The Akha Rice Festival

It is time for the rice harvest in Thailand, and to the Akha that means the celebration of the Haw Shui Dza (New Rice Festival). This celebration goes much further than the celebration of Rice, the staple element of the Akha diet, for they celebrate all of their harvest. Coffee, tea, corn, tomatoes, vegetables and fruits are part of the celebration. The harvest is a time of plenty, and though every year has its difficulties for the Akha, this is joyful time.

Yesterday we received a special treat and were able to go to Lawca Akha (Elephant Mountain Village) for their new rice celebration. This is the largest Akha village in all of Thailand and one of the most traditional Akha villages in Thailand, and we were honored to be invited to celebrate with them.

It's a rough road to Lawca, but it was worth it as we enjoyed singing, dancing, playing on the Akha Swing and - of course - the traditional Akha celebration meal of minced spicy pork (sa bieh), salsa (sa pi), soups, vegetables and new rice.

Tags:

• pictures
• akha
• rice-festival
• swing

Flowers of Northern Thailand

We have been spending some wonderful time with Jan and Gary as they have come out to visit. Because the Akha New Rice Festival season is around the corner we have been doing the tourist things this week and will spend all of next week going to festivals in villages.

You may have noticed our previous post where we complained about problems we had been having with our camera. Well, our friends, partners and former neighbors - the Scheyers - gave us a beautiful new (to us) digital camera and we've been having so much fun with it. Thanks Hal!

We've especially enjoyed the scenery as we've travelled around Northern Thailand. We miss the snow and the winters in America, but you just don't get flowers like this in October over there!

We hope you enjoy these images of some of the spectacular flowers in Thailand.

Tags:

• pictures
• flowers
• nature
• travel
• Thailand