Scenes Overseas: A Look Into the Life of the Lisu Tribe in Thailand

The Lisu people are descendants of China. Their tribe faces religious persecution due to strong communist rule, forcing them to separate. Many found refuge in the mountains of Thailand.

They live a primitive lifestyle, residing in bamboo structures with dirt floors, void of air conditioning, though temperatures reach  over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summertime.

Even with archaic living conditions, they still have electrical outlets for their smart phones.

This is a traditional Lisu Kitchen.

Above is a traditional Lisu meal. They eat every part of the chicken. The green vegetables are peppers. They adore spicy food.

Mango with chile powder is a common snack for both the Thai and Lisu people.

Rice is a staple. Every meal consists of rice in some fashion.

They’re very creative with rice. This woman heats up rice and sesame powder over a fire. She then pounds it into a paste that she molds into pieces, which she then deep fries.

Rice is then transformed into Lisu bread, which is dipped into honey or condensed milk. The fruit in the plastic bag is called Rambutan. It’s native to Thailand.

Shaved ice and coconut milk with flavored syrups is a common desert enjoyed among both the Lisu and Thai.

It is especially popular among children.

The Lisu people are a tight-knit community.

In Lisu culture, everyone in the house works so that one member of the family, the most promising pupil, can go to university. Then (s)he returns the blessing to the family after graduation. However, flesh trade is huge in Thailand and can be very tempting to impoverished families.

Photo taken by Scene photographer Lindsey Crown.

Lisu children are sent to live in youth homes in the valley during the school year so that they can get an education.

Lisu people are extremely generous and hospitable with what they have, insisting on offering guests crackers and drinks as they enter the house.

They welcomed us with hymns in their native language and thanked us profusely for visiting them.

They’ve never seen a dentist before, but that didn’t stop them from smiling.

The translator told us that they felt we were their brothers and sisters, despite the language barrier. The Lisu people gave off a genuine warmth, selflessness and kindness like no other.

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