Welcome to life in Kampung Pukak. Kampung means village. Courtney and I live in a jungle village an hour and a half outside of KK. It's been more than a month since I last blogged and SO much life has happened that it overwhelms me to think of writing it all out. So instead, like the previous post on Mulu, I've chosen some of my favorite pictures to share with you. As always, sending all of you much peace, love, and the jungle spirit!!!
This is a picture of Courtney and I with Pukak people in the weeks when we had just arrived in Pukak. This was a community picnic day with lots of food, games, and children generally running around. So much fun! We had no idea who these children were then, but have gotten to know and love them since! ALSO, very important about this picture, is our host mom Auntie Dorothy in the fisherman's hat and our host dad Uncle Danny in the cap. They are the best ever. 
A wedding in one of the villages. The beautiful bride is an older sister of one of the boys at the hostel. Three villages turned up. And they know how to party! With me are three new Aussie friends - Mel, Viv, and Jess - who came for 2 weeks to volunteer with Good Shepherd. On the weekends, our adventures, along with the wedding, included jungle trekking, white water rafting, island hopping, and snorkeling. Oh the life of a GSV in Malaysia...
This is Webster climbing the papaya tree. This is right in front of the Good Shepherd Rural Training Center where Courtney and I spend a lot of time. They run children's and community programs here. One of those community programs is now yoga, led by yours truly, twice a week. They are usually about 50 minutes long and mom, teens, and children join in. You can see the paintball center (run by a tour company) in the background along with the river. The patch of bamboo to the left of the page is my favorite.
Ellieca jumping rope by the girls' room at the hostel. I have learned so much from the children - including joy and gratitude. And how to make a jump rope out of two towels. Or a bunch of rubber bands. I promise a future entry solely dedicated to the kids.
My Year 6 classroom (12-year-olds). Courtney and I started teaching this class at the village school together but now Courtney teaches Year 5. We have after-school English lessons on Mondays and Thursdays. It is a challenge. Courtney and I are currently talking a lot about behavior management. I don't blame the kids, I'd want to be running around after school too! I'm sure you can tell from this picture what an energetic bunch they are (that's self nicknamed Crazy Boy Ashley in the front there). At the same time, most of them are quite interested in our games and activities so I'm optimistic that we'll mutually figure out how to make the most of the time we've been given together! Life in Pukak is rich and never boring. It's beautiful. But it can be challenging! And definitely provides me with A LOT to think about. As always, I'm so grateful to be in this life, on this adventure. And as always, thank you for taking the time to check in with me!
Peace, love, and namaste :)
