@@ojo6262 This is easy ... in times without corona. Around ChiangMai are about 10 Areas with start CiangMai Tours from 1 day, 1 night up to 3 nights (if now, not sure), I did a lot of them as of like walking / hills, tested this tours for my Tour-guild partner to report. Also Doi Inthanon and Chiang Dao have this trips. But even me, fully vaccinated, avoid areas that are less visited from farang. I can read and DID read news, and know how special in far outside located villages even Thais went against Thais living there, that had to be at home for 14 days until result PCR is clear. OWN Thai people wanted to smash them out, or locked a part of village just 8 km from here, without official order. My advise to Paddy: stay at areas where Tourists was normal and the people depend on it, stop drink alcohol. They just got a bar here also again last night, will get expensive for all of them. Just now at midnight to 09.10. the Market near US Embassy Chiang Mai will get closed for 3 days, as of 40+ ? cases where found, especial at fruit sellers. WE are just back from there ... OPEN even with found cases, logic ? And from my last walk there to toilet I know I have seen all this guys sitting, talking without mask = no wonder. My disinfection bottle in the car bottle holder is my best friend.
Recent covid restrictions in Thailand were that if you returned to your village, you need to quarantine for 14 days at home with no contact with others in the village. Thus the villagers probably thought your guide was breaking the law by bringing a foreigner into the village as a tourist with no consideration for the pandemic situation.That is why you got a cold reception. That would also explain why the regular tourist accommodation you were expecting has been closed down in the village and why you were offered the guides bed.
@@hdj81Vlimited It doesn't matter how long you can walk. It's about an infection by an outsider. Thais are aware that we don't have enough beds for many serious covid patients and our govt doesn't pay any compensation if we die because of covid. Hence, we, locals, need to protect our own community.
@@hathairatjongsermtrakoon5226 Thais are still scared even if they have been vaccinated 3 times and triple mask. This fear will never go away. Various doctors have already said that the mask mandate will be permanent.
It’s never a “travel fail” when you have strong legs, your great attitude, your good health, and wits about you. And what incredible scenery and an incredible workout.
I love how you dealt with the situation, Paddy. You took care of yourself, you were respectful without being a doormat, you weren't angry or resentful, and you made a great video out of it. Hat's off!
I agree the video was nice. I'm watching 99.5% of Paddys videos and I usually like em very much. Thank you Paddy and thumbs up for all those lovely videos. They are much appreciated. 🙏👍 BUT ... being an experienced traveler myself ... Who with any off road travel experience would have wanted to stay in a village when it was so clear foreigners are not welcome? Would YOU, do so Eric ? ... No? ... Staying would have been asking for trouble isn't it? I'd rather say Paddy felt the repellent mood of the villagers and he left before any major problem would arise. If the village would have been further off the track it might not have been possible to leave it so easily. But it wasn't. So leaving was the only right decision to take. Anyone who would't have done so would only confirm that he or she hasn't got enought travel experience and has no gut feeling. You've got enough gut feeling and experience Paddy, right?! 👌😉
Thai here. From what I was told by my family in a northern Thai village, there is a government mandate that any new person/unknown person entering a village must be registered with the village head. This is used to track the potential spread of Covid into that village. Not sure if this is still being practiced in other villages, but I would guess this is the reason for their fear of a newcomer.
@@Craig_Black Laos is even worse. The hill tribes there have been paranoid of outsiders for years and are particularly wary of farang, who they all believe are CIA or something.
@@mbd6054 That goes back to the Vietnam war era when the Hmong were recruited by American mercenaries and practically the only farang such people would interact with. It's kinda true that some activities that missionaries (which are illegal in Laos) conduct are suspect and could be related to intelligence gathering or for other nefarious reasons. I guess for this reason, many hill tribe villagers in Laos are scared of farang. They hear rumors and believe them, and can't distinguish between us, so we're all painted with the same brush. Of course such attitudes don't apply in touristy areas such as along the highway between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang and in tribal villages frequented by tourists, but if you wonder off to some remote Hmong or Akha village somewhere like Phongsali or Luang Nam Tha where the villagers have never seen a farang before, the reception might not be very pleasant. Given that two Laotians ran away from my Thai friend when I told him to ask for directions in Jinghong, China upon seeing a Lao plated car, and I've had Lao tribal people ignore me too, I can totally tell they're paranoid.
You did the right thing by leaving the village. Those village people were scared. I don't think the situation would be improved if you had stayed there overnight.
I've seen unmasked Thais in a shop or at home in the front yard put their shirts over their mouth and nose when an outsider (even a fellow Thai) who isn't wearing a mask gets close. This is more common in poor rural villages than the cities. That would have made me feel uncomfortable too, but was that all that happened? I don't think some brainwashed old Akha women with dirty teeth or whatever tribe they were, covering the lower part of their face would be enough for me to not want to stay in the village, especially if I'm staying in a house half a block away. It would irk me out and sure, I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable, but unless they were throwing bricks at you or hurling violent abuse (were they?) then it's merely a subtle form of discrimination or ignorance. I've been to plenty of places where the reception has been less than welcoming, and this was long before Covid and for the most part was outside of Thailand. For instance, Lao hill tribe people seem to be particularly wary of outsiders and can be quite rude. If you approach them, they run away. In an amusing example, I was in Jinghong, China when we saw a Lao plated car. I was with some international friends, including one Thai guy from Chiang Rai. I was the driver. I asked my friend to get out and ask the guys in Lao (or Thai) for directions. The Lao guys ran away from my friend as soon as he said "sabaidee". So it wasn't a case of them being scared of western foreigners (they didn't even spot me and my Norwegian friend in the car, or our Sri Lankan friend), but they didn't even want to get approached by someone who is basically one of them. By contrast, Thai people, though they can be paranoid now with Covid and all, are not that bad. They will generally provide directions and be polite and all. I've never seen a (real) Thai person run away from a foreigner asking for directions. By real I mean anyone who isn't a member of the hill tribes.
thai people love covid and vaccines......they just believe everything from TV....while in other countries it goes around that the true virus is inside the vaccines
Hahahaha. I see the misinformed are global. I thought it was just here. Oh well. Skip the cure and take your chances. Didn’t work out so great for many thousands.
Thanks for taking us with you along this jungle trek. I think you handled the situation the best way possible. Causing big mayhem would have led you nowhere. Thumbs up!
You have to understand that the tour guide needed money especially in this time of pandemic I may have done the same in his situation .The locals especially in a remote village are scared of getting sick from outsiders I don t blame them ..bless them... and it s not like they ll get benefit on having you there they see you like a threat to get sick . If you travel like that be ready for a real adventure with no comfort ..Roots vibe and that s a great way to relay to them 🙏🏾❤️
It wasn't right to take you up there because he obviously knew the situation. But at the same time, the situation is desperate. You offered some work and he tried his best. Hope everything goes back to normal soon... I really admire what you are doing. And the best part is that you really love doing it 🤗
Hiya Paddy, I just love it when you drop a new video. Bless him for getting you a walking stick. I am so envious of your travels. Thank you for taking us with you. So good to hear the kids have gone back to school. Haha, the farang fruit. That is so funny. Your guide was a lovely man. Great video. Paddy. Beautiful. Your videos are always so informative. You Rock. Sorry, you had to feel like that. Thank you for sharing. I think you are lovely.
You handled the situation very well and as always have a positive spin on it. Try and wear more hats in that sun and avoid skin damage. If I could go back in time and be your age, that's one piece of advice I would give to myself. Thanks for starting my day off with a smile living vicariously thru you once again.
Thank you for taking us on this hike and for the experience and the advice, Paddy! What an adventure! luckily nothing happened! You did the right thing! 👍
That was a huge Next Level adventure. You are a Classy kind of person. I love that about you and the friends that you associate with. Keep things positive even when it sucks. Thanks again!
I guess at the end of the day Paddy, you had an amazing hike with a lovely tour guide and as soon as you said you wanted to leave he got you back to Pai in time for dinner, so even with the hick ups, you had quite an adventure and it was entertaining to watch 🤩 🥜 🍻
Good job “reading the village” rather than driving them to a possible confrontation or causing your guide to be ostracized/shunned by his own village. I do a lot of cycling thru remote villages in Isaan and sometimes get the same vibes-all driven by the pandemic. I respect their feelings, pull up the mask (usually already in place before entering), and don’t stop. By the way, the guide offering you his own bed, despite its condition, is one of the most hospitable gestures an Asian can extend to you. That being said, I would have taken the same route you did. 😉
I would have done the same in that situation. The global situation has made everything different in often surprising ways. I dont see any maliciousness in anyones actions. Hard times require a lot more patience and understanding than easier days. Happy Travels Paddy we appreciate you taking us to so many beautiful corners of Thailand.
Paddy, you're a true pioneer. Thanks for restarting the tourism industry in that small village!! At least you've planted the idea that things aren't getting worse.
As usual Paddy, another really interesting and fascinating presentation......your work, editing and production is so well done that your work is always worth watching.....also the random nature of the changing events that you are experiencing but always take in your stride by incorporating them into your evolving stories further enhances the quality of our viewing.......you must be building up such a big and valuable body of work from presenting all of your adventures.......kudos to you buddy
Ya did the right thing Paddy. Impressive how you respected the sentiments of the villagers & the tour agent’s financial situation. You set a calm & balanced example for post-COVID tourists…never hurts to be patient & kind when in someone else’s country. Keep up the excellent job sir!
I just signed up to visit a Hill Tribe in Northern Thailand with my class of international students, so thank you for making this video! I think, even if a particular village agrees to let foreigners come, it's important to be sensitive to each individual's concerns.✌🏼
You cannot just randomly go to a remote Thai village during Covid and expect a warm welcome, it's unrealistic. Especially given that there are laws in place preventing you from in-and-out of Thai village, especially if you cannot show proof of Covid vaccine. In many Thai villages including mine, you need to quarantine upon arrival if you come from another province.
A lot of people are calling this a bad experience. The tour guide was lovely and helpful, the scenery was stunning and the weather, although hot, was lovely and clear and so perfect for the stunning footage he got. So they didn't hang the bunting out for him at the village because they're terrified of Covid and the lack of tourists meant the usual separate accomodation wasn't set up and he was going to have to rough it a bit. If he was the bald & bankrupt type of travel vlogger he'd probably have seen that as a bonus - added authenticity and good footage the viewers will get a kick out of. But Paddy is a lot like me 😄 - as in thanks but taxi to Pai pronto and a masamum curry and ice cold beverage followed by comfy bed with clean sheets and ideally Aircon. And there's nothing wrong with that at all - he didn't make a big fuss or demand a refund. I feel like it was all pretty fine in the end. No biggie.
Interesting, I just came back from 2 weeks trip in rural hinterland in nothern Thailand close to Fang. In the village I lived during this period of time I faced very similiar behavior. So my friend told me, that we are not welcomed in the neighborhood and with even her relatives. Honestly I expected this behavior because I learned from similiar experiences people reported from South America. I think you can't blame the locals. Apparently it is something like a protection for the community they used to pratice for hundreds of years.
Hello Paddy you handled the situation in a diplomatic and very respectful way considering you had been previously did not expect things had changed. Was a great video.
Not a failed travel trip. But an experience well learnt and earned.. With a gentleman response minus the nitty gritty of frustration.. You earned my respect and admiration of many others who followed your channel and learnt much from this episode.. Cheers..
Wow I bet that’s an experience you’ll never forget Paddy and not particularly for all the right reasons too. Must have been quite surreal experiencing that sort of greeting at the village when arriving, so fair play to you for keeping your composure and being able to get back to the main city/town. Have to say that sink hole location looked incredible though, as you said, it would’ve amazing to be able to get down there and just see what life was down there too Anyway another great video 🙌🏻 safe travels
Great video. The sinkhole was amazing. It was really lame that the tour company did that to you. Not uncommon in Thailand for them to eagerly take the money without providing the proper services. "Get the money" seems to be the priority, no matter where you are, and sometimes they give little thought as to whether the foreigner might be a 'return customer' or give a bad reference to other potential customers. As others have said, you handled it very well. Looks like it was an exhausting day, and I hope you have fully recovered from your trek.
@@hdj81Vlimited What's better in Laos? Laos is worse when it comes to paranoia of foreigners, especially among the hill tribes there. Even long before Covid, hill tribes would run away from falang when they spotted us, unless accompanied by a guide they know.
Nice response pf you regarding the situation,... but it is understandable that the natives had been afraid of the sickness they hear so much on their TVs. Regardless the area you traveled had been very beautiful,...thank you for your great videos...
Truly unbelievable, to travel through villages and those views of the country side is what Thailand is all about . Loved how the guide said the fried rice was ok 👍 😆 . That crater was unbelievable and definitely would of been confronting with the locals but totally understand. Beautiful sunset 🌅. Really enjoyed the Vlog .
Oh my goodness! What an adventure! Next Level...weird???? 555 The best memories are the ones which don't go as expected, really. I have stories from my trip to Lampang, and what makes those tales cool is that they didn't go according to plan. The songtaew driver that took me to eat at the huge Central mall, instead of a side of the road cafe. Why? Because foreigners prefer malls, apparently?? 555 Or the hotel room, puke green, with a fake window...wtf? Thanks for posting this video and congratulations on reaching 40k subs!
Thank you for sharing a true and honest travel experience to what can be expected around traveling Thailand spots at the moment. Considering that amount of places you have visited so far that have been welcoming in true Thailand fashion, not a massive deal breaker. Think I’d still like to do that hike through the farm land and jungle. That view looked absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing another great vlog. 🙏
Great video! I hope that other travelers learn from this and stay away from isolated communities until things get better or until they are welcome there. What happened here is not your fault. Cheers
Wow, sorry to hear about your experience but, like always, you handled it like a champ. I guess I wasnt really surprised about their reaction to an outsider. I had similar experiences with some of my "friends" when I was in Thailand May-July. Some that were looking so forward to my return suddenly were too busy to meet for lunch, etc. Yet, they were still hanging out with their local friends. Just gotta chalk it up to good ole C19 and keep moving along and being positive. Cheers!
Thing is, the mental trauma from Covid will take years even decades to recover from, and some people will be permanently traumatized by it. The world as we knew, will never be the same again.
Thank you so much for this video. This is EXACTLY what a person wants. You update how things are, how to deal with them and in the process we get to see all those beautiful places. 🤗
It makes sense that a secluded village without medical care around wouldn't want an unvaccinated tourist coming into their village and possibly infecting them. It is on the guy that sold you the tour. Good for you for keeping your cool about that. Raising your voice in Thailand never ends well for foreigners. I personally would've questioned the tour operator prior if they are sure if I would be welcomed there. You are safe and that is all that matters honestly.
@@Jersey2WorldTravels I Think take a look yourself.... Why are people with the vaccine still catching the infection? It only reduces the effects. it doesn't stop the spread!!! Do your research before making confident comments 🤣
@@poggmahon1052 Why would you post something so ridiculous? You did absolutely NO research and posted something so idiotic. Of course there is research that shows it prevents the spread of it. Please don't breed. People are dumber for reading your comments.
Never a travel fail, more of an adventure and a learning. It’s the weird experiences that make these trips the most memorable down the road. A bit of a hiccup at the end, which you made the right choices.
Best travel video I've seen in a long time. Most videos are full of sunshine and roses. Anyone who travels lot knows it's not always like that, especially during Covid. You gave an honest account of a challenging situation handled as well as it could be. Keep showing the good with the bad.
Dang, five hour plus walk. I will take the ATV or motorbike. I know a lot of small towns and villages hate to see tourist right now in fear of covid being brought in. I wanted to visit my gf family a while back, I was told I would not be welcomed. Stay away. Should of asked ahead.
@@PaddyDoyle. Ya the old guy with the tour shop knew better, probably just desperate for money. I wanted to go visit my gf family a while back. I was told I would not be welcomed in the village. Stay away.
@@ThailandThomas Depends on the village. The poorer the village, the more "in your face" your neighbors are, the less privacy you have and thus the more socialistic the system is. My wife's family is upper middle class and they own a large plot of land in the country. It is surrounded by a large wall and no one would even know if we went there. Their neighbors are similarly relatively well off, judging by the large houses built on their properties.
Whenever we travelled in remote areas we checked in with the police office or the village leader. We asked if they could recommend trustworthy people to stay with or buy food from and this showed respect.
It is possible that not even the Thais are welcomed there. But, you handled the situation brilliantly, Paddy!! Btw, the tour guide did a great job keeping you safe all the way!!!
you have handle this very nice, great example. you could of argue the refund and I like that you quickly notice the discomfort and extract yourself out of the situation, nicely done.
Very interesting! What camera (and drone) do u use - excellent quality! 5 hrs up and 5 hrs down? If so, not sure if I could make it. So very good you made this video for me and for others that have passed our youngest years!
5:23 Signage, broadband internet 1 Gbps 690 baht/month with cable TV box. If you don't need a cable TV box, it will be left 590 baht/month. It is internet of 3BB 1Gbps/300Mbps.😅
Love the look on the guides face in your first clip of you 'walking away', he's looking straight at the camera and thinking "what's this guy doing, he's left his camera?" lol
When you asked 'Can you go down that sinkhole' ?, he probably thought you wanted him to go down there while you stayed up filming...lol, that is stunning scenery up there, i worked near Sattahip, Rayong in the 1980's for PTT and they have beautiful beaches there, Thailand has it all. this Covid thing is criminal because people don't realise if you're under 80 y-o you will not succumb, it's fear gone silly for the uneducated, this was an excellent video, i worked all around SE Asia and Thailand wins hands down.
Wow that was quite the experience for you. You handled yourself very well as usual, very polite and good natured. Well done 👍 goodness they'll have trouble adapting again in the village.
I would be wary about walking in shorts through the overgrown brush/grass due to ticks. Lyme Disease is prevalent in Thailand. If infected, initial symptoms are flu like, and easily treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated can progress to a more serious diseae. A colleague was put in a wheelchair because of a tick bite.
I would wholeheartedly agree. If trekking thru Thai jungles for 20 years has taught me anything, it’s NO SHORTS. Long pants, especially, reduce the potential of snakebite exponentially. Better a cobra snag his fangs on your loose-fitting trekking pants that your bare epidermis. That waist-high stuff you were slugging through with bare legs had me cringing the enter time. 😬 The basic idea here: Drop the movie image of all those 19th century shorts-cladded British explorers traipsing thru the jungles of Africa and Burma (“Dr. Livingston, I presume?”), and you’ll be OK. 😉
@@jdavies212msu Yes, snakes are a real danger. I've been bitten myself ! I was thinking much the same as you while watching Paddy walking through the long grass. Never step where you can't see what you're stepping on...I learnt that the hard way !
I like this kind of video's so much . beautifull jungle and landschape. You must have been in great shape to do such a long walk in the heat and high humidity. Remember this situation is an other great story to tell your grandchildren. Bless you Paddy . by the way, colourgrading at best !
Hi Paddy think you handled the situation very well. If you were the first to approach the village it was a bit of unknown situation for everyone. I loved the tour guide seemed a humble guy. I agree totally I could only sleep in a clean bed even if it was a wooden hut. Hey ho another Paddy Doyle adventure!!! 🕸🕷
The Lisu Village I was guided to last time has been up in the mountains near the border, lonely enough to be far away from any possibility to drive. The Lisu did not even speek Thai but were very friendly and I wouldn't wear a mask while they don't. The hardest part seems to be finding a good guide. My recommendation is not to book in a tour office in Pai but start from Maehongson and ask the host where you stay at. They know experienced guides leading great tours to real far out spots. Another recommendation: Always be prepaired for everything and don't eat raw minced wild pork when offered due to tapeworm larvae.
Another nice vid Mr Doyle. As an expat living here, been round a lot of places you cover, but always good to see through another's eyes. Shame the agent fella could not do the decent thing, glad this kind of practice is now exposed. Guess being a post Covid pioneer like yourself will occasionally turn up a bad egg or two. Keep 'em coming :)
Now I have seen the entire video 😳 Good decision going back to your hotel! The man should have given you a refund, or at least given part of it to your tour guide! Your guide seemed to try really hard to give you a nice tour. Well, at least he has a good story to tell?🤭
Wow! What a trip! Totally agree with you. The old travel agent tried to scam you. When it comes to deal with a mediators, it is better to to make sure about details. Stay safe!
Dear Mr.D:If you have any chances to visit the high hill called 'Pang Ma Pa'(ปางมะพ่า),you should take the pics.of the mountain.It's the nice natural scenery.
Your trek in Northern Thailand would be more acceptable if you had simply stated that you were taking a walk through developed trails an area of mostly farmland and some woodlands. There are some areas in Northern Thailand that are considered seasonal forests, the term "jungles" isn't appropriate for the areas that you visited. Your assumption that everything would be the same as your previous visit before Covid is rather naïve.
Its defintely fair to charge you the full amount, you cancelled without warning and inconvenienced your guide considerably after he worked so hard for you all day. Its pretty well known that small villages are currently wary of outsiders. If youd stayed I bet it woukd have been an amazing time Ive had great trips sleeping on the floor of village huts.
I would have stayed in the village. I would have asked the guide to speak to the locals... Before I became handicapped, by being blown up, both legs above the knee amputation.. I learned to go with the bloody flow. I usually found i earned the respect we needed to get along..I was a broadcast engineer for 40 years in 80 countries.. sometimes, things could be a bit tight but we always favored out. I am sorry things went a bit rough. CLIff
Did the villages change over the last 10 years? Has the landscape changed? Btw. You negotiated the situation like the travel pro you are and managed to make great content nevertheless.
It’s very interesting trip , I would love to experience it, good exercise for sure lol . I remember more than 30 years ago I had experience something similar to your trip , it’s was very good and interesting experience I never forget, thank you for sharing
🔓UNLOCK the next episode right NOW and become a channel member here - ruclips.net/channel/UCU1wi0E8d98o0KTaOGJbiegjoin
I'm Thai and I dream of doing a trekking like this once in my life. It's an amazing video.
@@ojo6262 This is easy ... in times without corona.
Around ChiangMai are about 10 Areas with start CiangMai Tours from 1 day, 1 night up to 3 nights (if now, not sure), I did a lot of them as of like walking / hills, tested this tours for my Tour-guild partner to report. Also Doi Inthanon and Chiang Dao have this trips.
But even me, fully vaccinated, avoid areas that are less visited from farang.
I can read and DID read news, and know how special in far outside located villages even Thais went against Thais living there, that had to be at home for 14 days until result PCR is clear. OWN Thai people wanted to smash them out, or locked a part of village just 8 km from here, without official order.
My advise to Paddy: stay at areas where Tourists was normal and the people depend on it, stop drink alcohol. They just got a bar here also again last night, will get expensive for all of them.
Just now at midnight to 09.10. the Market near US Embassy Chiang Mai will get closed for 3 days, as of 40+ ? cases where found, especial at fruit sellers. WE are just back from there ... OPEN even with found cases, logic ? And from my last walk there to toilet I know I have seen all this guys sitting, talking without mask = no wonder.
My disinfection bottle in the car bottle holder is my best friend.
Hey @Paddy Doyle we love your video, wish we can go to Thailand and a lot of adventure like yours, you have fan here from Singapore
ok you my hero, i never would have done this
Recent covid restrictions in Thailand were that if you returned to your village, you need to quarantine for 14 days at home with no contact with others in the village. Thus the villagers probably thought your guide was breaking the law by bringing a foreigner into the village as a tourist with no consideration for the pandemic situation.That is why you got a cold reception. That would also explain why the regular tourist accommodation you were expecting has been closed down in the village and why you were offered the guides bed.
if you have covid, you don't walk 5 hours in 35°C.
Same reception in most places now open in Phuket! You have money ugh?
@@hdj81Vlimited It doesn't matter how long you can walk. It's about an infection by an outsider. Thais are aware that we don't have enough beds for many serious covid patients and our govt doesn't pay any compensation if we die because of covid. Hence, we, locals, need to protect our own community.
That's right
@@hathairatjongsermtrakoon5226 Thais are still scared even if they have been vaccinated 3 times and triple mask. This fear will never go away.
Various doctors have already said that the mask mandate will be permanent.
It’s never a “travel fail” when you have strong legs, your great attitude, your good health, and wits about you. And what incredible scenery and an incredible workout.
I love how you dealt with the situation, Paddy. You took care of yourself, you were respectful without being a doormat, you weren't angry or resentful, and you made a great video out of it. Hat's off!
I appreciate that thanks Eric!
I agree the video was nice. I'm watching 99.5% of Paddys videos and I usually like em very much. Thank you Paddy and thumbs up for all those lovely videos. They are much appreciated. 🙏👍
BUT ... being an experienced traveler myself ... Who with any off road travel experience would have wanted to stay in a village when it was so clear foreigners are not welcome? Would YOU, do so Eric ? ... No? ... Staying would have been asking for trouble isn't it? I'd rather say Paddy felt the repellent mood of the villagers and he left before any major problem would arise. If the village would have been further off the track it might not have been possible to leave it so easily. But it wasn't. So leaving was the only right decision to take. Anyone who would't have done so would only confirm that he or she hasn't got enought travel experience and has no gut feeling.
You've got enough gut feeling and experience Paddy, right?! 👌😉
What was there to be angry about? The only ones justified to be angry were the hilltribe villagers.. And they weren't angry
Doormat!!! Honestly man... where have you been all your life!! Get a job!
@@suzy5166 Talking to me?
Thai here. From what I was told by my family in a northern Thai village, there is a government mandate that any new person/unknown person entering a village must be registered with the village head. This is used to track the potential spread of Covid into that village. Not sure if this is still being practiced in other villages, but I would guess this is the reason for their fear of a newcomer.
It’s the same in Laos too right now.
@@Craig_Black Laos is even worse. The hill tribes there have been paranoid of outsiders for years and are particularly wary of farang, who they all believe are CIA or something.
@@therock8224 CIA??? Why?
@@mbd6054 That goes back to the Vietnam war era when the Hmong were recruited by American mercenaries and practically the only farang such people would interact with.
It's kinda true that some activities that missionaries (which are illegal in Laos) conduct are suspect and could be related to intelligence gathering or for other nefarious reasons. I guess for this reason, many hill tribe villagers in Laos are scared of farang. They hear rumors and believe them, and can't distinguish between us, so we're all painted with the same brush. Of course such attitudes don't apply in touristy areas such as along the highway between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang and in tribal villages frequented by tourists, but if you wonder off to some remote Hmong or Akha village somewhere like Phongsali or Luang Nam Tha where the villagers have never seen a farang before, the reception might not be very pleasant.
Given that two Laotians ran away from my Thai friend when I told him to ask for directions in Jinghong, China upon seeing a Lao plated car, and I've had Lao tribal people ignore me too, I can totally tell they're paranoid.
@@therock8224 Thank you for your very interesting reply. Much appreciated.
You did the right thing by leaving the village. Those village people were scared. I don't think the situation would be improved if you had stayed there overnight.
I think so too
I've seen unmasked Thais in a shop or at home in the front yard put their shirts over their mouth and nose when an outsider (even a fellow Thai) who isn't wearing a mask gets close. This is more common in poor rural villages than the cities.
That would have made me feel uncomfortable too, but was that all that happened? I don't think some brainwashed old Akha women with dirty teeth or whatever tribe they were, covering the lower part of their face would be enough for me to not want to stay in the village, especially if I'm staying in a house half a block away. It would irk me out and sure, I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable, but unless they were throwing bricks at you or hurling violent abuse (were they?) then it's merely a subtle form of discrimination or ignorance.
I've been to plenty of places where the reception has been less than welcoming, and this was long before Covid and for the most part was outside of Thailand.
For instance, Lao hill tribe people seem to be particularly wary of outsiders and can be quite rude. If you approach them, they run away.
In an amusing example, I was in Jinghong, China when we saw a Lao plated car. I was with some international friends, including one Thai guy from Chiang Rai. I was the driver. I asked my friend to get out and ask the guys in Lao (or Thai) for directions. The Lao guys ran away from my friend as soon as he said "sabaidee". So it wasn't a case of them being scared of western foreigners (they didn't even spot me and my Norwegian friend in the car, or our Sri Lankan friend), but they didn't even want to get approached by someone who is basically one of them.
By contrast, Thai people, though they can be paranoid now with Covid and all, are not that bad. They will generally provide directions and be polite and all. I've never seen a (real) Thai person run away from a foreigner asking for directions. By real I mean anyone who isn't a member of the hill tribes.
One of the most hard-working and likeable vloggers on earth !!! I cannot thank you more...you deserve the best.
Villagers may be afraid of covids, so they don't want to pick up tourists. Normally, some hill tribes don't smile. and be very careful of strangers
thai people love covid and vaccines......they just believe everything from TV....while in other countries it goes around that the true virus is inside the vaccines
@@WrongBirthday AHHHH….and your “knowledge” is so backward and full of it. Roll eyes.
I though Thai people like to smile, maybe they change because of COVID 🤭🤭😃
@@jomontanee its true, the virus IS INSIDE the vaccin..... and its a GEN therapie. its not a medicine..........
Hahahaha. I see the misinformed are global. I thought it was just here. Oh well. Skip the cure and take your chances. Didn’t work out so great for many thousands.
Thanks for taking us with you along this jungle trek. I think you handled the situation the best way possible. Causing big mayhem would have led you nowhere. Thumbs up!
Each day brings a new adventure. I believe you handled it like the trooper that you are! Congratulations
I hope so!
Trooper???
@@martin36959 it is An American expression for someone that is strong and does the “right” thing in a given situation.
@@williamjusick2404 Thanks for explaining the expression, to be a trooper.
You have to understand that the tour guide needed money especially in this time of pandemic I may have done the same in his situation .The locals especially in a remote village are scared of getting sick from outsiders I don t blame them ..bless them... and it s not like they ll get benefit on having you there they see you like a threat to get sick . If you travel like that be ready for a real adventure with no comfort ..Roots vibe and that s a great way to relay to them 🙏🏾❤️
You don't blame them? I do. Ignorant as sh*t. My idea of hell. Pai's nice though. No hos.
@@tamsinthai Well said. After all this time they still don't get it. Then again, uneducated people are by definition ignorant.
@@therock8224 Fair point, but they are purposely kept that way. Easier to control. As we are seeing everywhere.
@@tamsinthai For sure. The media is doing a mighty fine job at keeping people in line too.
It wasn't right to take you up there because he obviously knew the situation.
But at the same time, the situation is desperate. You offered some work and he tried his best. Hope everything goes back to normal soon...
I really admire what you are doing. And the best part is that you really love doing it 🤗
Hiya Paddy, I just love it when you drop a new video. Bless him for getting you a walking stick. I am so envious of your travels. Thank you for taking us with you. So good to hear the kids have gone back to school. Haha, the farang fruit. That is so funny. Your guide was a lovely man. Great video. Paddy. Beautiful. Your videos are always so informative. You Rock. Sorry, you had to feel like that. Thank you for sharing. I think you are lovely.
Thanks so much! Nicky! :)
You handled the situation very well and as always have a positive spin on it. Try and wear more hats in that sun and avoid skin damage. If I could go back in time and be your age, that's one piece of advice I would give to myself.
Thanks for starting my day off with a smile living vicariously thru you once again.
Thank you for taking us on this hike and for the experience and the advice, Paddy! What an adventure! luckily nothing happened! You did the right thing! 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was a huge Next Level adventure. You are a Classy kind of person. I love that about you and the friends that you associate with. Keep things positive even when it sucks. Thanks again!
Thanks Mike
I guess at the end of the day Paddy, you had an amazing hike with a lovely tour guide and as soon as you said you wanted to leave he got you back to Pai in time for dinner, so even with the hick ups, you had quite an adventure and it was entertaining to watch 🤩 🥜 🍻
Good job “reading the village” rather than driving them to a possible confrontation or causing your guide to be ostracized/shunned by his own village.
I do a lot of cycling thru remote villages in Isaan and sometimes get the same vibes-all driven by the pandemic. I respect their feelings, pull up the mask (usually already in place before entering), and don’t stop.
By the way, the guide offering you his own bed, despite its condition, is one of the most hospitable gestures an Asian can extend to you. That being said, I would have taken the same route you did. 😉
I would have done the same in that situation. The global situation has made everything different in often surprising ways. I dont see any maliciousness in anyones actions. Hard times require a lot more patience and understanding than easier days. Happy Travels Paddy we appreciate you taking us to so many beautiful corners of Thailand.
Well done for the way you handled the situation. You were very respectful. I’m glad you got back to normality and you are safe.
Paddy, you're a true pioneer. Thanks for restarting the tourism industry in that small village!! At least you've planted the idea that things aren't getting worse.
Great video Paddy! thanks for sharing!!
As usual Paddy, another really interesting and fascinating presentation......your work, editing and production is so well done that your work is always worth watching.....also the random nature of the changing events that you are experiencing but always take in your stride by incorporating them into your evolving stories further enhances the quality of our viewing.......you must be building up such a big and valuable body of work from presenting all of your adventures.......kudos to you buddy
I hate selecting something to view and discovering I have to set a reminder. NO I DON'T SET REMINDERS. I just view.
Ya did the right thing Paddy. Impressive how you respected the sentiments of the villagers & the tour agent’s financial situation. You set a calm & balanced example for post-COVID tourists…never hurts to be patient & kind when in someone else’s country. Keep up the excellent job sir!
I just signed up to visit a Hill Tribe in Northern Thailand with my class of international students, so thank you for making this video! I think, even if a particular village agrees to let foreigners come, it's important to be sensitive to each individual's concerns.✌🏼
Handled the whole situation like a champ! Seriously couldn’t have done any better 👌😊 Super respectful!
You cannot just randomly go to a remote Thai village during Covid and expect a warm welcome, it's unrealistic. Especially given that there are laws in place preventing you from in-and-out of Thai village, especially if you cannot show proof of Covid vaccine. In many Thai villages including mine, you need to quarantine upon arrival if you come from another province.
Quarantine does not work .Vaccinated in Israel coming down with covid while those not va xed healthy
A lot of people are calling this a bad experience.
The tour guide was lovely and helpful, the scenery was stunning and the weather, although hot, was lovely and clear and so perfect for the stunning footage he got.
So they didn't hang the bunting out for him at the village because they're terrified of Covid and the lack of tourists meant the usual separate accomodation wasn't set up and he was going to have to rough it a bit.
If he was the bald & bankrupt type of travel vlogger he'd probably have seen that as a bonus - added authenticity and good footage the viewers will get a kick out of.
But Paddy is a lot like me 😄 - as in thanks but taxi to Pai pronto and a masamum curry and ice cold beverage followed by comfy bed with clean sheets and ideally Aircon. And there's nothing wrong with that at all - he didn't make a big fuss or demand a refund.
I feel like it was all pretty fine in the end. No biggie.
Interesting, I just came back from 2 weeks trip in rural hinterland in nothern Thailand close to Fang. In the village I lived during this period of time I faced very similiar behavior. So my friend told me, that we are not welcomed in the neighborhood and with even her relatives. Honestly I expected this behavior because I learned from similiar experiences people reported from South America. I think you can't blame the locals. Apparently it is something like a protection for the community they used to pratice for hundreds of years.
Hello Paddy you handled the situation in a diplomatic and very respectful way considering you had been previously did not expect things had changed. Was a great video.
thanks Sue
Not a failed travel trip. But an experience well learnt and earned.. With a gentleman response minus the nitty gritty of frustration.. You earned my respect and admiration of many others who followed your channel and learnt much from this episode.. Cheers..
Wow I bet that’s an experience you’ll never forget Paddy and not particularly for all the right reasons too. Must have been quite surreal experiencing that sort of greeting at the village when arriving, so fair play to you for keeping your composure and being able to get back to the main city/town. Have to say that sink hole location looked incredible though, as you said, it would’ve amazing to be able to get down there and just see what life was down there too
Anyway another great video 🙌🏻 safe travels
Great video. The sinkhole was amazing. It was really lame that the tour company did that to you. Not uncommon in Thailand for them to eagerly take the money without providing the proper services. "Get the money" seems to be the priority, no matter where you are, and sometimes they give little thought as to whether the foreigner might be a 'return customer' or give a bad reference to other potential customers. As others have said, you handled it very well. Looks like it was an exhausting day, and I hope you have fully recovered from your trek.
yes, better Laos.
@@hdj81Vlimited What's better in Laos? Laos is worse when it comes to paranoia of foreigners, especially among the hill tribes there. Even long before Covid, hill tribes would run away from falang when they spotted us, unless accompanied by a guide they know.
Really enjoy watching this kind of video,pls do more of this adventure its so fascinating. Thanks Paddy!
Nice response pf you regarding the situation,... but it is understandable that the natives had been afraid of the sickness they hear so much on their TVs. Regardless the area you traveled had been very beautiful,...thank you for your great videos...
Regardless of all the Village drama, the trekking in the video was excellent. You had a lot of great landscape footage.
right!?..he showed us a lot of beautiful and peaceful scenes of this village so there is no drama in this vlog..but just because COVID-19
Got addicted to your videos recently man. I think you’re gonna get really far.
What a great experience! This is how you make a great video!
Truly unbelievable, to travel through villages and those views of the country side is what Thailand is all about . Loved how the guide said the fried rice was ok 👍 😆 . That crater was unbelievable and definitely would of been confronting with the locals but totally understand. Beautiful sunset 🌅. Really enjoyed the Vlog .
Couldn't agree more!
Oh my goodness! What an adventure! Next Level...weird???? 555
The best memories are the ones which don't go as expected, really. I have stories from my trip to Lampang, and what makes those tales cool is that they didn't go according to plan. The songtaew driver that took me to eat at the huge Central mall, instead of a side of the road cafe. Why? Because foreigners prefer malls, apparently?? 555 Or the hotel room, puke green, with a fake window...wtf?
Thanks for posting this video and congratulations on reaching 40k subs!
Thank you for sharing a true and honest travel experience to what can be expected around traveling Thailand spots at the moment. Considering that amount of places you have visited so far that have been welcoming in true Thailand fashion, not a massive deal breaker. Think I’d still like to do that hike through the farm land and jungle. That view looked absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing another great vlog. 🙏
Love your positive attitude dude. Amazing sink hole and beautiful sunset. Thanks for showing us around. 🙏 Keep up the good work, you`re a star! 👍
WOW!! That was one hell of an adventure Paddy. You showed us some beautiful countryside along the way. You did the right thing. 🙏👍
Great video! I hope that other travelers learn from this and stay away from isolated communities until things get better or until they are welcome there. What happened here is not your fault. Cheers
I don’t think you’ll get that in Malaysia.
Amazing video thanks for share 😀👍
All in all, it was still a memorable adventure! Thanks for sharing Paddy and making my Friday a little more interesting!
Wow, sorry to hear about your experience but, like always, you handled it like a champ.
I guess I wasnt really surprised about their reaction to an outsider. I had similar experiences with some of my "friends" when I was in Thailand May-July. Some that were looking so forward to my return suddenly were too busy to meet for lunch, etc. Yet, they were still hanging out with their local friends. Just gotta chalk it up to good ole C19 and keep moving along and being positive.
Cheers!
Thing is, the mental trauma from Covid will take years even decades to recover from, and some people will be permanently traumatized by it. The world as we knew, will never be the same again.
Its not a failure but an exciting adventure. Enjoyed this video very much. Great video.
Thank you so much for this video. This is EXACTLY what a person wants. You update how things are, how to deal with them and in the process we get to see all those beautiful places. 🤗
Thanks mate 😃
It makes sense that a secluded village without medical care around wouldn't want an unvaccinated tourist coming into their village and possibly infecting them. It is on the guy that sold you the tour. Good for you for keeping your cool about that. Raising your voice in Thailand never ends well for foreigners. I personally would've questioned the tour operator prior if they are sure if I would be welcomed there. You are safe and that is all that matters honestly.
Vaccination or Not....You can still transmit the virus....
@@poggmahon1052 Bullshit. Look at the science! Vaccinations prevent the spread of it!
@@poggmahon1052 Good Lord....look at the science for God sakes.
@@Jersey2WorldTravels I Think take a look yourself.... Why are people with the vaccine still catching the infection? It only reduces the effects. it doesn't stop the spread!!! Do your research before making confident comments 🤣
@@poggmahon1052 Why would you post something so ridiculous? You did absolutely NO research and posted something so idiotic. Of course there is research that shows it prevents the spread of it. Please don't breed. People are dumber for reading your comments.
Never a travel fail, more of an adventure and a learning. It’s the weird experiences that make these trips the most memorable down the road. A bit of a hiccup at the end, which you made the right choices.
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Paddy.
Next level adventures mate! Great video
what a wonderfull walk am enjoy your trip, sad can do that because of my lung problems so thanks for this great walk Paddy
You have a great attitude and handled that really well.
Best travel video I've seen in a long time. Most videos are full of sunshine and roses. Anyone who travels lot knows it's not always like that, especially during Covid. You gave an honest account of a challenging situation handled as well as it could be. Keep showing the good with the bad.
Dang, five hour plus walk. I will take the ATV or motorbike. I know a lot of small towns and villages hate to see tourist right now in fear of covid being brought in. I wanted to visit my gf family a while back, I was told I would not be welcomed. Stay away. Should of asked ahead.
yeah but when you pay to stay over in a village you assume its a welcoming place... lesson learned
@@PaddyDoyle. Ya the old guy with the tour shop knew better, probably just desperate for money. I wanted to go visit my gf family a while back. I was told I would not be welcomed in the village. Stay away.
@@ThailandThomas Depends on the village. The poorer the village, the more "in your face" your neighbors are, the less privacy you have and thus the more socialistic the system is.
My wife's family is upper middle class and they own a large plot of land in the country. It is surrounded by a large wall and no one would even know if we went there. Their neighbors are similarly relatively well off, judging by the large houses built on their properties.
Hey Paddy! Those green peanuts are a natural laxative! As I’m sure you found out! I wouldn’t be eating those if I was hiking across country!
Very honest & useful video showing how things are now & probably will be with the covid hangover for a very long time!
Great Video. Nice view!
Whenever we travelled in remote areas we checked in with the police office or the village leader. We asked if they could recommend trustworthy people to stay with or buy food from and this showed respect.
It is possible that not even the Thais are welcomed there. But, you handled the situation brilliantly, Paddy!! Btw, the tour guide did a great job keeping you safe all the way!!!
This was so funny mate. One of my favourites. We’ve all been in a similar situation so can definitely relate
Great video. Looks amazing.
Good informative tour...thnx
you have handle this very nice, great example. you could of argue the refund and I like that you quickly notice the discomfort and extract yourself out of the situation, nicely done.
Very interesting! What camera (and drone) do u use - excellent quality! 5 hrs up and 5 hrs down? If so, not sure if I could make it. So very good you made this video for me and for others that have passed our youngest years!
Looks incredible! I would love to do this trek! Have a great day Paddy!
5:23 Signage, broadband internet 1 Gbps 690 baht/month with cable TV box. If you don't need a cable TV box, it will be left 590 baht/month. It is internet of 3BB 1Gbps/300Mbps.😅
Love the look on the guides face in your first clip of you 'walking away', he's looking straight at the camera and thinking "what's this guy doing, he's left his camera?" lol
Omg. What an adventure. Like many other comments, handled it like a trooper!
thanks Justin
Bit disappointed you didnt take up your guides hospitality! Great video, thanks.
Great vlog Paddy, regards from England 👍👍
Well done Mate.
Thanks for your Videos 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I enjoy them a lot ☺️☺️
It Was great another awesome next level adventure Sir love it all thanx for taking us along 😀👍
That was brilliant ! Thanks
More story videos like this please, Paddy!
When you asked 'Can you go down that sinkhole' ?, he probably thought you wanted him to go down there while you stayed up filming...lol, that is stunning scenery up there, i worked near Sattahip, Rayong in the 1980's for PTT and they have beautiful beaches there, Thailand has it all. this Covid thing is criminal because people don't realise if you're under 80 y-o you will not succumb, it's fear gone silly for the uneducated, this was an excellent video, i worked all around SE Asia and Thailand wins hands down.
Looks like a great trek with a mountain bike!! Happy travels!!
Awesome vid Paddy well done on that hike 🚶♂️ 👏 👍 beautiful scenery. Thanks from New Zealand 🇳🇿 😊
great video!
An adventure of a different level!
haha right...
Wow that was quite the experience for you. You handled yourself very well as usual, very polite and good natured. Well done 👍 goodness they'll have trouble adapting again in the village.
I would be wary about walking in shorts through the overgrown brush/grass due to ticks. Lyme Disease is prevalent in Thailand. If infected, initial symptoms are flu like, and easily treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated can progress to a more serious diseae. A colleague was put in a wheelchair because of a tick bite.
I would wholeheartedly agree. If trekking thru Thai jungles for 20 years has taught me anything, it’s NO SHORTS.
Long pants, especially, reduce the potential of snakebite exponentially. Better a cobra snag his fangs on your loose-fitting trekking pants that your bare epidermis. That waist-high stuff you were slugging through with bare legs had me cringing the enter time. 😬
The basic idea here: Drop the movie image of all those 19th century shorts-cladded British explorers traipsing thru the jungles of Africa and Burma (“Dr. Livingston, I presume?”), and you’ll be OK. 😉
@@jdavies212msu Yes, snakes are a real danger. I've been bitten myself ! I was thinking much the same as you while watching Paddy walking through the long grass. Never step where you can't see what you're stepping on...I learnt that the hard way !
Thanks for the info
I like this kind of video's so much . beautifull jungle and landschape. You must have been in great shape to do such a long walk in the heat and high humidity. Remember this situation is an other great story to tell your grandchildren. Bless you Paddy . by the way, colourgrading at best !
Glad you enjoyed it :)
Hi Paddy think you handled the situation very well.
If you were the first to approach the village it was a bit of unknown situation for everyone. I loved the tour guide seemed a humble guy. I agree totally I could only sleep in a clean bed even if it was a wooden hut.
Hey ho another Paddy Doyle adventure!!! 🕸🕷
The Lisu Village I was guided to last time has been up in the mountains near the border, lonely enough to be far away from any possibility to drive. The Lisu did not even speek Thai but were very friendly and I wouldn't wear a mask while they don't. The hardest part seems to be finding a good guide. My recommendation is not to book in a tour office in Pai but start from Maehongson and ask the host where you stay at. They know experienced guides leading great tours to real far out spots. Another recommendation: Always be prepaired for everything and don't eat raw minced wild pork when offered due to tapeworm larvae.
Die Lisu‘s sind manchmal nicht so freundlich, auch bevor covid.
Another nice vid Mr Doyle. As an expat living here, been round a lot of places you cover, but always good to see through another's eyes. Shame the agent fella could not do the decent thing, glad this kind of practice is now exposed. Guess being a post Covid pioneer like yourself will occasionally turn up a bad egg or two. Keep 'em coming :)
Love how you described the flowers 🌻 red ones, blue ones, all sorts! Lol... that would be my answer too! Very nice hike!
Now I have seen the entire video 😳 Good decision going back to your hotel! The man should have given you a refund, or at least given part of it to your tour guide! Your guide seemed to try really hard to give you a nice tour. Well, at least he has a good story to tell?🤭
Wow! What a trip! Totally agree with you. The old travel agent tried to scam you. When it comes to deal with a mediators, it is better to to make sure about details. Stay safe!
Dear Mr.D:If you have any chances to visit the high hill called 'Pang Ma Pa'(ปางมะพ่า),you should take the pics.of the mountain.It's the nice natural scenery.
Your trek in Northern Thailand would be more acceptable if you had simply stated that you were taking a walk through developed trails an area of mostly farmland and some woodlands. There are some areas in Northern Thailand that are considered seasonal forests, the term "jungles" isn't appropriate for the areas that you visited. Your assumption that everything would be the same as your previous visit before Covid is rather naïve.
Its defintely fair to charge you the full amount, you cancelled without warning and inconvenienced your guide considerably after he worked so hard for you all day. Its pretty well known that small villages are currently wary of outsiders. If youd stayed I bet it woukd have been an amazing time Ive had great trips sleeping on the floor of village huts.
I would have stayed in the village. I would have asked the guide to speak to the locals... Before I became handicapped, by being blown up, both legs above the knee amputation.. I learned to go with the bloody flow. I usually found i earned the respect we needed to get along..I was a broadcast engineer for 40 years in 80 countries.. sometimes, things could be a bit tight but we always favored out. I am sorry things went a bit rough. CLIff
I agree. Although it would have been better if the travel agent had spoken to the villagers in advance.
@@therock8224 true..
Did the villages change over the last 10 years? Has the landscape changed? Btw. You negotiated the situation like the travel pro you are and managed to make great content nevertheless.
How did you find your tour guide's services? I'd love to look into it more!
It’s very interesting trip , I would love to experience it, good exercise for sure lol .
I remember more than 30 years ago I had experience something similar to your trip , it’s was very good and interesting experience I never forget, thank you for sharing