rest day!

---

---

It's lunch time in Chiang Rai and today we have a rest day for all of us. Miriam and I went for a nice morning walk around our Chat guest house (www.chattour.com). You see the city slowly waking up and many people getting their carts ready for the food markets. The fresh fish gets cleaned and the cooking starts. The Thai people eat the same hot food in morning lunch and dinner. You are getting used to the smell of cooked food early in the morning. There is good mix of western and Thai food. This helps to keep the kids happy. They still like their fries oonce in a while. They enjoy the fresh fruitshakes everyday. Yesterday we got a guide with a van (airconditioned, seats like Ed's lazyboy - especially needed after the elephants and the busride) driving us around C.R. First we stopped by the Long Neck Tribe. They are the ones with lots of rings around their necks and knees. They came as refuges from Burma in the last 30 years. They are mostly found close to the border with Thailand - Burma. The women start putting rings around their necks as early as 5 years old until they are married or 25 years old. They keep their rings on for the rest of their lives. The rings can weigh up to 5-7 kg. Very interesting to see. The reason for the rings is not totally clear. Some say to protect the women from attacks by tigers who kill by taking them by the throat. Others say it is a form of beauty for the women and to make them stand out with other tribes. The first sound good to the kids.
From there we went to the Monkey Temple. The Temple is the place where the monks live. It's also a place where animals get dropped off if you don't want. They never refuse animals given to them. Some kids get also put in a temple at a young ageassomeparanets do not have enough money to give them proper education and/or food. Some kids are as young as 8 years old.
In the afternoon we visited the Golden Triangle. Golden because of the opium trade in the early 1900,what made it a very wealthy area. The Triangle because of the three countries together, Thailand-Burma-Laos. For the kids there was a opuim museum what was a good education session as Meindert and Kirsten just finished the D.A.R.E program at school and learned about the different drugs in the world.
On the way back we stopped at a very old tremple,build in 1250. With having a guide it's nice to get more info about all the detials of a temple. That makes it more enjoyable to see temples as they have many here in Thailand.
As a said earlier today homework and hang low the rest of the day and tomorrow we will do a two day trek with a guide along the Mae Kong river and through the forest where we will see waterfalls, hotsprings and hilltribes. We stay overnight at Lahu village where the Lahu tribe lives. This means hiking for 4 hours one day and 5 hrs the next (you see Remnmert is getting his exercise kind of). You can tell the kids are very excited to go but it will be good to do some exercises for all of us. The Malaria pills are taken so we are ready to ruff it for 2 days.
To the soccer team and Andrew, good luck with the cup game this Sunday, you can go all the way if you put your mind to it! Thanks everyone at the clinic for your little note!
We stay in touch Swadicup they say in Thai, Rem and Mir

By the way Happy Belated Birthday to Zi, Josi, Ellen and Mimi !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy the pics, have also added a map, hope it works

---

Photos

New fashion ???
We came across this girl when we took our busride from Lampang to Chiang Rai.

One of the Long Neck Ladies
This lady was waiting patiently to see what we would buy from her. If they are bored than they do a lot of weaving. You think that the necks growlonger, but is actually the shoulders that grow down more.

Cuties
These little ones were so cute and loved lollipops.I am happy though that I don't have to dress my kids like this every day, all those layers.

For the McCarthy
We came across a class that was on a field trip, their school is called "The Storm"

Bored ?
If any one is bored of the sport you are doing, you can always try this !!!!
One way of spending your time here if you are not watching tv

Comments

[Wendi]

What a time you're having!
We're really enjoying the updates! Looks like you're having an amazing time and really getting a feel for what it's like for the locals there. The elephant ride must have been a blast - very brave! Sure could use some of that heat around here but at least the last week has been sunny - finally. Carson actually played a home game today with no snow and no rain - very nice indeed. I'm taking Bruce to see the "Barenaked Ladies" at GM Place tonight so that should be fun. I've also been going to Pilates and am very committed to sticking with it. Had Jodi over for coffee last weekend and went to her place for happy hour yesterday and she seems to be in good spirits. Enjoy your river trip - looking forward to the next update.