Last Day for Site Visit

My last day in Sisaket, I spent a lot of time with Susan's host family (Susan was another volunteer in my group who lived closest to me and I became close with her hosts).  They are a sort of modern-day aristocratic family that have a beautiful "compound"-- small area with a collection of houses masked by trees which feels like a tropical oasis in the heart of rice fields.  Very kind people and super artistic/talented.  One of the girls in the family ("P Yee") is about my age and she was generous enough to pick me up, take me to lunch, then for a Thai massage, and finally an evening of cooking and reminiscing at her home.  It was the perfect closing to my trip back to site.  When I got back to grandma/ yie's house, I sat around with P Gaeo and chatted about the old days and what the future holds...played with the idea of sleeping under the stars but opted for my indoor floor accommodations which after sleeping on for 6 nights already had become almost comfortable.  Pics of the final day ensue...

Susan's old host accommodations--everywhere they have signs
and pictures and artwork--makes you feel like your at some
natural gallery equip with guest houses, tons and tons of flower/plants,
a restaurant (their kitchen is set up like a restaurant) and even an outdoor shower!

Set up for cooking--this particular job was peeling a cutting garlic
and shallots. Garlic and shallots are particularly popular in
Thai food and they grow A LOT of it in Sisaket.

P Yee at the "restaurant"...it's actually just their household kitchen
but set-up like a restaurant. 

Peel & cut.

P Yee and P Gai, their neighbor in the kitchen.

The outdoor bathroom/shower at P Yee's house.

With P Gaeo the evening before I left. 

Lovely ladies.  We're a bunch a goofs--grandma isn't smiling because
her teeth are red from eating too much beetle nut!

Grandpa's rice silo storage area.  He is getting ready to sell
2 bags of rice.  They keep some to eat and sell as they need money.