Erawan Waterfall!

Although the water wasn't crystal blue, as they advertise EVERYWHERE, it was refreshing and thunderous. Each level was a little bit different, and once Hannah and I made it to the top, we were speechless.  The following photos are sort of in order of tiers,  hope you enjoy the beautiful sites! 

The Bridge on the River Kwai...

We kicked off our week-long break, headed down to Bangkok on a 12:30am bus.

We arrived around 7 am, and were desperate for sleep. We decided to hop straight on the next bus to Kanchanaburi, home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Immediately upon arrival, we climbed into bed and slept the afternoon away. After a much needed dip in the pool, we spent the evening walking around the nearby night market.

The next morning we awoke to the sound of rain. Great, our first day of break and it decides to rain ALL DAY. Our plans to climb Erawan Waterfall clearly had to be rescheduled. Hannah and I decided to ride the Death Railway to pass the rainy day ahead of us.

 In 1943 thousands of Allied POWs worked on this railroad under orders from the Japanese army. The train would link Burma and Thailand and serve as a means to transport men and supplies to the Burmese front, where the Japanese were fighting the British. Construction of the railway required blasting of deep valleys and hills. All work was done manually from dawn until dusk, through perilous conditions. By the end of the war, thousands of these laborers perished. Two war cemeteries are located in the town of Kanchanaburi, commemorating almost 8,000 men of Australian, British, and Dutch descent.  

But enough with the history, you probably could have looked that up yourself. Back to the visuals.

Hannah in Don-Rak War Cemetery

 The beginning of what would become a very long train ride.  At least it was one of the most beautiful rides I've taken! 

Passing over the River Kwai.

Falling asleep after six hours spent riding the train... woopsies.

We successfully passed an entire rainy day sitting on this train. Luckily, we met some nice tourists and breathed in the fresh air of the countryside. The more we thought about it, we came to realize there was literally nothing else we could've done in Kanchanaburi on a rainy day. We were happy to have had the chance to learn about this important aspect of World War Two. 

We topped off our night with a traditional Isaan meal, and hit the hay by 9pm.

A Taste of Chiang Mai

Made a few friends on the side of the road.

Found some inspiration at Wat U-Mong.

On our way up the mountain we stopped to overlook the entire city, typical tourists.

A quick visit gave us just enough time to ab-nam (bathe) in the waterfalls!

 Halloween night; awesome to see people from all over the world dress up and celebrate.

Lazy Man Coffee

On our comparative study in Chiang Mai, we stayed with a Pagayor hill tribe, in the Nong Tao community. Pagayor means "simple people." They shared their incredible values with us, and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding homestays our student group had. They refer to themselves as "lazy people," not because they aren't hard-working (because they really are!), but because they are extremely self-sufficient. They produce only what they need in order to support a sustainable relationship with the forest. Some of us were lucky to spend a few hours with P'Saweat, the son of the village's head, who produces organic coffee. (Their entire garden was organic--80+ trees & fruits) He walked us through each step of the process, allowing us to become lazy men. 

Organic coffee beans galore! 

Once the beans are picked and peeled, they are left to dry for a week or so. Then they're ready to be weighed and peeled again!

Using a mortar and pestle, the shavings are removed and they are blown away with the wind. Time to roast the beans!

P'Saweat making sure each bean is roasted to perfection.

Try and imagine the smell of these fresh roasted beans.

All the girls & Ajaan John enjoying a fresh  cup on our last morning. Mom & Dad-- you'll get to try your very own cup of lazy man organic coffee when I'm home!

Because one blog post isn't enough...

U-MOONG CONTINUED!!

Ready for our morning tour of the mountain! I promise, these hats were really meant to block the sun.

Yes, this is really their backyard.

Cousin Mik & Mu, a university student who happened to be home for vacation!

 Spent the tractor ride getting to know the two!

Beyond this beauty is the site of the proposed Iron Mine. The mine will destroy 98 rais (roughly 40 acres) of agriculture lands.

Our last night the villagers held a baci ceremony for us to welcome us into their lives.

A traditional female dance was performed for us with all smiles and plenty of laughter.

We spent the night dancing and drinking!  And of course showing off in our patoongs.

We all enjoyed the home-made tree whiskey.

We all had such a hard time saying goodbye on the last morning! We were 45 minutes late to our next exchange...

U-Moong Community

Our time in Loei Province was one of the most memorable for me. The villagers of U-Moong showed us nothing but generosity, love, and kindness. Upon arrival fairly late one Friday evening, our vans were greeted by a mob of smiling children and parents. When my name was called, a little girl walked up to me and introduced herself. This 13 year old would become my little sister. 6:30 the next morning, Fight rolled over: "Mareessa wake wake!" 

I was about to embark on a day filled with adventure and laughter, I just didn't know yet.

First thing that morning, we went to the community's Wat, or temple. I always enjoy going to the Wat on homestays, and this was no exception. Following the lead of my little sister was exciting; she was shy but she also wasn't afraid to laugh if I did something wrong. After morning prayer, we went home and ate breakfast.

 First stop of the day, the temple in the mountains. We hopped on her motorbike (shhh!) and chugged up the steep hill. I guess her bike wasn't used to the weight, so I was told I needed to walk the rest of the way. With my 9 year old cousin by my side, we raced up the big hills. 

Equally scared & impressed that my 13 year old sister could drive a motorbike,

At the top, I was breath taken -- not only because I ran up a mountain, but the sights around me stopped me in my tracks.

 Buddha, glistening in the sun

A bird's eye view of Ban U-Moong

After Fight and her friends showed me around for about an hour, we headed home. Next stop: fishing in the mountains. We drove down a bumpy and muddy road, and once again I was told to walk the rest of the way. Mai ben rai (don't worry), I needed the exercise. 

A little pond peaked through a clearing in the fields.

Without hesitation, Fight jumped into the water to catch a frog

Prim's first catch of the day! She went on to catch three more, I was so proud!

You may have guessed already, but yes, we ate those fish that night. Ah roy mag! (really delicious). After a long morning, I was exhausted. In dire need of a nap, we headed home. 

Next adventure: swimming!

I hopped on a tractor with the kids, some fellow farang, and a bunch of the paws (dads).

An incredible afternoon was spent splashing around. I took nothing for granted. I soaked it all in, the mountains, the people, the laughing, and so much more. 

This day fixed a smile on my face that hasn't really gone away since.

This was only day one with Fight, but we made a connection that will continue for years to come. I'm so thankful for the time in this community, as they've taught me so much about the power of love, community, and happiness. There is definitely more to come about my time in U-Moong, so stay tuned!

Rasi Salai Community: Sisaket

Meh giving us a quick lesson on traditional silk-making. 

After boiling the cocooned silk worms, many enjoy snacking on the dead maggots.

Favorite spot of the house, the kitchen!

Until next time Meh! 

Another breathtaking Thailand sunset.

A fisherman heads home after a day spent fishing on the reservoir.

During the rainy season, it is common to see floods in areas close to the dam. These huts are part of the Learning Center, which sits on the reservoir.