Hike to Huay Hee

Rice balling trouble makers.
View during hike from Nam Hoo to Huay Hee.

After two days in Nam Hoo we hiked to the village of Huay Hee were we would stay for five days, have our mid-course seminar and meet up with the other group.

Journal excerpt:

Today’s hike was relatively easy. We went up a mountain and then down a mountain. The view at the top of incredible! Everywhere you looked you could see mountains. I really am in love with mountains! I was pretty sore today and I’m glad set a slow pace.

My host mother packed us way too much rice for lunch, so Brittnee, Kari and I were playing with it and balling it up. The balled up rice looked like snow balls, so we started throwing them off the mountain. Mid-act it occurred to us that what we were doing, probably wasn't riproy (a Thai concept of consideration, respect, propriety, etc. For us, it determines what is culturally appropriate). We bashfully looked at our Karen guide, Pi Sawong, and apologized for not being riproy. He laughed and in typical Thai fashion of round-about reprimanding, he said, "It's ok. It's a different culture."

Once we arrived in the village my mood began to plummet. I'm crabby. I’ve been with people for days and days and in the villages I always have to act interested and be polite. It’s actually a lot of work to stay social all of the time. What I’m craving right now is time to myself.