Today we got up at 4.30 to go and watch the monks. It was monsoon raining so we weren't sure if it would be on but we wanted to go any in protest of Ken. It was super early though. We stared walking around 5.05 and Ken shouted that if its raining the Monks came later but we weren't sure so we went anyway. We went and sat by the road and a lady sold us food to give to the monks. The monks walk round with a basket and we put food in there. They eat some themselves and also give some to the poor people who live in the temples. Ken arrived just before they walked and said the monks can only walk when they can see their palms in natural light. Then we saw them coming and they silently walk in a line holding out their basket. The women can't touch the monks and it's also rude to have your feet pointing towards them. The monks wore no shoes to show they are all equal. It was a very emotional and wonderful experience to watch this daily ritual. I'm glad we went. The rain also stopped around 5.10 as well. We then went back to the hotel around 6 and on our walk back saw monks walking towards us. They spotted a woman and she must have made a signal she wanted a blessing and the 5 monks stood over her and blessed her while she was kneeling. It was beautiful to listen to and see. We made it back to the hotel but Claire suddenly felt sick again. Her boobs are still sore and she keeps feeling okay then very sick and is sick then okay again. I think maybe she is pregnant but am telling her it's for sure just the malaria tablets. Anyway! We eat breakfast and pack our bags and at 7 we leave the hotel. We go to Joma to get our lunch and head on to the boat. The boat is long and narrow with beds (loose term) on one half and chairs in the other half. We decide to have a cup of tea and chat and Sarah said how much she misses tea and chat as she lives in Abu Dabi. Claire has to go be sick again (baby??). We all fall straight to sleep. We are on the boat until around 5 which is when we get to the home stay. At the home stay we have an orientation walk. These people have been in Laos the longest and used to live in the mountains but were moved down so the government could help them develop more. The village has a mixture of new and old homes and there's a small solar panel and one electricity line. There is only enough electricity for a few hours around dinner to cook and eat. There's also a school at the top of the village where people come from all over to attend. The village has around 350 people who are mostly dry rice farmers. They have on average 4-5 children as they need help on the farms and they get married as young as 16. Today, only about 5% of these are arranged marriages. As we were walking round there was a mute disabled woman following us, holding our hand and touching our rings. The locals threw mud at her and made fun. It was really sad. We made our way back down the village for dinner. We also played with the children. Dinner was delicious; rice, chicken and veg curry, green beans, ginger chicken. After dinner it was pitch black so walked down to sit on the beach and look at the stars. You could even see the Milky Way! It was beyond beautiful. Rachel farted while we were sat down and it made it very very funny. She thought it was a silent one. It wasn't ??. I could have stayed longer but after an hour or so we walked back up to go to bed. Bed was a mattress on the floor with a pillow and mosquito net. There was 6 in each room. It was lovely. Claire woke me up at some point in the night to come and look outside, there was a crazy thunderstorm and she knows i like thunder and lightening! it was the most intense storms I've ever watched and it was right next to us