Following dirt roads

Arriving in Na Sai in Li, Lamphun, Thailand, I discover Baan Phra  Bat Huai Tom, a small and quiet Karen (Paka-Kyaw) hill tribe village consisting of only forty homes. I enter a world of a people who embrace tranquility and solitude. I see scattered thatched-roof homes and very few people. I am definitely the only visitor and appreciate the early morning silence.

Thankfully, Sawbu approaches me and offers to be my guide through his village known as "The Vegetarian Village." Preferring not to be an intruder, I graciously accept his offer. Although he does not speak English, I find comfort in walking with him. He is my entrée to meeting and photographing the villagers. Below are some moments throughout my day in a world that remains unknown to me.

Special bonding between mother and child 

It is a privilege to walk with Sawbu through his village 

Appreciating the simplicity and beauty of each home

A multi-functional workspace 

Each structure has its own personality and charm 

The allure of a nonfunctional well 

Agriculture is the primary occupation of the Karen people

When not in the fields, the villagers weave, forge silverware, or make jewelry 

Private lives and hidden smiles

Gesturing, I request permission to photograph - extending respect

Backstrap Loom - weaving cotton cloth using natural dyes

An elder embroidering 

Arthritic fingers, failing eyesight, and using a walker -  she continues to work

Some of the working hands in "The Vegetarian Village"

The curious phenomenon of village life

Mushrooms drying in the sun throughout the village

The symbolism of the bull lampposts leading to Wat Sri Wiangchai

Meditation is the path to calming the bull within our minds - following Buddha

Alone in Wat Sri Wiangchai

Wat Sri Wiangchai - beauty in the details

I leave the stillness of the village behind me. Gravitating towards the unknown, many of my questions are unanswered. The peaceful existence of this special village sprinkled with pinches of mystery remains with me.