The arrival


Advertisement
Vietnam's flag
Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City » District 1
January 22nd 2017
Published: June 26th 2017
Edit Blog Post

2017-01-22 12.36.322017-01-22 12.36.322017-01-22 12.36.32

The junior suite bedroom
We arrived in Saigon, and spending 2 nights in the Pullman Hotel - courtesy of Pat Sheahan who won the prize in a raffle held last year during the Long Tan celebrations. An interesting 5-star hotel in a convenient location. We were offered an upgrade to a junior suite - which we had no hesitation accepting. This upgrade included use of the "lounge" - where drinks and cookies are available throughout the day - and then a 2-hour buffet and cocktail session in the evenings.

Other than using the "prize" - our main stop-over here was to visit the orphanage in Phu My - about 55ms southeast of Saigon. We had $1500 to donate to the orphanage in the form of needed daily supplies as well as cash so they could by essentials that we didn't think about or could not get. Our local Saigon guide - Mr Cao - joined us for the trip, and on arrival in Phu My - we linked up with Kim - my colleague from Vung Tau - who is the person who introduced me to the orphanage. We spent more than an hour here, visiting the children (now numbering 55), speaking with the
2017-01-22 12.37.022017-01-22 12.37.022017-01-22 12.37.02

The view from 26th floor
monk who started the facility, and looking at improvements taking place thanks to sponsorship from a local industrial firm.

It's amazing what has happened here in the last few years. My first saw 29 neglected children - and in the time since the number just keeps on growing. Most children have been abandoned because of birth defects or the shame of being an unwed mother. An almost non-existent social/medical healthcare system and low standard of living - means that most of the children could not be cared for by the parent(s). The monk (from Nepal) started the orphanage approximately 10 years ago - and the facility relies on donations from locals or anyone (including foreigners) that want to donate. As the children grow older - they are then move to other facilities to cater to their age and specific needs (if available).

A visit to this facility is a sobering moment - and makes me truly thankful for the life I have lived. We are trying to help this orphanage as much as we can - and I am thankful to the supporters - some of whom I have never met - for their donations we have been
2017-01-22 12.37.242017-01-22 12.37.242017-01-22 12.37.24

the "bathroom"
able to deliver.


Additional photos below
Photos: 25, Displayed: 23


Advertisement

2017-01-22 12.37.322017-01-22 12.37.32
2017-01-22 12.37.32

junior suite work desk and sofa
2017-01-23 11.48.562017-01-23 11.48.56
2017-01-23 11.48.56

Phu My orphanage founder
2017-01-23 11.50.542017-01-23 11.50.54
2017-01-23 11.50.54

Handing over donation
2017-01-23 11.56.492017-01-23 11.56.49
2017-01-23 11.56.49

Newly donated furniture
2017-01-23 12.15.302017-01-23 12.15.30
2017-01-23 12.15.30

Matching clothing that has recently been donated
2017-01-23 12.21.242017-01-23 12.21.24
2017-01-23 12.21.24

Friend Kim who introduced us to the orphanage
2017-01-23 12.39.352017-01-23 12.39.35
2017-01-23 12.39.35

Recent donation of giant Lady Buddha


Tot: 0.083s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 6; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0597s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb