
→ In the kitchen
there is an open fire. The smoke streams through the gables."
Water came down from the mountains in an open bamboo pipe.
Yes, they had pocket torches. But they used them seldom, because of the price of the batteries.
Sak S. passed away many years ago. Since then his brother Abepha has already a real house with his family. Electric energy, Internet, good roads, garbage collection..., they have a modern life. DON'T FORGET TO CLICK THE IMAGE!
Around 1990 the government built the road between Tha Ton and Mae Chan. It was necessary not only for the connection between Tha Ton and Chiang Rai, but also for the security of the border and... to control the drug traffic.
1990: the road from Tha Ton to Mae Chan would be built in a very short time
I will never forget this hike with Assi, a young Lisu, 1985 in the rainy season from Ban Lao Tha to another Lisu settlement. We just passed the hot springs and now were walking along the track in Eastern direction. In front of us, there were some cows.
Unbelievable, how this area now appears!
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK THE IMAGE!
On the way back, totally tired out, knocked out. Even my sandals were broken.
In 2018, I stand at the same place and take a photo of the market on the road from Tha Ton to Mae Chan!
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK THE IMAGE!
