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What to do with such a lovely day?
Visit one of my friend's farms! |
G'day, folks! It's been awhile, I know - and I'm afraid my excuse is the same as it was last time, when I didn't write for over 2 weeks. I've been in Chiang Mai. Actually, I've been in Chiang Mai, Mae Sarieng (close to Mae Hong Son), and Mae Sot, also. Fun times! Check a map for those places if you've not heard of them before. They are NOT as close to each other as they appear to be. I must've spent a total of 28 hours travelling to and from these places. There are all these mountains that get in the way, causing 200kms to take a lot longer than it would in Australia!
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| The view from Bala Op school. Not bad, aye! |
Anyway, photo time, did I hear you say? Yes, photos and stories!
CHIANG MAI
Here, I essentially bludged for 3 glorious days. I accompanied three of my YWAM mates from Mae Sai - Steve, Maggie and Sarah. We tripped around the city, visited coffee shops, went shopping, did all the 'farang' (foreigner) holiday activities. I also spent one day with Megan (also from Australia), an awesome chicky who's busy teaching English in Mae Sot. These were fun days, spending time with these friends.
BALA OP (very close to MAE SARIENG)
On the 30th of December, I'd had enough of the Big Smoke. I yearned for fresh country air and wide open spaces! So, thanks to the help of one of my friends from church, Sunan, I headed out to Bala Op. Bala Op is a hilltribe village - the tribe being Lawa (Google them) - and many of my church friends come from either Bala Op, or another village close by. These people are just gorgeous, and so very generous. I had an absolute ball, filling 4 nights and 3 full days with village explorations, getting to know church friends better, chatting with locals, eating roasted piglet and talking deep into the night with girls and guys alike about the more serious issues in life (like what Australia's climate is like, and whether I have a boyfriend or not. Hey, my language is still limited to certain topics, as is their English!).
Part of the reason for my visit to Bala Op was to participate in the Lawa's annual Christian conference. Every year, a different village hosts this gathering of Lawa Christians (about 1000 people in total). They see in the New Year together, listen to a guest speaker during the days, and worship with music during the nights. This would have to be the most unusual way I have counted down to the New Year yet.
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| My church friends singing |
Bring on 2011!
Another interesting aspect of my time in Bala Op (and this story I must tell, because it absolutely cracks me up) was witnessing a certain tradition that all young blokes participate in. Allow me to elaborate.
After having seen in the New Year, at 12.00am on the 1st of January, I was sitting around the kitchen fire (which is in the floor) with my lovely friends Jam (22) and Nurse (18). We were just contemplating hitting the sack (we all slept in the one room), when we heard numerous male voices outside. Jam disappeared to investigate; Nurse and I stayed comfortable (and warm!) by the fire.
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The most common English phrase, after 'hello', is 'I love you.'
Not quite sure what my reply should be. |
Suddenly, into the room trooped 10 Lawa guys, and took up residence opposite us, on the other side of the fire! Nurse fled; Jam was nowhere to be found. I was alone and abandoned, faced with 10 men and a deepening feeling of uncertainty. Perhaps my marriage was being arranged as we spoke; perhaps they were rebels from another village and I was going to be carried off into the night.
In amongst the kerfuffle of broken English (for those who wanted to practise), Thai and Lawa (yes, they have their own language, so even with my limited Thai, I was still stuffed), I managed to ask what on earth they were doing!
Their answer? 'It's tradition! We will go and visit every house that has single girls in them.'
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| Some guys from church with Jam and me |
Ah, I see.
And so they came - different groups of different boys - every night, until very late. I never once got to bed before 2am. It turns out Jam had known all along. I guess she had her own crowd to chat with while I was interrogated inside the house. And Nurse? She soon recovered from her shyness and reappeared to chat with one group until 4am in the morning.
Tradition, huh!
MAE SOT
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Guess how many people were crammed onto this songtaew...
If the people in my songtaew were anything to go by,
there's probably still room for 15 more. |
Having recovered from my blast of a time in Mae Sarieng, I braved the 6-hour journey onwards to Mae Sot, to visit afore-mentioned fellow Aussie, Megan. Sharing my space (note to self: there is no such thing as a personal bubble in Asia) with 4 chickens, one lovely Karen girl called Nora, and varying amounts of fellow passengers (usually between 26-30 people), I endured the seemingly never-ending trip, to arrive in Mae Sot by 5pm. Never have I been so grateful for a hot shower. Well, perhaps once or twice before, but this is the most recent incident.
Post-traumatic-journey, Megan and I biked all over Mae Sot for a few days, visiting some of her favourite food haunts, and meeting her students. This, I loved. Meeting some inspiring students (if you know her, ask her for some stories), learning more about these two countries, and getting a feel for where my beloved Karen friends (in Townsville) come from.
I hope to revisit Mae Sot again soon. 3 days wasn't long enough!
HOMEWARD BOUND
Finally, I grew weary of travelling. I longed to plant my feet back on solid ground, running towards the goal of working with God in Mae Sai. So, I returned to Mae Sai. 12 hours by bus, from Mae Sot to Mae Sai, ending up with 2 bags missing (because I thought the bus would stay put in Chiang Mai, but it didn't! It ran away!)
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| Eating with Jam's extended family |
Praise God though, because after a week of anxious waiting, both bags have been returned by His awesome hand! A lesson well-learned on my behalf, and another reason to thank God for His goodness.
My heart still thrills at the fun times I had for 2 glorious weeks, and I thank God for the good times, good friends, and good food I was blessed to experience. Now, it's time to knuckle down and get into life in Mae Sai! More details to follow, next blog.
Love you lot, heaps and heaps! Thank you so much for all your encouragement and support - I would not, could not, be here without you pushing me onwards.
