This is the summary
Well Good morning to all, Sawadee Ka!
I hope everyone is ok, thought to send off a update this morning. Its Monday here and I only just got back yesturday afternoon. Its has been crazy. Many new people, some old coming back and some left already and then there is me still here! haha
Well Nathan, my outdoor leader (aka Outdoor Master) has left us last week and now with me to take over. I think I have been on the most homestays in one trip, so far its been 4 and I think I am going out again this week.
The last two weeks homestays have been interesting. In Baan Phuko the villagers are Akha tribe and have moved to the current location as of 15 years ago. There are massive good points to their move and some bad points but in the long run it will benefit the village as a whole. Some previous Volunteers have raised some money back home (not sure where they are from) and decided to go to Phuko and build a desperately needed bridge. Well guess who has to do all the prep for them. We do!! We spent the last 2 homestays combing the creek looking for rocks to build the bridge! There are no rocks at all within a 200m radius of the proposed site of the bridge.
After starting collecting the rocks we didn't really understand why it was so desperately needed, they could drive across quite easily. Some locals came down on bikes and had to get across which is usually what they do but as one went over, the back of the bike got in a ditch and then the guy sitting on the back dropped a battery into the creek. and as all know water and electricity don't mix!! From then on we realised how much they actually needed it.
I stayed in Pi Agor's house (Pi is a term put before someones name to show respect, kinda like some cultures call family friends Aunts and Uncles), he would sit down with us and teach us Akha at night. His house is quite a big house and not made from bamboo which is the norm here, but many are changing to wood planks and brick. Akha come from China essentially so we did get to try a traditional dish. (Mum don't cry! or tell Precious) we ate DOG. They cooked us dog by the request of our leader Surchi (who is Lahu and Lahu do not eat dog) because he wanted us to try it and just sit back and laugh at us. And yes I know I'm vegetarian at home but I'm here to try and experience things. We were hesitant of course as many of us have pet dogs at home. But in the end I think out of 15 people only one or two didn't try. It was like beef but quite chewy. They cooked it with heaps of herbs and some chilli. I don't think I will ever eat it again tho. I will still be veg when i get home!!
We had some new Japanese volunteers join us last week, and they came on homestay. It was a long homestay, usually they are only 3 or so days, this one was 5 days. The first days was just pretty much getting there and hangout. Then 2 days of rocks, some taught at the phuko school for half that day on the 2nd. Then we trekked to Baan Jalae where we hung out at Surchi's house and drank Akha whiskey infused with herbs. Not too bad actually. Then off again and trekked to Huay Mai Sai Waterfall and swam, the boys jumped. Then we trekked over a mountain to get to Baan Apa to celebrate Lahu New Years. Lahu New Years goes for 10 days, 5 for the girls and 5 for the boys. We sang karaoke in THAI!!! Well we tried to, Steven and I. And we danced the night away. The Karaoke went on til about 4am and then started again at 6am but what made it worse was that our earplugs did nothing to stop the sounds because there was a PA system wired all over the village. So none of us had much sleep.
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