While breakfast was being prepared, Tee and I went for a short walk. He first took me to the wooden entry gate of the village. Along the top beam and the top parts of the side beams were woven snowflake-like designs – protection symbols. Next to the gate were statues of two couples – one out of cement and the other out of wood, now very weathered and split. The male figure had an enlarged genitalia. These figures represented the original Akha male and his female partner, a forest dwelling creature whom he brought back to be his wife. The gate was built by the male to help the female understand the delineation between the forest and village. This gate and two figures are found at the entrance of every Akha village. Songs are sung as the people pass through the gate, receiving protection from the snowflake like designs.
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