Rice Farming in Thailand

I wanted to go somewhere on vacation that would free my mind from the pressure and stress of business and everyday life, and stay in place that did not remind me of a hotel. I would have stayed in a tent in the jungle, except my wife Susan was with me, and being a creature of comfort, I was in no position to compromise.

We chose the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Chiang Mai. As the most significant city in northern Thailand, it is situated 400 miles north of Bangkok, far enough away to escape the hustle and bustle, congestion and madness of the capital. Sitting on the Ping River amongst some of the highest mountains in the country, its historical importance on an ancient trade route, and a major center for handcrafted goods and woodcarving, is fast becoming a tourist attraction.

As the hotel was nestled amongst paddy fields, I had an urge to help the hard working farmers. I called reception and asked if I could plant some rice.

Promptly at eight thirty, my farming clothes arrived. The top resembled hospital scrubs, with pants to match. Long rubber boots reached my knee caps, and with a straw hat, I looked like one of the locals, although I didn’t sound like one with my British accent.

I was golf carted to the paddy fields where I was introduced to my fellow workers, including Boonchop, a pink buffalo recently purchased by the resort from a nearby farmer. I was told that the name Boonchop was defined as “happy or pleased to provide”. He was treated like one of the family, which is not surprising as I understood he cost about $10,000. I planted a complete row of partially grown rice in the mud below about six inches of water, making sure that the majority of the plant was above the surface and in a straight line. Apart from getting caked in mud, it was an educational couple of hours. A few snippets of information I learned on my first day on the job: Thailand grows more rice than other country in the World; there are thousands of different varieties (there is even a special plant for sticky rice); there are many phases in its growth where it has to be re-planted from one paddy field to another. They try to protect the rice as best they can from the local bird population by randomly placing scarecrows around the paddy fields. These resembled farmers in a mode of a Thai greeting, referred to as the wai, where the palms are pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. In general it worked, although one or two species of birds had figured out that they were inanimate objects, and felt free to feast

After I had completed my row, it was time for some music, so three us sat under a gazebo with some classic Thai instruments and jammed using a Saw-U, a Seung, and a Sa Lor. That is, a Thai violin, a four string instrument like a guitar, and a two string bow. The session wasn’t recorded for a pay per view special, however it was a lot of fun. I said goodbye to Boonchop and my colleagues, and returned to my villa for a lengthy shower.

It was a delightful, peaceful way to spend the day in beautiful surroundings, and more importantly, a place where feelings of stress and worry and the happenings in the World outside were distant memories.