Indigenous Hill Tribe

There are altogether 5 different exotic hill tribes in Mae Hong Son namely the Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Lawa as well as the Hmong tribe. There are seven broad hill tribe groupings: Karen, Lahu, Hmong, Lisu, Akha and Mien. However, within these categories, there are sub-categories and clans that further divide the groups. Each hill tribe has its own customs, language, dress and spiritual beliefs and this is sometimes true even of the numerous sub-categories within one hill tribe. For example, the Green Hmong and White Hmong speak in different and distinct dialects costume, which they continue to wear daily.

• Karen hill tribe

The Karen hill tribe is one of the largest hill tribe with approximately 350,000 Karen living across Thailand. Ever heard of the “Giraffe” or “Long-neck” tribe? Yes, located in this small provincial town of Mae Hong Son, Nai Son holds the largest settlement of the Padaung people. The Padaung women are infamous for their long necks. They practice a bizarre custom of adorning brass rings on their necks hence creating an illusion that they have long necks. However, it is scientifically proven that the wearing of brass rings does not elongate one’s neck. Instead, the weight of the rings pushes down the collar bone, as well as the upper ribs, to such an angle that the collar bone actually appears to be a part of the neck. In addition, they also wear multiple rings on the arms and legs. So, you might me wondering how this customs come about. Let me tell you more about the origins of this custom.

• Origin
  

There are many different beliefs as to why these women practice this customs, the most rational being for aesthetic value. The people of Padaung felt that having an elongated neck is a sign of great beauty and wealth which will help them to attract better husbands in future. This beauty and grace of a long neck is further exemplified by the addition of heavy golden jewelry depicting both wealth as well as beauty.

Other mythology explains that it is done so to protect the tigers from biting them. Another belief is that the adorning of brass rings gives women a resemblance of a dragon which is an important figure in the Kayan folklore. Which belief sounds more convincing to you? Whatever the origin of the custom, one of the more common reasons why it continues today, is partially due to the tourism in Thailand.

Interested to find out how the Padang women look like without the brass rings around their neck? Click on HERE to find out more!

Language in Mae Hong Son

The above words can be translated as "Greetings to everyone, and welcome to Maehongson". The Shan or Thai Yai people of Mae Hong Son, who have a long and rich history, also have their own individual written language. The letters are similar to Northern Thai, or Lanna. There are a total of 17 consonants and many of the sounds made are similar to Thai. The spoken form of Shan sounds a little like Northern Thai, and Shan is still widely spoken throughout the Maehongson region.

Mode of education in Mae Hong Son

The education in Mae Hong Son is very limited and it is not as well-developed as compared to the other parts of Thailand such as Bangkok. However this does not mean that the locals are totally deprived of education as they still receive some form of education offered to them by the Karen/Karenni Education Department supported by the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Over the years, greater attention has been paid into the education system in Mae Hong Son especially areas in the hill tribes. The Karen/Karenni Education Department have looked into some of the area of concerns which are the lack of teachers as most of the qualified teachers are leaving in search of a better job in other cities, lack of teaching resources needed as well as the teaching method adopted by the teachers. Changes have been made for the better and the locals are delighted as they have the opportunity to study in a proper environment and under a more holistic education system.

Leisure Programmes in Mae Hong So

Mae Hong Son offers a remarkable range of recreational activities for tourists to enjoy. These activities range from Trekking, Rafting, and Mountain Biking to even Elephant Trekking.

• Trekking

Want to be close to the tranquility of Mother Nature? Trekking will just be the activity to take part in. This activity is the most popular among tourists as the mountainous range complements the breathtaking landscape of Mao Hong Son. Nature lovers will definitely be appalled by the beautiful landscaped and scenery of the place. Apart from that, visits to hill tribes are made available for trekker who wants to experience the authentic culture of the various tribes in Mae Hong Son. Here are some captivating photos of the sceneries in Mae Hong Son:

• Rafting

Looking for a fun and thrilling adventure? Rafting along the Pai River will blow you off as this popular recreation brings you through the lush and tropical jungle of Mae Hong Son coupled with some magnificent view of the waterfalls on a raft. Be sure to bring an extra set of clothing as you will definitely get drenched after the journey.

• Mountain Biking

Mae Hong Son offers a great destination for cycling tours be it off or on road. The rush green forest, mountainous range inhabited by exotic hill tribe village makes it the best destination for any off road cycling experiences. One can also enjoy the thrill of this adventure as mountain biking requires a certain element of risk due to the natural cycle paths through the forest. These paths can be as narrow as a single persons stride which adds on to the overall excitement of this activity.

• Elephant Trekking

Ever been on an elephant before? Curious how it feels like? Elephant trekking in Mae Hong Son will help satisfy your curiosity. Mae Hong Son is the best place for elephant trekking due to its fantastic landscape and the lack of tourist hordes which are found in other parts of Thailand. Elephant trekking brings you through the beauty and serenity of the landscape allowing you to experience a one in a life time adventure.

What is the country known for?

Inevitably the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Mae Hong Son is its rich cultural diversity as well as its untouched natural landscaped. Indeed these two things are what Mae Hong Son is well known for among the tourists.

“Disneyization

The ‘Disney’ which I have identified in Thailand is the Dream world theme park located in Bangkok. The four dimensions of Disney include theming, hybrid consumption, merchandising as well as performative labour.

Firstly, theming represents the most obvious dimensions of Disneyization. The Dream world in Thailand is an American-style theme park. I felt that due to globalization, many parts of the world are influence by the western culture. Which is evident in this Dream world as this concept is from the western parts of the country. Next, merchanding is the promotion and sale of goods in the form of or bearing copyright images and/or logos, including such products made under licenses. The Dream world in Bangkok sells a lot of souvenir with images of Dreamworld all over the product. Also, the staffs in Dreamworld are professionally trained to provide good quality services to their visitors. They have to maintain a jovial mood in order to create a fun and happy atmosphere.