Week End Wrap Up

Sorry it has been so long since we have been able to update-it has been pretty busy here in our little corner of Thailand. I will try to go back and hit some of the highlights of last week.
Kurt and Jessica have made it safely back to the states. Jessica then took off and went to Denver to spend some much needed Grandma and Grandpa time, she was able to be there to help Grandma celebrate her birthday so that was great.
We started our week last week at a village church about an hour away. Beautiful area with a cute church newly built on the hill. We drove in to see an 8-10 foot python (I didn’t get close enough to measure but I am confident I am not exaggerating!) hanging headless over a branch. A boy from the village had killed it the day before by the church… I am so thankful I didn’t have to come face to face with it when it was alive!
This week in Thailand was the Songkran festival, the holiday that everyone celebrates by having a 4-5 day long water fight. If I understand it correctly, what started out as a time that children returned to their home village and received a blessing from their family by a few drops of water on their head has evolved into this crazy thing of days of intense water fighting. Everyone just dumps water on everyone- young, old doesn’t matter….we spent two afternoons in the town participating. The first day I rode in the truck and had a great time watching but had to get out and play the second day. We drove around with a 50 gallon bucket of water and one smaller one filled with ice water and just got to throw water on everyone we saw, of course we were targets as well…favorite targets because we were obviously not locals! The kids loved it! Kinda a dream for kids to be able to throw water on whomever they feel like- especially when it is hot! Everyone is a great sport about it and just walks around soaking wet. We had tons of wet, exhausting fun and I would come back every year just for that!
We just returned last night from an overnight stay in an Akha village where Ghan (our hostess) grew up. We were able to meet her mom and family and get a better idea of how life in the village is lived. It is so interesting to see how people live, and even though we don’t speak the language we were made to feel very welcome and could observe a whole different way of life very up close! I was mostly fascinated with how it is possible to live with everything you need provided for by your own work, ingenuity and from the land and area you live in. The jungle and small farms provide all the food, vegetables, fruit and eggs they need and nothing goes to waste. Hard hot work for sure!! I am such a long way from living that kind of life. I don’t think my weekly trip to Costco that I complain about really qualifies for back breaking hunting and gathering!
Well that about sums up the week. We also had a great time eating pizza, playing games and watching movies with Pete, Mary and Wynn. We enjoyed a hot walk to a nearby waterfall and a great cool swim at the end. We continue to be spoiled by great hospitality by the people around us. We remain healthy and happy and so grateful for this opportunity. Not sure what adventures this week holds but will try to keep the updates coming!
Enjoy the pictures~Cari