Fun in the mud!

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, and have enjoyed this quiet time on my own. I like being up before the gang of folks arise. This week's group of participants are leaving today, so tonight is a nice, quiet night at the park. Apparently next week there is a group of something like 120 participants, so there is a rush to get accommodations ready (yet another new building). It will sure be a lot of work for the kitchen staff- I'm sure they're accustomed to large groups of people. As Ian said yesterday, this is a really good sign for the park, in that tourism is down in Thailand due to the flooding. I think this park has an awesome reputation (and so it should!) for its care of animals, treatment of participants, and did I mention the food?

Traditionally, they serve the last meal of the week to participants upstairs on low tables, and you sit on a cushion on the floor, so that's what we did last night.
It was quite lovely to sit there and have our food already in front of us, instead of the usual buffet line. Dinner was served with a basket of sticky rice, and you use the rice to scoop up your food. Mmmm, but the food is delicious here. I'm trying to think of how much of this I'll be able to recreate at home- I know Ian is counting on Ainslie to do so. They teach thai cooking classes at Lek's restaurant in town, so I think we'll sign ourselves up to take a class.

In the meantime, our brick building moves forward.
I spend the mornings (mostly) with Isaac, doing a more structured home-school dealie, and then go join Ian & Ains. Ian is finding it frustrating (in the same way it was in Haiti) trying to find tools, and communicate with people what we need. There's lots of creative use of materials when you can't find the material or tool you need- gotta be resourceful!
We are slowly making progress- I sure wish I could communicate with the Thai guys, though, because each time one of them approaches the site, you can see it in their eyes (I don't think I'm imagining it!) that they are sort of shaking their heads at us. If there are shortcuts, or different ways (better ways!) to do it, I'd love to know. Ah, if only I had more words than 'hello', 'thank you', 'my name is'...

The buiding at the end of the day

Everyone loves a good mud bath, and Isaac & his friend Rocky are no exception. They had a blast stomping in our mud pit- and yes, a bit of mud was thrown around, but heck, have you ever seen a better mud puddle to play in?
Lucky boys! Ainslie took them down to the river afterwards to rinse of the first layers of mud, and then a shower was needed for Isaac afterwards.


So, more building today- we may go for the elephant bath again, with a small group of other volunteers who are staying here (actually, friends of Ian's brother, Scott, who happened to be in Thailand- and they've come here at Scott's suggestion). They have 3 young lads with them who are keen to get dirty in the mud, so we may have extra hands next week.

Breakfast awaits, as do lessons & mud.