Pangmapha

After 5 days in the mountains of Northern Thailand I am finally back "home"!  We got home around 2:30 PM on Thursday and we officially finished our class by taking our final last night at 8 PM.  It was actually harder than I expected but Ajan Chris is a pretty laid back guy so I'm hoping he won't grade too harsh!  Our class is getting together tonight to go out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant called, The Salsa Kitchen.  I'm really getting sick of all this white rice.. Anyways, I'll tell you more about my trip:
DAY 1:
We started our trip at about 9 AM through the winding hillsides up to Pangmapha.  I am surprised I didn't get car sick.. The drive lasted about 4 1/2 hours but it seemed short because we made a stops for lunch and to get snacks.  The first night we didn't do too much and just took the time to look around Baan Cafe Nature Resort.  Ajan Thanit, another professor that came with us, is the sister of the women, P'Oon (spelling?), who owns the resort.  P'Oon is the sweetest little lady ever!  Not to mention an amazing cook!  We wanted to take her back to the dorms with us to show them how its done.

The non air conditioned bus we drove 4 1/2 hours in..

 Baan Cafe! Such a cute place

 Our little bungalows

 By the river running behind Baan Cafe

 Luckily we had a normal toilet in our room..

 

DAY 2:

We started our mornings off everyday with breakfast at 8 AM and even got french toast!  Supposedly the syrup container said it was "Pure Wisconsin Maple Syrup" but it was actually honey.. Close enough!  The second day we went to the Tham Nam Lod Cave which was really cool.  I should tell you that all week our mode of transportation was by pick up truck.  When I say pick up truck I mean riding in the back of a pick up with 8 other people while it's pouring rain.. My butt is still sore.  Anyways, in order to get into the cave we had to ride on little bamboo rafts and then be guided through the cave by laterns.  It was pretty rainy out that day but luckily we were in the cave for a good part of it.  After we left the cave we went to have lunch, a Thai style sack lunch.  Our sack lunch consisted of noodles in a bag-so cute and funny!  After lunch we went to visited a Lahu village and talked to the headmaster of the village who practices agroforestry.  He has a lot of fruit trees because they grow the best in his surrounding area.

 Super sweet ponchos

 What we rode on into the cave

 Exit of the cave

 Sack lunch!

 Home of the Lahu headmaster: Ajan Thanit (right) translated for us

 

DAY 3:

In honor of the 4th of July I wore my American flag socks this day!  Brian and I had originally bought them to give to my Thai roommate as a gift but I decided not to and instead gave her a postcard of Chicago.  No one has any idea where Wisconsin is.. I was kinda homesick on this day because I knew my family was all together for the holiday and I wish I could have been there!  On this day we again went to see another village.  This time we talked to the headmaster of a Lisu village.  It is so interesting to hear the history of each village and to see how the people live.  We again rode in the pick up trucks and ate sack lunches.  However, this day our pick up truck was backing up and was so close to falling off the side of a little hill into a river-while we were in it!  The roads there were ridiculously muddy and bumpy.. I can't even begin to tell you how many things we have done that would be considered illegal in the states.

Happy 4th of July!

 Real safe..

 Lisu village

 Another sack lunch!

 Close call

DAY 4/DAY 5:

This was the day of our home stay!  We left after lunch and headed about 45 minutes up the mountain to a Lua village where we would spend the night with a host family.  I was really nervous going into the homestay because I didn't know what to expect, but I tried going in with the best attitude I could.  Thankfully we were paired up two to a home so my friend Trina and I stayed together.  When we first arrived we were greeted by the headmaster of the village who sat down to talk with us before we took a tour around the village.  After the tour our families we asked to come pick us up for dinner.  Trina and I were matched with our mom, Yoong.  The rest of our family consisted of a dad, a brother (12 years old), and a sister (4 years old).  Our sister, Nampoon, was the cutest little girl ever!  Even though our family could speak no English they were unbelievably nice and welcoming.  We were served dinner alone soon after we arrived because it's customary to leave the guests alone when they eat.  We were a little confused at first but caught on after a while!  After dinner we were shown to "our room" which was a mattress on the wood floor covered by a mosquito net.. Mom and Dad, you would have been so proud.  I slept surprisingly well during the night and didn't feel that uncomfortable-only when I had to use the squatting toilet in the shed behind our hut.. In the morning our mom served us breakfast again by ourselves before we went out with our class to see and help the villagers work in the field.  It was so hot out that day and I literally felt like I had just jumped into a swimming pool with all of my sweat.. Gross, I know.  After we did that our mom made us lunch before we left to go back to Baan Cafe.  Overall the home stay was such a great experience that I am happy to say that I have done.

Our lovely bed

 Hut sweet hut

 Lua village

 Our mom, Yoong, and sister, Nampoon!

 Hard at work in the fields..

Pigs that were born during the night!

My excursion was a lot of fun but I'm glad to be back.  We start our next class on Monday and I'm crossing my fingers it will be pretty laid back and interesting!  The date of our excursion to Bangkok and Pattaya is still to be announced but as of right now it is scheduled for July 14-17 which is soon!  I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend!  Feel free to email me and tell me about your lives, please :)