I visited Thailand three times in 1988. The first two
visits in April and August were in connection with the launch on the London
Stock Exchange of a fund investing in Thai securities. My working visits
to Bangkok inspired a fascination with Thailand and the Thai people and I came
back that December on a trip spending a few days in Bangkok then driving north
through the countryside to Chiang Mai. From there I visited (by air) Mae
Hong Son on the Thai/Myanmar border and Chiang Rai (by boat). I visited
minority villages in the region including Akha, Blue Hmong, Karen, Lahu and
Mien. This introduction to the different ethnic groups and their varied
textiles started a passion of research, photography and textile collection which has
increased over the years and has led to my further explorations in Vietnam,
Myanmar and, later this year at last, to south-west China from where so many of
the minority groups have migrated.
Thailand Photo galleries
Green (Blue) Hmong minority
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Click on thumbnail for Photo gallery
A gallery of photos of Green (commonly known as Blue) Hmong taken in December 1988 in the north
of Thailand. A few were taken in Mae Hong Son province and remainder
near Chiang Mai in two villages - one on Doi Suthep above Chiang Mai and
the other on Doi Chiang Dao on the road from Chiang Mai to Fang.
See
also the Photo gallery of Green Hmong,
Vietnam which are part of the same
ethnic grouping, as close similarities in much of the clothing
demonstrates.
all text & images © Pamela A Cross
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Karen minority
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Click on thumbnail for Photo gallery
A gallery of photos of Karen taken in December 1988 in the north
of Thailand near Mae Hong Song, along the river Mae Kok between Tha
Thon and Chiang Rai and in the night market at Chiang Mai.
all text & images © Pamela A Cross
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U Lo-Akha minority
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Click on thumbnail for Photo gallery
A gallery of photos of U Lo-Akha taken in December 1988. Most of the Akha in
Thailand today live in Chiang Rai Province. These photos were almost all
taken in a village in the hills around Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.
One photo was taken along the Mae Kok River going down to Chiang Rai.
all text & images © Pamela A Cross
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Yao minority
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Click on thumbnail for Photo gallery
A gallery of photos of Yao (Mien) taken in December 1988 in the north
of Thailand in the hills around Chiang Rai and in the night market at Chiang Mai.
See also Dzao minority Photo
gallery from Vietnam which is part of the same ethnic grouping and there
are close similarities in some of the clothing.
all text & images © Pamela A Cross
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In due course I hope to add in photos of my
textile collections from the minorities to be found in Thailand. I have
quite a few pieces of Yao (Mien) and Akha clothing as well as one or two pieces
of Karen and Hmong.
Click on
to go to website with all new photo galleries of tribal textiles
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