Mae Fah Luang Flower Nation

Mae Fah Luang Botanical Garden is dedicated to the Mother of the King, Her Royal Highness, the Princess Mother, who hoped to provide respite to Thailand's workers who have been overseas as well as to its locals who have never been in foreign soil. It offers a quiet world beyond the touch of the blooming concrete jungle of the country; after all, each and every hard-earning labourer deserves a place of peace, even just for a brief moment.

The flowers in this botanical park changes every season. In your second visit, you'll find your eyes filled with wonder, anew.

Beyond borders adventure

Third time in Thailand

I have been to Thailand three times in three consecutive years, for sheer coincidence or as believers would call it, Providential plan: once in 2013 because of a piso sale promo package we were blessed to avail of for me and my friends' Bangkok trip; in 2014 during my layover en route to Burma; and now, in 2015 as I wished to visit some friends in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. 

During my latest visit, truth be told, I had no idea what to expect, I only wanted to learn how it is to be in the mission field.  I started contemplating on visiting our missionaries in Mae Sai with one of my good friends from Australia. It was part of our 40-day Purpose Driven Life goals: to go on a mission trip. Unfortunately, my friend could not make it a few weeks before the planned trip, although I was exceedingly nervous of traveling alone and of the possible repercussions of what recently happened to the Rohingya people of Burma , I had a nudging feeling that I had to go. The trip was not for sheer pleasure, I said.

Although most part of my immersion was dedicated to get a feel of the place, learning about the culture through tours (read on: Hill Tribes, The Golden Triangle, Scorpion Mountain, the Northernmost Thailand, Mae Fah Luang establishments, the Royal family and Thailand government politics) to cooking their delicacies and learning of their daily life and riding Pastor Joey’s pick-up truck, I have been immensely blessed by the experience.

For all these, I will be forever grateful for the lives of my wonderful hosts. 

Pastor Joey and Tita Narlin during one of our lunch breaks as they graciously regularly treated me for food. ;)

Hill Tribes of Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is made up of hill tribes, they are a mixed descent of Thai, Burmese, and Chinese. Six distinct major people groups namely Karen, Lisu, Mein, Hmong, Akha, and Lahu struggle to preserve their culture, traditions and beliefs against a backdrop of rapidly evolving society. 

As Golden triangle is infamously known as a conduit for opium trade, it will be no secret that hill peoples have used opium much like we use tobacco or cigarette.  Pictured below is the depiction of the best way to smoke opium;