Second visit to Mlabri tribe village, the smallest ethnic group in South-East Asia. This time I brought my riding pals. We met Pastor Eugene and his wife Mary Long. For all those who suspect this man had ulterior motives such as introducing Christianity to these people, let me assure you that is not the case: he is simple and good man who just wants to help while tribal men and women remain animists. Mlabri have been called “the most interesting and least understood people in Southeast Asia”. The first Western people to come across these elusive nomadic jungle people came in 1936, when an Austrian explorer Dr H Bernatzik, conducted a survey on the people inhabiting the forests of Nan Province in Northern Thailand. At the time, they were thought to be possibly, the last people on the planet to go completely unclothed. These shy aboriginal people, have no written language, no tribe leaders. The Mlabri refers to people living in the forest, consists of two words; “Mla” means “people” and “Bri” means “forest”. Thai people refer to them as Phi Tong Lueang (“Spirits of the Yellow Leaves”); the expression comes from the Thai view of their nomadic lifestyle. They would move to another place whenever the banana leaves (tong) covering the roofs of their shelters turned yellow (lueang). It was also said that they could move as quickly as if they were spirits (phi). The most recent survey puts their number at 357 in settlements in both Nan and Phrae Provinces. The permanent villages they live in today provide them with houses made of cinderblock and wood, with metal roofs and electricity. Children have started going to public schools, and their health care has improved. While still in part hunting and gathering, the Mlabri now engage in highland farming and hammock weaving, brought to them by Christian missionaries.

 

 

Great, as always. Thank you for this. Are you planning on putting out a map?

Edited January 5, 20206 yr by malathione

3 hours ago, malathione said:

Great, as always. Thank you for this. Are you planning on putting out a map?

GPS coordinates to the village: 18.19867, 100.43662

 

https://goo.gl/maps/pqDGiM2xrVFRux3V8

 

 

1 minute ago, BMW Overlander said:

GPS coordinates to the village: 18.19867, 100.43662

 

https://goo.gl/maps/pqDGiM2xrVFRux3V8

Thank you, that's wonderful and much appreciated. I think I need to learn to ride a motorbike!

2 minutes ago, malathione said:

Thank you, that's wonderful and much appreciated. I think I need to learn to ride a motorbike!

You welcome.

Let me know when you get the bike ????️????