A full-circle moment in Mae Hong Son

✨ A Full-Circle Moment ✨
When I was literally a wee little boy, I remember seeing a photo of my mum and her friend Tracey with the Long Neck Karen tribe. They always spoke with such fond memories about meeting a woman from the village.

Fast forward to April 2023, when we travelled to Pai, I had one mission: to find the mysterious lady from that photo. She wasn’t there, but we met her best friend Mahsae, who told us the woman’s name was Maja and that she now lived in Mae Hong Son.

Months later, before leaving Thailand for my next adventure, I knew I had to try one last time. So, we set off on a 7-hour night bus from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. When we arrived, we tried the local northern Thai dishes: raw laab, rich hung lay curry, and the classic khao soi. Each dish was bursting with flavour, although I was hurting a little from the raw laab (but that’s a story for another time!). Still, it was the perfect welcome before the day ahead.

The next morning, the journey to meet Maja felt truly magical. As we drove through the lush green mountains, low clouds drifted across the hills, painting a mystical backdrop for what was about to be a full-circle moment.

And then there she was, Maja, the same woman from my mum’s photo all those years ago. She even remembered my mum and Tracey, which felt surreal considering how many tourists must pass through. Now, she has a family of her own, and it was such a special moment, one of those rare times when life comes full circle. I even bought a scarf that Maja had made, as a gift for my mum and Tracey, which felt like completing the circle in the most meaningful way.

While it was incredible to meet her, I’m also mindful of the importance of ensuring that the Long Neck Karen tribe are able to keep their resources, preserve their traditions, and not lose the authenticity that makes their culture so unique.

I’ll never forget that day. It was the perfect chapter to close before beginning the next adventure.