Nong & Noom
Kirsty Bailey was pleasantly surprised upon finding an eco-shop in the town of Pai in Nothern Thailand, and went to find out how it came to be.
I arrived in Pai, Thailand, on 10 January 2020. Stepping off the minibus, I felt like this was the type of place I'd been looking for since I'd started backpacking in Asia a few weeks ago. As I walked to my accommodation through this new paradise, a wooden-fronted store with signs saying "Organic" and "Nature Life" caught my eye. This place was Shambhala @ Pai - the very first eco/refill shop I'd seen in Asia! Having been disheartened by the amount of plastic packaging and waste I'd seen so far (especially after the issue had been highlighted within the UK on television programmes such as "War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita"), this place was a very welcome, refreshing sight.
One of my travel buddies had a Trash Hero refillable water bottle and went into the shop to get a free refill (Trash Hero is a waste-reduction scheme operating within communities worldwide). He had a good opinion of the place and I was intrigued, so a few days later I ventured into the shop and bought some chakra earrings and some "natural toothpaste powder" in a metal tin. The owners, Nong and Noom, were so kind and helpful that I decided to go back, to speak with them, and to find out their story...
KB: Thank you for agreeing to speak with me! It's lovely to meet you both. Would you mind telling me how Shambhala started?
N&N: Shambhala has been open in Pai since 2019. Those who have been to the Thai island Koh Phayam may be familiar with a shop of the same name. It is run by my [Nong's] friend and has now been successfully running there for three years. We have lived in Pai for 12 years. I [Nong] used to be a nurse, and in the evenings, I sold homemade truffles, chai and sprout salad on the nightly Walking Street Market. However, I realised that the long days and late nights weren't very good for my health. There used to be a community-run organic market here, where Shambhala now stands. It closed a couple of years ago and following its closure, Noom and I saw an opportunity for another form of eco-friendly adventure, both as a business and for the benefit of our own lives.
KB: As a nurse, you understand the importance of health - is that why you chose eco-friendly?
N&N: Yes, it is important to us that we use products that are good for the health and good for the environment. We see the damage that plastic is doing to our environment. All our products are either plastic-free or they are reusable plastic e.g. refillable. There are no single-use plastics. Even the shop itself is plastic-free! It is metal and timber. The roof is made of reused corrugated iron and the wooden window frames are reused. The shop is powered by solar, so we have a very low electricity bill!
KB: Can you tell me a little bit more about the products you sell?
N&N: We search for good quality, natural, organic products, according to customer demand. We use all the products ourselves before we choose to sell them; they are tried and tested by us! We sell skincare products, cleaning products and other items made locally. Popular products include toothpowder, made of activated charcoal, mangosteen, peppermint etc., [which Kirsty purchased and can vouch for!] and deodorant. They come in metal tins which can either be reused or recycled and are made of all-natural ingredients.
KB: It's so nice that an all-natural, organic shop is on the site of the community's former organic market; is there still a community aspect to this shop?
N&N: Yes! We are very proud that the local "seniors' group" grow the plants that are then sold at the shop and the loofahs and tote bags are made by locals in the village, using organic materials. The shop is popular with travellers, and many come here to stock up before they go on one of the local meditation retreats.
KB: What is your vision for the future?
N&N: To have a refill shop in every province! We believe we can reduce plastic waste together. We have a quote in our shop that says, "We believe that little things that we do everyday can make a change...".
On Sundays, Nong and Noom spend time in their garden, which sounds like their own little slice of heaven. They tell me they bought a soybean field ten years ago and just left it as it was – it is now a forest, thriving with birds, butterflies and bats! They collect rainwater to use and their home, like the shop, is run on solar power. It sounds idyllic, and they definitely practice what they preach!
Shambhala can be found along the Rat Damrong Road in Pai, just over the bridge on the right-hand side. They stock jewellery, skincare products, clothes, bags, local honey, snacks, and of course, a range of refills including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, fabric softener, and even floor cleaner! I have now been using their 100% natural toothpowder for the past couple of months and would really recommend it. It was such good value, it really works, and it's great knowing that all the ingredients are from the natural world.
In Buddhist tradition, “Shambhala” is a mythical kingdom. Nong describes it as the “Gateway to the heavens”, and I wouldn't disagree.
Shambhala @ Pai is open six days a week, Monday - Saturday.