Monthly Archives: March 2013
Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere!

Monkeys were jumping on the metal roofs and they would sneak up beside you to try and get food. We sat for about 20 minutes, watching two sets of monkeys groom each other. One was a mom and her baby. She kept putting the baby in a headlock to pick the bugs off. The other pair was a very aggressive female that was picking bugs off her fella’ and eating so quickly and roughly that her mate had bald spots all over his body. He seemed to be loving it.
These monkeys are sweet….

Emerson was nervous about the monkeys. She usually thinks they’re so cute, but she was really freaked. In the top picture I am telling her that the monkeys at this temple are super nice so I went to strike a pose. The monkey turned around and hissed at me and showed me her teeth. I jumped back and Em said “Yep. They’re super nice, mom.”
Giddy up!
Feeding the cow so she can keep making the oil.

The cow walked in circles to press a batch of peanuts. Out through a little spout came peanut oil! A pretty ingenious system – although I didn’t like the rope through the cow’s nose.
Singing the alphabet

We stopped at a tiny market where a group of kids was sitting at the side of the road. Maddux just got a new shirt with the Burmese alphabet on it. The kids saw it and started saying all the characters in unison. I started singing the alphabet and one little guy (about 4 years old) knew the whole thing and sang it with me a few times.
When we talk to people that know English, everyone has a story about how they learned it. One guy said that his Indian mother came over with the British army. She ended up spending her life in Burma. She believed it was very important for her children and grandchildren to know English so she taught everyone. His English was better than ours!
Scary at the top!

So you had to climb up stairs that were vertical and about two feet high each. Once you got to the top, there was a ledge that dropped about three stories straight down. Crazy! I don’t mind heights, but I got a little light headed looking straight down.
“The happiest business in all the world is that of making friends.” – unknown

I don’t know where to start here. We really can’t thank you guys enough for everything!
Mark, Kathy, Aiden, Bella, Mo, Mina and Meranda!!! You guys welcomed us into your home like we were old friends. We had such a great time with you all. Everyone walked away with a new buddy! How cool is that?! Plus, we got fattened up from Mo’s incredible food. Maddux suggested she open her own restaurant.
It was so nice to actually have a home base for awhile – and comfy beds, hot showers, killer food, good coffee and stellar company.
Lennon continues to talk about Aiden (he loved Aiden!) Emerson is so happy she got to spend time with her new friend, Bella, and actually talk to someone her own age! Maddux was happy not to be sick anymore. 🙂 Jesse and I thought Mark and Kathy were fantastic. They met while they were in the Peace Corps. What a great story!!! Plus- Mark was born in Milwaukee near our hometown of Racine. He’s a Brewers fan, too!
We were tired most of the time, but managed to hang out and laugh each night we were there.
Our paths will cross again and, hopefully, we can repay you for your generosity. Maybe we will see you in Nepal in a month or so. Who knows where the wind will take us?!?! Yay!
Love!









