The flight to Ubon to visit uncle Barry and Na seemed totally fine until we were about to land - flying low towards the airport through the rain, looking at the roof tops and roads, nearly about to land when the plane pulled up so steeply and quickly. Todd and I looked at each other over the kids heads and thought all the kinds of thoughts you can imagine. Such a situation.
The plane went up so steep - steeper than I have ever seen a plane go and for soooo long.
There was no announcements and the plane kept flying for 45 minutes! With no announcement! 45 minutes!
We joked to the kids about how the pilot had changed his mind and was taking us to the beach instead.
I was so happy when we finally landed in heavy rain - massive flooding it seems - but still no announcement!
The airport was awash. I wash awash with relief!
So was the car park! Na met us and we loaded into the ute with Barry and Na and all our bags! Drenched and cosy!
Back at Barry and Na's we chatted and Todd showed Barry how to listen to the football online!
Na taught me to cook! I was so lucky to have such a generous and gorgeous woman to teach me - and all her sisters, cousins, sister in laws as well!
I learned how to make larp first - this is us making the sticky rice powder.
We all went out for lunch one day to one of Barry and Na's favourite places. Na took a hoard of her neices and nephews. She is a generous and big hearted woman.
Here are the hoard in the ute back with our two...
We then went to the market and Na got a little of EVERYTHING for us to try!
The kids loved looking after Kinyin who tended to think he was just fine actually!
Back to eat the larp we made and more...
I learned to cook sticky rice - something I will be forever grateful for!
Oh yum!
Na got us a few different fruits from the market to try which when her family tasted were announced to be terrible. So the next day her sister in law went to the forest and picked fresh for us!
Then in the moments before leaving everyone realised that Kinyin loved banana and sticky rice in banana leaf so people dashed in all directions to get coconut, banana leaves, and quickly teach me how to make them...
I mastered the fold! They were steamed in time for leaving and we took a bag full on the plane!
While I was busy in Na's cooking school Kinyin found an old stick and a cracking game of cricket began with Uncle Barry as a wild, hilarious and unpredictable umpire!
Everyone took us to the airport. We are so blessed with good people in our lives.
I am once again blessed by amazing, strong and wise women who tuck me under their wing and into their world...
Thanks Uncle Barry and Na - we wouldn't have missed it for anything!
