We went to the market and smelt and tasted the joy that is Durian fruit. To those of you not familiar it's about the size of a football and smells of all things horrible. It's banned from airplanes and most hotels because of the stench. So of course we had to try some, with a texture of soft cheese and a smell of garlic and rotting things most of us found it truely vile. We then walked through the market marvelling at buckets of live fis, trays of dried maggots and cockroaches and other lovely foods. We stopped to try some Mangoustien (sp!) a lovely refreshing fruit (with no smell!) but then the rain started. The heavens opened and we had a real downpour. Not exactly cycling weather! The lovely market people gave some of us plastic bags to put on our heads but within 2 minutes we were drenched.
After half an hour huddling in the hotel entrance the rain passed and we set off for the bike hire.
We were confronted with a range of models, from the "lady about town" bike complete with basket but no gears to the all terrain mountain bike with lots of gears. We all picked our steeds and wobbled off down the street, to the great amusement of the locals. Our first stop was the local museeum showing the hitory of the local tribes. Then another short but wobbly potter to a beautiful little temple.
Then we headed out of town along the country roads. We stopped by some fields to watch them planting rice and the ladies asked us to join in. Ensue lots of comedy moments of girls and sandels stuck in the mud. Irmina, Steph, Katie, Niamh, Hazel and Holy all jumped in and planted some crop, we shall have to return in 3 months for the harvest. The particpants all received merit stickers which was the start of the Thailand Cup award system. This develops to various categories.
Pok - our tour leader, notice a little mud and the THS T-shirt, a gift from us.
A little rinse after the rice planting.
A good day, Gaffa tape useage Zero Metres
I can tell you're having a good time because your spelling has gone to pot. Hope you're ok and coping with the early starts and being hot and sticky. If only you had more practice at being hot in Co Durham - have no fears global warming is here!
ReplyDeleteSounds fab especially the cycling! I would have loved to watch your wonky journeys around the market, especially you Kirky! Food sounds quite tasty, even Ian would give it a try. Did you take a Teesside High brolly with you to keep the rain off? Nearly regret not being there and you know how scared I am about going out of Teesside!
ReplyDeleteLove
Jen + Ian