This may sound surprising but the 8 states in the north east (although i prefer the term - east India) have a lot of similarities from looks to food habits! You visited the mainland which is why it felt so different. You'll find the same plants/trees that grow in your country - here in the east of India. We love petai and fermented fish here in Manipur. And about the looks, even if we are from the same country(because we look different than the mainlanders) - we get that a lot. Trust me - A LOT! Most of the north indian people are unintentionally racist but some of them truly are! Try googling up Manipur/Mizoram/Nagaland/Assam/Sikkim/Tripura/Arunachal Pradesh. What you find may indeed suprise you - dear thai people! And THANK YOU PIMRYPIE for the vid! 😊😊😊