Hello everyone.
I hope that the mass mail doesn't
offend anyone, but email is expensive here in Hua Hin (
the tourist meca of Thailand). This emial is a short
story of my most recent adventure in the wilds of
northern thailand, while visiting for the first time
my placement.
October 22, 1999
Arriving at the Chaing Mai airport at 6:00am was
gruelling. Waiting to board the plane was a little
better. Once we were on, and in the air, I was
flyin'!!
All the apprehension of this whole adventure had
boiled down to this day, this morning, this plane. At
the landing site of this "krung bin" waited my BOSS.
The man who so much thought went into getting my
wardrobe "rip roy"(offical) enough so that this his
first empression would be grand.
I was glued to the window. Outside we were flying
over mountains and forests. Valleys covered with
morning mist and roads that defied gravity. I thought
of the people who i was hired to worlk with promoting
organic agriculture and what living in a forest meant
to them.
After about 20 mins, over the intercome came the
pilot. He first spoke in thai and then in halting
english. "Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform
you that we are unable to land, due to the low cloud
cover over Mae Hong Son. We will be returning to
ChaingMai to wait for a while." That was a little
werid, doing a U-turn in the air, but i got to see the
beautiful scenery again.
The second plane was far more productive. It landed
in MHS. As I collected my bags and made my way out to
the lobby ,there stood a short man with a piece of
paper with MELODY written on it. Khun Pracha. We did
our formal hellos and proceeded to his truck. He took
me to eat right away (I'm liking this man already) and
then we began the trek up to the Highlnad
agriculutural center.
The drive took around 45 mins. i had a hope that
maybe I would be able to ride a bike from the center
to the town, but that hope was killed as we rounded
the 4th hill making our way up a 45 degree mountain.
The scenery was breathtaking ( as was the ride)
Valleys, trees, mist, and all so close, edges so near.
That was just the begining. The center was nestled
in a valley that spread out and was surrounded by
mountains. There was the office, gardens, many
greenhouses, ponds, hydroponics station and a
refridgeration unit.
I began to met some of the staff. They all new I was
coming and so i offen heard "Hello melody"!!. I pood
pas ad thai (spoke thai) the best I could and was
releaved when i found out that a few pople could speak
english nit noi( a little bit). Ajan (teacher) pracha
showed me the site of my to be A-frame. Currently it
is an excavated pit, but there are about 5 builder
guys working on as we speak. I made friends easily.
The first two days I wandered around and visited with
one of the villages I will be working with. I stayed
with Ajan Pracha and his wife and they were extremely
helpful and really seemed to take to me ( I hope!!)
My first impresseions are promising. The adventure
begins....
I am currently back in Hua Hin continuing on my
language training. Sorry for the spelling mistakes
typing too fast. Love and hugs Melody
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p.s. feel free to mail to me, especially throughout
the years!!!
Buddha at Kowtaoiub, Hua Hin. 
Melody's mailing address as of December 1, 1999:
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