3 March 2007

This morning we were up early to go to the temple with Khun Yai, and then back to Bangkok. We’ll be up early tomorrow morning to catch our flight to Hanoi. As I’ve already said before, we have met some wonderful people here in Thailand. The issues we are facing are global. Local people are observing and experiencing changes in climate. However, we don’t need to feel helpless or depressed. The only true solutions in my view will come about from positive local actions, and that view has been strongly reinforced by the people we have met in Thailand. There is real potential for Thailand to provide us all with leadership for the future, towards a more balanced approach to working with our environment… the self sufficiency economy is founded on long-held wisdom that the true foundation of a sustainable economy is a well-balanced ecology. Working with nature, not withdrawal from nature or against nature, is the key.

A last word from Thailand

Hi all, just got back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya, the old capital. We were there 3 days, with Yai, our host,a lovely lady. See Gavin's blog for all the names and details.

We interviewed some farmers and one lady farmer in particular, who did things alone, an awesome example of energy and commitment, to farming more naturally.

In a short time, we had some great experiences, ...saw amazing Wats or temples, and Buddhas, a monk blessed us and gave us all bracelets, we were very careful not to touch him, as a sign of respect.

We saw a sunset over a temple ruins and of course I took lots of photos.

This morning , we gave flowers and food to the 4 monks at a temple, to celebrate the full moon. It was very moving. We have had dinner at the busy markets by the river and had lunch at a vege cafe and were recommended some lovely peanut food by David from Michigan. Saw and tasted rambutans for the first time.

Now we are up 5am to fly to Vietnam, I am looking forward to it but a little sad to leave behind such lovely people we have met so far, I will miss Thailand and its beautiful, gentle people.

Thankyou everyone, Sa wa deeka, kob khun ka love karen

Ayutthaya Province, Thailand

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang, organic rice farmer, Naku Village, Naku Sub-District, Pughai District, Ayutthaya Province

Pattapee Poungsuwan, organic vegetable grower, Naku Village, Naku Sub-District, Pughai District, Ayutthaya Province

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang, on left, outside her farmhouse

2 March 2007

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang - rice farmer (left), Pattapee Poungsuwan -vegetable farmer (middle) and Pacharee

Pacharee, friend of Khun Yai, looked after us for the morning along with Mr Santi Jeeyapan. Santi works as a facilitator to support villagers doing farm based research. We drove out to Naku Village, near Ayutthaya, where we met with three local farmers: Pattapee Poungsuwan, Somnuk Sanksem, and Yaowaluck Sukseeleang. We interviewed all three together in quite a challenging setting, a small roadside café. All three farmers have decided to move towards organic production because of concerns with degradation of the land and the high cost of inputs. The climate has definitely changed with more erratic weather patterns than in the past. Last September there was widespread flooding in Thailand and Ayutthaya Province was one of the worst affected, because it is low lying. They were all clear that the cause of the problem is people and that there is a need for a more balanced approach working with nature.

Gavin and Lena discussing sound problems

Yaowaluck Sukseeleang and Pattapee Poungsuwan both had their farms right next to the café, so we went into the field to talk to them some more.

Yaowaluck is an amazing woman. She learnt rice growing from her parents, beginning when she was 10 years old and has now been a rice farmer for 29 years. Yaowaluck farmers 56 rai (about 20 acres, or 8 hectares) on her own. At times in the past she has felt depressed and tried other work. People think farming is a dirty job, but she is clearly very passionate about her work and life as a farmer. Yaowaluck is a true leader for the future.

We then walked down the road to Pattapee’s farm. He stopped growing rice and shifted to organic vegetable production for the Bangkok market. This was a more financially viable option for him, as well as good for the environment.

1 March 2007

We spent part of the afternoon visiting some of the ruins of Ayutthaya with our new host, Khun Yai. In the evening we went to a night market for dinner by the river and then drove around to enjoy the ruins lit up at night time.

Ayutthaya, view from the ruins of Wat Ratcha Burana

Night scene at Ayutthaya