Traveling to Phu Lang Ka in Northern Thailand was quite an experience for me. Not only was the view and ambiance absolutely wonderful, but I had an opportunity to learn a little bit about the history and culture about the YAO people, one of the principal hilltribe groups in the area. According to Kevan, the owner of Phu Lang Ka Lodge, there are approximately 50,000 Yao people (otherwise known as Mien) in Thailand - most of whom live in the Northern Provinces of Nan and Phayao. As the elected president of the Yao people of Thailand, he and his wife are very active in keeping the culture and heritage of the Yao people alive.

While I was visiting his school at the nearby village of Pong, Kevan presented me with a little booklet called the Passport of the Yao people - it told the story of the history and origins of the Yao people . Very interesting! Returning to the lodge, Kevan and his wife showed me (and some other guests), a very unique scroll-mural, which was sort of a pictorial history of the YAO people. I don’t know if this is one of a kind document or a replica, but I was astounded at the vivid detail.

In short, the Yao people originate from southern CHINA. According to Yao Folklore, their ancestral origins can be traced to a heroic dragon dog with human attributes by the name of Pan Hu who was recruited by the local Emperor to assassinate the tyrannical KING who ruled the land. After completing his mission, he returned to the Emperor with the King’s decapitated head in his jaws and was rewarded for his heroism – Pan Hu was given permission to marry one of the Emperor’s daughters and was granted a substantial amount of property. Pan Hu and his wife had 6 sons and 6 daughters – their twelve children and their families multiplied and spread throughout the highland regions of Southern China and Southeast Asia including Thailand.

Pan Hu’s legacy was the 12 tribes of the YAO (the descendants of Pan Hu’s twelve children) - sounds similar to the biblical story of the 12 tribes of Israel.

One of the most incredible views in Thailand is at Phu Lang Ka, a small lodge in the mountains of Phayao Province in Northern Thailand. Located about 33KM east of Chiang Kham, Phu Lang Ka is situated on a ridge about 850 meters (2800 feet) above sea level and overlooks a broad valley by the same name. During the early morning hours, a thick mist often blankets the valley; eerily protruding through the mist are a couple of limestone outcrops. The mood changes as the mist dissipates by late morning revealing the green valley – largely cultivated for agriculture - below. Just beyond the valley to the east is the San Pan Nam Mountain Range, beyond that Laos. On most mornings , you’ll be able to witness some dramatic and colorful sunrises. During the evening hours, looking across the valley in the darkness, you will see the twinkling of lights emanating from the small houses in the village below.

There is something very mystical and spiritual about Phu Lang Ka; it’s such a peaceful and serene setting, a perfect place to relax and meditate. I had the opportunity to stay at Phu Lang Ka this past November - to me it was such a welcome change of pace from the madness and hustle bustle of Bangkok. While I was there, a group of students from the nearby University at Phayao arrived on the weekend, occupying a house just down the road from the lodge. With their sound system blaring into the wee hours of the morning, I felt that the peace and quiet of Phu Lang Ka was violated. Upon waking shortly before sunrise, I walked down to the house and motioned with my hands for them to turn the music volume lower. I think they got the message as they pulled the plug!

Owned by a very prominent Yao family, Phu Lang Ka has 10 very small and simple bungalows available. Constructed mostly of bamboo and tin, most of the bungalows have a small outdoor sitting area which looks directly onto the valley. The place is very popular with Thai people (especially the university crowd) on weekends during the dry season. Cost is 500 Baht per night. Meals are at additional expense - very cheap though.

The owners - Kevan and his wife Nong (and his two daughters) - are very warm and hospitable people. Kevan is a very important person in YAO society - he currently is the President of the Yao people of Thailand and oversees a community school for Hmong and Yao children at the nearby village of Pong. Despite his prominence, Kevan remains a very humble man.

Round about 12:00 midnight tonight, I will be flying to Bangkok, Thailand for the start of my 30 day Adventure to Southeast Asia – 18 nights in Thailand and 12 nights in Malaysia. This will be my eighth trip to the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand) and my very first time to Malaysia.

As usual I will spend the first 5 nights in Bangkok before I travel upcountry to explore some new places off the beaten track – this time around I will visit Nan and Phayao provinces in Northern Thailand’s Golden Triangle. The tourism infrastructure in these two provinces is fairly rudimentary and the volume of oversea tourists is a drop in the bucket right now; however in 10 years time, this relatively obscure region of rural Thailand will probably become a legitimate tourist trap as more and more tourists discover the area. From what I understand, the countryside is very beautiful here and there are a number of national parks in the general vicinity. I’m really looking forward to some R & R and some thoughtful introspection during my one week in the boonies of Nan and Phayao. Needless to say, I’m bringing lots of reading material.

Malaysia will be quite a unique experience for me as the culture in this Moslem state is 180 degrees different than other countries in this region. During my 12 days there, I will stay briefly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s modern capital city before venturing out to the old colonial town of Melaka >(Malacca) about 2 hours south. From there I will head to the popular mountain resort of Cameron Highlands which is known for its miles of tea plantations and nearby woodland forests. as well as being the area where the legendary Jim Thompson vanished in thin air - this former World War II pilot from the United States resettled in Thailand shortly after the war and is credited as reviving Thai’s failing silk industry before his mysterious disappearance in the Cameron highlands. My last stop in Malaysia is the popular beach resort of Langkawi “The Cancun of Malaysia”. I understand that it is considerably less busy than Phuket, Thailand’s most popular resort area and the nightlife is quite limited, but I always create my own fun, so “No Worries!”