Today we set off to visit the long-neck, Karen tribe, who live in a small refugee village in the North of Thailand. The village is high in the mountains. There is a big market there where you can buy lots of different postcards, jewelry, cloth etc. The ladies who sell these objects have long necks with bronze rings around them. This makes their necks really long because it presses down on their collar bones. Today this attracts tourists (like us!) but originally there are many reasons why they started wearing these rings around their necks. One is that it made it [View Full Entry]

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This famous monk died when he was 79 years and 8 months old - but that was over twenty years ago!! In all that time his body has not decomposed - even in all this heat and humidity! Buddhists believe it is because it is because this monk was so pure and important that germs will not attack his body. The monk apparently knew he wouldn't decay and asked for his body to be displayed to the public. ( I wonder if he knew they would put him in a glass box like an arcade game!) He doesn't wear those dark [View Full Entry]

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Helena acted as a bridesmaid, and Jake and Samuel as lantern bearers at the wedding of Hanh's sister! We all felt like guests of honour! Despite the fact hardly anyone spoke English, we could not have been made to feel more welcome - or more like part of the family! There are many differences between a Vietnamese and English Wedding! In Vietnam a Wedding is considered a matter of family honour and lasts for two days! Despite the high levels of poverty, no expense is spared on the elaborate feasting! First there is a meal and party for the bride’s family [View Full Entry]

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Mae Hong Song is in the North of Thailand - not far from Burma. We had to come on a little plane through the mountains to get here. Because it is in the North it is further from the equator and less hot. (This is good because we all got too hot in Bangkok - looking at an enormous Reclining Budda. It was all gold and as big as a football pitch!) I liked Mae Hong Song better because there are mountains, teak forests, tribes and lots of adventures to be had. A bit like Tarzan wih clothes. One day we [View Full Entry]

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We're in northern Thailand now. The day trip to Pai from Mae Hong Son started with beautiful country views (75% of the region is forest.) Pai took 2 and a half hours to reach and was very disappointing (too many Westerners with young girl guides!!) However a little detour on route saved the day - the LOD CAVES (Spirit caves) - Caverns (called Column, Doll and Coffin) with a river running through them…. Over 1000’s of years old, they were the best caverns I have ever witnessed! 30-40 metre stalagmite or stalactite columns, plus caverns bigger then the Eden Project bub [View Full Entry]

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Hello, this is my first long blog entry. I have a good excuse however, it is too beautiful and nice here in Vietnam to spare any time to write a blog entry and as soon as you’ve finished the day you’re too exhausted to write a blog! If you asked me how I like Vietnam today, I would say that Hoi An was my favourite place in the world to travel to for a holiday trip, but this is probably because we met some really nice people and went behind the scenes of tourism! If it wasn’t for Karen Leonard, [View Full Entry]

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We have been in Vietnam for nearly two weeks and although we have not had time to do any schoolwork, we have learned some important things that school could never teach: * DON’T BE UNGRATEFUL - People here have very little but are happy with what they have got. * HOW TO EAT CRAB, PRAWN, SHRIMP ETC. * DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR LIVING CONDITIONS - we live in palaces compared to all of the children here. Many share their small bedrooms with big rats! * DON’T GO TO HANOI- It’s busy, dirty and dreadful! * DON’T ALWAYS THINK OF YOURSELF - [View Full Entry]

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Despite some sad stories, it's far from doom and gloom here in Vietnam.......... [View Full Entry]

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After spending many days researching Vietnam, Hoi An and the work of Lifestart Foundation from the UK - the reality is an AMAZING EYE OPENER! We have come to really get to know some of the Vietnamese - especially some of the poor. They have so little; a hard bed and a bit of rice (if they’re lucky!). The poverty line for a FAMILY here is £8 per MONTH TOTAL! There are few jobs here, tourism is the main attraction (and Hoi An certainly is THE place to visit in Vietnam - it’s beautiful!) We have been warmly welcomed into people’s [View Full Entry]

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Please buy scarves from Hanh. They are knitted by herself and she has to lie down on her back to knit because she has no use of below her waist. To make just one scarf it takes her a whole 2 days and 2 nights and the money from the scarves is all she earns to live on. We are selling the scarves for £3.00 but it would help a lot more to pay just a little more (£5 if you can!) She said her wish was to have 15,000 Vietnamese Dong a day to live on . That’s just under [View Full Entry]

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