We trekked between five to six miles a day, which was truly a new experience for me, as I had never been camping or backpacking. I loved the experience, as it was truly beautiful being immersed in such a natural environment. After hours of trekking, we finally arrived at the village we would be residing in for the night. I learned that the village had only gotten access to electricity within the last two years, which astounded me, as someone who grew up with electricity his whole life. However, it struck me that these people in this remote environment may be a bit more advanced than many city individuals because they focus on sustainable behavior and partake in behavior that is more connected to the natural world. For example, they have a great understanding of how to use natural herbs as medicine rather than relying solely on doctors who are disconnected from their communities. I also found it extremely interesting to learn that many inhabitants of hill tribe villages are not fond of the city. They are accustomed and comfortable with their way of life and in most cases, the city is too busy, loud, bright, and polluted for their preference. In addition, many villagers speak a separate language rather than the official Thai language, which can also make it difficult for them to interact with city environments.
Many of the villagers depend on agriculture to sustain themselves. Throughout the mountainous region, rice provides the major harvest, and I loved watching that process. Growing up in the Western world, you often eat rice, but you never see the process of how it is created. When rice is grown, it essentially looks like hay or really tall grass.
