Diggin' Dirt

WWOOF, WWOOF, WWOOF! That's what we've done over the past week as volunteers for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. We boarded a market truck in Chiang Mai to get to the small village where we stayed. The truck was packed full of fruits, vegetables, grains, pet food, household goods, etc. that our jolly driver dropped off along the way. A lovely shop owner who also took the trip with us gave us a star fruit and some water when she got off for helping her unload goods. Even though the trip was less comfortable, it was much more enjoyable and enriching than a tourist bus.

The property we stayed on has no running water or electricity and barely any formal housing structures. We slept in a tent and although the lodgings were a bit more rustic than we expected, we learned about building adobe brick houses, gardening, and also gained insight into "permaculture" and other sustainable agricultural practices. It was a growing experience for both of us. Although we felt a little out of our element, we met some wonderful people, ate some authentic food cooked on an open fire every day and enjoyed playing in the mud (literally). It's fascinating how much you can do with a bunch of dirt, rice husks, water and very basic tools.

We're back in Chiang Mai for a few days. As peaceful a place as this is, we have been entertained by the many fire crackers that local families have set off in celebration of Chinese New Year (the Year of the Tiger). And as far away as we are from Canada, we couldn't resist scouting out a bar to watch the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. We watched it in its entirety (all three hours)! Despite the sadness surrounding the death of the luge athlete from Georgia, the ceremony was outstanding in its simplicity and portrayal of what makes us proud to be from this nation. I admit that the event brought a few homesick tears to Netty's eyes and many goosebumps as the torch that travelled 45,000 kms was brought into the stadium in Vancouver. What a memorable moment. We are sad that we will miss many of the events, but will try and keep ourselves updated on how Germany and Canada fare.

Tomorrow, we will take a bus to Chiang Rai, then onto Laos on Monday. Happy Year of the Tiger to everyone and for those with a tingling for romance, Happy Valentine's Day!