Thamuang village

Thamuang is about 20 miles north of Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast of Thailand. It isn't too far from the borders of Laos and Cambodia and the Mekong river. It has a population of about 400 and it is in a rice growing area.

I visited the village in January 2008 and immediately felt at home. Khamma lives with her mother and two children in a modest but fairly large house. Life is certainly not hectic and the daily routine is centred on the home, the temple and rice fields. There isn't a shortage of things to do whether cleaning the home, tending the animals or giving alms to the monks. The village is clean and amongst the locals there is a strong feeling of pride in their surroundings, culture and tradition. Everybody made me very welcome and I look forward to going back in May.

Khamma's marriage ended about three years ago and she was determined to give her children the best education they could get. Pell is nineteen and is just starting university in Ubon, whilst Yo is 13 and is still at the village school. Left with nothing after her marriage she moved into her mother's home and strived to make ends meet.

Khamma's mother gave her some land in the hope that one day she could build a home of her own. In January we looked at the land and talked and then decided to build a home together.

For me this is a life changing experience, for us it shows we have comittment, but for Khamma it is a dream come true.

We looked at some recently built houses and with the help of a local architect we decided upon a design. House construction in Thailand is very different from the UK and to some extent I had to put my trust and faith in the fact they have been doing this for ages and they know a lot more about it than I do!

Work started on 'our home' in February and is expected to finish in June - at least that what the builder says, but who knows?