Rubber Plantation, Akha Village and Wedding

Rubber Plantation, Akha Village and Wedding

                                    Rubber Tree Production and Drying Rubber and Wedding

Akha Rubber Village near Jinghong

See the Rubber Dripping Towards Cup

                                                          Sap Dripping from Tree           

Rubber Cakes  Drying

Eric, Plantation Owner and Jim with Rubber

         

            Eric, a French import, and his Akha wife, Samiya are developing a rubber plantation in the middle of a mountain just ouside of Jinghong.  Even though it is only about 25 kilometers distance, the primitive bumpy trail makes it seem centuries away.  Due to the difficulty of transportation, few motorcycles or 4-wheel drive vehicles, not one villager had traveled to Jinghong ten years ago.   Now the city is totally accessible to many. 

           

            Akha area mountain people were moved there some twenty years ago as government strategy to eliminate opium production and provide a community life.  Their land  belonged to Samiya's family and when Eric entered the picture, he has worked hard to plant new trees, improve production, find viable markets, diversify the land with coffee trees growing below the rubber trees, and build a new 3,000 square feet with an indoor bathroom.   Eric said he and the family take care of all the work of their  1200-1600 trees  since outsiders tend to take advantage of the growers.  

            During the warm season, each tree must be cut at night to allow the rubber to drip into the clay cup.  The next morning before it is too hot, the sap must be collected from each tree, and taken to market or made into rubber cakes for drying.   The land is vertical in some areas and there are insects, snakes, mosquitoes, and poisonous millipedes.  Interesting life and hard work during the season.

            Upon returning  from the village toilet located on boards in the open air, I saw a woman standing and  spinning in the Andean style.

                                

                        Hand  Spinning in Village

            Lunch followed inside Samiya's mother's home.  A little round table filled with plates of Akha traditional food prepared by Samiya's aunt was set right by a huge wok filled with food for the pigs who watched us eat.  Lots of corn base firewater and beer   heated the conversations and spirits.  I found the meat dishes to be difficult to look at with chicken feet staring at me and bony pieces of meat.  But, the wild mountain greens and cabbage dishes were delicious. 

Akha Dress

Pretty Pigs Sat Nearby As We Ate

At Spinning Wheel

My Akha Sisters

Eric and Greg with Akha Gals

            After lunch the women of the of the family put on their Akha ethnic dress and showed me their two spinning techniques: spinning wheel and hand spinninig stick.  Of  course they insisted that I manipulate both.  Eventually, I managed to spin some thread with each method, but with little grace!

It's Heavy

The Gracious Cook in Akha Head Cover

                                      Akha Headdress

                                                                                

Akha  Men:  Pierre and Jim

         

            After the textile show, we traveled along the mountain trail to attend an Akha  wedding. Hundreds of people from all over the area converged in a very basic village to eat and wish the bride and groom a happy life.  Only one woman was wearing any indication of village style. More of the same food and drinks...I was feeling somewhat rocky with the long day and empty stomach.

The Wedding Party

Beautiful and Sweet Bride and Groom

Wedding Party

Wonderful Feast with Firewater Too!

Only Akha Ethnic Clothing at Wedding Celebration

                                               

            It was wonderful visit and Eric was a delightful bright and hard working host. He seems to love his Akha rubber plantation.  It was quite a day and I certainly ad a better feel and understanding of the Akha lifestyle.  They have made great strides since their move to the village setting, but it is still a basic "close to nature' existence.

What a grand day!