Often I compare Thailand to Missoura. I am an expert in neither. Sometimes it is the same. Sometimes it is different. But the Thais say it best ‘same, same but different’. We were in Northern Thailand.
Many Hmong’s make a living by farming. Many Missourians are farmers. Very few are rich. Different styles of farming but both work hard. Old farmers in Missoura said that all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. Hmong farmers seem to be the same.
The Hmong’s have a sport that's been played for about 5000 years. Tujilub. Spinning tops. The Missourians have a sport that’s been played for about a century. Baseball. Spinning balls. Each game takes about three hours and there is always a winner. Never a tie.
Teenagers enjoy being around other teenagers. They often go to dances to meet the opposite sex. Both groups dress up. Both groups have phones. Both groups are noisy.
At every County Fair in Missoura there was always a new food concoction. Fried ice cream was a big hit one year. The Hmong’s had a new spicy noodle dish.
Enough talk about work. Time to play…
Thrashing Corn
Hmong farmers work together both with sharing the workload and the money.
This shot of Hmong men and women working in the field, was taken with my first digital camera. A Nikon CoolPix. Editing really helped this shot.
Villagers far and wide gather for the annual Hmong New Year celebration.
The men are ready for the celebration dressed in their traditional clothes.
Look closely and you can see the top spinning in mid-flight.
The athletes will look for any objects that might slow their top. Blowing dust is acceptable.
To win this game of Tujilub is simple. The top that spins the longest wins.
Potty training is universal.
A grandfather shopping.
There is That Look again...
Teenagers will form lines in a circle across from each other. The girl's line will stay still and the boy's line will slowly rotate so that everyone can talk to everyone else.
The new spicy noodle dish was a crowd favorite.