LISU HILL TRIBE HOMESTAY, CRAFTS SCHOOL, INDIGENOUS HEALTH and CULTURAL IMMERSION

NONG THONG VILLAGE

SOPPONG, MAEHONGSON, THAILAND

Tel. 089-998-4886

homestay@lisuhilltribe.com

For a more detailed website go to our new site at:

www.lisuhilltribe.com

Susanan your hostess

Susanan is a native Lisu lady, born in the village, is an expert in plant identification, both edible and medicinal, a massage therapist and teacher, an accomplished seamstress, a mother, grandmother, gardener, great cook, with a wealth of knowledge about living simply in a natural way. Her heart is as big as her smile.

Why are the Hill Tribes unique?

Despite living close to large cities, the Hill Tribe peoples continue to follow a lifestyle which remains, in many respects, virtually identical to their ancestors. They are not a group or tribe ‘returning to’ or ‘rediscovering’ their roots. In contrast to many ‘Indigenous’ and ’First Nation’ peoples elsewhere, the Hill Tribes of Thailand continue, to a great extent, to retain their original culture in their day to day life. One essential consequence of this unbroken connection with their roots is that many members of the Hill Tribes have maintained ‘world views’ and values which have not been significantly influenced by a western, industrialized, or materialistic world view. Overall, their cultural frames of reference remain outside and parallel to those of the world’s dominant cultures.

OUR MISSION:

We are a Community Based Tourist program (CBT) aimed at preserving the Lisu culture. In bringing tourists to the village we are very aware of the negative effects this may have on the Hill Tribe culture. It will require bringing a select group of ecotourist minded people who respect the tribal ways and can endure a lack of creature comforts in this rugged and challenging environment. We regard the participatory process of Community Based Tourism development as a catalyst capable of developing essential new skills which will assist the Hill Tribe peoples in the greater task of representing themselves with increased confidence and pride in all areas and to all parties which are challenging their lives.

Importantly, we do not believe that tourism should create ‘alternative careers’ for these virtually self sufficient peoples. The bank account of the Lisu tended to daily, remains, and should remain, their Community Farms & Forrest. We believe that tourism can be a valuable supplementary activity, integrated into the day to day, traditional subsistence activities of the community. Change is happening to be sure, the culture is rapidly moving in the direction of the world’s privileged and affluent. They don’t build a lot of bamboo houses any more, “concrete is much more lasting” they say with a grateful smile. It’s a rare privilege to be with these gentle, fearless people as they bravely face the wave of the future.

We welcome and appreciate your interest and support in this grand endeavor.

LISU INDIGENOUS LIFESTYLE IMMERSION PROGRAM

Our home stay program invites you to EMBRACE the ancient refreshingly natural and nurturing way of life of the ancient Lisu culture. Experience the “back to nature” healing methods and wild edible cuisine of the Hill Tribe people of Northern Thailand.

The Lisu people are a tribe of semi nomadic indigenous people originally from the far North of China and Tibet. Over the last 300 years they have migrated southward through China, Burma and Laos and settled in the rugged mountains of Northern Thailand. Today they are rapidly assimilating into modern Thai lifestyle. The ancient healing ways are falling away. Our mission is to preserve and encourage the traditional lifestyle of the tribe by bringing people from around the world to experience the Lisu lifestyle and help preserve it. At the Lisu Health Retreat we support the old ways of healing and offer them to you. Traditional herbal medicines, Lisu massage, spiritual healing and natural diet are preserved and practiced here. Along with the Lisu healing methods we offer a contemporary menu of alternative healing modalities, internal cleansing and detoxification, emotional clearing, spiritual awakening, vipassana meditation, and lifestyle reeducation are our specialties. Come live with a Lisu family in a traditional bamboo or teak house or stay in a very comfortable nearby guesthouse while experiencing life in the village. Engage yourself in village life style by working and playing side by side with the Lisu people. Enjoy warm hospitality and the simple, earthy, modest, honest, loving and supportive Lisu community. Engage yourself in village life by working and playing side by side with the Lisu people.

CRAFT and CULTURE CLASSES in the LISU VILLAGE

• LISU MUSIC: learn to play and make traditional Lisu instruments, gourd flute, bamboo flute, and 3-string instrument.
• LISU DANCE AND CHANT: Learn the round dance and the courting and blessing chants.
• LISU SEWING: learn to sew colorful Lisu clothes, for men and
• women and children.
• LISU WEAVING, BEADWORK AND BASKET WEAVING.
• MUSHROOM & WILD EDIBLE & MEDICINAL PLANTS: A trek into the mountains with a Lisu and English-speaking guide to identify andcollect edible wild foods and herbal medicines.

  

• LISU DIET AND FOOD PREP: vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicious meals
• LISU SPIRITUALITY AND SHAMANISM: Consultation with the Local Shaman. The Lisu follow a tradition of Animism mixed with Buddhism and Christianity.
• LISU MASSAGE (very different then Thai).

Investment: All fees for the above classes are Bt.1000/day/person ($30 USD), plus cost of materials. Includes room with a Lisu family, delicious home cooked meals and four hours of instruction. (Discount for groups of three or more.) If you choose to stay in a local guest house costs vary.

HOME-STAY ONLY (NO CLASS):

ROOM WITH LISU FAMILY, 3 DELICIOUS HOMECOOKED MEALS, VEG OR NONVEG- BAHT 300/NIGHT/PERSON.

JEWELRY CLASS

Come study with a master jeweler and experience life in a Lisu village at the same time. The teacher has 20 years of jewelry making and teaching experience, now living in the village teaching jewelry.

Investment: Room, board and four hours of instruction @ Bt.1000/day/student, plus cost of materials. (silver &/or gold). Unlimited practice time, Class begins when you arrive, Only two students at a time.

ALSO ENJOY OUR CONTEMPORARY MENU OF ALTERNATIVE HEALING MODALITIES: Internal cleansing and detoxification, emotional clearing, spiritual awakening, vipassana meditation, Swedish massage, acupressure, Hawaiian massage, and lifestyle reeducation are our specialties. Come live in the village or in a very comfortable guesthouse while experiencing life in the village. Enjoy the warm hospitality and simple lifestyle of the people. Take home with you a vibrantly healthy body and a new appreciation for life and a lifestyle that will continue to nourish you each day.
Three to ten day retreats taught by a holistic therapist and vipassana meditation teacher with 25 years experience. Includes daily massage and counseling. Call or email for more information.

DETAILS OF DETOX PROGRAM (INTERNAL CLEANSING) and MEDITATION:

Packages and pricing:
One day & nite intro to lifestyle reeducation and village life: Accommodation in luxury guest house, light Lisu vegetarian meals, unlimited fresh juices, tropical fruit and herbal tea, one hour massage or other therapy of choice, and visit to the village with a Lisu family plus an introductory talk about the Lisu people and lifestyle, one hour health counseling and evening meditation. Baht 1500.

Three day/two nites: same as above each day plus introductory talk about internal cleansing and instructions on how to do the detox at home. Baht 3500.

Seven days/6 nites: The detox, rejuvenation and weight adjustment program: First day same as one day visit plus medical evaluation and individualized detox program design. Second to sixth day, juice fast and cleansing herb drinks, colon cleansing, lifestyle counseling, massage, health lectures and meditation, yoga, play and evening support group gathering. Continuous daily interaction with Lisu People in Lisu village. Baht 7,000.

Longer programs would be an extension of the seven-day program and designed to meet the unique needs of the individual. @ Baht 800/night.

NOTE: We are not a pampering or beauty salon although guests will look well and feel much healthier as a result of their visit here. The results you get depend on the energy you put into following your program.

Sample Schedual(can be adjusted to suit your needs and preferences) for One Week Program:
Daily7:00 Drink water upon awakening, at least one glass or more as you wish. After ten minutes drink herbal tea. About half-hour latter drink water or any non-citric juice with one large tablespoon of detox herbal powder. An optional drink in the morning would be the liver cleanse drink (one cup hot water, one tablespoon olive oil, one juice of whole lemon, one half teaspoon of cayenne, a pinch of salt or a few drops of tamari). Note: all juices are to be diluted with ½ water.
8:00 You may choose to eat seasonal tropical fruit.
9:15 Enema.
10:15 – 12:00 Classes on alternative health practices, lifestyle adjustments, and “how to apply what you learn in your daily life when you return home. A time for questions and discussion.
12: 00 Herb tea and/or juice with detox powder.
1:00 May eat some fruit, steamed or raw vegetables, as you wish.
1:15 –5:00 Group activity or free time to rest, have massage. Activity may be a walk in nature, swim, venture into town, cultural awareness, entertainment, special guest lecture, etc. Also a time for individual counseling.
5:00 Warm vegetable broth and herb tea
7:00 Group support, sharing experience of the day, counseling time, optional movie or local musical entertainment.
9:00 Meditation and teachers discourse and discussion.
10:00 Drink non-acidic juice or water with one large tablespoon of detox powder, time to sleep.

NOTE: Tea, water and juice is available all day. Each day each guest receives a massage and individual counseling. This program can be for three days, one or two weeks, or longer. Depending on the guest’s needs and time constraints the program can be adjusted accordingly.

WHY CHOOSE OUR PROGRAM?
First: our program stands far above most other detox programs in its emphasis on the health of the whole person. We recognize that stress is the most debilitating factor and cause of dis-ease. A major component of our program is devoted to stress management, lifestyle counseling, emotional cleansing and healing, and meditation. We encourage you to cultivate an awareness of your innate healing power. Most programs only address the physical cleansing and miss the elimination of the causes of illness all together. Personal counseling in all aspects of life: relationships, money, life purpose, self-esteem, joyfulness and balance are offered as part of our package. The choice is up to you to accept the counseling or not.
Second: We emphasize education, that is, we teach you the way to heal yourself and stay healthy when you return home. You do not become dependant on us or any one else for your well being. It’s about empowering you to be in charge of you’re your health and your life by practicing a healthy life style. Other programs focus on the physical and soon after you return home you are right back where you started from because you did not have any help in sorting out the cause of your dis-ease. We also believe that you can detox by eating a cleansing diet, fasting is not necessary and can be contraindicated. After your initial evaluation we will recommend fasting or not.
Third: Our accommodations are simple Lisu home style, comfortable and quiet. You do not have to suffer to detox. It is challenging enough to do the cleansing; you deserve to have it made as easy as possible with ample personal support. The director of our program believes in a gentle approach and has over 20 years of experience in supporting people through the rigors of detox. Also we are located far enough away from the pollution of Chiang Mai to guarantee you a nontoxic environment in a beautiful, serene mountain setting with no noise pollution, no chlorine, free fresh filtered mountain spring water and mostly organic garden-fresh food. You will be challenged to find a program in Thailand that can match the quality of our environment. And we are located in a peaceful northern province of Thailand in a predominantly farming community.
FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: call or email Albert and Susanan at:
Homestay@lisuhilltribe.com
Tele: 089-998-4886

Travel Information:

From Bangkok: You can fly direct to Maehongson from Bangkok and then take a bus to Soppong(about two hours). OR Fly, bus or train to Chiang Mai and proceed from Chiang Mai as follows.

From Chiang Mai:

1) Bus from the Arkade bus station to Soppong. Public bus is 130 Baht, minivan is 250 Baht, 4-5 hours. OR take minivan to Pai (150 baht) and public bus to Soppong, 35 baht. The minivan is much more comfortable then the big public bus and faster.

2) Fly to Pai via SGA airlines, about Baht 1500 one way and proceed to Soppong by bus (35 baht, one hour), mini van(150 Baht, make a reservation via travel agent) or taxi (1000 Baht, negotiable).

3) Drive: you can rent a car or motor bike in Chiang Mai or Pai and drive to Soppong if you choose. Email us for more information.

From Pai:

Proceed to Soppong by bus (35 baht, one hour), mini van(150 Baht), make a reservation via travel agent) or taxi (1000 Baht, negotiable).

From Soppong: We will meet you in Soppong and bring you to the village which will be prearranged upon booking a visit with us.

We now have a Lisu Store featuring hand made clothing and accessories made by the village people. Please click on our Lisu Store web page below:

http://www.lisuhilltribe.com/Lisu%20Store.htm