Moving on

Had a lovely day on the beach yesterday and we were all totally wiped out after trying to teach the children to swim in the sea 

.. so we got around to burying them.. 

Guy and I managed about ten minutes of book-reading and after lots of protests we finally set them free! (Only minutes had elapsed!) but now the weather is changing and after speaking to the moped-taxi driver we have decided to move on as there is a storm coming over from Japan. 

So we are going to arrive at our next project tomorrow 

http://tcdf-ecologic.jimdo.com/

Which will be great as we have exhausted this tiny island and the rain is coming.. 

I had to go the the medical centre this morning as I have some nasty bites that I have been treating with homeopathic remedies but I wanted them checked. So this morning I got on a moped and arrived bright and early (8.30ish) and got the local nurse out of bed. Things are so laid back here that she treated me still dressed in her pyjamas whilst rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.. She has issued me with lots of antibiotics and some cream.. Without speaking a word
of english! Even if I don't use them now they are very handy to have. All for the princely sum of £3.00. Amazing price considering they would have cost me about £15 at home! 

So, back to Ranong on a 2 hour crossing (the mainland is 20 miles away) then 45 minutes on a local bus. Should be fun! Who knows what the next phase of our big adventure will bring! 

Sarah xx

Eating eating eating

Today we are at the resort and have been joined by 8 other tourists which has prompted the whole place being lit up like a Christmas tree - which is great - but the biters love the lights too! 

The complex has 24 hour electricity and a little fridge - which has proven to be a lifesaver in the hot conditions. On the first night we mistakenly split some honey covered sunflower seeds on the floor to come home to a bungalow invaded by hundreds of ants. Since then guy has insisted (and correctly so) that all food is either eaten on the balcony or in the bathroom. 

Here's a shot of Rowan eating his breakfast this morning: 

Yes that is right - gnawing away at a pineapple in the shower! Poor little thing!  

The way they do pineapples here they leave the base on so it can eaten like a lolly

Last night we went into 'town' (which is more like a little village) with a population of 500.. And look what I was served for my evening meal..

At home this bad boy would be a major attraction in a fish tank! But in Thailand it is served as dinner for one! Amazing! They asked us if we wanted a whole snapper and little did we realise that 1.8kg later it would arrive like this!

Here's a lovely shot of Esme and guy eating lychees for lunch.. 

Lets see what tonight's forays into food bring.. Sarah xx

On the way to koh phayam

.Our wait time was eight hours till the 9pm bus to Ranong.  As the southern bus terminal is new and used to be still is a shopping centre time went easily . All the sharks and scammers were kept aWay. Two bouncing balls lasted most of the time. But Rowan thought it was possible for us to choose the colour when it came from a machine. 

Again lots of smiles and interested observers, this one had sqeeky shoes!

Rest of the time the four floors provided much up and down escalator fun. A stall demoing its DVDs had a cartoon , but when Rowan was more interested in World WarZ and we saw a hand cut off I thought better to whisk him away! 

I had a painful reflexology which was a a complete lower body workout then it was on bus time. Kids tried out all the seat climbing and positions before getting to know our neighbour

I found only way to sleep was resting my head on Sarah's seat in front, this prompted the stern looking uniformed hostess to wake me up to check I was ok. After 9 hours get off ranong at daybreak, then first minor scam we paid five gbp for 5 minute taxi ride. That won't happen again!

We were first at the departure pier 

Then the workers came. No palletised distribution or forklifts here it all came off lorry and onto boat by hand. Flip-flops football shirts and fags and a lot of sweating derigeur. 

Kids ran the ticketing show for a while

And then we arrived after two hours on the ferry.

And in our huge bay there really is no one here

Lots love guy

A lovely day at the beach

 KP - And our first time to relax for what seems like months.. Considering this trip has taken 18 months of dreaming and 9 to plan and prepare for it still feels as if I'm dreaming and that I may wake at any moment to discover I'm back at home.

But we've made it.. The magic door has definitely been stepped through. It makes me realise how incredibly lucky we are to be able to do this trip - Both financially and because Guy can get a sabbatical from work. I am hoping to find my dream while we're away but I am sure something will come and I'm not too worried. 

We've been caught in rainstorms on the motorbike, I'm still bring eaten alive (again) and the children still fight, but doing it all somewhere out of the chill of the autumn winds makes it all seem so much more bearable. 

The beach is beautiful and the bungalow is great but there are many more biting things around here.. We woke up this morning to find a bull frog had nestled in and made himself comfortable on the balcony and was deep croaking his friends this morning.

We've spent the morning on the beach today but it was so hot we retreated indoors over lunch and for most of the afternoon. We have been in a quandary about whether to move more into civilisation today, but have decided against it as its really special to have our own beach right at the front door. There are only three other guests in the complex which is perfect as the children can run around making as much noise as they like. 

Getting into the local town (there is only one) is rather like being on a roller coaster and doing the stomach flipping as we go up and down really steep hills makes me close my eyes - all that with a small child wedged between me and a driver on the scooter is all really hair raising! 

 

Until it turned into picnic at hanging rock..

 Uh-oh.. Yes.. Surprisingly guy (not me for a change!) committed the forgivable error of turning the wrong way out of our idillic shack.. And we ended up lost in boiling hot heat and wringibg wet humidity for a good hour.. Up and down the most horrible hills.. Loads of people whizzing past on scooters (no cars are allowed on the island) waving and smiling as they went past 3, or 4 or even 5 times!

 

Eventually some locals took pity on us.. But this is what a big adventure is all about! 

Meanwhile here's a lovely sunset.. Missing you all.. Xxx 

LFF leaving on our last morning

Sawadeecap

I found myself in reflective mood as we were all crammed into the small cab of the truck with arnon too and Piriam driving . Rain meant rucksacks were taking the outside brunt. For 200 baht we were being taken to our minivan pickup to bangkok. My clothes were wet from night before. My attempt to ' wear them dry' was only succeeding in getting sarah to tell me the shirt needed binning owing to the smell!

 But overall the lasting impression despite the physical hardship of labouring under tropical sun in rural Thailand was how lucky we had been to meet Arnon. So humble  that he felt uncomfortable at the suggestion of adding a section to his website about him and his history. So disinterested in profit that he left his siblings in their family run well established farm to start all over again with nothing just down the road from them, when they wanted to start charging volunteers for staying at the farm. 

So good with kids but not in relationship. 

So little money yet still took the trouble to to re bandage the paws daily of Tin Tin, the paralysed dog, carefully stretching the supplies of iodine and bandages as far as they would go.

With a small donation he bought and finished the corral roof for his horse. 

........."you you".  Piriam prods me back to life.....(her command of English was better than my Thai) 

Arnon translates " she wants to know why you are not speaking"

" i am not speaking because I am sad to be leaving"

I turned round to look at Arnon in the back of the truck. He was busying himself with ESme in his arms.  

My mind went back to our last night. Sat round the table with mozzy coils on coke bottles. Arnon had his guitar and was honouring our departure the best way he could after the two chicken curries he'd just made. He was singing songs in our language as well as his own explaining the meaning when we didn't understand.

 But when he sang " together we can take care of this world" .... I understood.. .... It brought a tear to  my eyes, ......yes i know in a film script the proof reader would say "clicheed" ......but i know he really meant it .... (we had just watched him live it for the last week.)........in the following few moments ....then the perspective landed .... Next time I want to complain about any aspect of my privileged materialistic faux environmentally friendly western existence then a moment thinking about Arnons way of being will   ..... Well .....we can each finish this sentence in a way we feel best

Back in the cab......So I reached into the back and held his hand and looked for his eyes ..... Maybe this was a bit much .... After a few moments he looked up and said " I know... I know"

... After this then leaving was a little easier I think enough had been communicated.

If this blog is a diary for us squirtons to remember things by then this entry is done like this so when I read this in future Arnons spirit and way of being will be conjured up in my mind but in my heart I won't forget him

Guy

I have died and gone to heaven

 Wowzer! We have found the most perfect tropical island with a lovely hotel, our own beach bungalow, I can see the sea from the door and the only company we have are three Germans. 

As its low season (high season starts next week) we are staying here for £20 per bungalow per night.. A little piece of heaven.. 

Back to Bangkok then Ranong then Koh Phayam

Tonight is our last sleep at Little Friendly Farm. After Sarah has kept the injured sheep calm in the side car on the way to the vet and back tommorrow morning,  We are going back to Bangkok by mini van (3 hours) tommorrow, hang out in bangkok during the day, and then catching an overnight bus to Ranong, 577km, leaving at 10pm getting in at 5am, then to Koh Phayam for a week, http://kohphayam.org/.   After that then on to our next volunteering for two weeks at http://eco-logic-volunteerprojects.jimdo.com/
Cheers Guy

LFF - Local Fruit/kids bbq

Guy
breakfast today made by Piriam

it could be a fish i suppose.....

it wasn't too sweet but sweet enough, texture a bit like peach a bit like pineapple, ....DragonFruit

Last night the kids helped out, the green sticks are aubergines

yes - we did bring their scooters with us, i wasn't sure but its been a great idea
xxx

LFF - kids enthusiasm or boredom?

Guy
We find that one of us can work most of the day and the other between 30 mins and 2 hours depending on when the kids get bored, or too hot, or in need of a change of scene.
So if thejob doesn't require any hammering or humping then I can look after the kids and Sarah can get dirty too
Today (with other helper Claire) the kids got involved again

(Sarah gave permission about this picture, something about 'legs' she said....i cant remember what)

whilst this was on going, i was replacing the struts on something to keep the grass off the floor

as once that happens the sheep are less likely to eat it.

Last night only 1 of the 4 baby rabbits survived but we dont know why, and the night before one of the sheep fell off the higher platform (badly bruising each leg) you can see above, and now he's been to the vet and its getting special treatment inside Arnons teepee (ie bananas instead of grass) and lying down, with a bamboo splint manufactured for him.

Bamboo is an incredible thing, light, strong, straight. The only reason why we dont use it in the farm construction more here is that its protected in this part of thailand whereas in the north it isn't protected.

4 times a day we have to go and " Cut grass" which means speeding up and down the roads in the sidecar looking at verges for long grass to be scythed and brought back.... this is quite a job...Now i understand the beauty of having a field of grass as all sheep do is eat. eat and eat some more. Arnon doesnt have the luxury of letting them free here.
xxx

LFF - Sarah made a roof & chilling out

 

Guy:

Sarah admiring her handiwork, this was made with prebought reed roof pieces, all held together with wire

(its now been finished and the horse has somewhere to avoid sun and rain)

 But now
 its all quiet, the rest have gone to market, if i get on the sidecar combo then its too many people. I can hear the hum of the pc as i sit at an outside desk, i can see the ants are making their home inside, listening to 'Moving Pictures', i'm swatting away flies, different parts of my skin are telling me they got a little too  much sun, i can hear a hum of traffic, iodine dabbed on the scratches. Done my washing, (which is clothes, sink and shampoo and a bit of rubbing) even though the water comes out dark brown only a boil wash will save my white shirt now!  I'm busy researching the next phases, checking out transport, accomodation, costs, schedules etc.  Whereas 20 years ago it was all a hard copy of "Lonely PLanet" now its all on line.
xxx

Guy after a hard mornings work

Look at this poor man! So far removed from his day job!

And here's a little one of us..

This is what the kids now get up to all day.. Who needs nursery?!

Messing about in water, playing with chickens, running around outside, tracing letters and numbers with their fingers in there natural environment, riding sidecar on a motorbike, not worrying about getting wet in the rain, running away from huge red ants, dashing about on their scooters.. This is what being a child is really about.. 

And another thing

I really do think that the 'Avon' 'so soft' oil spray is working! Yes! I really do!! Counted up my bites last night - 62!! Ive been told the British Army uses it (Thanks Steve Guse) so thats good enough for me!!

Get some!

Notes to self

Sarah -

When mucking out pigs and sheep in the rain - keep your mouth closed.(Yes is the answer to the question you are now asking yourself).

When throwing wet bamboo sticks and leaves (food for the above mentioned animals) - keep your eyes closed (as above).

Banannas are considered to be medicinal for sick sheep who are crippled through injury - 2 every hour (any runners out there?)

Mother chickens have 'teats' and can feed their own young. When you see a newly hatched chick (less that 24 hours old) pecking another shell in a threating manner it does not mean that the chick want to eat whatever is in there (too many 'naturewatch' programmes!).

Pigs are quite friendly, chatty little things. I think I'd like one when we get home (although not for eating).

Mucking out in the rain with no roof except for the animals isn't too bad when everyhere else feels like being in a suana with your clothes on.

END OF LESSONS

Today we are putting a roof on the stable that we are building. HOpefully we wont hae to construct oit out od bamboo leaves but who knows. Just as well I did 'O' level textiles and I know about waft and weave.

Guy is currently lazing about supervising the sharing of angry birds (a great invention for kids) as it raining :) At least its not too hot today.

It would be really great if some of you could leave a comment or two every now and then although I am not sure how to do it myself.. if I can find a way I will leave instructions on here

OK chaps.. raw bamboo has arrived. Time to get making!!

A day in the current lives.. (of a thai farmer)

Sarah - We are at the little friendly farm and the children are having the time of their lives! They are spending their days chasing chickens, throwing water at each other, going around in a mo-ped sidecar/trailer (their new preferred method of transport!) and having  fine old time! We have watched chicks hatching, red ants invading everything, new buildings being made and old ones being renovated.

Times are very hard for farmers here, with little or no money to survive on and everything must be provided by the land, food for the aimals, shelters, pens etc..makes me realise how different things are where we live. Makes me grateful for the simple things that we take for granted too.

Guy and I are working most of the time - (Guy more so than me) and I am either mucking out pigs and sheep and horses or child minding.. Guy is busy building a shelter for the horse today and I am watching the front of the shop.

I dont quite know what I was expecting but certainly not mucking out the animals in flip flops and then clearing a roomful of rubble out of a old house! Our plan is under review and we are thinking of moving from here on monday instead of staying here until next saturday.. we are thinking of taking a little holiday for a short week or trying to go to our next host (a school in the jungle - eek!!)  a bit sooner than originally planned. I will update you all when we have more news. As for the bites? The children and Guy have none.. and I am 'taking one for the family' on this hit. 57 at last count. Not nice and not pretty!

LFF - Waterfall day

I was sick in bed this day, So Sarah and Esme and Rowan went to a waterfall and hot spring.  Sarah can update this when she gets a chance but some pics before then,

GUy

LFF- off to school we go

HIya
We went to the school today for an hour in the afternoon, sang incy wincy spider with the movements and an explanation on the blackboard first, translated by Arnon, then did animals spelling them in time

Our two got to go in the back of a pickup. The thai kids all wanted to touch Esme and Rowan . As we were doing the animals on the board and the making the noises Esme joined in with the noises.  The class then came up one by one and introduced themselves, When one little boy said his name was "Poo" Esme immediately piped up "He's not Poo".  All was ok till we got to the nursery class and when we walked in, all the kids were a little freaked out they all ran to the edges of the class and just stood there looking at us, even trying to connect through play didn't work, Arnon said "its just a getting used to phase dont worry".  The teacher of the nursery was wearing a Wigan shirt, i think "cup" and "relegation" got a bit lost in translation

One kid jumped on my back, in another class they all wanted a hug at the same time. Half of the kids have holes in the heels and toes of their school socks but they keep wearing them.
Guy

LFF caught in the rain

Today i helped wash sheep with normal shampoo, a first. PIcking up a sheep was also a first.  Then for lunch it was papaya grated with chilli, nuts, tomatoes, noodles, egg. Sarah was taking care of a chundering Rowan,  and Esme wandered between us taking an interest where she saw fit. She got the sheep wet with a hose ready for shampooing (albeit from outside the enclosure).   Later Arnon I and Esme went to a market in his sidecar again, all nice and sunny....and low and behold there was an Angry Birds bouncy castle, so she was straight onto it, surrounded by thai children , all ok until 5 slides down a bang of heads so we got off.  Then the heavens opened, do we stay or do we go?

We went, and the rain was mad for a few moments, so i sat in the bottom of the side car instead of on the mudguard. The bottom is slats ie very permeable. Turned my back to the way we were travelling and held esme between my legs so my back took the rain. As we went along i could feel the water of alternate hot or cold puddles blasting up thru the slats into my shorts. Esme didn't cry bless her and wanted my hand over  her eyes and face for most of it. She was drowned (brave) rat when we got back but a new pair of crocs helped.

Later Arnon explained how to tie fish hooks, he played some guitar and we sang a couple of songs back to each other

 Later Esme decided that eating her noodles under an umbrella was a good idea
Tommorrow we go to the school
Bye for now
Guy