A Day of Hmong at Phu Shi Pha, Chiangrai, Thailand

Reaching the historical place, Phu Shi Pha for the first time on 19 Nov. 2010, we four (Tong, Nong , Ajarn Prasit and I)
Hmong there is still a little differences from Chingmai Hmong.

The photographer on the top of the Phu Shi Pha is a Hmong man, who has a small canon printer ready to take photos of tourists and develop each for 50 baths.
He learns a little thing of how to use the printer and handle digital camera, and yes he can make quite a sum of money in a day.
At the parking area is a space for ladies to earn their livelihood. No men are salesman. They all sell the same things which are instant noodles, tea and coffee. There is only one lady that sell different things: small squatters, cloth tortoises and Hmong dresses and communist caps. I was interested in her. She is Yee Yaj or Rapee Yaj.



Learning from another lady that the reason why they sell most only those things beacuse of other things like fruits are not permitted to sell there, just as tourists usually throw fruit's peel at the area. With the fault of the tourist indeed that make them cannot earn a little more money.



Half of the mountain is the place of the girls who offer "their lovely costume" for foreigners by photography posting. I ask why they want money. The KG kid tells me "for education". They only come on the weekend, so the tourists that come on the weekdays will certainly miss the kids.

In Chinagmai, I found that more markets and more tourist spots that the Chinagmai Hmong has more spaces to earn, though it does mean that they are richer.

The ILLUSION of Life

A day brings up the sun
A night brings up the moon
Both the day and the night make 24 hours.

Day by day, I try to make lives feel better
by my little money in pocket that mom gave.

I spent your money for useless things.
You are away to hear my stories
Supposed if you knew, your tears may rain

I keep all to be segret.
Looking back , get angry with the mistakes, can't do anything, only can say that it was just an experience. All people and things were illusion. None exit at present. No brith in future.

Dreaming about future is just a dreamer.Doing is a doer.

Hilltribes Vs Citytribes

After being in a village for more than ten years, she came to work and study in a city. At home people call her "Hmong",which means "man", but over here she has been called "A hilltribe girl". She is named by the place she is. This makes she feel uncomfortable to live in the city. She tries to hide her hmongness and family. Her family seem like they understand the situation,none of her family appears in forn of her as a Hmong. Is she haapy for this?

A few day ago, her mom came in the city with her style of wearing at home. She and the mother walk side by side rashing to somewhere at Chang Phuek. The girl is pretty with her modern style of clothes,the mother's dress is not so clean as it is old. At that time I was driving, my mind just tells me silently that "The city has formed the girl into another direction, where the mother still in the same 50 years ago old fasion." More over I am happy to see that both are walking side by side and hand on hand in this crowded town where people staring at like they are strangers.

At my workplace, a lady says,"Hilltribe people are rich, each one of them has a car becuase they sell drugs. Her husband said on the other day when he saw my dress that" their dress is really nice. I just like it."

I was wondering if they don't know who I am. I hope to be called 'Hmong'.
If you call me "a hilltribe', shall I call you also "a citytribe" then?


There is no answer, but when I asked a man in my office if he would marry with a Thai-yai girl whom he didn't know her root, but she looked everything perfect for him. he said "No".

"Why?",I asked. He told me that even she was right for him,but he would not be able to get on with her because of cultural differences.

One of my friends he got married with a Thai'yai lady. They lived together for more than ten years,they have two children. Just a few months ago they broke up.

I was wondering.....if cultural difference was the reason for their break up.

Yesterday....is old, today is old plus new,and I think only now is new.