Planting rice

Preparing the fields

Another one of our activities was planting rice. We weren't sure if this one would happen or not because the Isaan area had not had much rain yet. It was the first time for everyone in our group except for Pawn--this included our three hosts from Isaan. I didn't get to participate because I was worried about getting my wound dirty, but I had fun taking pictures. Ms. Rerai (our host) sent Rusty a message a few days ago and said our rice was still doing well. A lot of other fields have had too much rain and didn't make it. We had lots of help with this field from some of the classes from the school. After all it's more fun to get a whole group to work together, and the work goes by much quicker.

It was hard to get a lot of good planting pictures because they were across the field from me. I ended up with a lot of backside shots until they were closer to me and they could hear me.

The soil and water was warmer than everyone expected, but they enjoyed doing it. A hat is a very important accessory here especially when you're taking the anti-malaria medication!
Pawn had her own group she was teaching. You plant rice in staggered rows...not in straight rows. They're also pretty methodical about it. You only plant around your feet and keep backing up. See how close to each other the planters are working?

Posing for silly pictures...we know where Kai Mook gets it from! :)

Lili was quite the superstar during this week. No one believed she was only 14 years old. She always had a large following and lots of requests for her phone number. I wonder if she's still getting phone calls.
Scott was always prepared. While most of the workers went barefoot, Scott pulled out trash bags from his bag and fixed them up over his shoes. He cause quite a stir when he went out into the field like that. :) Everyone loved Scott.

No Kai Mook! It's not ready to eat yet!

This was even Ms. Rerai's first time to plant rice. She's probably our age, and she and her husband had never planted rice. Our friend Mr. Korn is quite a bit older than us and had never planted also. Of course he went to study in Bangkok at a young age so that explains that.

I just liked this picture of Rusty and Bryan. Just looking at their heads I think about two men crossing the Sahara. Then I look at their clothing and the scenery and know it must be something different.

Before shot

After shot

It was really hard to get photos that would take in everything. I would definitely need a wide-angled lens. The field looked really good after it was finished, and it didn't take that long with everyone working together. Of course I wasn't in the field bent over planting so maybe it took longer than I thought it did. :)