Chiang Mai, Thailand
I visited Chaing Mai Thailand after working with my partners at Urban Light to build their website. You can see more about that under my Branding tab.
My main focus going into the northern mountains of Thailand was the focus on meeting my partner Alez (founder of Urban Light) and seeing the center she built as a refugee for young men involved in sex trafficking. I can’t get into many details of this experience for confidentiality reasons, but making this visit is something that will stay with me forever. Almost every other night Alez would go into the bar district where she would see one of her boys or a new face working. One night she brought me out with her to see for myself the horrible reality of it all…the worst part? This happens everyday, out in the open, surrounded by many people. Had I not known about the this dark part of Thai culture previous to visiting, I would never had recognized what was happening before my eyes. Everyday she works to help these boys and give them an outlet to a safe place to sleep, educational opportunities, even health screenings and clean needles. She recognizes that this epidemic is bigger than her and non-profit, but fights regardless everyday for these boys.
*I visited Thailand in 2016, since then Alez was forced out of her home in Thailand due to conflicts with the Thai government. Urban Light is still running through her amazing team and Alez is still fighting from a disclosed location.
I feel that although I led this blog post with the dark side of Thailand, it should be noted that this country is also filled with kindness and beauty. We were also able to experience a trip to an elephant sanctuary, take an authentic Thai cooking class, and eat so many delicious dishes. Chain Mai will always hold a special place in my heart.
