We used to joke in high school about who was going to college for “basket weaving 101″ and who was going for rocket science.  Now I retract all jokes, I wish I had learned how to weave baskets, for this most ancient art of receptacle making is dying.

Baskets are one of the most functional tools of ancient civilizations, yes there actually was a time before plastic.  Not only are they practical, they are beautiful and fashionable as well.  There is so much time and effort spent in weaving one basket, it takes a tremendous amount of patience, and mindfulness.

These divine creations are microcosmic examples of how everything that exists, in creation, is nothing more than a fabric of interwoven strands holding everything together.

It’s Songkran again (Thai new year) and everyone’s throwing water and celebrating. Lots of alcohol, bad music and good times. I like to watch from a distance, it’s mostly the younger kids that go out and have a blast. Although I am doing my part by compiling a nice compilation of hip hop and tight grooves on my MP3 player so the younger Lisu youths can have some dope beats today (they love my music, as they should, I got the goods!) If I could spread the message of good music, than my work here in Thailand this lifetime has been complete.

Today is unique because we are cleaning all the holy images on all the shrines in my home. My wife is Christian and I am Buddhist, but that’s fine, we preach Buddha and Jesus as Brothers (like Thich Nat Han says). So the cross gets a bath, St. Francis, Quan Yin, the Hermit, and the Buddha. Everyone cleaned and happy, all people and holy people alike.

Even though they are only images, the physical act of cleaning them, and the alters has a direct effect on my Mind and Body. The acts we perform in the physical world directly influence what goes on in the metaphysical realms. Good tidings to all.

My buddies wife just had a baby girl last night 3.2 kg, name: Pema. This is the third 1/2 Lisu 1/2 Western baby born unto my crew. Welcome to the world you little half-breed super races! The future is crossbreeding, in the next 1000 years it will be impossible to distinguish between am Asian and Caucasian, a Hispanic and a Black person because the gap is getting smaller and smaller. The breeding between westerners and Lisu is quite amazing, we are not the only three in the town of Pai to have 1/2 breed kids, there are others mostly Thai, a few Lisu families that extend up to the Soppong (AKA Pang Mapha) area, between Pai and Mae Hong Son.

What will the future of these children be? Stay tuned, it will be interesting no doubt. One topic that keeps coming up is education, the school choices around here are strictly village, and marshal. There are a few international schools in the Chiang Mai area, but isn’t the point of having kids so that you can grow up together, and have a part in raising them? It is important for this next generation to hold onto their heritage: ie. music, song, dance, traditional clothes, nature wisdom, etc. The old ways are sinking fast, nowadays most Lisu are pressured to keep up with the ‘modern world’ and one of the only options aside from agriculture is prostitution and drug dealing. I have confidence that this will change, maybe it is our part to help accelerate this change, maybe that’s why we’re here married to these Lisu women: to exchange knowledge, create a super race, and help to bridge the ever shrinking gap between East and West.

The Local Internet boy’s (TOT) came and plugged me into the grid today, finally. Only after my wife and I had to spend half a day digging a trench 100meters from the road to our home so they could run the wire underground. Oh yeah, we had to buy yellow PVC piping and joints to run the wire through as well, now everything is in place, Welcome to Thailand! You have no idea how lucky you are to have cable internet, or connections that just “work” once everything is connected.

Thailand is still a third world country, posing as a 2nd world country. I Love it here with all of my heart! I appreciate the small things so much more. Right now I am sitting on a floor cushion, typing to you, the wall of my house opens completely, I am gazing upon endless fields of water buffalo, cattle, rice fields, garlic fields, lush jungles, beautiful blue skies, and blankets of rolling mountains. Pai is truly paradise on Earth.

So here I am living in the jungles of Northern Thailand, it’s exotic, but developing quickly. Everyone wants a piece of the “Pie”. The thing that makes this life style so interesting is the contrast of extreme opposites.

Married to a Tribal hill tribe woman from the Lisu Clan keeps things close to the Earth, my wife Aloma teaches me about Earth magic, and Earth wisdom. Now we have a son who is the bridge between East and West. The fact that I can come from planting vegetables and working on my land to build compost, to a cafe on the road with wireless excites me. This contrast is what keeps this game on fire, you should try it sometime. The future is about Blending…