The climate in Chiang Mai can be very hot during the summer months - with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius in April, turning more humid in the later part of the summer. For UK visitors, November to January are more comfortable, with temperatures more akin to a warm summer in Britain. The hill tribe areas north of Chiang Mai, heading towards the border, are always cooler and can be quite cold at night during the winter months.
Chiang Mai is in the northern part of Thailand - and is the second largest city in Thailand. In many ways it is a gateway to countries to the North of Thailand - and often becomes a base for relief agencies, mission agencies and tourists who are planning to visit the hill tribe areas surrounding it. It also serves as a major centre of tourism itself.
Chiang Mai contains many very old temples including Wat Chiang Man, which was originally a camp of King Mengrai (so it is thought). In 1287, he established the Lanna Thai kingdom. Chiang Mai was established soon afterwards in 1297. It lies 700 km (434 miles) north of Bangkok. Chiang Mai is situated in a fertile valley, surrounded by green hills, on the west bank of the Ping river.
The original city is dominated by a square moat, encompassing the old city and entered by five main gates - Chang Puak Gate in the north, Tha Phae Gate in the east, Chiang Mai Gate and Suan Prung Gate in the south and Suan Dok Gate in the west.
To the north and west of the hill tribe area beyond Chiang Mai is Burma (Myanmar) and to the east is Laos and Yunnan province in China - where a variety of tribal groups originate. Karen and Karenni tribal refugees from Burma are given refugee status in Thailand, but Shan tribal refugees (mostly from Shan State in Burma) are not. This creates considerable problems for them in getting access to resources in Thailand and some live in very difficult conditions within Chiang Mai itself. Many feel a bitter hatred towards the Burmese government for atrocities against their people, and where possible, many of the young men are keen to fight in the Shan Independence Army against the Burmese.
Refugees from Burma have often suffered terrible atrocities by the time they reach places such as Chiang Mai or refugee camps near the border. The border itself is not a safe place for many of them. Burma has systematically sought to eradicate whole villages of tribal groups like the Shan, Karen and Karenni, burning down the homes, forcing children into their military and raping women. Many orphans are left to wander in the jungles and are prey to traders who seek to sell them into prostitution at the border. There are high numbers of child soldiers, conscripted by force into the military in Burma.
Back to topThe area around Chiang Mai and the city itself has considerable social problems relating to drugs - with the so-called golden triangle (around Chiang Rai) being the focus of much heroin production. AIDS and HIVhas a devastating effect on northern Thailand.
It was noted one 'purge' within recent years to try and crack down on drug addicts in Chiang Mai involved the local police force going round to known addicts and literally shooting them at point blank range.
The presence of many foreigners in Chiang Mai has not inspired respect in the local population. Generally speaking they are seen as part of the problem and very often, quite justifiably so.
Research done in the late 1990's, by Philip Lim (previously with the Austrailian Red Cross) and from information gleaned by Hylanders Mission Priority (HMP), gives some insight into the prostitution issues in the area - and sadly the situation prevails much as it did at the time.
At the time it was estimated that around 10,000 women were coming from Shan state in Burma per year. Efforts to contain HIV among native Thai's could not be very effective it was concluded, among groups such as these who could not communicate in the local language. It is reckoned that most prostitutes will become HIV positive within six months. Many girls were also noted to have come from Yunnan province in China as well as Lao and Cambodian girls entering the population of local prostitutes in Thailand.
It was noted that the focus on selling 'virgin' prostitutes fuels the trade in young girls from outside Thailand - where it is easier and cheaper to 'buy' girls, for example at the border, and smuggle them into the country. The high level of public corruption, needless to say, has probably made this easier as well.
The improved level of education in Thailand may have also been a magnet, and as with other countries in the world, can be deceptive. Promises of a better life and little correct information of the realities of city life, make many youngsters easy prey to vice syndicates. There is clear evidence that village-level networks of local people and even parents, knowingly or unknowingly, selling girls into vice syndicates is a major factor. There are cases where girls have been re-sold a second time, when they were sent back to their families to be reconciled.
Back to topAIDS agency ACET Thailand indicated in 1998 of a mushrooming problem of AIDS in northern Thailand. This has proved to be the case, fuelled by the ongoing scale of prostitution - which is part of the everyday cultural norm among many male Thai's as well as being exacerbated by 'sex tourism' as it has become known.
In 1990 around 300,000 people in Thailand had AIDS/HIV - by 2005 that had risen to 1.3 million. A joint publication by the Thailand Bible Society and the International Bible Society has been produced called HIV and Positive Life. More information on this can be found on the website: http://www.biblesociety.org . Alan Ellard, Director of ACET Thailand talks of a considerable openness among AIDS patients to the gospel.
A gentle, sensitive approach has been the key to this work - by home visits, work in hospitals etc. and by setting up accommodation for AIDS orphans. Working with local Christians is essential also.
Thailand is the exception to the other states of Indo-China, in the fact that it did not experience direct colonial rule from western powers, despite it's strategic position (ie. between the British colonies Burma and Malaya).
Nevertheless, it has had to deal with the influences of China, Japan, Britain and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. The policy of 'bending with the wind', has in many ways meant Thailand modernising and changing significantly, but without the more drastic upheavals experienced in Burma, Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam.
The embracing of change, the introduction of more western systems of administration, law, transport networks and communications, began through the monarchy engaging with outside influences especially in the 20th century.
However, there is a strong underlying feeling among the Thai population that the West has brought a lot of destructive elements to Thai social order, culture and drained the country of resources. The influence of American culture through soldiers in the region and later western tourism, did much to fuel prostitution. Thai's prefer 'the way of meekness' inherent in their cultural upbringing - with a focus on obedience, respect and social order. The aggressive, egocentric methods used in some approaches of well-meaning mission work are abhorrent to Thai's.
Siam: The Crossroads Sir Josiah Crosby, Hollis and Carter 1945
Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia John F. Cady, Prentice-Hall Inc. 1966
Peoples of the Buddhist World - A Christian Prayer Guide P Hattaway, Piquant Editions Ltd 2004