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Ba dang
Lynda's lawn bowling court. So happy to see it put to use.Tried to send this blog several days ago but it didn't to so will try again.
I haven’t done the blog in a few weeks and thought I’d better catch everyone up on ‘things’. I’ve not made any great achievements yet…well I did have a ba dang court constructed (lawn bowling) but I don’t consider that any big deal…if it had been a bing bong table, that would have been different! I feel settled in my village but am still finding new faces and new surprises. The pictures of the weavers were two of those finds.
Rice planting is in full swing and it’s an interesting process. When I first visited Chaiyaphum in March, the fields were in upheaval, weed full and ugly. Now they have been ploughed and sowed and the first plantings stand 2 feet tall. It’s at this time that the plants are hand pulled and re-planted, two stalks at a time, in a different field. Many times in a field right next to the old one and sometimes a truck drive away. What an incredible, back breaking job, bending constantly at the waist, knee deep in water for hours at a time, working from day
A river of green
Different shades of green depending on the time of day break until a lunch of rice and vegetables, mixed with small pieces of chicken or pork. Then resting at the site, laying under palm fond, roofed, platforms till the day cools and they can again work until night falls. I pass these people by on my bike and shout a sa wa dii ka and always get a response and smile back.
Silk is produced in many parts of Chaiyaphum and I’ve found several of my own neighbors who raise the worms and spin the silk. It is a fascinating process and some of the weaving and dying of the silk is an absolute work of art. The technique is passed from generation to generation, however, like other places in the world, the young people don’t want to learn the old methods. The fabric that the woman is holding in the one photo took a month just to dye the silk…she can’t even remember how long it took to weave the intricate design. There is also another weaving process that actually uses a loom. It is used mostly to make the traditional checkered cloth that is used by the men as a sash or pa sin and cotton is
most often used.
The next couple of weeks I’ll be spending in Nakhon Ratchisima. The oldest human remains in Thailand were excavated here during the ‘90’s. Prasat Hin Phimai is also located in this jangwat. It is one of the biggest and most important religious sanctuaries found in Thailand. It was built between the 11th and 12th centuries by the Khmer Kingdom, approx 100 years before Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I left my camera cable at home and wasn't able to download any pictures for this blog but will do so next time around.
We are staying at a technical school in Klorat (Nakhon Ratchisima) and using the wifi the library. It's hard to connect and really slow so I won't be updating this site until sometime mid month when I get back to my site. It's kind of boring stuff we're learning...mostly paperwork that has to be completed for PC and the Thai government so we can justify being in Thailand. I was hoping it would be more like an extended vacation. Well, hope everyone has a great 4th of July. I think it will have special meaning for all of us who are living outside the
Ready for Replanting
Pulled, piled and ready to be moved to another field country. We still have the BEST country in the world, even with all it's problems.
Enjoy!!!!
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bcgypsey
bcgypsey
i can not wait to visit
I read you blogs and talk about you constantly I plan on coming your way in about a year. I love the work you are doing for yourself and for others love kathy healey