MAI CHAU - 3

Hung met us right after breakfast. We grabbed our water and headed to the White Thai village. The sun was up and the humidity was rising, it was going to be a hot one. 

The villagers were busy in the rice fields, harvesting their crop. Hung explained the people work from sun up to sundown, which makes for a very long and hot day.

The White Thai people live in stilt houses. They usually use the area underneath their home to store goods or to keep livestock. This particular home was advertised as a "home stay", available for overnight guests/tourists. Note the satellite dishes to the right.

Their floors are made of bamboo.

                                               The White Thai women are known for their beautiful weaving.

While walking through the village we stopped for a snack,...sticky rice. Hung showed us how to peal the bamboo, then a villager helped us cut the banana leaves. It was worth the wait...

Sticky rice dipped in crushed peanuts...yum.

Graham doing some shopping...

Just as in other places in Vietnam, motorbikes are the main source of transportation. This village was no different. As we were moving about the village, we heard a roar which was different from those we had grown accustomed...we turned to see. Five motorcycles came roaring past. Hung immediately said, "from Hanoi!"...which I translated as meaning "city slickers".

As we walked through the village, we noticed a group of young people ahead of us. As we approached, two of the girls grabbed Michelle, pulled her to the side and took a photo, all giggling and excitedly conversing... 

then they grabbed Graham,...

More of the same group at the local outdoor pool hall.

There were many young people with this group,..male and female,..alot of teenage synergy. Evidently they were from other tribes in Vietnam,..very excited to be photographed with Americans or Westerners. 

While strolling through the remainder of the village, both Michelle and Hung commented on the emptiness of the village, very few women selling their tapestries or food. Hung explained everyone was working in the fields to harvest the rice. While the parents work, the children are cared for by their grandparents or older siblings.

Heading back to Mai Chau 

After returning to the Lodge Graham and Jordan accompanied Hung to the Mo Luong Cave. During the war soldiers hid their weapons in the cave. The cave has been a place of special significance for the Thai people for many years.

Before leaving Mai Chau we had lunch in the Lodge. Our meals had been generally good. Each meal's menu was pre-set, which made it challenging for Brooks, who is vegetarian. They often offered her a substitute which was interesting. For lunch she was served a soup which appeared to be a cool raspberry, unfortunately it was a warm beet mixture. At dinner she was served french fries covered in chopped egg.

For lunch they served a salad that immediately caused a reaction from Michelle. (She had tried the salad before.) After tasting it, I understood why. The green lettuce/leaves were some

Watermelon Sweet Tea

type of mint. The chicken and the dressing were both flavorful, but the rest of the salad tasted like toothpaste. Strange, very strange. Our dessert was called "watermelon sweet tea". 

We enjoyed our time in Mai Chau. Thank you Mai Chau Lodge for the hospitality and Hung for paving the way for a  great adventure.

The Valley of Mai Chau 

Rice Paddies - The brown areas have already been harvested.