Day 17 Akha Village and 101 Tea Plantation

Sunrise not as brilliant as in Florida due to the fires that are set to clear the farmers' fields for the next crop. Not difficult breathing but a constant overcast cloud surrounds us.

We meet for an orientation of our day and then we're off to the Akha Village in Doi Mae Salong in the upper left area of the map below. We are in the foothill mountains of the Himalayas. The tea plantation that we will visit is in the same area.

The younger generation doesn't wear the full tribal dress but just a jacket. Dome is from Myanmar and he is from a different Akha Village to the north. The Akha have no written language and pass their heritage down through word-of-mouth. Many of the young are moving away for work that is less difficult with more money. Many work and live in South Korea and send money home. As the young continue to move away and there is no written history, the Akha may someday be extinct.

It is customary to serve guests tea. The peanuts provided are from her tree that she grows and harvests.  The women learn needlepoint at a young age and the boys learn weaving for making furniture like the table shown above.

Sandy demonstrates the tea glass made from bamboo. They cut out one side to keep the glass from hitting the nose when you drink.

The women weave the roof thatches and the men of the village work together to build a home.  There are Christian, Buddhist and Muslim inhabitants but the village comes together for each other's religious celebrations but just don't participate in the temple or church.  The families no longer require their children to marry in the same faith as long as they are happy.

It took her six days to hand stitch this length of cloth.

She is recreating this jacket for husband so she had Dome try it on to show us.

Stairs to the temple.

Dome proudly wearing his Akha shirt.

On to the tea plantation, the 101 Tea Plantation to be exact. I asked how it got its name. If 100 is great and good, then 101 is even better! This plantation is worked by many families and all the tea leaves are hand picked. No machinery involved.

Pat explains the leaf selection and the growing season. Right now the plants are resting for the next harvest in March/April.

In the town, the girl scouts and boy scouts gather for activities.

Ken made a great buy of dried cherries for only 100 baht = a little more than $3

We go with Pat for another tea tasting and this shop also sells jade bracelets! I find one I like...too small. They have a larger one for 9380 baht = $300 but they don't take credit cards and I only have 4000 baht in cash! Pat assures me that I can find jade for less money in Bangkok. I hope so!

Time to drive back to Katiliya Mountain Resort on these VERY HILLY WINDING roads! You guessed it! I got motion sickness. Tried to push my way through by using my water bottle to cool my forehead and neck. Then I put my hand out the window to see if the cool breeze would help. I asked for the air to be turned up but nothing was working. I didn't want to inconvenience the rest of the group by having all three vans stopped for me so I suffered in silence. Eunice was sitting next to me and told Dome that we had to stop since I didn't well at all. When I got out, the world was spinning!! I sat on the floor of the van for a while and the other two vans finally went ahead. Feeling a little better, Dome had me sit in the front seat of the van with the driver so I could see forward better and have the AC blow cold on my face. 

Feeling better but not well, I had to cancel my massage, participation in the cooking class and went straight to my room for a 2.5 hour nap followed by a 30 minute tub soak and just relaxing until dinner. Everyone was so concerned and supportive. I really have a great group of Road Scholars with which to travel!

After dinner I had no trouble going back to bed for our early rise tomorrow and flight to Bangkok after breakfast.