Traveling in the Kingdom Days 5-6 > Traveling Between Cultures and Crops

This is the last post in the series of three entitled Traveling in the Kingdom. There is more to come for the rest of the month into January as I catch up, but this part hangs out with the other two previous posts as a matched trio. While each can stand alone on its own, to follow from the beginning till now may give you a better sense of where the travels have taken us thus far. This is an exciting time for me, visiting the Jarai village. They remind me of a group of people who are always on the move and very nomadic. Perhaps their moving around is less these days due to their basic need to provide for the basics. Land isn’t as easy to move to or from with new land reforms. However, this is about the limit to my adventuresome spirit though at this age/stage of my life. I’m not what one might term an adventurer as Mt. Everest isn’t on my bucket list. But to share Jesus and spread His gospel message is. I know that wherever I’m sent I’ll be equipped even in the least of circumstances. That being said, I don’t think I could ever live this remotely day in or day out. But it’s wonderful to share time with these new believers. 

In some respects travel in this province has improved, but it’s got a long way to go (well I think, can I say this for most of the country can’t I?) even in all of these road improvements and move into the 21st century, this country will always have a rugged wild side to it, like out of a wild west movie of a while ago. That’s good for those young adventurers coming to see Cambodia, since there is Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and then the ‘real’ part of this country where the country is itself.

I wasn’t able to figure out nor did I see if there is a school in this village. Then again, this village is further north than the one we’ve been to twice before. Not only has that village lost their pastor (tragic accident) but so has this one, leaving them without leadership as we would know it. Therefore for this Christmas some members and their pastoral leadership from four areas have traveled here to share and encourage these people as they try to continue through this chapter. Vannarith is committed to the Jarai people. Come this January the village is sending a young man to us to learn English and to do the beginnings of theological training. (And he has arrived as I post this ~ Dtout is one of the first khmer I have ever seen who is so driven to succeed for his family and his people. This guy spends hours sorting out one simple Bible chapter in English so he understands it from four languages. Whew!)

Jarai Folk do not speak Khmer. Their language is a combination of Vietnamese and Indonesian. I have no idea how that came around. Maybe it’s another one of those tower puzzles out of Babel.

The Jarai village houses may have 75 single dwellings and even a few ‘family’ dwellings for multi generational family living. George noticed that there was a cashew orchard in the rear that was poorly kept. They do require a lot of care. Additionally, there was a ‘repair’ shop of sorts and a local mini mart nearby. As we walked the village grounds, we saw gardens in almost every house area which were already harvested. Amongst the houses pigs and piglets as well as chickens were moving about. In the evening hours I saw six cows led home. What solidified it even more though is that we saw three wells and two distribution centers so we don’t think the village is moving any time soon. We must and need to be with them there as they live here. But there is no weaving noticed from the women here as in the other village we’ve been to, and the Jarai are known for their intricate designs. I’m not sure where their incomes are derived from.

Remember it was mentioned how the meals were made on this trip, the women worked together to cut up everything and watched over its preparation. While us girls were on board for doing that, the children were enlisted to provide decorations, set up chairs for church, and then tables and such for meals. Gorgeous paper cutting skills did the tick. Where were the men? Under the tree discussing the latest and greatest I guess. That happens a lot.

Oops I almost forgot one stop made on the way the first day to a place called Boeung Yak Loam Lake. Being a part of the culture of the Kreung Hill tribe, the Tampian Hiil people, and the ancestors to the Jarai, this lake is a crater post volcanic episode from millions of years ago it said. There are no structures around the lake, and the area provides cool water for swimming. Gorgeous afternoon under the straw roof during lunch and traditional rest period. I walked the lake as much as I was allowed.

Let’s talk a bit about this area. We noted almost all monoculture in this province, which we don’t favor. Rows upon rows of rubber trees, mango plantations, cassava, pepper. Let one bug or one virus get into that situation and it could change the income level in a hurry. It is a wilder landscape and full of nature in the midst too.

Ratanakiri means ‘mountains of gems’ if you were asking. It is indeed just that.

We stayed two nights in Banlung, the capital of the province. The first night we had no power, therefore no AC, but plenty of cockroaches. That room cost us $20. We didn’t stay for a rerun.

Night two was wonderful. I’d have loved to take home the bed with us. It had a pool, a sauna, massages, electricity, clean rooms. This room was $15.

It was an 18 km jaunt in and out both days to the village. We had to cut thru the jungle of a no road terrain once each way as the creek bridge couldn’t hold the van we were in. Nights were a bit scary to me as it was pitch black when it came unless you met someone on the way. I had heard of meandering robbers at night but none encountered us. Thank you.

While the afternoon passed by, the first day I gathered in the little ones under 12 or so for some dialog and game playing. I was pleased that so many hung out with me and tried verbal communication. Yet soon they turned the wheel around and we started to play a universal local game called ‘crack the whip.’ This Oma can’t do that one many more times anymore.

The first night consisted of a community meal for everyone. We all then departed our own way. That was the first night I had tried out the doTerra repellent. Smelled good and it worked. This was the night with no power when we returned to Banlung. Let’s move forward from this point to our big day.

Arrival into the village I saw the common area paper decorated and covered chairs set out just like church. A mini lunch of sorts came around. The main ingredient for their meals was served in big mounds. Rice. Sauces and such were the toppings.

The afternoon into evening progressed nicely with a complete Christmas program and church service that lasted nearly three hours. Every group (6) had a part of the program. Nightfall was approaching and so as tables were set, lights went on so everyone could see. It was a grand meal of curry no less, which seemed to be a speciality of Vesak’s wife. Soon thereafter the tables were cleared times two (so everyone could eat the meal this happened twice). The village celebration then got started. Roar, roar, starts a generator. On goes the music, flowing gentle Khmer style. Fairly soon I am called upon to join in. I truly need to learn these steps, the Khmer way. But I follow the lead and do the circle again and again till three songs have passed and I am wasted. Hopefully I have the approval of the village for sure now. I learn later that we are the first foreigners ever to visit them and they don’t want the night to end nor for us to go. Tearfully we give them a ‘ chum rip leah’ departure. We heard later they partied till the light went out, I.e. the generator went out of fuel.