There have been a lot going on which I will fill you all in on later as I am planning a trip for the kids to the Zoo have have to run to a meeting with the manager of the Zoo to set the rest up. I wanted to talk about our trip to one of the Hill Tribes that a few of us went onwith Phra Ah Jon. We left the Wat Don Chan early in the morning last Wenesday and set out to the mountains. We were going there for an opening of a Wat in a Village were the Galyong Tribe lives and to see the conditions that they are living. This village is located 30 minutes from the Burmise border, danger, danger, well could be but we were fine. It took us about 8 hours to get there and the roads were windey and at some points very dangerous but fun all of the way. I was in the car with Wisit, the head teacher at the school, May-She Ji (a Nun named Ji which means heart in Thai) and 2 little girls from that tribe, they were going to get to see some friends from home and they were very excited.
When we arrived they had an amazing lunch ready for us that I later found out was just picked from the garden that morning and the pork we had was walking around the day before, it was so fresh and delicious! They were looking at me like I was from the moon but said they were very happy to have someone come so far to see how they live.They were bugging out over my beard, leg and arm hair, to boot it is orange, funny. It was so my pleasure as I have watched TV shows on National Geographic on things like this and now I was there, I was so grateful. I had baked them some Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and after they were done dissecting it to see what it was all about, they chowed it down so fast that I think some missed out. We took a walk through the village, which had about 90 homes and everyone was coming out to see what was going on. Some of the people invited us in for some food but as we were so full already the girl that was translating for us told them it’s not personal we are just full. There were a few of the home that had a single solar panel attached to help with a few luxuries, like a light or a small TV or radio, it was really great to see. I also found out that there are only about 12 of these village left. Some of the kids from the school will return to their villages when they finish and some will go to college or get jobs in different cities but the head Abbott hopes most will go back so they can help to keep their tribes going. I made fast friends and had so much fun, I know I will go back to visit and this time I will stay longer.
The opening ceremonies of the Wat were great! The monks chanted, performed blessings followed by another amazing meal and then the night came to a close with the setting off of Kom Roy. Kom Roy are hand-made balloons lit on fire but just in the middle and they then float away with our wishes attached to them, some had fireworks going off too. It was a experience I will never forget and I feel like I am doing it no justice as I write about it and I hope the pictures I add will help. We all slept close together on the floor and woke up to the Monks chanting, beautiful. More praying in the new Temple, a final meal prepared by the men and set off for home, Wisit had to teach the next day and it was a long road home. I am planning a trip to a similar village in March with one of the students, Jaw. His village has about 70 homes and is 16 hours away by bus and that’s the only way there. His parents are both rice farms and make about $200 per month and that is why Jaw is here at the Wat. Here he can get a good education, clothes, food and friends and does not have to work everyday to help support the family. He will help them later by sending money which he told me he wants to work at the place where we went Zip-lining, Flight of the Gibbons. We have been working on his English because if he wants a job there he has to speak it to keep the people safe. Next week I will fill you in on much more, there is lot’s of upward movement going on here and as always thank’s so much for the donations I have been getting they have been going to great use. Cheers, -Stu
