[gazza54]

My wifes village is called Huajdua it is in loei Province and is situated 4km off route201 just north of the Phu Kradueng National Park
Loei province

Nok air used to fly to the small airport in Loei but stopped doing so a few years back so you can either fly to Khon Kaen or Udon Thani which are both about 2 hrs away from the wifes place, then you can make your way by bus or hire car. You can also of course drive the whole way there which I made the big mistake of doing a couple of years ago on the eve of Songkran.
In the past we have tried to go back at Songkran because it means Wie can catch up with her Uncles,AuntiesCousins, Nieces,Nephews,Neighbors,ex schoolmates, ex workmates, the list is endless.
We don’t stay at the house for the usual reasons, no western bog, no hot shower and my old bones aint sleeping on no floor.So this where we stay for the duration which is hardly the lap of luxury
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09112.jpg

The road to my wifes village
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09191.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09189.jpg

Wie loves children so cant wait to see her nephews
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09202.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09003.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09004.jpg
Wies Brother and wife

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09222.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09157.jpg

Songkran in the village involves a lot of collecting for the Temple and getting up with the birds in order to give some grub to the monks.
This photo was took at 6am at the local market, we had to get something to give the monks as they passed wie`s house at 6.30am
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09116.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09188.jpg

Locals calling at the house collecting money

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09151.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09175.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09171.jpg

Wife pouring the scented water over her pa`s hands
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09128.jpg

Eating and drinking village stylee
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09121.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09107.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09108.jpg

[gazza54]

I mentioned catching up with ex workmates, we invited the nurses and doctors that Wie used to work with at her local hospital in Nonghin out for lunch one day,I fed all these for 1200 bht
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09162-1.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09156.jpg

Wie`s family have a Rubber tree plantation of 14 rai which will be due for milking for the first time in November of this year, these photos are from 2+ years ago
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09194-1.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09199-1.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09198.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand09114.jpg

The temple
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailandapril11008.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailandapril11011.jpg

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http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailandapril11015.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailandapril11032.jpg

Wies Pa, poor bugger only has one eye due to an accident at work many years ago
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010046.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010034.jpg

Preparing ,Cooking and more eating

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010052.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010050.jpg

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http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010043.jpg

The cousins arrived on this
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010222.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010226.jpg

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http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010230.jpg

[gazza54]

IMG]http://i283.photobuc...010/2010239.jpg[/IMG]

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010040.jpg

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http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk284/gazza54/thailand%202010/2010059.jpg


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[

[Mr Pastry]

Smashing pictures Gary. I am not a fan of the country, mainly because I am woos and cant stand the heat. but at the same time it is a real adventure. Deffo a much better way to spend Sonkran any day though.IMO. Thanks for posting mate.

[gazza54]

the missus shaking her booty outside her house




Local pissheads collecting for the temple

[gazza54]

Fund raising procession sets off



KARAOKE KID

[Easyrider]

Cracking report :thumbsup:

[mike_asia]

Nice report gazza

[Irish boy]

Brilliant pics Gazza, thanks for taking the time mate.

Have to get my Buriram one's up soon.

[Esco]

Good stuff Gazza. Actually makes me miss spending time in the village.

Cheers :cheers:

[mike_asia]

Mr Pastry, on 21 June 2011 - 09:11 PM, said:

Deffo a much better way to spend Sonkran any day though.IMO. Thanks for posting mate.

I won't tell you what we did for 2010 but it was not in Issan :)

[Al McReady]

Great stuff many thanks Gazza really enjoyed the report.

[gazza54]

mike_asia, on 21 June 2011 - 10:38 PM, said:

I won't tell you what we did for 2010 but it was not in Issan :)

I think you probably mean this year Mike 2011 :whistle:

[mike_asia]

gazza54, on 21 June 2011 - 10:51 PM, said:

I think you probably mean this year Mike 2011 :whistle:

Correct. I am still in 2010 ;)