Jim and I used to visit Panang at her beer shop every month when we first starting coming to Tland. Then visa requirements changed and we no longer spent much time in Mae Sai (until this year!) Just saw her for the first time in years and had a good reunion.
While there, Panang introduced us to Lanlan, a young Chinese cyclist who had biked from BKK and who spoke flawless English with a British accent. She was heading to Chiang Khong, so we gave her some tips for the area. She stayed at BaanPakPon and loved it and SaiFon. She was taking night bus to BKK and heading for the beach before flying home to China.
Jim visited a Hmong Hill Tribe village near Chiang Khong this winter. The
Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land. A number of Hmong people fought against the communist-nationalist Pathet Lao during the Laotian Civil War. Hmong people were singled out for retribution [because of supporting US troops) when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum. Thousands of these refugees have resettled in Western countries since the late 1970s, mostly the United States but also Australia,France, French Guiana, and Canada. Others have been returned to Laos under United Nations sponsored repatriation programs. Around 8,000 Hmong refugees remain in Thailand.” Here are Jim's photos of
Hill Tribe Village
Jim and I used to visit Panang at her beer shop every month when we first starting coming to Tland. Then visa requirements changed and we no longer spent much time in Mae Sai (until this year!) Just saw her for the first time in years and had a good reunion. 
While there, Panang introduced us to Lanlan, a young Chinese cyclist who had biked from BKK and who spoke flawless English with a British accent. She was heading to Chiang Khong, so we gave her some tips for the area. She stayed at BaanPakPon and loved it and SaiFon. She was taking night bus to BKK and heading for the beach before flying home to China. 
Jim visited a Hmong Hill Tribe village near Chiang Khong this winter. The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land. A number of Hmong people fought against the communist-nationalist Pathet Lao during the Laotian Civil War. Hmong people were singled out for retribution [because of supporting US troops) when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum. Thousands of these refugees have resettled in Western countries since the late 1970s, mostly the United States but also Australia,France, French Guiana, and Canada. Others have been returned to Laos under United Nations sponsored repatriation programs. Around 8,000 Hmong refugees remain in Thailand.” Here are Jim's photos of Hill Tribe Village
