Songkran in Term Pang

As we entered into Songkran, the daily tasks slowed down and we were encouraged to rest as the next few days would involve traditional celebrations of the Pang Term Village. The dynamics at the farm changed so greatly over those days and we all interacted and took part in preparations. It was such a magical time.

It all started with the first few days before Songkran when we learnt how to make bamboo baskets. The first day was spent preparing each part which was quite the challenge - to slice up a bamboo tree into thin pieces. However we all learnt how to work a machete and it was quite rewarding making the basket from absolute scratch. The teachers were absolutely brilliant and even though there was a complete language barrier, with the use of hand gestures and thumbs up and demonstration we all managed. We all sat on a mat under a large tree and worked away for hours over two days...

By this time the pre-Songkran water fights had already begun with kids exploding with excitement and laughter. There was a restaurant across the road from where we were making the baskets and a group of children stood in the road all day waiting for cars, people and anything moving to go past and throw them with buckets of water. It was so enlightening to listen to their laughter and see them glowing with such excitement when they drenched someone moving past, as quickly as possible, or better yet moving in zig zag hoping they wouldn't be hit with the water. By the end of the afternoon, once we had decided to go to war with the kiddies and the water buckets, we were drenched from head to toe. It was so much fun running around and just acting like a kid again and enjoying the simplicity of life's beauties.

Once Songkran began we all took part of one of the main traditions which is to take sand and deliver it to three temples. Each temple has a particular place you get the sand from and everyone takes part. On arrival at the temples you are welcomed with refreshments and snacks. It literally was three days of eating the most delicious food, interacting, speaking more than I had the entire time I was on the farm and just having a joyous celebration with the locals.

On the actual day of Songkran we were all up at 05h00 and went to the temple in the area for a sermon from the monks and brought gifts to them. These gifts we had prepared the entire previous day which included rice, nuts and banana cooked in a banana leaf. We took this and bananas, eggs, flowers and a few other goodies to present to the monks before the service. There were over a hundred people in this little temple singing and taking part. It was such a beautiful tradition to be a part of...to the absolute grain with the locals.

The rest of the day involved us taking these gifts in the bamboo baskets we made to the teachers of the village. We had 11 to visit and each time we were welcomed with such warm hospitality, drinks and the tastiest of dishes I would even be able to describe. At each home we were blessed by monks and after the blessing the monk would wrap a white bracelet around our wrist. At some homes there were ample people waiting to present their gifts and be blessed. I was in awe and just couldn't believe I had the opportunity to view this and better yet be a part of it even though I was a foreigner. It was such an honour!

Songkran was definitely a turning point and highlight of my Work Away experience. Over the two weeks at HHH I really gained invaluable knowledge about the mind, controlling my thoughts and staying in the present, cooked Lanna dishes, gained perspective on some key parts of my life, farm life, challenged my inner being and overcame some difficult obstacles. By the time I left I was so grateful for being there, completing it and giving it my best shot.

The experience was a key part in my journey...the right key.