Tribasia Blog

Being out on the streets of a European city at predawn can feel spooky or at best weird. In northern Thai cities, as in many other parts of South-East Asia, it is, on the contrary, a soothing experience.
Monks in saffron robes wander the streets barefoot, in search of alms, only breaking the morning silence with grateful chanting to their charitable donors. Markets are already bustling with traders. Older people deprived of sleep enjoy the fresher air for a walkabout.
When the sun finally rose on the city in which we had just arrived on an overnight bus from Chiang Mai, we felt re-energized.

We have since been enjoying the beautiful landscapes of northeastern Thailand and trying to grasp its complex ethnic blend, with its many former or actual refugees from Myanmar and, to a lesser extent, Southern China. The Karen minority was at the centre of a human rights uproar many years ago as there again, many Karens were parked in 'villages' for tours to come and visit them, along the Thai buffer zone with Myanmar.

We discussed with a young White Karen woman who has been living in the Thai buffer zone - a refugee area sheltering at least 20,000 Burmese. She mentioned that she had applied for asylum in the U.S. but as in many others in her situation, she has had to wait and hope that her case would be heard. In the meantime, she was earning some money by selling refreshments and handicrafts.

We felt very free on that occasion. Sometimes we tend to forget how much freedom is precious. :))

Labels: Chiang mai, Karen, monks, Norheastern Thailand