Taking to the Hills

I just spent a wonderful couple days going up to the Burma-Thai border. The trip was looking a little iffy - what with concerns about the weather and all. But our prayers were answered, and the weather stayed nice so we could get in and out. The road into the camp is narrow, windy, hilly, and mostly dirt. In rainy season (which is just starting up there) the road gets washed away and is difficult to navigate. Not only is it difficult, but it is also very dangerous when the road gets slick. Just last week a truck tipped going in - no injuries though!

On Friday we drove to a town near the border and, on the advice of the locals, stayed the night. Friday afternoon one of my past students, Jay, took me on a motorbike trip up into the mountains surrounding the area. I still get nervous on motorbikes, but he's an expert driver. (He really is - he used to race bikes!) The road up to his friend's place had numerous twists and turns and was also a dirt road most of the way. I am getting better at just relaxing and trusting the driver - it's safer that way! We lucked out and it didn't start raining heavily until we got to the paved road on the way down.
This road doesn't look too bad, but a bit further up we got to the deep ruts and rocky areas - then I just wanted to hold on!
We walked the last 2k to his friend's house.
This is inside one of the bamboo houses in the family compound. The family served me a delicious (and very spicy) meal with bamboo shoots.
The next morning we left town at 5am after getting our rope (which, thankfully, we didn't need!). Two and a half hours later we arrived in the camp. We unloaded all the food we brought, plus our bags and piled back in the truck. We had another bumpy ride to the other side of the camp where another family lives. I didn't go to their home last time, so it was fun seeing a different area. They fed us some little cakes (I ate sooo much this weekend!) and then, after a short walk around, we all piled back in the truck to Saw Baw's place.
The Hanging Bridge on the other side of the camp. We crossed this to get to the home of Saw Po Htoo.
The day was filled with eating, relaxing, walking around, and church! I gave up my camera again to the resident refugee camp photographer.
Eh Hser Ku - the photographer

It seemed that everywhere we went people were outside being active. We saw young people playing many kinds of sports.

Swimming
Frisbee
Football (Soccer)
Boxing - Jay was a Muay Thai boxer and was showing some of the local guys technique. Some of them are hoping to get out of the camp this way by getting a Thai ID card.
Biking
Volleyball
Takraw

While in the camp I ate so much! They're really good cooks, and extremely nice hosts.
The four guests eating. The family would eat afterwards. Fortunately, they still would come sit around us and talk!
Some of the delicious food.

One thing that really interested me were the roofs made of leaves. Of course, they have thatched roofs outside the camp too, but there I was more curious. Apparently this kind of roof lasts for about a year. It is very cool (as in not hot). I couldn't understand how they could be so strong, but after feeling it I can see how it works. Apparently it doesn't take too long to put up either. About a day with four guys.

Thatched roof houses
A stack of thatch ready to be put on a house.
The leaves are secured with bamboo.
The leaves make a nice pattern, too!
As a teacher, I am obviously interested in how and where students learn. I found their school interesting quite apart from being a teacher!
The local middle school.
The "hallway" to the classrooms.
A view inside one of the classrooms. To the left is the classroom "next door". I can't begin to imagine what the noise level is like.

Here are some more pictures to get an idea of what it is like around the camp. Also, some of them are just cool pictures!








Saturday night we slept over in the camp. The family set up a place for us in the main room. It felt like they really went all out to make us feel comfortable. At night, they get electricity from about seven until nine. At that point, the lights flicker and they run to light the candles, then the lights go off. So there I was, lying under my pink mosquito net, with the soft candlelight and the sound of the river a few yards away. It was a very relaxing way to drift off to sleep.
The electricity they get at night is powered by the waterfall. I didn't get a picture of the little building, nor is the waterfall very impressive at this time of year, but apparently it's enough.
Hser Eh Paw is the youngest of four daughters. Last time I saw her she was sick and cried the whole time. This time she was (mostly) happy and running around.


LaNuNan can frequently be seen with a guitar.
LaNuNan goes along to help translate and help with services.
The number of languages spoken this weekend was about four. The driver spoke Thai and a little English. LaNuNan spoke Burmese, English, and a little Thai. Jay spoke Karen, English, and Thai. I spoke...English. The families are Karen, so they spoke Karen, Burmese and a very small amount of Thai. It makes communicating very interesting!

All in all it was a great weekend, and I'm excited to go back!