initial impressions - James
Arriving
into HuayPakoot after a tame 5-hour bus journey, I was instantly struck by the
serenity of the area; from chickens clucking to dogs barking, I was ready to
call this village my home for the next month.
On the day, I had Aerosmith’s
“Don’t want to miss a thing” ringing through my head, and I made this my mantra
for the following 2 weeks. I was introduced to my homestay, who goes by the
name of ‘Chat’. His English is limited, but his smile is more powerful than any
word, no matter what the language, and if the food he and his wife offer me
each day be a taste of heaven, then send me the hell up there (pun intended)!
There is a strong sense of camaraderie amongst the villagers in HuayPakoot,
much like the Chelsea back four of ’05, but their fascination and interest with
new visitors provides the onlooker with a striking blend. We see a respect for
the ancient Pakinyaw traditions such as the Geeju ceremony, but also an open
mind to new ideas and concepts, such as the revered pick-up truck, which
carries an astonishing amount of tonnage compared to its disproportionately
meagre size (Toyota Hilux – contact
me for more details).
There are 3 main shops in the
village, and by some cruel twist of fate, the most popular shop, rather
predictably named ‘Top Shop” (it is on top of a hill), lies the furthest away.
Perhaps this is the Pakinyaw way of making you work hard for what you want; in
times of hardship, one should always try to picture their own little slice of
paradise, and for me, that slice of paradise lies within the refrigerator of
Top Shop, in the form of a passion fruit ice lolly. Simple pleasures. But I digress;
you should never find yourself bored here in HuayPakoot, for a bored mind is a
boring person. Take a deep, long look at yourself – are you a boring person? If
not, then the opportunities here at HuayPakoot are endless, and whether you’re
a keen bird watcher or amateur basket weaver, we cater for your every need!
HuayPakoot: where dreams are made, and
worries fade.
James
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