Songkran 2012!!!!
Did you know that every year the Thai people spend an entire week drenching every living thing with water?
Every person, child, man or woman!
How about a truck full of monks?…. yep!!!
(And these monks are revered!!! Women can't even interact with them… but water festival… It's on!!!)
I haven't left my village house with a single thing in my pockets because within minutes I am head to toe soaked!!!
Pictures will have to wait until next week…
So where in the world am I?
Mae Ai, Thailand…
Where is that?….
About 5 min from BURMA!!!
We are 3 hours north of Chiang Mai and just minutes from the northern border of Thailand…
[I can't even begin to describe a day in the life but I'll give it a shot…..]
Wake up just before 530am to the sound of roosters
It's like a town meeting of all the animals in the village
I'm living in a village in the middle of rice fields
I exit my mosquito net and put on my running shoes
Stretch a little and off to a slight jog
Turn the corner of the last home and green rice fields as far as the eyes can see
The sun isn't up yet and I take in the incredible views
The fog lifting off the mountains and fields
The big white birds take off, the few cows beginning their day
The subtle sound of the water as it flows from one rice paddock to another
The hum of a scooter in the distance as the men head out to begin their days work
The sun begins to show
Starts deep orange, then yellow and color blind Joe is told that there is some amazing pinks as well.
I pray, I dream, I miss, I love, I laugh, I remember, I reflect, I feel…..
Two of us live in each home in this village
Our "house mom" is the nicest Thai woman ever
Breakfast of rice, fried eggs, string beans and meat bits that I'm still trying to recognize
Watch out for the red Thai peppers…. Whew!!! That'll wake you up!!!
We head out in a the bed of truck… 15 people is nothing now days…
Funny how adventure becomes the norm and the norm is hard to remember…
First corner… old man with a hose… hmmm… little for the plants… little for the white folks in this truck!
First corner of the main drag in the closest town… it's non-stop buckets, hoses, buckets, hoses, buckets…
Water is dripping off every square inch of you, there is no breaks….
The kids have SO much fun… teenagers… women… men…. everyone…all day… water!!!
Hilarious…
Pad Thai is 85 cents
Internet is 30 cents for an hour
