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00:02Any time I can stick it to the man in a small way, I do.
00:06Could you start your life all over again?
00:09Leave behind everything you know for something completely different?
00:14It's like, I guess we live in a bit of a pressure cooker.
00:17I'm Ben Fogel, and over the next few weeks,
00:19I'm going to live with the incredible people who've done just that.
00:23Did you ever feel like abandoning the property?
00:26No, it's my home.
00:28Would you say you enjoy the companionship of animals more than people?
00:32Probably, yeah.
00:33In some of the most remote places on Earth.
00:37This is why I love the wilderness.
00:39I'll discover their motivations.
00:41For me, it was just, yeah, you're born, you go to school,
00:44you work all life, and then you die.
00:46The challenges.
00:48There's no way that I was going to put my wife and my children in that house,
00:52the condition that it was in.
00:53Just make sure there's absolutely no electrical current down there.
00:56And find out what it takes to make a new life in the wild.
01:01Hasta la vista, per mi.
01:10This week, I'm in Southeast Asia, staying with Yedan.
01:14Hey.
01:15Hey, Yedan.
01:16Come on, walk faster.
01:18We have a lot of work to do.
01:19Who abandoned city life to start out in the wild and on her own.
01:25At the beginning, I do have a period of time.
01:29I feel like I'm doing all this on myself.
01:31I felt a bit helpless.
01:33I'll discover why she took such a bold leap into the unknown.
01:36The kid that living inside of me is telling me to live here
01:40and telling me what she likes, what we like.
01:45And learn how building a new life has helped her heal from past traumas.
01:49But that's, you know, a terrible thing that happened to you.
01:53Everything I created right now, I really thank a lot of them to my intuition.
01:58So if I cannot really trust my intuition anymore,
02:01then I think it will be an even bigger problem for my life.
02:11My journey takes me 9,000 kilometers from London
02:14to the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
02:23From there, I'm driven two hours north
02:26and dropped off close to the border with Myanmar.
02:37What a difference a few hours make.
02:39Just two hours from Chiang Mai
02:41and the bustling part of the city,
02:45I'm suddenly in rural Thailand.
02:48This part of the country is home to lush green mountains,
02:54misty jungles and fertile valleys.
02:58It's a world away from the well-trodden tourist hotspots
03:02Thailand's famed for.
03:04I'm curious to understand more about how and why Yidan ended up here.
03:09I know she's originally from China
03:11and I wonder how different this lifestyle is
03:15to the one that she's left behind.
03:18Why did she choose here?
03:20What sort of life has she made for herself?
03:22This is a really intriguing part of Thailand
03:25and I can't wait to get to the bottom of her story.
03:30As well as wilderness,
03:31there is the odd farm dotted around
03:33and my host Yidan was due to collect me
03:36to bring me to hers.
03:37Although, I've a feeling I'm almost there.
03:41Oh, I think this is it over here.
03:44I think it's the buildings with all the thatch on it.
03:48It's like a little oasis.
03:54Oh, hey!
03:56Ben!
03:56Hello.
03:58Come on!
03:59Are you Yidan?
04:00Yeah!
04:01Hey, Yidan!
04:02Come on, run faster!
04:03We have a lot of work to do!
04:05How are you?
04:06Good, good.
04:07How's it doing?
04:08Very good, thank you.
04:09Sorry, I'm full hands right now.
04:10No, don't worry.
04:11Shall I meet you at your house?
04:12Do you want to hop on my bike?
04:14Yeah, why not?
04:15Okay, here you go.
04:16Thank you very much.
04:20Ready?
04:21Yeah.
04:22Yay, let's go!
04:23You could have done this about 10 minutes earlier,
04:25save me the walk.
04:27Ben, what's the fun?
04:28I know.
04:3234-year-old Yidan was born in Zhejiang province in China
04:36as an only child during the one-child policy era.
04:40Growing up in a traditional rural family,
04:43she cherished the simplicity of countryside living.
04:46Until, at the age of 12,
04:48her parents moved to the city,
04:50where Yidan later earned a degree in marketing.
04:54In 2018, age 28,
04:57she plunged into a demanding finance marketing job in Bangkok,
05:01pushing herself to excel in the corporate world.
05:04But everything changed when COVID-19 struck two years later.
05:09Amid the global lockdown,
05:12Yidan remained in Thailand,
05:13taking the chance to immerse herself in its lush landscapes.
05:18Captivated by the natural beauty,
05:20she took a daring leap
05:21and traded the glamour of the city
05:23for a two-acre slice of farmland
05:26and a new life in the wild.
05:30Oh, look at this.
05:31There's lots of dogs.
05:32Yeah.
05:33I'm going to be happy here.
05:34Welcome.
05:35Wow.
05:35Look at this, Yidan.
05:37In the three years since she's been here,
05:39Yidan has, with the help of locals
05:41and a savings budget of £15,000
05:44transformed what was an empty field
05:47into a thriving farmstead.
05:50Oh my goodness, this is amazing.
05:52So did you make all this yourself?
05:54Yeah, yeah.
05:55I designed everything by myself,
05:57every building on the farm.
05:59And this is the first building
06:01that it's designed and built.
06:03And tell me about the basics then.
06:05You've got taps here.
06:06So have you got running water?
06:08Yeah, yeah.
06:09We have dug our own well
06:10because this land used to be a rice paddy.
06:13For electricity,
06:15we have grid just right next to the land.
06:17So it's very easy to just get connected.
06:21But because of our house
06:23is completely natural building
06:24and bamboo and also the thatched roof.
06:27So it's very flammable.
06:29That's why we don't really use
06:31the really big solar panel.
06:33Big solar panel,
06:34they're very causing a lot of heat.
06:36Okay.
06:36When you designed this house,
06:37had you ever designed a house before?
06:39No, never.
06:40Wow.
06:40It was my first house
06:42and I majored in graphic design,
06:45but I never had anything built
06:47in physical from.
06:48So it was very shocking even to myself.
06:54It costs £500 a month to make ends meet.
06:57So Yidan has paying guests
06:59who come to experience
07:00Thailand's rural way of life.
07:03It's like a living shower
07:04with plants and things.
07:05I love that.
07:06Luckily for me,
07:07there's no one here at the moment.
07:09So I get my very own cabin.
07:12Oh, wow.
07:14You like it?
07:14I love it.
07:16Yidan, this is amazing.
07:18This is a house we just built,
07:19finished actually two months ago.
07:21And you're probably the earliest guest.
07:24Really?
07:24We're hosting.
07:24It's so light and bright.
07:26It's got a really good sort of karma to it.
07:28Yeah.
07:29And it has really good view.
07:30Like you can basically see everything happening at the farm.
07:33Are a lot of the materials you've used
07:35across the whole property recycled or upcycled?
07:38Almost all of them.
07:40And is that for financial reasons
07:42or is it for ethical reasons or both?
07:44It's both.
07:44It's both.
07:45Actually, I realize recycling here in Thailand,
07:50especially if you find like the good local source,
07:53it's really save you a lot of money.
07:56Well, this is a triumph in here.
07:57I'm going to be very comfortable.
07:59I might get settled in if that's okay.
08:00Yeah, of course.
08:01Have a good rest.
08:02Thank you so much, Yidan.
08:03I'll see you in a moment.
08:03I'll see you later.
08:09It really is magical here.
08:11There are other properties around us,
08:13so we're not completely isolated
08:15and you can hear sounds and other people,
08:18but it feels while I'm here like we are on our own.
08:23Look how beautiful this is.
08:24It's like a little oasis.
08:25And I'm really enjoying guessing
08:27to know Yidan a little bit more.
08:29So it'll be really interesting over the next few days.
08:32To explore a bit more about her
08:34and understanding a little bit more
08:36about the draw of this landscape
08:39beyond just the beauty and the simplicity.
08:47As well as growing crops,
08:49Yidan has a menagerie of animals she tends to.
08:51And already I'm getting an idea
08:54of just how much work goes into this place.
08:57Let's unload it here.
09:00Okay.
09:01So we're going to set up some bamboo
09:03and then tighten up
09:05and then stick them in the ground.
09:07That's it.
09:09So I'm being put straight to work
09:10and helping Yidan build a bamboo climbing frame
09:13for her plants.
09:15So I've soaked the bamboo here for us.
09:19Oh, nice.
09:19Look at that.
09:21We have a way.
09:22Okay.
09:22So you do like this cross.
09:25Like that?
09:26Yep.
09:26And then twist it, twist it, twist it.
09:29And then you do like this.
09:32And then you...
09:32This.
09:33Okay, yeah.
09:34Did it well.
09:35Yeah.
09:36So so.
09:36And then you tuck this under here.
09:40Yep.
09:42Now it's very tight.
09:43So good, isn't it?
09:44And if we need, we can even move it a little bit.
09:46Yeah, you can move it up and down a little bit.
09:47Who taught you these skills?
09:49Are these Thai techniques?
09:51Or do you think this is also a technique
09:53that's used back in China?
09:54I'm pretty sure it's used back in China,
09:56but actually I learned in Thailand.
09:57From neighbors?
09:58Yeah, from neighbors.
09:59Because when they were building my houses,
10:01I was there with them every day
10:02at the very beginning.
10:04And I was watching
10:05and I was like free workshops every day.
10:09So learning by observation.
10:10Yeah.
10:11What did the neighbors think
10:12when you first turned up here?
10:14They're just really curious what I was doing.
10:18They're very, very...
10:20Yeah, they think a Chinese girl.
10:22And also because the first day
10:24when I was sleeping on this land,
10:26I brought a tent and Lucky.
10:28And then we were camping in the middle of the field.
10:31And then so many neighbors just come by
10:35and asking me what am I doing here.
10:38And I'm like,
10:39this is my land now.
10:40And I want to feel how it feels to sleep here.
10:44So I'm camping here.
10:45And then all of them just inviting me
10:47to their house to sleep.
10:49Were you surprised by how hospitable everyone was?
10:53Yeah, I was really surprised.
10:55And also they really concerned for my safety.
10:57Although it's really safe here,
10:59but they just think no one should,
11:01you know, sleep alone
11:03in the middle of some farmland field.
11:07Yeah.
11:08And did you explain to them
11:10beyond just sleeping on your land,
11:13did they want to know
11:14what you have planned for here?
11:16They have no idea.
11:17Well, I didn't really have
11:19that many ideas back then either.
11:21I was just trying to stay here
11:24to feel the energy I feel on this land
11:27and to feel the people around here.
11:29Have you ever been lonely?
11:33Not really.
11:33I think at the beginning,
11:37I do have a period of time.
11:39I do feel like loneliness
11:43or like I feel like
11:45I'm doing all this on myself.
11:46I felt helpless to be more accurate,
11:50more than loneliness
11:51because there were so many things
11:53I need to do every day at the farm
11:55and people to host
11:56and then farm to do.
11:57At a point, I felt really overwhelmed.
12:00I felt like I cannot do this anymore.
12:05It's supposed to be dry season right now
12:08and yet it has been raining
12:12for on and off
12:13like three days now
12:14and this is my first night camping.
12:20So, yeah.
12:23It's raining again.
12:25Why?
12:26Why?
12:32This goddamn red ants.
12:35They hit me hard.
12:37Fuck.
12:38So cheap.
12:41It takes quite a lot to create
12:43a place that has this sort of feel to it
12:46and that's testament to Yadan.
12:48And I love meeting people
12:50that are just willing to have a go
12:51because I think that's what puts off
12:52a lot of people.
12:54So I've still got a lot of questions.
12:56I have no idea how similar
12:57or different this is
12:59to her childhood in China.
13:03Is she running away from something
13:05or is this what she was coming to?
13:08Is this what she was seeking?
13:10But she's an intriguing person.
13:27It's my first morning
13:28in northern Thailand.
13:31I'm here visiting Yadan
13:33who, three years ago,
13:35decided to make the Thai countryside
13:37her home.
13:39Hi, morning.
13:40How are you, Yadan?
13:41Good.
13:41You want some coffee?
13:42Oh, yes, please.
13:44Here you go.
13:44Oh, thank you very much.
13:46I've got the breakfast
13:47ready for you already.
13:48Wow, what about eggs,
13:50dragon fruit.
13:51Yeah.
13:52Are these Thai strawberries?
13:53Strawberries, yeah.
13:54And the passion fruit
13:55from the farm, yogurt.
13:58The eggs are also from our own farm.
14:00Are they?
14:01Enjoy.
14:02That was amazing.
14:03So everything is from the farm here?
14:05Most of it.
14:06Yeah.
14:06Yeah.
14:07And we also sometimes
14:09have our food
14:10or some products
14:11that we sell
14:12to our guests.
14:13You've mentioned we.
14:14I'm wondering,
14:15are you here alone?
14:17Actually,
14:18I say we a lot
14:19because I want to sound
14:21like I'm not alone.
14:23And do you have a partner?
14:26No, I'm single.
14:27I'm single as fuck.
14:30Oh, sorry.
14:31Maybe I shouldn't say that
14:33in this town.
14:34Don't worry.
14:35I've been single
14:36for a long time now.
14:38For someone who doesn't
14:39want to sound
14:40like she's alone,
14:41I'm still unsure
14:42why Yudan came here alone
14:44and to such an isolated spot.
14:49Chicken,
14:49you need to
14:51get back into the chicken house.
14:53But while I'm here,
14:54I'm eager to help
14:55in any way I can.
14:57Come on, chicken.
14:58No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
15:01Everyday life for Yudan
15:03involves looking after
15:04three dogs,
15:05four cats,
15:07five goats,
15:08eight ducks,
15:09and 20 chickens.
15:12This is going to be
15:13much.
15:15There we go.
15:16OK.
15:18There you go.
15:19Your friends.
15:21While also managing
15:23three guest quarters
15:24and farming
15:25two acres of land,
15:27it's an immense
15:28undertaking
15:29for just one person.
15:32Morning chores done,
15:33we escape the midday heat
15:35to indulge
15:36in a less strenuous activity.
15:38We're going to do
15:39something called
15:40likely sculpting,
15:42and we're going to
15:44sculpt this one
15:45into something
15:47that resembles
15:48your inner kid.
15:49How would you describe
15:51your own childhood?
15:52Was it happy?
15:53I was in
15:54countryside.
15:55I had a really,
15:56really good
15:57childhood.
15:58We had a very
15:59similar, like,
16:01nature scene,
16:02like here.
16:02Yeah, that was
16:03the happiest
16:04time of my life,
16:05I think.
16:06Until
16:07my parents
16:08moved us
16:09to the city
16:10because I went
16:11to high school
16:13in the city,
16:13and that was
16:14pretty much a jail
16:15because it was
16:16a boarding school.
16:17You have certain
16:18hours,
16:19you go exercise
16:20and do reading,
16:21and then you
16:22eat at a
16:23cafeteria,
16:24and we were
16:25also required
16:26to clean our
16:27dormitory three
16:28times a day,
16:29and we have
16:30people to check
16:30up if there's
16:31any hair on
16:32the floor,
16:33if our toothbrushes
16:34was facing the
16:35same direction,
16:36and our blanket
16:38need to be folded
16:39into square.
16:41So if we didn't
16:42do that,
16:43then there is
16:43certain punishment.
16:45Yeah,
16:45so it was
16:46almost like a
16:48military school
16:49or a prison.
16:50What's quite
16:50interesting hearing
16:51about your own
16:52childhood is that
16:53I also went to
16:53a boarding school.
16:54Oh, really?
16:55But I found it
16:56really, really
16:57difficult being
16:58away from home,
16:58and I had
16:59terrible homesickness.
17:01But I think
17:01what it did do
17:03for me was
17:04it boosted
17:04my confidence,
17:05and I'm wondering
17:06whether you think
17:06you got something
17:08similar,
17:09because it forces
17:09you to be
17:10self-sufficient,
17:11doesn't it?
17:11Yeah,
17:12self-disciplined,
17:14self-organized,
17:17and you have
17:18a lot of time
17:19to yourself.
17:19I think it's
17:21also supported
17:22my individualism,
17:23so that's something
17:25that I think
17:26really helped
17:26to sculpt
17:27into who I am
17:28today.
17:29I'm wondering
17:29now if you
17:30could go and
17:31visit yourself
17:31as a child,
17:32what you would
17:33say to yourself?
17:35I would say
17:35to her,
17:38good job.
17:39Yeah,
17:40it sounds
17:41really cliche,
17:41honestly.
17:42Sometimes I feel
17:43like every Chinese
17:44kid, every Asian
17:45kid, always been
17:47waiting for their
17:48parents to say
17:49good job,
17:49but this is
17:50pretty much
17:51what we needed.
17:52Yeah, just...
17:53Affirmation.
17:54Yeah.
17:55Well, that is
17:55my childhood,
17:56and I don't know
17:57necessarily why
17:58I have done a dog,
17:59except dogs were
18:00big in my life,
18:01but that is my
18:03happiness,
18:03or my happy place.
18:05Aw.
18:06What did you do?
18:07I can't quite tell
18:08what you were...
18:08This is the little
18:10angel or a kid
18:12that's like trying
18:13to hug everyone.
18:14This is what I feel
18:15like when I was a
18:16kid.
18:17I felt like I'm
18:17just very much
18:20one to hug and
18:21love everyone.
18:25I think that
18:26perhaps part of
18:28her childhood,
18:29going off to
18:30boarding school,
18:31not having the
18:32loving embrace of
18:33her family around
18:34her, has led her
18:36on this perpetual
18:37search for
18:40contentment.
18:40But I hope that
18:42Yedan finds that
18:43kind of affirmation
18:44and the love that
18:45I think she's
18:46looking for.
18:47And she's putting
18:48in all the
18:48foundations here.
18:49She's creating a
18:51beautiful life.
19:03Yedan has also
19:04surrounded herself
19:05with a sprawling,
19:06open landscape
19:07that feels worlds
19:08apart from the
19:09restrictive environment
19:10of her boarding
19:11school.
19:12I've arrived in one
19:13piece, all arms,
19:14all legs.
19:15This is beautiful
19:16here.
19:17Yeah.
19:17We've got towels.
19:19That's exciting.
19:20We're going to go take
19:20a bath next to the
19:22river.
19:23Do you get many
19:24opportunities to come
19:25down here?
19:26Recently, not really.
19:27So thanks to you, I need
19:29to bring you here.
19:30I'm taking you away from
19:32the job and the home
19:33and the farm.
19:34What's the water like?
19:35Cold?
19:36It's cold.
19:38Oh, yeah.
19:39That would be nice though.
19:40You're going to love it.
19:40Yeah.
19:41We're looking forward to
19:42this.
19:45Oh, yeah.
19:47Oh, that's nice.
19:53As we wash in the river,
19:55I take in the environment
19:57and simplicity of life
19:59that it evokes.
20:00I'm keen to know what
20:02triggered Yidan to seek
20:03out this country.
20:05I'm wondering what you
20:06did after university.
20:08After graduation, I went
20:10to work in Beijing.
20:13I was 21.
20:14I was doing marketing,
20:16marketing, event
20:18organization, media.
20:21And then in 2018, I moved
20:23to Bangkok.
20:24How did you choose
20:26Thailand?
20:26I always wanted to live
20:29outside of China for a while
20:30and to experience
20:31a different lifestyle.
20:33I got joined into a project
20:35in Bangkok back then
20:37and I moved there
20:39immediately, started a new life.
20:41It was really like
20:42super fast paced.
20:44It was very exciting
20:45but also very soul-sucking,
20:48I would say.
20:48And that's eventually drained me
20:51after working for about
20:52four or five years.
20:54Stressful.
20:56What happened at the end
20:57of that?
20:57Did you burn out?
20:59Did you just reach the end
21:00of that journey?
21:01It was a very interesting
21:02timing because back then
21:04I feel like I'm about
21:06to drain out
21:06and then COVID happened.
21:08And then it gave me
21:10a perfect timing
21:11and excuse to actually
21:12escape a little while
21:14from the city
21:15and also from the industry,
21:17from the space,
21:18from everything.
21:19So I went from
21:20the beginning of COVID,
21:22I moved away
21:23from Bangkok.
21:25I pretty much just
21:26packed a little suitcase
21:27then I started to live
21:29there for two months
21:30and then for that year
21:32I lived on different islands
21:33for almost a year.
21:35Wow, that must have been amazing.
21:37Yeah.
21:37And then after that
21:38I eventually end up
21:39in Chiang Mai.
21:40I lived in Chiang Mai
21:42for a while
21:42and then slowly
21:43discovered here.
21:45Yeah, it was paradise.
21:46This place reminds me
21:47of a childhood.
21:50Yedan's time away
21:52from the corporate world
21:53had unexpectedly
21:54transformed her.
21:56Yearning to rediscover
21:57the contentment
21:58of her youth,
21:59she abandoned city life
22:00to start anew
22:02in the wild.
22:03With her savings
22:04she acquired an empty field
22:06and started building
22:07her new life
22:08from the ground up.
22:10And the version
22:11of yourself now,
22:12the Yedan sitting
22:13in front of me,
22:14are you,
22:15are you a different
22:16version of yourself
22:18now, do you think?
22:19I'm more daring
22:21or able to do things
22:24that's more creative
22:25or more free spirit.
22:28It's because I feel
22:29like I'm more encouraged
22:30right now
22:31to do,
22:32to be that version of me.
22:33And in the back time
22:36I do have that version
22:38with me
22:38but it was not
22:39being encouraged.
22:40In the workforce
22:42or around my parents
22:44I am encouraged
22:46to behave
22:47and to meet
22:49the expectation
22:50they want me to meet.
22:52Yeah.
22:53So that's the difference
22:54I think.
22:56Isn't it amazing
22:58that COVID
22:58that destroyed
22:59so many lives
23:00and broke
23:01so many opportunities
23:02for a handful
23:04of people
23:04actually was
23:06the catalyst
23:06to change their lives
23:08for the better?
23:10and
23:11Yedan's one of those.
23:12And I think
23:13the fact
23:14that she sees
23:15that opportunity
23:16and she's run with it
23:17has given her
23:19a chance
23:20to reflect on
23:21what she was
23:22chasing beforehand
23:24and to actually
23:25really make a go
23:26of it.
23:27And what I think
23:28is really interesting
23:28is this is a woman
23:30who has lived
23:30multiple versions
23:31of herself
23:32and I think it's
23:33because she's been
23:33chasing the one
23:35that makes her
23:36the most content
23:37and the one
23:38that feels
23:38most authentic
23:39to her.
23:50I'm in northern Thailand
23:51staying with Yedan
23:53whose fond memories
23:54of a childhood
23:55spent in nature
23:56inspired her
23:57to rediscover
23:58rural life.
23:59What are you up to?
24:01I'm clearing out
24:02this rice paddy
24:03pulling out
24:04the roots.
24:05But while it
24:05sounds romantic
24:06it's also
24:07a lot of hard work.
24:09Just pull all
24:10these bits up.
24:11Yeah.
24:11And then we use
24:12them as compost.
24:14How much rice
24:15do you grow here?
24:16We harvest it
24:17about 500 kilograms
24:18actually.
24:19Half a ton of rice?
24:20What in this
24:20little area here?
24:22Yeah.
24:22Everything is done
24:23manually actually
24:24because our land
24:25is not big enough
24:26to hire the machine.
24:27Did you do this
24:28kind of manual
24:29labor growing up?
24:31We had a rice field
24:32when I was a kid
24:33in my village.
24:34What's fascinating
24:35is that it's
24:35kind of come
24:36full circle
24:36hasn't it?
24:37Exactly.
24:37I do see
24:38this cycle
24:39this loop
24:40but it's also
24:40different from
24:41my grandparents.
24:42They did farming
24:43because they didn't
24:44have other choice.
24:45I do farming
24:46because I love it.
24:48I enjoy it.
24:49I'm wondering
24:50what the locals
24:51make of you
24:52a Chinese woman
24:54here
24:54harvesting
24:55your own
24:56rice.
24:57I mean is this
24:57something that
24:59lots of people
25:00do in this local
25:01area or is this
25:01quite unusual?
25:02you on your own?
25:04I mean even
25:05not as foreigner
25:06like just a young
25:07woman
25:07it's already
25:08unusual.
25:10I don't really
25:10show up as a
25:12very like
25:13stereotype
25:14type
25:15kind of
25:15farmer
25:16girl image
25:17you know
25:18because I used
25:19to work in
25:19the corporate
25:20and I really
25:21into fashion
25:22and I like
25:23to dress up
25:23even though
25:24right now
25:25I don't really
25:25wear much makeup
25:27but I still
25:27like to
25:28buy clothes
25:29and fashion
25:30items
25:30so they
25:31would see me
25:32as like
25:32too sexy
25:33like too
25:34fashionable
25:35as a farmer
25:36because in
25:37a lot of
25:37people's
25:38impression
25:38farmer
25:39should be
25:39like
25:40low taste
25:41and rude
25:43and loud
25:44I don't know
25:44like
25:45at least in
25:46China
25:46people's image
25:47about
25:47about farmer
25:48is like that
25:49or in
25:49generally
25:50in Asia
25:51people
25:51have that
25:52kind of
25:52impression
25:53but I do
25:53found
25:54being in
25:55Chengdao
25:55the place
25:56I am right
25:56now
25:57it does
25:57give me
25:58this sort
25:59of balance
26:00and freedom
26:01to feel
26:02like I'm
26:02being who I am
26:04and meanwhile
26:05I'm being
26:05validated
26:06of being who I am
26:07Do you think
26:07validation is
26:08important in life?
26:09Yes
26:10but I think
26:11the most important
26:12thing is
26:12self-validation
26:13yeah
26:15I really admire
26:16Yidan's view
26:17on self-validation
26:19but I'm also
26:20aware that she's
26:21taken on this
26:22chapter of her
26:22life
26:23alone
26:23and while
26:25she has guests
26:25at her farm
26:26their stays
26:27are short
26:27leaving her
26:28without anyone
26:29to provide
26:29a feeling
26:30of external
26:31validation
26:33so what have
26:34we got here?
26:35We got
26:35the Chinese
26:36Bao
26:37so who taught
26:38you to cook?
26:38Did you do
26:39much cooking
26:39as a child?
26:40No
26:40not at all
26:41actually
26:42I didn't
26:43learn from
26:44anyone
26:44I was just
26:46mostly
26:46watching YouTube
26:47I'm wondering
26:48when you were
26:49a child
26:49who did
26:50the cooking
26:50at home
26:51was it
26:51a very
26:51traditional
26:52household?
26:53my mom
26:54did most
26:55of the cooking
26:56but she
26:56was bad
26:57oh really?
26:58yeah
26:58she was just
26:59feeding me
27:00so make sure
27:01I don't starve
27:02I'm assuming
27:03as well
27:03from some
27:04of the things
27:04you've said
27:05that Chinese
27:06culture
27:07is quite
27:08traditional
27:09has traditional
27:09values
27:10the man
27:10probably goes
27:11out to
27:12work
27:13and perhaps
27:14the wife
27:15stays at home
27:16is that fair?
27:17yeah
27:17I think
27:19at least
27:19from my village
27:20that's
27:21most of
27:22the family
27:22structure
27:23and presumably
27:24that has
27:24strained
27:25your relationship
27:26with your parents
27:27because you're
27:28a non-conformist
27:29in that respect
27:30yeah
27:30it's been
27:32it's been
27:33difficult
27:33because
27:34I was not
27:35able to go
27:36back home
27:36for three years
27:38because of
27:39COVID
27:39so I was
27:40I was
27:41kind of like
27:42trapped
27:42in Thailand
27:43but also
27:43because I went
27:44to boarding school
27:45so there's
27:46such a long
27:47period of time
27:48that we were
27:49we were not
27:49living together
27:50and they
27:52kind of missed
27:53a very big
27:54chunk of my life
27:55and that's like
27:56the really key
27:57period that's
27:58forming
27:59in me
28:00into who I am
28:01today
28:01I'm wondering
28:02how that
28:03has manifest
28:04itself with you
28:05whether that's
28:05been difficult
28:06whether there
28:06have been
28:06difficult moments
28:07in your life
28:08where you
28:08haven't had
28:09anyone to turn
28:09to
28:10actually
28:10there were
28:11many
28:12but
28:14there were
28:15some
28:16like really
28:17pivoting
28:18moments
28:19that I
28:20really think
28:21it has
28:21changed me
28:22profoundly
28:25this one
28:26thing that
28:28happened to me
28:29about
28:30four or five
28:31years ago
28:31now
28:32I was
28:34drugged
28:35and
28:35almost raped
28:37by someone
28:38that I know
28:38at
28:39business
28:41meeting
28:41actually
28:42yeah
28:42I'm so
28:43sorry
28:43yeah
28:45I've healed
28:46I've healed
28:46myself
28:47actually
28:47after that
28:48I didn't
28:50get to
28:50talk to
28:51people
28:52like in
28:52maybe two
28:53years
28:54you kept
28:55it to
28:55yourself
28:55I kept
28:56it to
28:56myself
28:57because
28:57but that's
28:58also
28:58making me
28:58realize
28:59I didn't
29:00really have
29:01anyone
29:01that I
29:01can
29:01talk
29:02to
29:02with
29:03certain
29:03things
29:04but it's
29:04also
29:05like
29:05I have
29:06stopped
29:06asking
29:07for help
29:08from people
29:09who's
29:09around me
29:10and including
29:11my parents
29:12and also
29:12my closest
29:13friends
29:13so what
29:14was the
29:15moment
29:15it obviously
29:16took two
29:17years
29:17until you
29:18felt
29:18comfortable
29:19enough
29:19what was
29:20the turning
29:20point
29:20I told
29:22my besties
29:22finally
29:23yeah
29:24and then
29:24they were
29:25they were
29:25really shocked
29:26because usually
29:28I'm always the
29:29one who
29:29they rely on
29:30emotionally
29:31but that's
29:32you know
29:32that is
29:35a terrible
29:36thing that
29:36happened to
29:37you
29:37yeah
29:38do you
29:39think it
29:39made you
29:39more
29:40wary of
29:40people
29:41not really
29:42I was
29:42I'm still
29:43very
29:45intuitively
29:46trusting
29:47people
29:47like
29:48some people
29:49might say
29:49blindly
29:49but I
29:50would say
29:50intuitively
29:51and
29:52everything
29:52I created
29:53right now
29:53I really
29:54thank
29:55a lot
29:55of them
29:55to my
29:56intuition
29:56so
29:57if I
29:58cannot
29:58really
29:58trust
29:58my
29:59intuition
29:59anymore
30:00then
30:00I
30:01think
30:01it
30:01will
30:01be
30:02an
30:02even
30:02bigger
30:03problem
30:03for my
30:03life
30:04one
30:04of the
30:04things
30:04I've
30:05really
30:05noticed
30:05staying
30:06here
30:06is
30:06there's
30:06no
30:07locks
30:08nothing
30:09I don't
30:09know if
30:09I should
30:10be
30:10announcing
30:10that
30:10to the
30:11world
30:11but it's
30:11a completely
30:12open
30:12space
30:13it feels
30:14very safe
30:14but that's
30:14still a
30:15huge
30:15trust
30:16that you
30:17have put
30:17into the
30:18local
30:18community
30:18and all
30:19the people
30:19that come
30:19through
30:19here
30:20yeah
30:20and it's
30:21not
30:21coming
30:21from
30:21nothing
30:22because
30:22I
30:22feel
30:23safe
30:23here
30:27even
30:27after
30:28two
30:28years
30:28it
30:29must
30:29have
30:29taken
30:30incredible
30:30courage
30:31for
30:31Yedan
30:31to finally
30:32tell someone
30:33about what
30:33she went
30:34through
30:35but carrying
30:36that experience
30:36has clearly
30:37shaped the
30:38person she
30:38is today
30:40I think
30:41one of the
30:41things I've
30:42really noticed
30:42with Yedan
30:43over the
30:44last few
30:44days is
30:45that she
30:46doesn't show
30:46or wear
30:47her emotions
30:48like lots
30:49of people
30:49I spend
30:49time with
30:50and I think
30:50the conversation
30:51I've just
30:51had with
30:52her
30:52now
30:55helped me
30:56understand
30:56a little
30:57bit more
30:57about where
30:58that comes
30:58from
30:58and I
30:59think
30:59she
30:59can
31:00recognize
31:00now
31:01that
31:01perhaps
31:01burying
31:02that
31:02experience
31:03for two
31:03years
31:05that was
31:05all a
31:06symptom
31:07of
31:07how
31:08she
31:09has
31:09coped
31:10throughout
31:10life
31:10but
31:11now
31:12here
31:12she
31:12is
31:12and I
31:13really
31:13see
31:14this
31:14as
31:15being
31:16a
31:16healing
31:16place
31:16and I
31:17think
31:17what
31:18I'd
31:18still
31:18like
31:19to get
31:19to the
31:19bottom
31:19of
31:19is
31:20whether
31:20this
31:21is
31:21the
31:21forever
31:21place
31:35excuse me
31:35can I
31:35just
31:36get
31:36to
31:36there
31:36I
31:37just
31:37want
31:37to
31:37get
31:37that
31:37bit
31:38thank
31:38you
31:39it's
31:40like
31:40trying
31:40to
31:40hoover
31:40around
31:41my
31:41children
31:42yeah
31:43spending
31:43time
31:44with
31:44Yedan
31:45here
31:45I
31:46must
31:46admit
31:46I
31:46worry
31:47about
31:47her
31:47not
31:48receiving
31:48the
31:48support
31:49I
31:49think
31:49she
31:53deserves
31:53tonight
31:54though
31:54she's
31:55determined
31:55to
31:55prove
31:56she's
31:56not
31:56alone
31:57as
31:57we're
31:58heading
31:58into
31:58town
31:58to
31:59meet
31:59her
31:59friends
31:59for
32:00drinks
32:03I
32:04hardly
32:05recognize
32:05you
32:05I've
32:07made
32:07an
32:07effort
32:07obviously
32:08you
32:09look
32:09amazing
32:10always
32:11listen
32:11you
32:11really
32:12have
32:12dressed
32:12up
32:12for
32:13the
32:13occasion
32:13this
32:13is
32:14the
32:14dress
32:14my
32:14mom
32:14made
32:14for
32:15me
32:15did
32:15she
32:15yeah
32:17it's
32:17gonna
32:17be
32:17fun
32:18tonight
32:18you
32:19really
32:19look
32:19amazing
32:19thank
32:20you
32:20do you
32:20like dressing
32:21up
32:21yeah
32:22I do
32:22whenever
32:23I got
32:23time
32:24to
32:24become
32:25a little
32:25bit
32:26like
32:26you know
32:26girly
32:27or
32:27fancier
32:28so
32:29Yudan the farmer
32:30is staying
32:30behind
32:31yeah
32:31for one night
32:32sorry
32:33yeah
32:33let's go
32:34party
32:39you're
32:39you're young
32:40you're young
32:40you're single
32:40this must be
32:41a really
32:41important
32:42kind of
32:43escape
32:43so that
32:44you're not
32:44just on
32:45the farm
32:45do you get
32:46quite excited
32:46yeah
32:47for me
32:48it's not
32:48really like
32:48escape
32:49you know
32:50because when
32:50you say
32:51escape
32:52you think
32:53that place
32:53is not
32:54good enough
32:54you want
32:55to run
32:55away from
32:56it
32:56for me
32:57it's like
32:58adding
32:59some spice
32:59on my
33:00life
33:01because
33:01I do
33:01think
33:02everyone
33:02needs
33:02some
33:02sort
33:03of
33:03stimulation
33:03and to
33:04let off
33:04steam
33:05I'm like
33:0680%
33:07I'm having
33:08the peaceful
33:08farm life
33:09but there's
33:10like
33:10small percent
33:11I think
33:11I should
33:12get
33:12like
33:12more wild
33:15party time
33:25we're here
33:26we're here
33:27wow
33:28my friends
33:28are here
33:29are they all here
33:30yeah
33:30after you
33:31thank you
33:32hi everyone
33:35hey
33:37thank you so
33:37much
33:39let's get
33:39some drinks
33:40what are we
33:41getting tonight
33:42hey everyone
33:43hello
33:45hi
33:47good to see
33:48you all
33:49good to see
33:50you all
33:51this is Ben
33:52nice to meet
33:53you all
33:53hello
33:54how are you
33:54very nice
33:55to meet you
33:55all
33:55what would
33:56you like
33:56I'm gonna
33:57get the
33:57marabai
33:58sour
33:59shake it
34:00shake it
34:01shake it
34:02shake it
34:03there's a very
34:03different side to
34:04you down here
34:05a more carefree
34:07version
34:08so everyone here
34:09you know from
34:10different parts of
34:11your life
34:12they all come from
34:12different places
34:13some of them live
34:14chendao
34:15right now
34:15some of them
34:16they want to
34:17start to live in
34:18chendao
34:18some of them
34:19chendao is their
34:20hometown
34:20but they're coming
34:22back
34:22and to relocate
34:24here again
34:24so they're all
34:25from different
34:26places
34:26yeah
34:27and we
34:28try to hang
34:29out
34:29just catch up
34:30on life
34:31gossip a little
34:32bit
34:32and get some
34:34information
34:34what's happening
34:35in chendao
34:35so tonight
34:37is one of those
34:37nights
34:41you live here
34:42very close
34:43yes
34:43very close
34:44to her
34:44and I also
34:45host
34:46like
34:46play art
34:48workshop
34:50you do that
34:51at the farm
34:51yes
34:52we cooperate
34:53together
34:54and
34:55like
34:56host
34:56some
34:56art retreat
34:57together
34:57and how did
34:58you end up
34:59at the farm
35:00how did you
35:00find out
35:01about your
35:01dad
35:01actually I
35:02find out
35:02her at
35:03social media
35:04and I'm
35:05trapped by
35:05her lifestyle
35:06and what do you
35:07think about
35:07what your dad
35:08has created
35:09I think it's
35:11amazing
35:11it's not
35:12easy
35:12to be
35:15living in
35:15a foreign
35:16country
35:18alone
35:18actually
35:19and
35:20she built
35:21all of this
35:22with herself
35:23that's why
35:25so many people
35:26are attracted
35:26by her
35:27in the social
35:28media
35:29I think
35:29all of
35:31us
35:31and the people
35:32living in the city
35:33anywhere
35:34I think they have
35:35a feeling
35:36about
35:36oh
35:37it's time
35:38to back
35:39to the nature
35:40sometimes
35:41yeah
35:43the more I talk
35:44to the people
35:44here
35:45the clearer
35:46it becomes
35:46that Yedan's
35:47decision
35:48to rebuild
35:48her life
35:49has inspired
35:50them to seek
35:51a fresh start
35:52of their own
35:52it's so interesting
35:54isn't it
35:54that so many
35:55and this is not
35:56just something
35:57that you experience
35:58in China
35:59as you'll know
35:59this is all over
36:00the world
36:01the pressures
36:02of modern life
36:03and people
36:03looking for an
36:04alternative
36:05I think I met
36:06them because
36:06all of us
36:08are sort of
36:09on this journey
36:09of returning
36:10to the nature
36:11to the wild
36:12already
36:13and somehow
36:14they all kind
36:15got like
36:16attracted to my
36:17project
36:18and then they
36:18reach out to me
36:19either to work
36:20with me
36:20or to stay
36:21with me
36:21to spend
36:22time with me
36:23and I think
36:24to party with you
36:25to party with me
36:26tonight
36:26so it's because
36:27we all kind of
36:28started that journey
36:29already
36:37I was worried
36:38that Yidan
36:39was navigating
36:40this journey alone
36:41but through the
36:42power of social
36:43media
36:44it's clear
36:44she's part
36:45of a much
36:46larger community
36:46an army
36:48of kindred
36:49spirits
36:49also turning
36:50to nature
36:51for fulfilment
36:52I was so
36:54nice to see
36:55her friends
36:56but also
36:57a generation
36:58of who feel
36:59empowered
36:59to break free
37:01from those
37:02kind of
37:02expectations
37:03of older
37:04generations
37:05and I think
37:05this is
37:06something
37:07experienced
37:08globally
37:08by many
37:09many people
37:10but I think
37:11I'm going to
37:11leave now
37:12feeling really
37:13confident
37:14that she's
37:14got good
37:15friends
37:15who will
37:17shower her
37:17with compliments
37:19and you know
37:20make sure
37:21that she enjoys
37:22life
37:22what I've seen
37:23this week
37:24is a really
37:24inspiring woman
37:25in the first
37:26of them
37:37for the past
37:38few days
37:39I've been staying
37:40with Yidan
37:40learning what
37:42inspired her
37:43to create her
37:44unique home
37:44of bamboo huts
37:45rice fields
37:47and a bus
37:50so what have you
37:51got planned
37:51for this
37:52no plan
37:54just got
37:55free creation
37:56you need to
37:57use your
37:58imagination
37:59now
38:00so you want
38:00to paint
38:01the whole side
38:02yeah
38:03and just use
38:04your free creativity
38:05at whatever
38:07you think
38:08is yours
38:09I'm going to
38:10take this section
38:10here for now
38:11okay
38:11and tell me
38:12about the bus
38:13what are your plans
38:13for the actual
38:14vehicle itself
38:15it doesn't look like
38:16it's going anywhere
38:17I got this bus
38:18with my friend
38:19and we are
38:21trying to turn
38:22this one
38:22into like
38:23a little
38:24nightlife spot
38:25and a wild party
38:27wild party bus
38:28I love that
38:30what colours
38:30have we got
38:30this is all good fun
38:32but keeping the place
38:34running comes at a cost
38:35creative ideas
38:37like a stationary
38:37party bus
38:38can hopefully
38:39help attract guests
38:40and sustain
38:41this way of life
38:42for Yidan
38:43if that's what
38:44she wants
38:46I'm wondering
38:46given
38:47the permanency
38:48of this bus
38:50how permanent
38:51you see
38:52your life
38:53being here
38:53for me
38:56this is
38:56my home
38:57and this is
38:58where my heart
38:59is
38:59even right now
39:00I go
39:01anywhere to travel
39:02I always want
39:03to return here
39:03and it's always
39:05going to be the case
39:06but that doesn't mean
39:07I have to be
39:08physically here
39:09all the time
39:09oh
39:10what are you
39:11going to do
39:12with that
39:12I'm off
39:13yeah
39:14I can maybe
39:15in the future
39:16if I have
39:16a team here
39:17if I have
39:18a community set up
39:19I can go travel
39:20and people can come here
39:21for two months
39:22three months
39:22they can leave
39:23anytime
39:23in some ways
39:24do you think
39:25what you're creating here
39:26is a home
39:27for others
39:29yeah
39:29definitely
39:30this is what I
39:31feel I want to
39:33build for myself
39:34but
39:35just me alone
39:36is not able
39:37to complete it
39:39it's not like
39:39I cannot complete
39:41but it requires
39:42other people
39:43and sense of community
39:44to combine
39:46all together
39:47to make it
39:48some place
39:48that everyone
39:49feels like
39:50is home for them
39:51I think a reality
39:52of life
39:52Yudan
39:53is that
39:53whatever your lifestyle
39:55there's going to be
39:56some hard work
39:57I'm wondering
39:58how you would
39:59distinguish between
40:00the different types
40:01of hard work
40:02involved in
40:03for example
40:04working in
40:05Bangkok
40:06or in Shanghai
40:07and the hard work
40:09you put in here
40:09yeah
40:10it's hard work
40:11but it's mostly
40:12like just the physic
40:13you know
40:13I get tired
40:14from farming
40:15from doing a lot
40:16of things
40:17every day
40:17but
40:18when I was working
40:19for the jobs
40:21I felt both mentally
40:22and physically tired
40:23and those tiredness
40:24is really hard
40:25to recover
40:26and obviously
40:27the difference here
40:28is it's hard work
40:29but the hard work
40:30is your dream
40:30not someone else's
40:32yeah
40:32do you worry
40:33about disappointing
40:34people who
40:35perhaps have come
40:36to know you
40:37as you are now
40:37or do you feel
40:39free enough
40:39to keep on changing
40:41keep on adapting
40:43chameleon-like
40:44to follow your heart
40:46and your dreams
40:47I realize
40:48people don't really
40:49feel inspired
40:51love the story
40:52because I did
40:54something like this
40:56but more it's like
40:56I'm being who I am
40:57you know
40:58I am being
40:59always being authentic
41:00to them
41:01what I'm doing
41:02right now
41:03is not like
41:03what I will be doing
41:04forever
41:05and actually
41:06being changeable
41:08being flexible
41:09is like
41:10one of
41:10the biggest
41:11characteristics
41:12that I have
41:13for me
41:16I think for Yidan
41:18contentment
41:19happiness
41:19really is in the heart
41:21I don't think
41:22she's going to be
41:23leaving here
41:23in any great rush
41:25anytime soon
41:26but I suspect
41:27this will continue
41:28to grow
41:28and I do suspect
41:30that at some stage
41:31she will
41:31fledge
41:32this nest
41:33and go on
41:35to greater
41:36weirder
41:37wilder things
41:38she's done so much
41:40personal growth
41:41over the last
41:41four years
41:42imagine what she can do
41:43in another ten years
41:45I think this is
41:47a well earned beer
41:48yeah
41:48it is
41:49cheers
41:52oh wow
41:53cannot wait to drink
41:54this first sip
41:55that is so good
41:57can I say
41:57you earned it
41:58congratulations
42:00do you think
42:01you enjoy
42:01this enough
42:02do you have
42:03time to take in
42:04the beauty
42:05of the landscape
42:06I do make sure
42:07I get
42:08a piece of this
42:09every day
42:10to remind myself
42:11why did I start
42:12the whole thing
42:13why did I
42:14decide to live here
42:15because
42:16sometimes even being
42:18in such a beautiful
42:19set up
42:20nature
42:21you forget
42:22to appreciate it
42:23when you are
42:24stressed
42:24about something
42:26when I have
42:27too many guests
42:27I need to host them
42:29and I forget
42:30the reason
42:31why I'm here
42:31is to enjoy
42:33the life
42:33for myself
42:45I've reached
42:46the end
42:47of my stay
42:47in Thailand
42:48it's been
42:49fascinating
42:50to spend time
42:51with Yidan
42:51who's defied
42:53convention
42:53choosing instead
42:55to bravely
42:56forge ahead
42:57on her own path
42:59Yidan
43:00oh you're leaving
43:01let me say goodbye
43:02to the doggies first
43:03goodbye everyone
43:04everyone's
43:04waiting here
43:06goodbye everyone's
43:06waiting
43:06goodbye
43:07give me a hug
43:09thank you so much
43:11for staying with us
43:12oh Yidan
43:13I can't tell you
43:14how much
43:14I've enjoyed this week
43:15I've loved
43:16getting to know
43:16the place
43:17but more significantly
43:18getting to know you
43:19and I got to
43:20know you as well
43:21well listen
43:22I just want to
43:23remind you
43:23what an amazing
43:24thing it is
43:25you've done
43:25you've inspired
43:26and are going to
43:27continue to inspire
43:28so many people
43:28I hope so
43:29you're a very special
43:30woman
43:30thank you so much
43:31it's been so nice
43:32to have you
43:32keep on surprising
43:34people
43:34I will
43:35hopefully our paths
43:36our paths
43:36will cross again
43:37I'll be back
43:38thank you
43:39bye Yidan
43:40I think in all cultures
43:42there are still
43:42expectations
43:43particularly on women
43:44of what they should do
43:46what they shouldn't do
43:47the various different
43:49parts of her life
43:50have been about
43:51freeing herself
43:53from expectations
43:55and what she's finally
43:56been able to do
43:57is to live the life
43:59she wants to live
44:00in the landscape
44:01that she wants
44:02to do that in
44:04but with the freedom
44:06of expression
44:07that perhaps she hasn't
44:08been able to have
44:10in previous aspects
44:11of her life
44:12the wilds of Thailand
44:13have finally given her
44:16the freedom
44:17of choice
44:19the freedom
44:20to be who she is
44:22and create the canvas
44:24that she really wants
44:26to create
44:29okay
44:30to be who she is
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