Organic Mulberry Farm

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Today I moved out of my current accomodation at Pan's Place and into my dorm room at the Organic Mulberry Farm. It is to be my home for the next four nights. It is a lush farm complete with goats, chickens, cats, dogs and lots and lots of mulberries. I was greeted with some luscious hibiscus tea upon my arrival. It is magnificent!

Tomorrow I begin volunteering at a local village school. Unfortunately for me, it is school holidays here and so there are only night clases. I will be taking English Level 1 and Level 2 for the rest of the week between 5-7pm. I think the kids will be about 14-16 years of age and we will be covering concepts of about a Year 5 level. If you are interested in looking at the website it is www.laofarm.org. I'm teaching with the EEFA or Equal Education For All Programme and there is a link through to their website. It is incredibly well organised and I already know all the concepts that I will be teaching this week, all I have to do is prepare the lessons.

I survived tubing although Dan (another Australian) badly bruised his lower back coming off the giant slide and another girl I know was hit in the face with the metal inner tube valve and has severe bruising around her eye and jaw. It is so dangerous, i'm not surprised people have died. The water level is really low in parts and there are lots of rocks sticking up out of the water. Some travellers have been back to the river every day just to sit at the bars and knock back the free wasp shooters, eat some hash cakes or trip out with magic mushroom shakes. Clearly I am not into that so once is enough for me. I did get some good photos so I'll put them up when I get them safely onto a cd.

This is definately a party city. The night life is full on with bars galore, some even give out free 'buckets' (literally buckets of Lao whiskey) Opium, pot, mushrooms and more are readily available. It's so in your face I actually find it a bit scary. I am glad I am staying out of town away frm the madness although I have had to hire bike to get me the 20 minute ride there and I'm not so sure of riding to and from town in the dark.

I will let you know how the teaching pans out. It is only until Thursday night as there are no classes on Friday. I will head to Phonsovan to see the Plain of Jars firt thing Friday. Until then, wish me luck!

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Photos

Queen of the Castle
After climbing the great heights to reach the caves I was rewarded with 360 degree views of Vang Vieng

Comments

[Carol]

Hello
Hi Chloe pleased you survived the tubing. Not sure that you should have done it considering the risks and possible injury pleased you are also staying away from all those mind altering substances. Take care trVelling backwards and forwards ok. You are very brave. The school sounds great and I'm going to look it up on my big computer tomorrow. I'm wondering how you prepare your lessons without any resources or do they hxve some for you? It's such a different world out there. Meanwhile back in Perth it has finally started raining and getting cold I'm still wearing shorts in the day as I'm busy and it's been beautiful in the day. At night I change and s jumper is needed. When are you headed home Chloe? I hope your nights at school are great and I'm sure you will contribute a great deal. Do they only let teachers teach or any one who is travelling and wants to?? Much love to you Chloe. Keep your blogs coming xxxx much love carol

[dEB]

hey Chloe, Just caught myself up on the last 5 entries. You are really embrassing the solo travelling. Your literary skills are awesome you really left me hanging at the end of Blue lagoon with your questions on the future!? Keep em coming. xxoo Deb

[Westernred]

Teaching time
Hi Carol, yes the tubing is definately something that ould have gotten out of hand but I took it easy. At this stage I will be home in August to arrange my travel plans for Africa and to organise (as much as possible) my plans career wise for 2011. I haven't booked flights home yet but I think that is the easy part. The school does give me the text book in which the lessons are primarily taught from and they have one computer and printer in the office that is available for volunteer to use to create resources if they wish. Anyone is able to volunteer, you don't have to be a teacher. After ridiing home in the dark last night I wondered if I might be better off staying in town. I will consider moving back into town if I have to do that again as although I felt safe enough using my head torch as a headlight it would still be better not to have to ride in the dark along the main road. I will continue to take care and be safe. Thanks again for your lovely emails. Chloe xxx

[brenda]

Plucky you!
Hi my darling. You are very brave or plucky. Thanks God you were not injured in the tubing.... what a disastrous end to your travelling that would be! Am not sure about the riding home at night.... in fact am certain I don't like the idea. Maybe by the time you receive this, you will have decided to stay in town? How about all those substances.... are they legal in Laos, or do people simply flout the rules? Could foreigners be in trouble tho, if 'caught'? Best to avoid them completely I believe. Glad you do too. Ann's funeral was yesterday, Chloe. Standing room only at the mass, burial and wake. What a tribute to her. I am so glad I took the day off. It was a win- win situation, as I swapped a day with Chris.... now she can have a Friday off and the school did not have to pay relief. Lynn came to it, so I gave her your postcard and she was thrilled to receive it. I returned to school afterwards and about 5 of us worked on reports until after 7pm. We will do the same tonight. Productive! Last weekend at the farm, we had 5 - 8mls, depending on the location of the paddock. Dad was pleased. All my love, Mum.