Readme before you journey
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This trip was a journey to be a "rice planting volunteer" with the "Bormor Aroon Suk" group last July. We and our friends intended to share our experiences and learning after returning from the camp. We will review the cultural learning experience of the Pga K'nyaw people in the area of "Ban Pa Bong Piang", Chiang Mai Province ^^
This review is divided into 3 parts:
- Travel and accommodation -
- Pulling seedlings and planting rice -
- Food and drink -
Ready to travel with us ^^
Travel and Accommodation
Travel
The Ban Pa Bong Piang village is located in Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province. It is a terraced rice field area of the Karen people.
During the rainy season, villagers start planting rice. Rice is only grown once a year here.
The rice is mainly for their own consumption, with any surplus sold in the city.
Our journey began at Doi Inthanon, where we boarded a yellow shared taxi with our group and disembarked at the Mae Pan Waterfall parking lot. We then transferred to a pickup truck provided by our accommodation (you can arrange for the accommodation to pick you up by providing them with the exact date and time). The travel time from the parking lot to Ban Pa Bong Piang is approximately 25-40 minutes, depending on weather and road conditions.
During the month of July, there is heavy rainfall, making travel quite difficult. The road leading up to Ban Pa Bong Piang is a dirt track, so it is necessary to have someone familiar with the area to take you up.
Doi Inthanon on a foggy morning at 7 am, heading to Mae Pan Waterfall
The view from the back of the pickup truck on the asphalt road was comfortable.
The paved road soon turned into a dirt track.
During heavy rain, villagers must wrap chains around their wheels to increase traction.
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> Accommodation <
The Ban Pa Bong Piang village has several houses, some of which are located on the hillside with views of the rice fields, while others are situated in the middle of the rice terraces. Please note that there is no electricity in this area. Instead, candles are used for lighting at night. However, there is no need to worry about the heat, as the weather here is cool almost all year round. The houses are equipped with mosquito nets and bedding, while the bathrooms are located outside the house under the stilts.
The house can accommodate from 2 to 10 people.
Hillside houses with rice field views, perfect for relaxing. Part of the Machi Pho group.
A house in the middle of a rice paddy field, open the door and you will see the rice field.
A view of the front of the house from the porch (I wish I could wake up to this view every day).
- Transplanting Seedlings -
Volunteers lend a helping hand to local farmers by transplanting seedlings.
At precisely 9:00 AM, the volunteer group headed to the vacant rice field to plant rice. Before we could start planting, we had to learn from the local villagers. After all, we couldn't just jump in and start planting without any prior experience. Being a good volunteer requires listening and understanding the rules and regulations of both the group and the local area. We must respect each other and work together in harmony, learning as much as we can and giving it our all. ^^
Prepare to walk to the vacant rice field. Dress should be easy to walk on the ridge.
Seedlings waiting to be transplanted.
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> The first task is "plowing the soil" or plowing the rice field. <
In the past, wooden plows were used for plowing, which required manual labor. With the advent of technology, farmers have switched to using machines instead of manual labor to save time. However, wooden plows are still available for us to learn and experiment with. Let me tell you, it's not easy. As a woman, I couldn't get it to work. Haha.
Villagers use plows, while scholars use wooden plows.
The group is cheering on their friend who is trying out the wooden plow.
> Double "Seedling Pulling" before Rice Planting <
The first thing the villagers told us was, "You need to know how to pull out the seedlings. How do you pull them out in the least amount of time?" Because there are not just two plots, but hundreds of plots. The way each person pulls out the seedlings is different. It really takes time. Then, when you're done pulling out the seedlings, you'll trim the tips of the seedlings and tie them loosely into bundles.
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The group worked together to pull up the rice seedlings, each person taking a turn. They enjoyed the work and spent almost two hours doing it.
Villagers tie rice seedlings into bundles, preparing to continue planting.
> Rice planting or transplanting
Rice transplanting, also known as direct seeding, involves taking rice seedlings with trimmed tips and planting them in a paddy field. The common method involves using the thumb to press the roots into the soil.
The heavy rain made it impossible to plant the rice seedlings as they kept floating. We had to replant them, ensuring even spacing. It was a challenging task that took us several hours to complete a single plot. This local experience was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for us and our friends.
This plot is fully planted (by villagers).
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The group walked on the paddy field embankment to the empty rice field. They had to take off their shoes because the ground was very slippery.
Undeterred by the rain, I tried my hand at rice planting for the first time. This experience opened my eyes to the arduous journey rice takes before reaching our plates.
- Food and Eating -
> Food and beverage services are available at the accommodation. <
Each household will have different arrangements. At Baan Ma Chi Pho, they will serve in a tiffin carrier, consisting of canned fish chili paste, omelet, and 100% organic and pesticide-free vegetables grown on the premises.
The two-day, one-night trip includes two meals: dinner on the first day and breakfast on the second day.
Simple and easy food in Ban Machipo.
"This volunteer experience was the most tiring one I've ever had.
But the exhaustion allowed me to truly understand and appreciate the value of rice.
It's not just a source of vitamins, nutrients, and energy.
The process of bringing rice to our plates involves intricate steps and rituals.
Rice cultivation is an ancestral wisdom that requires learning, practice, and transmission from generation to generation.
This has given rise to the "rice culture" that permeates every region of Thailand."
"This concludes my review. Thank you for reading this far! ^^"
Image caption:
"Ending the review with a picture of the last light at Ban Pa Bong Piang."
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Wednesday, February 26, 2025 6:19 PM
