OHIO Pictures
LightTheWay
Light The Way Reflection
I chose to title this photo “Light the Way” because that is exactly what these women from a local tribe are doing. They are preparing a traditional oil burner at the beginning of our journey through the Tham Lod Caves in Pai, Thailand. It is owned and operated by a nearby village that is primarily supported through the tourist industry. The unique thing about the Tham Lod Caves is the Nam Lang fresh water river that flows through it. This river has aided in the build up of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. These creations would be nearly impossible to see with out the guide’s oil lamp. The intensity of the lamps is far greater than that of an ordinary flashlight. They are also more sustainable and ecofriendly than a flashlight.
Through the tour the guide would explain different things we were seeing. Everyone except for me spoke the native language at an elementary level at least. It didn’t take her long to recognize that I didn’t understand anything she was saying. She didn’t speak fluent English but she tried so hard to explain the sites in a way I could understand. With simple phrases such as “looks like dog” or “home for bats” I was suddenly let in on an enriching lesson about the caves and its history. Periodically she would look too me for reassurance that I was still following and with a simple head nod or smile we said more than words ever could. She didn’t have to translate for me, she could have pretended to know no English and I never would have known the difference.
At one point in our trip another guide’s lamp was dimming so my guide stopped her tour to help create a solution. She shared her oil to help her fellow neighbor. At the time this meant nothing to me but looking back on it I see an example of how collective the Thai community is. You don’t often see acts like that in a more individualistic country like the one we live in.
On this trip we also came in contact with ancient teakwood coffins thought to have been carved by the Lawa tribe people thousands of years ago. Rather than move them to clear paths for tourists, they made paths out and around them so not to disturbed the remains. This was another idea that helped me to understand how the need for profit and growth are not a first priority to the people of Thailand. They would rather make more work for themselves than do something to disrespect their assisters.
The last lesson I learned that helped me understand diversity of cultures related to gender rolls. Women lead tours and men pulled the bamboo rafts back upstream for the next group to have a go. Defined gender roles are something Americans tend to frown upon, but for these people, gender roles were simply used to run their business effectively so they could support their families.
LightTheWay
Light The Way Reflection
I chose to title this photo “Light the Way” because that is exactly what these women from a local tribe are doing. They are preparing a traditional oil burner at the beginning of our journey through the Tham Lod Caves in Pai, Thailand. It is owned and operated by a nearby village that is primarily supported through the tourist industry. The unique thing about the Tham Lod Caves is the Nam Lang fresh water river that flows through it. This river has aided in the build up of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. These creations would be nearly impossible to see with out the guide’s oil lamp. The intensity of the lamps is far greater than that of an ordinary flashlight. They are also more sustainable and ecofriendly than a flashlight.
Through the tour the guide would explain different things we were seeing. Everyone except for me spoke the native language at an elementary level at least. It didn’t take her long to recognize that I didn’t understand anything she was saying. She didn’t speak fluent English but she tried so hard to explain the sites in a way I could understand. With simple phrases such as “looks like dog” or “home for bats” I was suddenly let in on an enriching lesson about the caves and its history. Periodically she would look too me for reassurance that I was still following and with a simple head nod or smile we said more than words ever could. She didn’t have to translate for me, she could have pretended to know no English and I never would have known the difference.
At one point in our trip another guide’s lamp was dimming so my guide stopped her tour to help create a solution. She shared her oil to help her fellow neighbor. At the time this meant nothing to me but looking back on it I see an example of how collective the Thai community is. You don’t often see acts like that in a more individualistic country like the one we live in.
On this trip we also came in contact with ancient teakwood coffins thought to have been carved by the Lawa tribe people thousands of years ago. Rather than move them to clear paths for tourists, they made paths out and around them so not to disturbed the remains. This was another idea that helped me to understand how the need for profit and growth are not a first priority to the people of Thailand. They would rather make more work for themselves than do something to disrespect their assisters.
The last lesson I learned that helped me understand diversity of cultures related to gender rolls. Women lead tours and men pulled the bamboo rafts back upstream for the next group to have a go. Defined gender roles are something Americans tend to frown upon, but for these people, gender roles were simply used to run their business effectively so they could support their families.