Andy's Asia - Life in the Village

Not long after Christmas, one of Pum's cousins got married in Khon Kaen which is a city in the province of Isaan. I had just returned from a quick holiday trip to the USA and had to board a plane the very next day for the wedding. We took Pum's father along on the trip. It was his first time on a plane and quite an adventure for him, and for us as well. We stayed at Pum's 'good' brother's house in a village just outside Khon Kaen. The wedding was a five minute walk from the house. I was expecting the usual hot Thailand temperatures and to my happy surprise, it was actually quite cool and comfortable. One of Pum's aunts raises silkworms and produces silk. Included here are some of the pictures of the worms, cocoons and 'raw' silk. Pum is currently in 'salon school'. She is learning how to do hair, makeup and nails. It's a totally transferable skill. No matter where we live, she can do it and just as importantly she enjoys it. Her role

Here is Pum's father boarding the plane for his first-ever flight.

This is a duck puppet that my son and daughter gave me for Christmas. It quacks out "Old McDonald Had a Farm". Pum's father is a Buddhist monk. I brought the duck along for fun and he couldn't put it down! In this picture he is sitting with Pon, my five year old stepdaughter. 

This lady is waiting her turn in the kitchen. 

Snacking after the wedding. 

This is part of the basic Thai kitchen. Most of the cooking is done outside and food is served on mats on the ground. 

These women were in charge of cooking the sticky rice. You can see the baskets over the fire in the background. 

At first these girls were kinda shy.... 

Still a little shy. 

Pum and her niece Nit Noi (which means little bit) 

These girls had a seek/avoid affair with the camera. 

A mother and daughter at the wedding. They had just finished one of their shifts in the kitchen. 

From left to right, Nit Noi (our niece), the bride, Pum, the groom, Pum's brother's wife, Pum's sister Thung and our nephew Nek. 

He's had a long tough day! 

At the doorway. 

Five little cuties almost smiling! 

My sister-in-law and her daughter. 

Playing dominos the night before the wedding. 

Small boy holding on to the pillar. 

Everyone thinks it is funny when the farang takes pictures! 

A family portrait at the wedding. 

Two cows and a few pigs were killed for the wedding. Here are a few women doing some of the butchering. It was a real community effort. 

The younger girls got dishwashing duty! 

The girl's table.

Pum and her sister-in-law having a laugh. 

Gettin' crazy after a few Changs.