It isn’t easy! The slope up the narrow dirt
path angles approximately 45 degrees at times. I must admit, I have to stop
often to catch my breath. I am, after all, 16 hours older than I was yesterday!
In the community we are joined by
residents, volunteers, and travellers searching for refuge from busy city life,
and, also for a place to work to build the land, plant organic food, and build
a natural sustainable environment for living. The owners of the property, Noi
and Wanai are both Thai. Chris is English and lives here half the year. The
other half of the year he is a chef on a huge, expensive yacht working for very
wealthy people. In his heart, though, he strives for simplicity and basic
living. He finds it here at LimeLeaf Lodge as he helps run the activities here.
Scattered all around the mountains,
sometimes even visible from our lodge, I can see small gatherings of huts
clustered together. These comprise the homes of the various tribes who live in
the mountains. The Lahu tribe is the closest, living directly below our lodge. Many
other tribes live in nearby areas. Each have their own language, specific culture,
costume, and ways of being. Several Lahu people find work with Limeleaf and
prosper from their presence.
Our accommodations are very simple and perfect. We live in a brick cabin with a fireplace and tin roof. It sits on top
of a small cliff overlooking the kilometres of trees and plants of herbs and
vegetables. Bananas, coffee, and ferns grow all over the surface of the land. It
is truly beautiful! Communally-built structures sprout across the property.
Various cabins for sleeping, porches with long wooden tables for eating, and
little terraces for sleeping scatter everywhere. We know that everything that
stands here, was built by the community of Lahu, visitors and volunteers that
live or pass through here.
Life has quieted down for us since we’ve
arrived. With no internet or cell phone connections we take the opportunity to
disengage. It feels good, and, at the same time, uncomfortable. I don’t generally
feel the need to disengage. I welcome the embrace that my life has to offer me.
My children and the communication I have with each of them, my on-going
discussions about my working opportunities, and my interaction with others in
the world enhance my existence always. And yet, taking a few days to regroup
and regenerate my energy is rewarding. I have been barefoot since we’ve
arrived.
The people who come and go here come from
various countries. Our mates now are from France, England, Norway, U.S.A. We
gather together often after they have finished their work for the day. They are
building mud houses and taking care of the extensive organic gardens that are
here. We’ve been playing together in the Lahu villages, visiting the beautiful
natural and desolate waterfalls, drinking delicious fresh coffee, cooking and
eating communal meals, playing music and engaging in fascinating and invigorating
conversation. I am filled with the joy of sharing time with such interesting
and diverse people of all ages. From 21 years old to 60 (that’s Paul) we share
so much of what we have, and, I recognize once again, the gifts of the young
and the old and I revel in the chance to share it all together!
Yoga, meditation in the mountains, talking
quietly with others, observing the flow of nature and living peacefully amongst
the residents here, reminds me of the wholeness of who I am and helps to
strengthen my soul as I move through my day. I am definitely finding peace!
Tonight as I look at the stars above, I
thank Noi and Chris, the volunteers who have become our friends and all the
energies that come from around me, for another wonderful day! I, once again,
feel completely blessed.
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