What a great day. We left early this morning loading up into the back of a truck for our ride to the North and the Hill country. We booked the tour on line as a way to get out of the city and to tour a bit. The ride was broken up with a 10 minute visit to the orchid farm, 15 minute to the long neck village and then on to our stop for lunch and the trek starting point. THe Long neck village was definitely a little sad to see what this group of indegenous people have had to do to survive. The guide gave us a very brief tour explaining to us that the brass bands were place on the legs to prevent viper attacks while in the woods. THe women weave while the men work in the field and or maintain the village structures. THe people stay in one place about 60 years or until the fields are no longer fertile or the water runs dry. the people there seem fairly reliant on farming and selling their crafts to the tourists. The whole scene was a little like visiting people in the zoo. It was really hard to imagine that these folks live this way all the time, so much so that some of the boys suggested this is only where they come to work and they in fact don't live there at all.
THe ride resumed with a brief visit to the local market to choose some snacks and water for the trek. While traveling in the truck was a little cramped it was quite a treat to hear all the languages spoken and to sense the comraderie that was developing as we ate up the miles. We were the only two americans and the oldest on the tour.....that would be a clue for the future :). WE numbered 12 from various countries including, China, Mexico, Britain, Switzerland, Lebanon and France. There were 4 women and the rest young men. Most others were in their young to mid twenties. Lots of youthful excitement and energy was present in the air.
