Embarking on a true journey of discovery into something unknown

Once again I must apologies for my delayed posts. As per usual it is much harder than one might think to find precious time for these stories of adventure and triumph. My most recent endevour has taken me on a soul searching challenge. For New Years Na and I made the grave journey from Bangkok to Roi Et. This is where her family lives and it is vitually off the map for Farangs.

It all started with a 7 hour bus ride in a vehicle that was surely designed for Thais as my long legs were continually pressed against the seat in front of me. Not to mention the fact I was the single lucky winner of a seat next to one of Na's drunk cousins. Sure he was a lovely guy and I did appreciate the close comfort of his head on my shoulder for most of the ride (extreme sarcasm), but after the first few hours the cramps in my legs were almost to much.

We reached Pon Sai, Roi Et at about 8 in the morning and were plesently greated by many childeren and fellow residents. This was the first of many sureal expiriences on our journey. The sight of a farang in these parts is very rare, and I mean it. Chances are it has probably been many months since they have seen a white alien such as myself and the greetings were more than welcomed by me. I already felt very much like family.

Na's parent's house stands on stilts and was once 2 levels. Through years of flood the lower level has been removed leaving a large vacant area with assorted sleeping and eating tables. There isn't a common dining table as such but more of a dining floor. A truely unique expirience for myself and one I will never forget.

In short, New years was filled with eating, drinking, dancing and singing. Personally I participated in the first to endulgences but tried my hardest to avoid the dancing and singing. The real issue for me was that when I tried to do some Isan dancing the girls would scream. As though I was one of the Beatles. I'm more than serious. I feel that perhaps the sight of a farang dancing to Isan music is either hilarious, terrifying or simply something abstract and almost incomprehensible to these people.

The communication gap was surely one of my greatest challenges and I have told Na on a few occasions that I consider this to be one of the greatest things I have done in my life. I have travelled way beyond my comfort zone into a realm of hand singals and mixed English, Thai and Isan. There were many times when I was completely terrified. Perhaps it was a symptom of some obscure culture shock. One particular instance found me at a teenagers Isan Kareoke party on the street at 3 in the morning of New years. Na's Cus's partner managed to drag me out of bed (he also speaks no English what so ever). I was very groggy and assumed that Na was probably where he was taking me. Boy was I wrong. Kid's were singing and dancing while P Sawai was trying to coax me on the street dance floor. Honestly I was not in the mood for dancing so I put up as much restraint as I could. For a moment I raised my hands in the air to offer some sign of participation. It was then that about 10 teenage girls started screaming and giggling. I have never really been a show pony so this felt awfully embarrassing. But the really uncomfortable part came when about 5 guys started crouding around me, all equally trying to gain my attention. Shortly after I insisted that I must go and virtually walked off in mid sentance. I must admit as daunting as tis was I still appreciate the expirience and have learnt much from it.

All in all I feel like my eyes have been opened to this old and facinating culture. These are poor lands and the people work very hard for what they have. The community is small and most are either family friends or blood related. Oneday we will go back and see whether much has changed but I have a feeling things will probably be the same.