Rustic Thailand

Last Friday we drove about 50 kms out in the country to visit Yo's elderly uncle and auntie. Yo wanted us to meet them as we had not met them before. Also they have lived all their lives beyond the end of the electrical line and have basically raised their 4 children and lived off of the produce of their land. An interesting anomaly is that auntie does have a cell phone which she charges at the neighbour's generator. The yard was shaded by huge mango trees which were planted when the couple first went to live on their farm.

We were welcomed with great hospitality and made to feel very much at ease.

Uncle and Aunties' house. Living space is all on the second floor. Chickens and farm implements occupy the ground level.

Yo and her auntie who is her mother's elder sister. Notice the charcoal fire pot behind Auntie.

Uncle and Auntie were gracious hosts for a meal they prepared for us. Traditional Thai style is to sit on a low table with the food in bowls in the middle. Eating is done with a combination of fingers, spoons and chopsticks, everyone picking food out of the various bowls. Auntie and uncle had already eaten so they were sitting on chairs hosting us. The table was in the front yard under the mango trees.

The meal was a delicious mixture of bowls of fish, ground pork, jackfruit, cooked with various herbs from the yard such as basil, morning glory and a couple of other unnamed plants. There was, of course a bowl of hot Thai pepper sauce. This was served on a bed of rice. Rice is the base of every meal.

It was a day of contrasts that we will not forget.