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Published: March 25th 2008
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Fanatical fan
Doesn't the embroidery look great! It only took a couple of hours to do, and from a faxed picture! We had a busy day in Hoi An today. Found another tailor close to the hotel who was half the price of the one recommended and her work we saw done was superb.
Tina Design, 14 Tran Hung Dao St Hoi An
We met some young people from Iceland. One of them a very keen Liverpool supporter had a picture of the club’s emblem and was going to have it embroidered on the back of the suit he was having made. Luckily we were there when he picked it up later and you would not believe how good it looked. One very happy fan left with his purchase and a very excited smile on his face.
We met some young people at the hotel from Norway (one Irish-Norwegian) who were going to the local orphanage to help upgrade a room to be used as a nursery. In the morning they set off with items they had collected before leaving home. A couple of them had car baby seats attached to their backs as they cycled down the road.
We visited the orphanage during visiting hours in the afternoon. The work that has been done there over the past
Off to work
The young Norwegians off to the orphanage few years is amazing. The orphanage currently cares for 76 children, 36 of who are disabled in varying degrees. One little 5 month girl has severe hydrocephalus and is being cared for until she dies. I will post details of how to help at the end of this blog. The ages range from 5 weeks to university age young people. They are very proud that one resident has become a lawyer and another an engineer. When the children have finished their schooling the orphanage helps them find a job.
Trained teachers and physiotherapists work with the children daily. The Vietnam government gives aid to the tune of the equivalent of US$10 per child per year. Yep! You read correctly. Per child, per year.
The children were happy and well cared for, but that is a fairly recent improvement.
We also visited the Japanese bridge. I took a photo of another stray dog. I whistled him to get his attention, which of course he ignored, but the locals thought it was hilarious.
Mental note: Never sit at the front of a restaurant to eat. You get a great view of the people passing by and the scenery, but get
Little guy having physio
This little guy is 3 years old and hemiplegic. Doesn't stop him from scooting around though, and he is a happy chuckling little soul. He is a baseball pitcher in the making too. I gave him a soft ball and he threw it at another child a few feet away. The ball hit the other child on the head which threw this little guy into fits of laughter. When I gave the ball back to him he repeated the score perfectly.
His mum died about 5 months ago and as his dad has 5 other children to care for, he brought him to the orphanage. Dad visits him regularly. harassed by the hawkers and beggars. We now sit at the back of the restaurants.
I have missed my wonderful Australian wines while on holiday. I tried some absolutely awful French wine in Saigon and equally awful Chile wine at the White Sand resort, but found a very nice red at an Indian restaurant where we went for tea, so had 2 glasses.
I have seen lamb on many menus here and it is imported Australian lamb. Economic trade at work!!
Information on the Hoi an orphanage:
108 Nguyen Truong To Street, Hoi An
The foundation helping the orphanage, run by Jackie Wrafter and Nick Keegan.
www.kianh.org.uk
PO Box 15, Hoi An Post Office, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam
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