Rain was pouring down continuously. The clouds loomed dark and threatening over my head. I was squatting on the ground next to a bamboo tree and right in front of me was a young bamboo shoot. This might not seem very impressive but it was absolutely amazing. We have been walking among the slippery hills for an hour and my new A-da (dad) has already filled up his sack with bamboo shoots. I couldn ' t help but marvel at his skills and expertise, at the way he just glanced at a bamboo tree and can tell right away whether there are young shoots or not. Just a couple of strokes from his spade and another bamboo shoot was ready to go in the sack.

Staying with the hilltribes on the Mirror Art Group ' s ecotourism program was like being completely re-educated. I felt like a Martian just landed on Earth. I didn ' t know how to light the fire or how to walk among the hills. I didn ' t know which fruit I could eat and which is poisonous. I didn ' t know how to weave baskets or sew dazzling patterns onto my clothes. Each day is spent admiring the beauty of their daily tasks. Every minute I learned something new. And every second my friendship with these people grew. It ' s not that we can communicate easily. Many only speak the tribal language and a northern dialect of Thai. But by just smiling and laughing together, I ' m sure we have built something totally priceless. I think there are very few things more invaluable than being able to experience the lives of other people – to see through their eyes, taste their food, hear their music, live through their routines and feel with them the joys and sorrows of life. After all the Discovery Channel programs I ' ve watched, at last I could think of the hilltribes as people just like you and me.

I managed to see them not as exotic animals caged in their cultural purity but as a people living in 2002 - wearing Western T-shirts and trousers, watching sitcoms and dreaming of having a car. Still, they are lucky that at the same time they still have their wonderful culture and tradition. I can ' t help but to feel proud that by staying with them, I have helped them appreciate their culture even more and hopefully feel the need to preserve it for future generations. So, that ' s what it ' s like. You won ' t be able to see an “ uncorrupted ” culture or understand everything or helped changed their life for the “ better ” , but I guarantee you ' ll have the time of your life!