Hmong tribe’s house where we slept one night
Hilltribe village
I met Julie from Montreal in the jungle trekking in Maehongson, Thailand.
Her style of speaking was funny. She was too polite. “Is it possible for you to hand me the toilet paper?” Besides, whatever she doesn’t remember or find proper word she was looking for, she explained it with a word, “thing”, “What do you call it the thing that cut your finger nail?” “nail clipper?” “yes…” “Haha you know what the thing is, now keep going on..”
She was a very unusual backpacker. She had been traveling for 3 months before meeting me and said she would travel to Laos and Vietnam for another 3 months and then go back home.
I had never seen such a well-prepared backpacker before.
On the first night, we slept in a Hmong village house – no toilet and no electricity. I took out my small flashlight to brush my teeth. Suddenly I felt bright light coming from behind me. That was from Julie’s big flash light worn on her head. She looked like a miner in a cave. She offered me some lotion to protect from bug bite.
She was always taking some kind of vitamin or pill even though she wasn’t sick, and she had big bags of them. Enough for 6 months.
On the second night, we were sleeping on the ground in the hut that our guide built.
It was the coldest night I have ever experienced so far. I couldn’t sleep at all through the night due to cold chill. The sleeping bag I received from the guide was too thin. But Julie was sweet dreaming next to me in her duck down sleeping bag she brought.
When it was the time we had to separate, I felt sad because I knew we wouldn’t be able to meet to each other again easily. Her home was Montreal in the west and my home was Korea in the East. I had to go to Changmai. She said she would head to Laos.
A few days after, I was browsing the busy night market in Changmai. Somebody grabbed my shoulders from behind. When I looked back, it was Julie! We were jumping with joy as if we had been life time friends. How could it happen!
Haha ya nice hat! You look like a movie star in the jungle. Except a movie star would not be smilling. :D
Z
You seem to be interested in food just like me. It was awesome!
Our tour guide La made northern Thailand style of dish. He made cups,bowls, and pots by cutting the joint part of bamboo. He put vegetables, rice, pineapples etc.. into the bamboo ware and put them into the fire directly. An hour later, yummy, yummy boong boong haha!
I can’t forget how beautiful dinner it was! Sitting around the campfire, we enjoyed the most delicious food with stars twinkling in the sky.
Ha Yan,
do you like my hat?
Actually I bought their traditional loose jacket and hat for trekking there.
How was the food?
Wow who’s the cute Korean girl on the elephant wearing a straw hat?
Thanks!
I haven’t done backpacking for years due to my immigration process. You don’t have to be brave as you think. Lots of other backpackers are willing to help you if you are in danger. I miss my old time,but will do it again someday soon.
Julie is now a graduate student after wandering so many countries..: )
I admire backpackers’ bravery and sense of adventure.
Z