My room was still a little muggy when I woke up, but when I went outside I was shocked to see how thickly the fog covered forest. I wasn’t prepared for this!
We ate breakfast and then checked out and went to the border of Burma and Thailand. While they have official gates for cars, and there’s an office with people were lining up with papers, when you walk along the shops, which line the border, there are places where people slip through all the time. I’m not so sure what the policy is, but I wasn’t brave enough to hop over for a photo, just in case!
That’s far enough! Burma is on the other side
The 3 pagodas, built upon 3 stones which originally marked the border
After everyone had a little shop, we moved onto La Salle Bamboo School and off-loaded the food, toys and bikes that were donated by FFAC and various donors. This school is for migrant children including; Karen, Mon, Thais, Chinese and Lao. This is quite a big school, as many older students stay on before the go on to study at Technical School or University. Most of them end up with three languages; their native language, Thai and basic English.
Many people wear sandalwood powder on their faces. It’s meant to be an astringent, as well as helping with acne
La Salle Bamboo School
Posing with new bikes and the names of the donors
Donations from FFAC
Raj and Shoba did their Pranic Healing and afterwards a group of younger children danced for us, while the older children sang. We left, as some other volunteers with donations arrived and we had another place to visit. The next place was called Baan Dada Children’s Home. Saovanee knows one the Dada’s (the name they give men who run the home) very well and they also contribute with donations now and then. I think this trip was more for a catch up, as he had not been well recently.
He took us on a tour. As well as the buildings you see here, they also have rubber tree plantations and two green-houses, which he has helped create. The amount of back-breaking work he has done already is unfathomable and I’m sure he doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon!
At the entrance of the school
Playground
Music room
Workshop
The frame of a go-kart they are in the process of building. Dada has to learn the trade himself before he teaches it to the children. This gives them skills before they go onto Technical School.
The kitchen (Built by Australians)
After our quick visit, we headed back to the hotel for some rest. I already have plenty of photos of these two wooden bridges, but today was so sunny and not too overcast, I couldn’t resist taking a few more.
Beneath The Hair 