Meet great grand mother Pan – a Yao.  Yao people are an ethnic minority group that live in the mountainous terrain in Southern China.  The Pan family lives in Dazhai, a village in the foothills of the Longji RiceTerraces.

Mrs. Pan is in her 80’s, married to a man 4 years her junior.  She has a daughter, grandson and great grandson.  They are farmers and help out in their daughter’s restaurant.

Their house is simple.  The living area has a table, a few chairs, a wash basin, bags of rice, corn, peppers and supplies for their animals which live under their floor boards.

We were treated to a home cooked meal prepared on an open flame on the kitchen floor.  An experience to behold – so far removed from our modern kitchens at home.