I started yesterday thinking I would write an account of a day in the life of a VSO volunteer in the provinces (wanted for the website to help new volunteers). I actually wanted to make it clear that you have to accept you are alone and that some days you will speak to no-one and that you have to be content with your own company.

Early in the morning I went for a bike ride through the rice fields taking photos as I went along - see album. It was great the temperature has dropped and at 7 in the morning it is only about 26 or 27 so fine for cycling - I can't believe I am saying that!! I have found a route that takes about an hour and is in the shade for at least half of the time (on hotter days I just come back on the shady side).

It is the rice planting season and yesterday I saw the lot. An oxen plough being used in one field and another field where a motorised hand plough was being used. I saw rice waiting to be planted and in the distance people planting rice. I also saw newly planted fields that were still flooded. It was just perfect.

I arrived back at about 8.15 and decided that I would wash my sheets and clean the house. These things are related, as the easiest way to dry my sheets is to drape them over the balcony that is in my sitting room. So, still without having had a shower, I set to, I put the sheets in the washing machine, washed the railings and floor of the balcony, brushed the stairs and washed the upstairs floor. By now I was sweating, my hair was plastered to my head and I was not looking my best!!

Just then my landlady's son came and invited me to join the family at the Pagoda, they were leaving there and then!! Now when women go to the Pagoda they dress up, best skirts, white blouses and hair and makeup perfectly done. I was in my dirty short trousers, a blouse with no sleeves and hair that was no longer blonde because of dirt and sweat!! I asked for 5 minutes and presented myself in blouse and skirt - sadly hair was still dirty but hands and face were clean - with a minute to spare.

I thought we would be going to a local pagoda but no it was a day out for the family. (Start of the Buddhist Lent) We went to Oral district where there are hills, forests and lakes. The journey was lovely and the time at the pagoda interesting. We then went to a mountain park where we had a picnic and climbed a "mountain".

I arrived back 5 hours later, got my sheets out of the washing machine, put them over the balcony and hoped they would be dry by night.

As an example of a lonely day in the provinces it wasn't good but for me it was great!!

Today I did my cycle ride at the end of the day and was really glad I am a farmers daugther as some would have been nervous. On the track back - very narrow and quite muddy - I met three groups of oxen on their way home. I also met three carts pulled by oxen on the same track - it was obviously time for farmers and oxen to go home for tea!! I confidently pushed my way past the dangerous animals, waved at the farmers and wished I could drive an oxen cart.