Kok-noi Ban Klang,Thailand
The Lahu ethnic group originated in southwest China, and subsequently migrated into Thailand from northern Burma. Most of their settlements are concentrated close to the Burmese border in Chiang Rai, north of Chiang Mai. Lahu villages are often at higher altitudes. Houses are built on high stilts with walls of bamboo or wooden planks, thatched with grass. A ladder leads to an open central living area, with a storeroom to one side and sleeping quarters to the other. There is one large bedroom, partitioned off as necessary according to family size. The main room has a central firepit. The Lahu were mainly a hunting tribe until a lack of game forced them into a more agricultural means of existence. The future seems uncertain for this group, and the Lahu - as a separate and independent culture - face great challenges at this point in their history.
The road to the village was very challenging. The mud was actually fun to walk through.
The engineers in our group marveled at this bridge.
Kok-noi Ban Klang had 24 households. This is 'Main Street."
The villagers dressed up for us in traditional Lahu clothing. The women wore sarongs that they constantly had to adjust.
Solu Jise has a five year old daughter, but baby-sat much of the time for her sister.
The village shared the valley bottom with a large rice paddy. No picture can do justice to the beauty of the valley.
Nadi Jise is a farmer and is married to Solu. We stayed in their house. Our bamboo mat was less than four feet from the fire. The pot was cooking something all day long. Usually boiling banana plants for the pigs.
Click on any of the following pages to see the rest of the story:
Plane trip Patpong - Rahab Ministry Golden Triangle Resort Rimkok Resort
Buddhist Temples Boat Trip to Village Kok-noi Ban Klang Village
Project - Laying Pipe Project - Water Tank Project - Filter Tank Project - Faucets
Project Complete Animal Sightings Children's Ministry Sports
