It took around 20 minutes to get there. The house is located in Doi Saket District which is not in the main Chiang Mai city. Mr. Gai (or easy name for the Germans: Mr. Crazy Man) and Kru Aum went there with us too. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Kru Aum's family. Our program was to prepare for the project on the mountain with the hill tribe there and to be taught about the old culture of Thai Lue (Thai: ไทยลื้อ), which is one of numerous tribes in Thailand. The Germans introduced themselves in Thai language which they have learnt yesterday with Mr. Pong. Mascha's Thai name is Bua (บัว which means Lotus), Lavi's is Lantom (ลั่นทม a flower name), Sebastian's is Rak (รัก which is flower name and another meaning is love) and Christoph is Kaew (แก้ว which is also flower name and another meaning is precious stone). Kru Aum's family members all wore the traditional clothes.
In the morning we had a welcome ceremony on the house. This ceremony was to welcome and wish the guests happiness and good luck with small white holy thread around the wrist. For man it would be around the right wrist and for woman around the left side. Later they explained about the origin of Thai Lue, the overview and the main propose of this learning program. We walked around the house afterwards and the Germans tried to carry the water from the well up to the house. It was not so easy to carry water up the stairs.
We went into the backyard to collect the cotton for weaving. At that moment we spotted a papaya tree with many fruits and claimed that we wanted to eat some. Kru Aum allowed us to collect it too and we did not deny that offer.
After collecting the cotton we have to dry them up first under the sun so that the seed can get out easier. Next we put the cotton flower into a special machine which will take the seeds out. Then we take those cotton (without seeds) into wood sticks and shake it. When it's big enough we roll it and then we can finally use it to make out the cotton thread. Everyone tried to make them and Christoph especially liked the machine than the others.
We had a little break with papaya, tamarind and oranges. The Germans had never eaten tamarind before and the result is Simon loves it. He ate so many tamarinds that I hope he could sleep at night without going to the toilet every 15 minutes.
The next workshop is to create a Thai traditional paper decoration. This thing is for paying respect for the angels and also for Thai New Year festival in April. I was really bad on creating or decorating things. I had to start over for 3 times for one piece while the Germans finished two or three pieces already. Ugh I am so incapable.
Lunch time came finally as we looked forward for. But there was one thing I noticed, the time passed very fast but in the same time very slow. I don't know if you understand what I mean... Well, we were very busy with activities and did many things but it was just all the morning. It's amazing.
Anyway, we had to cook lunch for ourselves. The dish was "Pad Thai" (ผัดไท) which is one of hugely famous Thai dishes. First, the Auntie would cook as example and the Germans and Thais would cook afterwards and compete who would win. The Germans could cook even better than the Thais. T^T Such an embarrassment!
After a peaceful lunch we walked to the centre of the village where the monument of the angel is located in order to give our paper decorations as paying respect. Then we got bicycles and rode to pick up some fruits in the farm. We were thrilled with picking up the ants nest because the local people eat the ant eggs too. But unfortunately, the ant nest was too small and did not have any eggs yet. Later we went to the market. The people were very excited to see tourists in the village. They were very nice. The Germans also surprised how the people communicated with each other even though they did not know each other. Our feet were relatively dirty and soiled because we walked and rode bicycles throughout the whole village today.
Some of us made a small bike tour in the village. I enjoyed it very much because this village is in countryside and the view and everything is beautiful. When we came back, we started to cook our dinner. Some managed the vegetables (me), some cooked the sticky rice and some prepared the stove for cooking. We talked while we were working and relaxed. I liked it very much especially when the family members are all nice and friendly and warm and everything.
During the evening the Germans wore the traditional clothes of Thai Lue and they looked really good on it. We danced and sang many songs. The Germans also sang with. I find that very nice and cute :)
We went into the backyard to collect the cotton for weaving. At that moment we spotted a papaya tree with many fruits and claimed that we wanted to eat some. Kru Aum allowed us to collect it too and we did not deny that offer.
After collecting the cotton we have to dry them up first under the sun so that the seed can get out easier. Next we put the cotton flower into a special machine which will take the seeds out. Then we take those cotton (without seeds) into wood sticks and shake it. When it's big enough we roll it and then we can finally use it to make out the cotton thread. Everyone tried to make them and Christoph especially liked the machine than the others.
We had a little break with papaya, tamarind and oranges. The Germans had never eaten tamarind before and the result is Simon loves it. He ate so many tamarinds that I hope he could sleep at night without going to the toilet every 15 minutes.
The next workshop is to create a Thai traditional paper decoration. This thing is for paying respect for the angels and also for Thai New Year festival in April. I was really bad on creating or decorating things. I had to start over for 3 times for one piece while the Germans finished two or three pieces already. Ugh I am so incapable.
Anyway, we had to cook lunch for ourselves. The dish was "Pad Thai" (ผัดไท) which is one of hugely famous Thai dishes. First, the Auntie would cook as example and the Germans and Thais would cook afterwards and compete who would win. The Germans could cook even better than the Thais. T^T Such an embarrassment!
After a peaceful lunch we walked to the centre of the village where the monument of the angel is located in order to give our paper decorations as paying respect. Then we got bicycles and rode to pick up some fruits in the farm. We were thrilled with picking up the ants nest because the local people eat the ant eggs too. But unfortunately, the ant nest was too small and did not have any eggs yet. Later we went to the market. The people were very excited to see tourists in the village. They were very nice. The Germans also surprised how the people communicated with each other even though they did not know each other. Our feet were relatively dirty and soiled because we walked and rode bicycles throughout the whole village today.
Some of us made a small bike tour in the village. I enjoyed it very much because this village is in countryside and the view and everything is beautiful. When we came back, we started to cook our dinner. Some managed the vegetables (me), some cooked the sticky rice and some prepared the stove for cooking. We talked while we were working and relaxed. I liked it very much especially when the family members are all nice and friendly and warm and everything.
During the evening the Germans wore the traditional clothes of Thai Lue and they looked really good on it. We danced and sang many songs. The Germans also sang with. I find that very nice and cute :)
