Mae Ann Village | Thailand

From Bangkok we took a short flight north to Chiang Mai followed by a 45 minute taxi ride to our home for the next month. The townhouse where we are staying is located on a resort. We found it on Airbnb for the total price of $790 for 28 days. If you do any long term travel, I really recommend Airbnb as a great alternative to hotel rooms. Click here to get a $25 credit on Airbnb. You can often find an apartment or home for your stay at a great price. Just be sure to read the fine print of what is provided and what former guests have to say about the accommodations.

Staying at the resort has given us a great opportunity to join daily meditation and yoga classes in an outdoor sala overlooking the mountains with the sounds of birds and wildlife in the background. The food here is also amazing – much of it fresh from the organic garden on the property.

Other than the peaceful mornings, one of my favorite parts of where we are staying is the interaction with local villagers. I always love learning of other cultures and the peaceful, happy people of Thailand are particularly intriguing. Much of where their loving nature comes from is their Buddhist philosophies. We made an appointment with Frans, a guide here at the resort, to learn more about the Thai culture. He shared with us that Buddhism is not considered a religion, but a way of life. Their peaceful, loving and compassionate nature is a testament to this philosophy.

As an introduction to their culture, we met with Frans one morning at 6:30 am to join the villagers in the morning ritual of Tak Bat (alms/food offering). As the monks make their morning walk barefoot through the village, the villagers bring out food to place into their buckets.

We took our food which had been specially prepared by the resort to the abbot at the village temple – Wat Mae Ann.

There are rules we learned such as monks are not allowed to touch women, and everyone must be covered to the ankles and over the shoulders to enter the temple. After presenting our offering, the abbot tied a piece of string to our wrists and gave us a blessing. It was in Thai so not sure what he said, but it was a cool experience.

Frans then spent some time showing us around the temple and giving us a few basic guidelines which will be very helpful as we tour the temples of Thailand. It’s nice to know at least enough to not do anything that might be offensive. However, there really are no worries as the Thai people are so kind and accepting.

The sun was just beginning to rise as we left the temple.

Another interesting part of the Thai culture is how they welcome visitors to join them, even in something as private as a funeral. To them it is actually considered a blessing for their loved one and will help them to achieve a higher level in their next life. Frans explained how when a death occurs the body is displayed for three days as the friends and relatives throw parties to celebrate. In preparation for the cremation of the body and final service, a house is built and decorated to eventually be burned with the body at the final ritual. He mentioned that if we came across a funeral to join in the celebration.

Unbelievably that very afternoon on a long walk through the countryside we came across a funeral. Had we not met with Frans we would have not been comfortable walking up, but he had assured us we would be welcomed and to feel free to take pictures.

We arrived toward the end of the ceremony and just as we had been told the final burning is a letting go and everyone began to disperse leaving the body and it’s decorated “house” to burn.

Just as we were about to leave a kind gentleman approached to ask where we were from. Chairat Apichai was from the village, but spoke great English from the time he spent in Vietnam working with the US Army. We had a lovely conversation as another villager brought us each what I think was soda. The people here really are amazingly welcoming and peaceful.

From there we walked toward a small river and a little oasis cafe in the middle of nowhere. The Natura Cafe served amazing fresh juices and stir fried vegetables fresh from their organic garden.

We did a lot of walking that day and finished with dinner at another outdoor restaurant with delicious food. The food here has been so good and the prices are so cheap! We had this amazing salmon dinner & desert for only $33.38, actually an expensive meal by Thai standards.

A couple of days later we investigated the countryside and other villages even more on bikes. I love their simple way of life. Just as my experience in Ecuador a year ago, it is refreshing to see people so happy and content living in ways we would consider poor by Western standards. They really are living very rich life and are thankful for what they have.

This is the village newspaper at the community center. They only get one delivered for all to gather and share. What an awesome concept!

We’ve been able to get our laundry done for 40 baht a kilo. That translates to a large bag of laundry for about $6. Washed, lined dried, and returned neatly folded and smelling wonderful.

Luckily we hit the Northern part of Thailand at the perfect time of year. The monsoon season is over, the weather has been cool, and they have not yet begun the annual burning of the rice fields. From what we’ve been told, about the time we leave here at the end of February the air will be full of smoke. It’s just getting started in a few fields, like this one we observed while out for a ride.

The farm couple who were working the field did not speak any English and we’re still struggling just to say hello and thank you in Thai. But, one lesson learned in travels is a smile and hand gestures go a long way in communication.

I loved her smile. She tried to hide her teeth for me to take the picture, but when I took down my camera and smiled she gave me this great smile right back – love the twinkle in her eye!

The bike ride took us down dirt roads, over wooden bridges, and through several villages. One of the best stops was at the end of the day when we came to this scene – the daily exercise class at the Mae Ann Workout Center.

The bike ride took us down dirt roads, over wooden bridges, and through several villages. One of the best stops was at the end of the day when we came to this scene – the daily exercise class at the Mae Ann Workout Center.

It really is amazing how the more I let go and allow things to happen, how lovely incidents like this just seem to be around every corner. Perhaps they’ve always been there, but I didn’t always take the time to live in the present moment and enjoy these little details of daily life.

A beautiful ending to another great day in Thailand.