So I have made it to Huay Pakoot, it has taken 5 hours on very bumpy steep roads and I am feeling just a little car sick.

On the way we made two stops the first at the beautiful wachirathan Waterfall were we had some photos and I encountered my first really Thai toilets. The second at this shack for food I thought I had ordered pork and rice and it actually was duck but you couldn't tell the difference.

Arriving in Huay Pakoot was a relief for everyone and I was chosen to my home for the next two weeks. We all stay with a homestay family and mine was the Chet family. I'm staying in this very cute hut in their garden and I have two balconies, a double 'bed' and my own 'bathroom' which consists of a squat toilet and a black bin for a shower. I think the toilet will take some practice!!!!! I'm also lucky enough to have my own bathroom buddy a spider which I was informed is called a Huntsmen and although not poisonous can give a nasty bite.

We also have a base which is we're we hang out and eat breakfast, prepare for hikes and activities and generally were we spend a lot of time.

The village is a Karen hilltribe originally from Burma and made up of around 600 people. They have a chief who is voted in democratically and a 'king' which is passed down through the generations but is mainly a ceremonial role. They speak Pakinyow mainly but only the elders can write it the rest of the time it's Thai. There is a mix of Christians, Animists and Buddists religions in th village and it is very conservative for example we need to make sure that are shoulders and legs are covered at all time and we are not allowed to be alone with a member of the opposite sex. In the village there are two shops, a school and a temple an is surrounded by lots of corn fields and padi fields along with the mountains it is very stunning.

In the evening we had a welcome ceremony this is when the most senior femsle member of your homestay comes to base and blesses each volunteer by saying a prayer and placing a white string around your wrist. This should not be removed for 3 days otherwise you will bring bad spirits.

After the ceremony we had a pot luck dinner which is we're each homestay provides dishes and we just all share them. It was really tasty although I have no idea what I was eating.

After this we all introduced ourselves and had to tell everyone what spiritual animal we thought we were an obviously I said a domestic cat.

There is around 20 volunteers made up of people like me but also people undertaking a 6 month internship there is also 6 staff members. People are from all over the world including the UK, USA, Canada, Oz and Austria. Everyone seems really nice.

Now off to bed as hikes start at 630 !!!

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