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Hello all,
So I've decided to setup this blog to document my upcoming solo trip to the Thuy An Orphanage 70km's West of Ha Noi, Vietnam. I will be spending 12 days at the orphanage working with physically and mentally disabled children who's families could no longer afford to care for them.
Earlier this year, I decided to mark my 30th birthday (Dec.29) by doing something to give back to the world, and to also have a first hand experience seeing how some of the most unfortunate people in the world live. I believe that in our Western culture that we become too consumed in our daily lives, routines and materialism that it becomes too easy to even stay aware of what is happening in other parts of the world. I want to ensure that I do not lose touch with what is happening around is, and to feel again what things in life are really necessary.
My itinerary for the next 20 days is as follows:
I leave this afternoon at 3:40pm PST in the direction of Frankfurt, Germany. (Dec. 13 Lufthansa Flight 493) An 11 hour stopover will let me leave the airport for a good half day to explore Frankfurt before I take another flight to Bangkok, Thailand. (Dec. 14 - Thai Airways Flight 923) There, I'll have a 6 hour stopover, before my last leg will take me to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Dec.15 Thai Airways Flight 556) I will spend 4 days in HCMC before taking a domestic flight up to Ha Noi. I'm planning to check out the Cu Chi Tunnels, the War Remnants Museum, as well as hopefully doing a very quick day trip down to the Mekong Delta. My cousin Lee Faulkner, a pilot for Jetstar Airways will have a 2 day layover in HCMC while I'm there, so I plan to meet up with him on the 17th. It's been about 7 years since I've seen him last, when he was living in Galway, Ireland. So I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on!!!
The afternoon of the 19th, I'm taking my flight up to Ha Noi (Vietnam Airlines Flight 220), spend the afternoon exploring the city, then on the 20th head to the meeting point for the Thuy An Orphanage. If you goto the link, the Thuy An Orphanage program is the 4th program down the page.
CADIP (Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects) is a Vancouver based not for profit organization that organizes volunteer programs around the world all year long.
I won't have reliable internet access while at the Orphanage, however there is apparently an internet cafe not too far away, so I likely won't be able to update this blog while in the Orphanage, however I will try to if possible, and I will also be keeping a diary which I plan to transcribe onto this blog when I get back in January.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Years, Happy Birthday to me!!! I look forward to the experience coming up, this is truly an experience I am sure will not be matched again, and I am truly grateful to be able to participate in something like this.
Cheers!
Jeremy
Have fun Uncle Jermy! We're jealous. Sounds like it will be an eye opening experience.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to play the drinking game in Hanoi. Everytime you hear a honk you have to take a drink.
Dude, this is freakin' AMAZING! Wow... I'm already looking forward to reading about your experiences.
ReplyDeleteWishing you exit row seats, no fat guys seated next to you, and a trip of a lifetime!
PS - don't call the locals "Charlie"
That's fantasitc!! Vietnam is a country that has had a powerful history, and through it all, the people have proven their determination and spirit. Looking forward to reading about your adventures! Cu Chi tunnels - you'll be too tall to fit through the hole, you'll see when you get there!! If you have time, my favourite place was Ha Long Bay.
ReplyDeleteIf you need ANY help with ANYTHING, let me know. My first cousins live in Hanoi and are WONDERFUL.
Best of luck!
Minh-yen
How selfless! We need more people like you. Looking forward to your blog.
ReplyDelete