This is where the wedding party was held, although only the common guests ate here. Family and out of town/special guests ate in private rooms down the hall. Though I do not really know the bride that well, I was a special guest and ate in a room with the bride and grooms siblings and good friends. I kind of think they just didn't know what to do with the two foreigners.

During the wedding party we got our picture taken with the turban adorned matrons. I did not come to discover why only a few of them wore the hats, but it does appear that they wear them on a daily basis and not just for special occasions.

I was aroused from bed this morning by five Yao women with big turbans knocking on my door. They had come to dress us up in their traditional clothing so that we could take pictures. We did not ask for this privilege, but my Yao friend thought it would be fun for us to experience, and it was. Kim's head was too big for any of the pre-maid turbans so they made one up especially for her head. It took quite a bit of time and fabric.

Here is a close up of the upper portion of the costume. The head piece has rhinestone all across the front. The neon green and yellow are a bunch of little glass beads. Underneath al the tastles is a hand embroidered blouse that is quite pretty. One lady took her turban off and put it on my head but it was too small so another lady gave me hers. Under the turban they have boycut hair. When not wearing the turban they wear a towel on their heads.

Here is the back of the costume.

Four real Pan Yao women and two imposters. As you can tell, the imposters taller and much whiter than the real thing.

This is what the top of one of the hats looks like. It is a hand embroidered tapestry.