Fun Fun at Pun Pun!

Yesterday I went with Group One (9K) out to a farm called Pun Pun. Pun Pun (which means thousands of thousands which then translates to mean diversity) is a farm nestled up in the hills that focuses on sustainable living and tending to their four basic principles. Principle one- Food- which is not genetically modified, natural, harvested by themselves and that produces seeds that can be used again and again rather than for just a one off crop use. The food they eat is all vegetarian, to promote good health in the body and mind. Principle two- Home- they have built all of their structures out of earthen bricks, which are made from mud, rice husks and recycled products. The mud homes are cool and have a calm feel about them... if a house can be calm! Principle three- Clothes- they all have just enough clothes that they need, they don't follow fashion or buy into commercialism or materialism. They avoid technology and don't have TV and reject the trappings of a busy modern life that makes the mind and body unwell. Principle four- Diversity- of people, food, crops, seeds and ideas. In short- they are Hippies!
We were shown around the farm and then how to make soy milk and tofu. The soy milk was really yum- especially when flavoured with a bit of vanilla and cocoa. We then enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of home made bread, salads, noodles and sooooooo many avocados. Some of us had fruit smoothies and tried the Moselle tea (which tastes like a red wine tea; best served chilled with a bit of sugar). After lunch we watched a film on making mud brick homes and then we went and made some mud bricks. This was a lot of fun and there was more mud on the girls than in the brick moulds. They then jumped into a dam to clean off and relive themselves from the heat. We popped into a market on the way home and I bought some short gumboots; my sneakers are completely ruined from community service and I need some protective shoes to go up to the Karin tribe next week. They will be perfect for the wet season!
Now that we are coming to the end of the first week the girls seem to have really adjusted to the heat, the food and the changes to their environment. It has really taken it out of some of them and we are constantly reminding them to drink more, take electrolytes, rest and clean their hands. It is quite a challenge to adjust to so many changes but I have been really impressed with their attitude and even when they have been feeling a bit unwell they have kept a positive attitude and their friends have been very supportive and kind. They are learning so much so quickly and proving to be resilient. It excites me that there is still two weeks to go and I feel like we have done so much already.