Thailand Videos

Elephant riding!



This is one of the muay thai fights at Thaphae Stadium in Chiang Mai. These were supposed to be the good guys, but I found them a little boring. All the other fights had more action!


This is the muay thai fight everyone was waiting for- the German vs. American


The babies of Agape Home (Nikki's Place) in Chiang Mai, an orphanage for kids with HIV/AIDS.


The kids of VCDF's Drop In Center. The center is open 6 days a week to street kids, many of whom are originally from Burma and cannot attend school because they don't have Thai papers.


These are some of the girls at VCDF's children's home. The home is for kids with more severe situations, so they live here in the country, about an hour from Chiang Mai. The girls were teaching me this game with rocks.

More India Videos

Our production of Noah's Ark! The cutest part is Victoria at the end :) I had to cut some parts out that said the kids' real names, so that is why its a bit choppy.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

During a water tour on the canals of Srinagar.


Theresa's apartment where I lived in when I was in Ongole for one month


Spending time with the kids of Project Why; educating the children of Delhi's slums.



My first day in India, spending the day with the boys of Angel Home


Taj Mahal


April singing! The first time I had a positive moment with her (first of many!)


Some of the kids in Victory, just hanging out in the front room we spent most of our time in


A full tour of Victory Home!

For Sale: Thai Handicrafts

Below are some handicrafts that I bought in Thailand. I am selling them to raise money for an awesome organization I became anquainted with in Chiang Mai; VCDF. VCDF operates in Northern Thailand and works with children and teens on the street. Many of the kids have worked in the sex industry and many of them are on the streets from a young age, working and begging. VCDF offers them food, a place to stay, and most importantly, education. The prices below include shipping to anywhere in the US or Canada. The price you will pay will not only go as a donation to VCDF, it will also have gone to supporting the women who made these items. Many of them are from hill tribes and do not have Thai papers so cannot get jobs, so selling their crafts are the only way they can care for their families.

Email me at ncochrane3@hotmail.com if you are interested in purchasing anything.

1) Change purse- two shades of pink with a flower pendant. $7 SOLD!


2) Change purse- blue and black plaid print with an elephant pendant. $7


3) Change purse- green with a purple/blue/yellow stripe and an elephant pendant. $7- SOLD!


4) Change purse- two shades of purple with an elephant pendant. $7 SOLD!


5) Change purse- cream with a blue/purple/yellow stripe and purple butterfly. $7


6) Change purse- pink stripes with flower pendant. $7- SOLD!


7) Green scarf handmade by the woman from the hill tribe, pictured below. $10- SOLD!



8) Purse made from the Karen hill tribe woman in the photo. These are traditional colours and patterns that the Karen tribe women are famous for. $10- SOLD!



Please also note that I still have 7 size medium Dominican-Haiti love shirts left. They are fair trade with proceeds to education in Haiti. They are $20 plus shipping and more details can be found HERE. Below is also a video of Isaac Livesay, of the Livesay family (who work in Haiti) talking about the earthquake and wearing my shirt!

Hua Hin Birthday

We flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and made it with time to spare to the BKK train station where we caught a train to Hua Hin, to celebrate my birthday. We arrived at 2am after a ride of 3 or 4 hours and checked in to our hotel just a few minutes walk from the train station, which had enough room to walk around the bed AND a real shower! We slept in until 10 and headed out to the beach around 11. It was only a few minutes walk from our hotel and was absolutely beautiful. White sand, horses, very few people; picture perfect! We spent pretty much all day at the beach; lying on the beds, in the water, reading my book, walking along the shore. It was very relaxing, and something I have been wanting to do in Thailand! There were very few people. Some foreigners, and just as many Thai. But not crowded at all. I spent most of the time in the shade as I began to look like a lobster very quickly, and am now burnt badly on the entire back of my legs and it hurts to sit! I do this to myself every summer... stupid!

We loved the beach so much and only forced ourselves away around 8 at night when the mosquitoes started biting. We went back to the hotel, showered, got ready and around 10 headed out to dinner. We were told by a guy we had met trekking that Hua Hin is great for food. Our lunch had been the best Thai food I have eaten since arriving in Thailand, and our dinner was just as good. It was this beautiful place on the main street, fancy but still cheap enough that we could afford it... and VERY cheap compared to what a dinner out at home would cost! Dinners, drinks, and dessert for two only came to just over 700 baht! That is less than $25! We usually spend between 200 and 300 for a meal, so it was more than usual, but worth it and a great birthday dinner. I will definitely remember my 21st birthday in Thailand forever.

We woke up at 6am to catch an early train back to Bangkok. We are in a hotel now for a few hours, resting and showering, and soon will head to the airport to go home. I am going to miss Thailand a lot; the people, the scenery, the beauty. We were able to do and see it all; from the busy streets of Bangkok, to jungle trekking and hill tribes of the North, to the beautiful beaches of the South. Today Sarah uploaded her pictures from India and that, combined with getting ready to leave, is making it really hit me; the trip is over. India and Thailand are both incredible. I am so, so glad that I decided on these 2 countries. And am just as glad that Chris was able to meet me in Thailand. I have seen things that I only saw in movies and never thought I would see. I have also learned so much about the cultures, the people, the issues facing them, and the beauty they experience. Now it is time to go back home, and figure out what to do with my life now that I am graduated University!! At least I will have great memories to keep me sane while I try to figure it out :)

Eating Worms

Today is our last day in Chiang Mai. We are soon heading to the airport back to Bangkok. As soon as we arrive, we will get a cab to the train station and hopefully catch our train in time to Hua Hin. If our plane is delayed, we won’t make it as we are cutting it very close for time, so I am a little nervous about that! The train is 3 or 4 hours and will arrive at 2am in Hua Hin, a beach city south of Bangkok. We will spend my birthday relaxing on the beautiful white sand beaches of Thailand! We are not going as far South as we would like, to see the beaches Thailand is truly famous for, but we are going as far south as we have time for, and I am glad we are able to do that. Yesterday was our last full day in Chiang Mai, and we spent most of it relaxing. It has been a busy week with nearly every day packed full from beginning to end. We slept in a bit, ate some Thai food, Chris watched a movie on his laptop while I finished my book, then headed out to the Night Bazaar at night.

Speaking of my book, Little Daughter by Zoya Phan is incredible. I had no idea the situation in Burma (Myanmar) is still so bad. In her epilogue, this is what she writes about her country, “Burma is a record-breaker for all the wrong reasons. It has the highest number of child soldiers, the longest-running civil war, one of the highest levels of infant mortality in the region and the lowest levels of spending on health and education. The regime has been accused by the United Nations of a crime against humanity for its use of slave labour, the highest in the world. It is engaged in ethnic cleansing in Eastern Burma, is one of the few governments in the world that still uses landmines, and denies international aid to its own people.” This has a lot to do with Thailand because the countries border one another, and there are hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees living in Thailand, many of whom are stateless. My tour guide the other day was telling me about one camp he visited with 200,000 Burmese. Just ONE camp. Many of the children sold into trafficking and child prostitution are from Burma. It is something I previously knew very little about, but hope to learn a lot more.

A few days ago Chris and I went to the Sunday Night Market, and I realized I haven’t written about it yet. It is held every Sunday night from 6-11pm and is a spot to buy food, handicrafts, clothes, etc. It was mostly Thai, but there were lots of tourists and it seemed like the popular place for the men to come with their prostitutes (it disgusts me every time I see it). I bought a few things, and Chris got some food. Mostly it was just the atmosphere that I enjoyed. As we neared the end of the market, we saw a stand selling bugs to eat! I was a bit skeptical at first (wondering if it was just a touristy thing; I always like to stick with what is authentic) so I stood to the side and waited to see if any Thai people would buy them. In about 5 minutes I saw several people come up and buy bags of worms, cicadas, grasshoppers, and beetles. Chris and I decided to try one (they let us buy one instead of a big bag for only 1 baht each). We decided on the fried bamboo worm because for me it looked somewhat like a french fry! It was salty and crunchy at first, but once I hit the middle I couldn’t ignore what I was eating; it was mushy and definitely tasted like a worm! Gross. The Thai people were eating them like candy and laughing at my reaction. Last night we headed to the Night Bazaar, which is a market open every night only a 10 minute walk from our hotel. I insisted on taking a tuk tuk back though once we were done, because there were cockroaches all over the street and it was dark when we were going back and I didn’t want one to run over my feet! The Night Bazaar was a lot different than the Sunday Market. It was more organized with an area for bars, an area for eating, an area for a Thai dancing show, an area for selling things, etc. whereas the Sunday Market was random and had stands from all different people wherever they could find room to set up. The Night Bazaar had much more Western clothes (fake brand name clothes, sunglasses, etc.) where the Sunday Market was mostly souvenirs and handicrafts. The Night Bazaar is where the staff at VCDF told us most of the kids from the Drop In Center go either for prostitution, begging, or selling flowers. We couldn’t find the area he told us to go to where most of it happens (the Bazaar was huge) but I did see one little girl working, selling flowers, on the street; no more than 6 or 7 years old. Outside some of the bars, the prostitutes would sit in a row wearing clothes just barely covering them, using their beauty to lure the men in. We didn’t buy anything other than dinner, but sat and watched the World Cup on the big screen for awhile and walked around the streets. Thai people are obsessed with the World Cup! We had no idea just a ten minute walk from us there was a McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, and Burger King!

Some other random things that I haven’t posted about yet: I learned that 80% of the cars are in Bangkok. It is very different in the rural areas, and even in Chiang Mai, because most people are on motorbikes and the streets are much less congested. We have arrived at the start of the rainy season, but have gotten lucky so far in that most of the times it has rained, we have been in the car. The only time it affected us was when we were at the Burmese border. I also have to talk about tuk tuks. They are similar to auto rickshaws in India, but much comfier. Haggling is very common here and we have been told by several websites and tourist books that we shouldn’t be offended by it or be rude to the Thai trying to haggle with us; it is just how things are done. The tuk tuk drivers are the worst and will offer us ridiculously high prices to take us places. We have sometimes paid more than we would have liked, but for the most part we stand our ground. To get from the Night Bazaar to our hotel it was only a 5 minute drive, but he wanted 70 baht! We had paid 40 baht to get there, and I suspect a Thai person would have gotten it for lower. We stood our ground with 40 and he said no. We said fine and started walking away, and started laughing as we heard him calling us back, “Okay, okay my friend! 40 baht!” This has happened many many times!

Lastly, I know I talked about the communal shower we used on our Karen hill tribe trek, but I never managed to get any pictures. Chris got one so I took it off his camera and it is below. The water comes from a stream, goes through the bamboo, and comes out at the end where you can see the people bathing.

A Northern Tour

We left the hotel at 7am this morning for a full day trip up further North; Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle, and Mae Sai. Up until now all the groups we had toured with had been in our own age group; the people who were on the tour today with us were three older couples from Australia, England, and Holland. We talked with the British couple over lunch and I so admire their lives. They are 60 years old and have travelled all over the world. This was their second time back to Thailand. I asked the man what his favourite place was in the world, and he couldn’t choose, but said if he could go back anywhere he would go to Macchu Pichu in Peru. I think it is awesome of them at their age to be travelling to such cool places and not just sitting on a beach somewhere. I have found that Europeans are much more into that stuff; I often seen whole families backpacking with their kids. I love that openness to travel and don’t see enough of it back at home.

Our first stop was the hot springs, which wasn’t that interesting. Next was the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) which was beautiful. It was built just 12 years ago by Chalermchai Kositpipat, completely with his own money. It is made of stucco and glass and is completely white, right down to the big schools of white fish swimming in the pond. It is very impressive. Going up to the temple there is a bridge called The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth. Beside the bridge are statues of demons, protecting the wat from demons coming in, and a sea of white hands and demon faces representing Hell and human unhappiness. This Hell is to explain how one must go through Hell (getting past cravings) in order to reach Buddhist enlightenment. The inside of the temple is unique to all other temples because it is painted with modern art including pictures of 9/11, Batman, and Avatar, with the purpose being to showcase modern life and freeze it in time for future viewings. The man who created the White Temple was a beautiful artist and there is an art gallery to the side of the temple where I bought a big painting for 500 baht. It is beautiful and shows a Thai mother and child in the night sky. I wasn’t sure if I should buy it, but as I was staring and staring at it, I noticed a butterfly land right on the frame and open its wings. I am not usually much for symbolism but that made it even more special and I had to buy it.

After the White Temple we drove to the Golden Triangle area and took a boat tour. This is the spot where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar all border one another. The boat tour was one hour and took us down the river that runs from China and connects the three countries of the Golden Triangle. Right now I am reading an amazing book called Little Daughter by Zoya Phan. It is about the violence in Myanmar (Burma) and her story of coming to Thailand as a refugee, growing up in the Karen tribe, and escaping the violence. It is fascinating, and is teaching me so much about Myanmar that I had no idea existed. The country is one of the most corrupt in the world and people inside are dying of starvation, but the military controls literally everything and will not allow media to see and will not allow aid groups in. I found it interesting how all they showed us of Myanmar on the boat tour was a fancy casino that a Thai man had built. They mentioned nothing of the 200,000 refugees living in Thailand near the border right now who had fled the violence, or anything about the politics of the country. We stopped in Laos where we were able to see a market, shop around and spend a short amount of time in the country. The begging was worse than anything I had seen before and kids swarmed our boat as we got off saying “Hello, 5 baht” over and over again. The youngest couldn’t have been more than 4 years old. I have seen lots of begging before, but some of these kids were so clearly malnourished and so desperate. They lunged at me, fighting each other, as I handed out toothpaste I had in my bag, and some change. I hate giving money to child beggars, but this just shocked me (and it takes a lot to shock me now). I had no idea Laos was so poor, and have never seen begging so heartbreaking. We were only in Laos a short time, but one thing (aside from the poverty) stood out to me. They drink a special type of whiskey that is unique to Laos. Inside the whiskey, they put dead animals; snake, cobras, armadillo, turtle, scorpions, etc. Each animal is said to give something different to the whiskey; for example, men drink cobra whiskey to make them strong. We saw the whiskey with the dead animals inside and it was a little repulsive to me. Chris tried a shot of snake whiskey, but just looking at it was making me feel a little sick!

Next stop was the city of Mae Sai. It is the Northern most tip of Thailand, and is where the border from Thailand to Myanmar is. It was pouring rain at this point, and our tour guide said we didn’t have the time to cross into Myanmar (I was disappointed, I really wanted to), but we looked around the shops and stared from the lookout point into Myanmar. I learned from VCDF that this is where most of the kids recruited into the sex industry come from. This is a common spot for kids to be bought and sold by child traffickers. There was certainly a lot of begging and children out on their own with no protection. We bought some vanilla wafers and handed them out to the kids, which they ate gratefully. With so much begging in one day, I had a lot on my mind. The begging was definitely hard to handle for me, especially knowing the way these kids’ lives will turn out; leading to a lifetime of begging, drug smuggling, or prostitution.

The last stop was a hill tribe village, and this probably was my favourite part of the day as I have been wanting to see this hill tribe for a long time. It is a form of the Karen tribe, the most populous tribe in Myanmar and Thailand, that is also known as the Long Neck tribe. They fled Burma after the violence and have settled in Thailand, although they do not have citizenship in Thailand so are stateless. They are most famous for the rings they wear around their necks. They start wearing the rings at 5 years old and only girls/women wear them. It was started a long time ago after women were getting killed by tiger bites to the neck. It is continued in part for tradition, and in part as it is a sign of beauty in their culture and something they take great pride in. It is one big coil (not separate rings) that is changed to become bigger about every ten years. They wear the rings around their legs as well. The common misconception is that the rings stretch their necks. Actually, the rings are quite heavy and press their shoulders down, giving the impression that they have longer necks. They do not take the rings off, even when they are sleeping. They have some small farming (enough to feed themselves, but not to make a profit off) so their main form of income comes from tourism and from tourists buying their handicrafts. I bought a bracelet, made of the same material as their rings, and a scarf that a longneck woman made. We entered their village and saw their houses; made of bamboo and grass/leaves/straw. Outside their village was a market area where several of the girls and women sat with their handicrafts. Even the young girls had their rings on, which I found fascinating. Some looked quite sullen, which I will admit, worried me at first. I sat with my tour guide for quite a while asking many questions about the tribe until I was sure that they were treated well. I wondered at first if they only wear the rings for tourism to get money, or if they get annoyed by all the tourists disrupting their lives. I was assured that they are happy for it, because without it they would have no income. I was also glad to learn that a portion of the fee we paid goes into their village as a thank you for allowing us to enter. Much of Thailand’s people are sustained through tourism, so while I worried at first about us bothering or exploiting them, I did see the point that without it, they would have nothing. And that their lives are far better now in Thailand than they were in Myanmar where they were constantly living in fear. We talked with some of the children and women and held the rings; they were very heavy. I can’t imagine living with that weight around my neck. It was really fascinating being able to see their way of life and honestly, just to see them. They are a tribe that I have been fascinated by for a long time. It was a long day with a lot of driving but I am so glad we went. It was really eye opening for me being able to catch a small glimpse into Laos and Myanmar, and also to see parts of Thailand that many only dream about.

Hill Tribe Trekking

We are back from our 2 day Hill Tribe trek! Parts were amazing and for other parts, I was wishing I had never signed up! Someone please remind me next time I sign up for a trek that I cannot hike. We headed out early yesterday morning with a guide and 7 others aside from Chris and I; two from Ireland and 5 from Holland. All between 20-30 years old. After stopping at a market for some food (I tried some other Thai fruit that I hadn’t tasted yet) it was time for the elephant ride! WOW. It was awesome, Chris and I both loved it and it may rank up at the top of my favourite Thai experiences. The only downside for me was that the elephants were somewhat mistreated; nothing awful, but definitely some unnecessary treatment. Aside from that though, was it ever a cool experience to ride through the jungle on the back of an elephant! There are little seats on the elephants back, and the guide sits right in front of the seats directly on the elephant’s back. The elephant kept shifting around when I was trying to get into the seat, and they told me I could just step on his back to get in and that he wouldn’t feel it. I touched his back and it wasn’t smooth at all, but covered in prickly hairs. We went up part of the mountain, back down, and then through the river. Going up and down was scary at first as it can get really steep and it feels like you are about to fall right out! My favourite part was feeding the elephant. We bought a bag of bananas and he would throw his trunk back towards our seat and feel around until he could grab the banana out of our hands. He would quickly put his trunk down to put the banana in his mouth and within a few seconds his trunk would be right back up in our faces looking for more food! One of the other couples was riding a mother elephant and the baby followed the whole way, it was so cute! Definitely a cool experience.

After that we started the hiking, and I remembered how much I hate hiking. Seriously, I get no enjoyment out of it at all and was counting down the steps until it would be over the whole time! The trek was uphill and through the jungle so it was not easy. We stopped halfway at a waterfall and went swimming, which felt so refreshing. I could have stayed there all day. At around 4pm we reached our campsite; the village of a Karen hill tribe. We were sweaty and exhausted and wanted to shower right away, so I asked where we shower. Our guide pointed me back downhill to the communal shower area; a piece of bamboo with holes in it running from the stream, with the water falling out like a shower throw the holes. It was low on the ground, so one of the Karen women, who was bathing and washing her clothes when I got there, showed me how to sit on the rock underneath the shower and let the water fall on my head. I have been in many villages and have never seen anything like that before! After I was cleaned up I went for a walk through the village and learned a bit about the Karen tribe from my guide. They are originally from Tibet, then went to Burma, and now settle in Thailand (many, I believe, I still are still in Burma). They are the largest of the 9 tribes in Thailand. There were 55 families in the village we stayed in and they made a living through their rice fields. They tended to them during the rainy seasons, but have no work during the dry season other than making handicrafts to sell to tourists. Most of the prostitutes across Thailand come from hill tribes because they have no other options to make money where they are from. The women wear very brightly coloured clothes, and the men wear bags made from the same fabrics. They wear bright necklaces and one piece of jewelry that is earrings, and then has a beaded string attaching one earring to the under that hangs under the chin. The women carry their babies everywhere on slings; it was really sweet. They, like most Thai I meet, were quite shy. I am used to people from the DR who are eager to chat and are very outgoing; kids will jump all over foreigners and are excited shouting and screaming. Kids here (and in India, I noticed) are a lot shyer and slower to warm up. They are also a lot more disciplined. The place we stayed in was a one-room hut for all 9 of us, sleeping on mats on the ground under mosquito nets. The hut was no more than some pieces of wood nailed together on stilts. Much of it was open to see outside (thus, the mosquito nets) and we could hear the animals all night long. We spent the night hanging out over a campfire, and bought some handicrafts from the women of the Karen tribe. It was a really cool experience getting to get a closer look at what life is like in a tribal village.

In the morning we woke up early with the sun shining through and the noises of the animals. We had breakfast and then separated from the group; they were continuing on another day, but we had only signed up for 2 days. We took the same path past the waterfall to hike back to the main spot. It was a lot easier and quicker downhill, but still not fun!! For me at least, Chris enjoyed it! It was very hot and we had no water left. I was very dehydrated and my fingers started up swelling up to the point that I couldn’t close my hand, it was strange. We finally arrived back at the main land at the foot of the jungle/mountain and I chugged a water bottle quickly and dunked my head in the water; I was so hot and tired! It was time for a quick lunch of pad thai and then we met up with another group; 3 Dutch and 1 other Canadian, all our age, for the last leg of our adventure; bamboo rafting!

I got no pictures as I didn’t want my camera to get wet, but Chris got a couple. It was really cool. We climbed aboard these “rafts”; about 8 poles of bamboo tied together with rope, and headed down the river on a 1 hour ride. There were only very small rapids, but it was relaxing, especially after the long, hot, and tiring hike. We passed through areas where Thai families were having picnics and swimming along the river, and they all smiled and wave in typical Thai fashion (Land of the Smiles!) and splashed water at us. Chris stood at the back for much of the ride and used a stick to steer us, where the guide stood up at the front and did the same. Myself and the other Canadian guy sat or laid down on the raft and let them do the work! Sometimes we would fly into a rock and I was sure Chris would fall off the back as we hit it, but he didn’t! Our guide almost fell off one though. I am exhausted and wish I had more energy to go into more detail about all the cool things I saw and learned during the 2 days. Tomorrow is a busy day as well going up further North, but hopefully soon I will find some time to write more of the details!

VCDF: Child Abuse in Thailand

Our day today was spent with VCDF and it was pretty amazing. VCDF works with kids who have been used in the sex industry or who are at high risk. We met with JK, an American guy who has been living in Thailand for 4 years and works for VCDF. In the car with him was one of the boys from the Drop In Center. Because of the nature of the kids’ issues, if I tell some of the stories I heard I won’t share their names. This kid, 17 years old, lives on his own in Chiang Mai and was originally from Burma. As a kid, his father would force him to bring drugs across the border. At 17 years old, he is in vocational classes learning about cooking (thanks to VCDF) and is learning how to read and write for the first time in his life. The Drop In Center is a a building open 6 days a week where any kids from the neighbourhood can stop in; learn, have lunch, get condoms, get sexual education, play, and hang out. Most of them are beggars or prostitutes. All ages come, and it is especially a safe haven for teenagers who are in the prostitution business; they learn about HIV/AIDS, the risks of unprotected sex, and are given options so that they can leave the business. We watched a short movie VCDF had made a few years ago talking with the teens and hearing them talk about their experiences being bought by Western men. It is SO common here. The rates of HIV/AIDS are huge, unprotected sex is common, and many kids are sold from Burma and brought to Thailand where they are not seen as citizens; this makes up most of the people that VCDF works with.

Sometimes 2 kids come to the Drop In Center, and some days 40 come. Today there were 4, and it worked out really well because we could get to know the 4 kids well and spend some good time with them. The youngest was a boy, 3 years old. Then there were 2 other boys, aged 7 and 9, and a little girl aged 6. They all looked pretty malnourished and the lives they have lived were evident on their faces, infections, rotted teeth, snotty noses, and scars. But they were so happy to be at the VCDF Drop In Center. When we arrived, they were working on learning Thai writing. Most of them come from Burma and do not speak Thai, so to learn it is very important. We sat down with them for about 2 hours and coloured, made paper planes, spun the kids around, and handed out clothes that I had brought; each kid got a new outfit. I loved spending time with the kids (who were adorable and eager for attention) and was really intrigued by the methods VCDF uses to educate teens; doing outreach on the streets many nights and using peer education with teens already in the program to teach about STD’s, condoms, etc. After lunch we headed out and went to a market, where we did some tourist shopping and got our cell phones painted, which was really pretty! We also stopped at the VCDF store where the kids make crafts to sell. I bought something and thought the store was an awesome concept; brings in a profit both for the kids and for the programing.

Next, we headed with JK to the Children’s Home. VCDF operates two children’s homes; one in Chiang Mai (with 26 kids, that we went to) and another larger one near the Burmese border, with 120 kids. I loved visited the Children’s Home. It is made up of kids aged 8-18 who used to be kids of the Drop In Center. Their situations were more severe, so they came to live in the Home where they would be taken out of their dangerous circumstances. It is in the country about an hour from Chiang Mai, on a beautiful grounds with a view of the mountain. The kids were just arriving home from school as we got there. They all stared in awe at Chris (as many of the kids here do!) and asked him if he was a famous basketball star! After the kids get home from school every day, all the boys change and head back to the school to play soccer. They are obsessed with it and it is a great way to kill their energy and get some exercise in. I sat and talked with JK about the organization while Chris played soccer with the kids (they are very good!) I heard lots of stories from JK about the transformations the kids have made since arriving, and also about the needs and future plans of VCDF. It made me feel sick to my stomach looking at these boys smiling and playing soccer, and hearing the awful things that have happened to them in their lives. One of the pedophiles who preys after these kids lives in Thailand with his Thai wife and after trying many, many times, VCDF cannot get him put in jail for the crimes he has and continues to commit. There is too much corruption. He is a University professor back in the States and they went as far as to contact the media in his city, and post on the message board for his University, but no one came forward to help. It makes me really sad that there are people like that, and just as sad that no one seems to care. I think if they came here and saw these boys that have been abused by him, their hearts would break in half and they would do everything in their power to get this guy in jail for good.

We headed back to the Home after soccer. Chris went back out with the boys to get water (it needs to be pumped in) while I stayed with the girls and played a game called Pick Up and Throw. You take a pile of pebbles and need to pick the ones up on the ground while the one that you throw is in the air. Kind of confusing to explain (and to play, although I did catch on after JK translated for me), but a really fun way to interact with the girls, who had been previously busy with homework so I hadn’t had a good chance to meet them. We all ate dinner together and then it was time to go. I really enjoyed the day with VCDF. It was really evident to me how much the staff genuinely cares for the futures of the kids, and how hard they are trying to steer the courses of their lives. They have a huge need for new supporters; sponsors for the kids, etc. If you have read the book Not For Sale by David Batstone, you have heard about Kru Nam. She works with VCDF. Pick up the book, support VCDF, and consider sponsoring a child. As I was there, I watched one of the little girls receive a package from her sponsor; she was busy colouring a thank you card and got her photo taken with her package to be sent off to her sponsor. There is a lot of communication with the sponsors, which I love and find really important. Especially these kids who have been used and abused by many adults in their lives, to have someone across the world who cares for them can mean a lot. There is one girl in particular, Nik, that I would love to find a sponsor for. Sponsorship is $40/month. She is 10 years old and was the one I spent the most time with; probably because our names are similar so she was one that I could recognize! She is the champion of Pick Up and Throw and is a lot more shy and withdrawn than the other girls. She definitely needs a sponsor! I couldn’t speak more highly of VCDF; I loved learning about it from JK and loved my time there. It is definitely an organization with a lot of potential and one that I would be happy to support.

Chiang Mai

We have arrived in Chiang Mai after a long day at the airport including a delayed flight, then a missed flight (don’t ask) and then the buying of new tickets and finally arriving by 11pm. It was a long and frustrating airport day, so I am not going to dwell on it! Instead, Chiang Mai is incredible. I knew from the moment I stepped outside that I would like it better than I had Bangkok. I liked Bangkok a lot, but this is more me. Our hotel, Holiday Garden View, is cheaper (500 baht/night) but much nicer with a bigger room, a restaurant, and a pool. It is off the main road a bit in an area where we can hear the rooster in the morning, but still only a 5 minute walk to the main street; it is perfect. We started our first day with a walk around the area to get ourselves oriented. We got some ice cream, had some lunch, I got a sunburn (although it is cooler and less stuffy here than in Bangkok) and just hung out around town for a few hours.

At 2 we headed just outside the city to tour and bring some donations to Agape Home (also called Nikki’s Place). It is an orphanage for children with HIV that was recommended to us by Nightlight Designs, as they support them. I had booked a tour for 3 and as we pulled up, I was already so impressed. The grounds are huge with several buildings, an above-ground pool, a trampoline, a playground, and a soccer field. Really beautiful; on the outskirts of town surrounded by rice fields with a view of the mountains. We walked in and met the woman who runs the tours, and she told us a bit about Agape. It was started 15 years ago with a little girl named Nikki, who was 2 years old. A Canadian couple found her at a government orphanage (the only HIV+ child in the orphanage). At that time, they didn’t have access to medication and adoption for kids with HIV was unheard of. They paved the road for HIV adoption and, after taking in Nikki and eventually bringing her back to health, getting her meds, and adopting her, they opened up Agape Home with the goal being to offer a home for as many HIV+ orphaned children as possible. They now have 80 kids with room for many more. They have opened family style homes for the older kids in smaller buildings beside the main building, and have begun adopting the kids out with 2 who have left to be adopted by foreign families, and 4 more in the process. The kids are all in school (there is also a school for the kindergarten kids right on the property) and they are all taking meds and looking and feeling very healthy. They said when they first started up (before having ARVs for HIV) they had children passing away every week. Now that HIV is no longer a death sentence, the kids are thriving. They also offer a program on site where mothers with HIV can come with their kids to receive meds and be brought back to health. They have another program where families who are affected by HIV/AIDS can receive aid from their own homes; this way, they are able to keep the families in the home together rather than mothers having to leave their kids in orphanages simply because they cannot afford to keep them healthy. They hope to offer a foster care program soon with the kids being fostered in Thai families. I was so impressed. At the time we arrived, the big kids were all at school. We went and saw the kindergarten kids in their school on site. There were two classrooms with 7 or 8 kids in each. The classrooms were big with tons of supplies, and the kids seemed so healthy, happy, and eager to learn. The only other kids at the home at the time, and not at school, were the babies, and 2 little boys with pink eye, who were happily sitting and watching TV near their bedrooms (which were gorgeous, by the way, with adorable colourful bunk beds and a stuffed animal on each bed). In the downstairs we saw the nursing room, the kitchen, the dining hall, and many other rooms. It was by far bigger and nicer than any orphanage I have seen before. There were 7 babies/toddlers and 1 nanny for every 2 babies. They were on the floor playing with them and the kids were shy at first; very attached to their nannies. That is a really good sign and nice to see. You know the kids are being well taken care of when they don’t cling to any volunteer who comes and want attention from anyone who will give it to them. These kids were very loved, stimulated, and taken care of. They all seemed completely healthy and happy. In most orphanages I visit, I feel a sense of sadness. It is very rare to go to an orphanage where the kids aren’t just lying in beds. These kids were stimulated, loved, and playing and having fun, and it was clear to me that that is the norm in this home. It is definitely an orphanage I would be interested in supporting in the future. I was really impressed and loved cuddling with the babies. They all seemed so well taken care of and that was really nice to see. Plus, I have missed kids these past few weeks. It was a good feeling just to sit with a baby in my arms!

After dinner we headed to a muay thai fight at Thapae Stadium! We were both really excited because muay thai is such a huge part of Thai culture, but back in Bangkok the tickets were 2000 baht each! Here, we saw a sign advertising tickets for 400 baht. We asked our hotel about them, and it turns out they could see us tickets for that much, and give us a free ride over at 8:30! It was a really cool night. The stadium was this filthy place behind a parking lot with rats running around the sides! It was mostly foreigners in the audience, with some Thai, and some nasty old men with their prostitutes. There were 6 fights, with the first two being kids around 13 and 14 years old (and one set being girls, which I found surprising!) It then moved up to 16 year olds, then 20 year olds. There was an intermission type thing after that where they put three guys in the ring and had them fight blindfolded, which was really funny. Then there were the final 2 fights that everyone had been waiting for; first, the more skilled Thai fighters, and then, 2 foreigners, one from Germany and one from the States. I know absolutely nothing about muay thai but had fun watching and betting with Chris on who would win (which, I will brag, I won 5 out of the 6 matches!) Despite not knowing anything about the sport, I had lots of fun and am really glad to have seen this part of Thai culture.

Floating Market/ Tiger Temple

Yesterday morning we were up bright and early to meet our tour guide. TOO early in fact, as we realized after getting ready that we accidently set the alarm for 5:45 instead of 6:45! Back to bed for a half hour until meeting the tour guide at 7 and heading out with a group to the Damnoen Saduak floating market. The group consisted of 6 others, aside from our tour guide and us; a couple from Colombia, a couple from Norway, and a mother and daughter from Australia. Our tour guide was the most irritating Thai person I’ve ever met and told me I am going to turn into King Kong, like his wife, if I keep eating chocolate bars!!! Anyways, we drove an hour and arrived at the floating market which only operates during the morning. Floating markets are big in Thailand and consist of a river that Thai people paddle their boats around in, filled with fruits and vegetables (and, something that surprised me; other foods like coconut pancakes, meat skewers, etc.) to sell. At first I was really disappointed. I have been looking forward to the floating market for a long time, and when you first walk in it is very touristy. There are souvenir shops everywhere with jacked up prices and where I thought we would get to go in a boat by ourselves, we had to go with the group, who spent a lot of time wanting to stop at the souvenir shops where I could care less about those and wanted to see the more authentic parts of the floating market. If I could do it again, I would have done it without the group so I could have spent more time away from the high tourist areas and more into the market where the Thai people were selling their food. We did eventually make it to that area and it was awesome. Bangkok is full of fresh vegetables and I have some type of vegetable with most dinners. But this floating market was filled not only with fresh vegetables, but with tons of interesting fruits as well. I have been wanting to try some of Thailand’s food, so took the opportunity to sample a few of the fruits. Chris bought a coconut, which they hacked the top of and put a straw in for him to drink out of. I tried it, but have never been a coconut fan. I bought rambutan, which is a little red thing (similar in colour and size to a strawberry) but much “hairier”. You peel off the skin and this white slimy thing pops out that you eat (minus the seed). It was really good! I tried a sample of a green fruit that looked like an apple and tasted like a mix of apple and pear. I don’t know what it was called. I also bought something that I have been having trouble finding online; it may be called a custard apple. I couldn’t figure out how to eat it, so asked a Thai woman to show me. You peel the bumpy skin off and then bite into it. It is green and very rough and bumpy on the outside. It tasted soft and really good though! I also tried this crazy red fruit with pieces sticking out everywhere. It is black and white inside, and surprisingly doesn’t have much of a taste! I was really happy to be able to sample some of the foods.

We headed after to some wood carving store, which I didn’t have much interest in, and then to the World War II museum in Kachanaburi. It was really interesting. It shows the “Death Railway” that connects Thailand to Burma, which the Japanese army forced Thai people and POW’s to build using forced and harsh labour in which many people died. The Japanese had seized control of much of South East Asia in 1942 and needed to get supplies into Burma and India to continue the fighting there, for which they used this bridge. They used about 180,000 Thai labourers and 60,000 POWs to make the bridge; of which 90,000 Thai and 16,000 POWs died. The bridge was bombed in 1945 and many of the labourers and POWs were killed. It is a really interesting piece of WWII history and Thai history that I had no idea existed.

We had lunch and then headed to the Tiger Temple. The story goes that the monks of the temple began taking tigers in after poaching left them injured, or their cubs abandoned. They have begun taking in other animals as well; peacocks, horses, cows, water buffalo, etc. The monks have a temple on the property, and, along with volunteers, care for the animals. The property is gorgeous with animals roaming everywhere. There is controversy around the Tiger Temple and why the tigers are so docile that tourists can take photos with them. There have been accusations that the tigers must be drugged, but the monks say it is simply because they have been around humans since they have been cubs. We started with the big tigers and went around one-by-one with a guide and pet the tigers and took photos. Some were basking in the sun, others were wide awake in the shade. There were between 10 and 15 big ones (there are 70 or 80 tigers all together, but they give them days off from the tourist stuff so many others were in their tiger compound). Then we went and saw the babies and the smaller tigers. The babies were so precious and tiny; just a few weeks old! There was little shade and it was boiling hot, but we managed to make it through the full grounds without getting too dehydrated, and made it back to the car for the long 3 hour ride back to Bangkok, just in time to miss the downpour of rain that started as we got into the car. Overall it was a real cool day. Despite my initial disappointment with the floating market, I ended up loving it and it was my favourite part of the day, although getting to see the tigers close up was awesome as well! Today we are checking out of our hotel here and hopping on a short, 1-hour flight to the northern city of Chiang Mai. This is the part of Thailand that I am most excited to see!

A Look Into Thai Prostitution

This morning we headed out for a 10:30 tour of Nightlight Designs. It is an organization that I had heard about in the book Not For Sale by David Batstone, and is based here in Bangkok. It is really amazing, and I am even more impressed with it after the tour. Nightlight works with the prostitutes of Bangkok (of which there are many). It started about 5 years ago with just a few women, but now employs 80 women Monday-Friday 9-5 making jewelry with the starting wage being the average Bangkok salary. The women are all former prostitutes, and they are not allowed to go back to prostitution if they wish to keep the job. We sat with the volunteer coordinator, Sandra McIntosh, and she told us all about the program, and like I said, I was beyond impressed. The women are given another chance at life, thanks to Nightlight Designs. They learn that they are worthy and should not be for sale. I have come across many organizations in my work that are Christian, but have really turned me off the religion with their constant judgement and things like only giving help to those that are the same religion, which I really am against. Nightlight is faith-based, but very kind, genuine, and the type of organization that makes me feel much differently about Christianity than others I have seen in the past. I was really happy about that.

Sandra seemed amazing and turned out to be from right near where I live at home, but has now been living in Thailand with her husband for 5 years. It was really interesting hearing about her life and work here. I was especially interested in hearing about how they go to the bars every week and talk to the prostitutes. She told me a story of one time when she saw a Canadian man at the bar who was going to purchase a night with a prostitute. He sat next to her to buy a drink, and they got to talking. After over an hour, he told her that she was the most interesting person he had ever met, and that he had ruined his night (implying he would no longer be using the prostitutes). I thought that was awesome. The women that work with Nightlight Designs were free to come and leave as prostitutes (when they were in the business), but many stayed because they had no other options; they were from remote villages with no education and needed to support themselves and their families. Now with Nightlight, they can do that and still be safe and happy. Sandra mentioned the story of one woman who is still working in the sex trade whom they talk to often but cannot get to leave. She is aging and doesn’t have many clients anymore, but she says she still has 7 years of unhappiness. Her daughter is in grade 10, and she won’t leave until she puts her daughter through University, because she doesn’t want her to have to live this life as well. Nightlight also assists women who have been trafficked and are held against their will in Bangkok brothels. These women have been trafficked from other countries in Asia and Africa, and it is a very dangerous and risky business. Nightlight has been able to rescue 15 and send them back to their countries, with resources and help so they won’t be trafficked again. Many of the women have suffered severe trauma at the hands of their pimps and clients, so Nightlight not only offers employment, it also offers classes (during work hours) in important aspects of living, free childcare, and fun activities like music lessons. There are opportunities to move up to positions like accountant and jewelry designer, and opportunities to get raises in salaries. Incredible, eh? We took a tour and met the women and got to see how they make the jewelry. It was really interesting. They have a store so Chris bought me a bracelet for my birthday present, which is in a week. It is beautiful! And I love knowing that it is fair trade and going towards the salary of a woman who now knows she has more options than selling herself. I think Nightlight Designs is incredible and I am so impressed. I think the best way for me to help is to spread the word about it, so head over the website and get yourself something, or buy a friend a birthday present! It really is saving a woman’s life.

Afterwards, we headed to the nearby restaurant Cabbages and Condoms. Sounds weird, I know, but it is awesome. It is this really yummy restaurant whose mission is to make condoms as common as cabbages are in markets, thus cutting down on the rising HIV/AIDS rates in Thailand. All of their proceeds go towards charitable organizations and community work; microfinancing, improving schools in rural areas, support for women with HIV, sexual education, etc. The food was delicious and I love the idea behind it. The fun atmosphere (statues of people made out of condoms, t-shirts with sex jokes, a free condom with every bill, etc.) lead it to attract people who come just for the fun (not people who would usually be drawn to community/volunteer work). So not only does it raise funds for the Thai people, it also raises awareness amongst its visitors. I have never seen or heard of any restaurant like it!

In the afternoon we went to visit the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. They cover over 160 hectares and are really beautiful. It was boiling hot out (much hotter than yesterday) and there is little shade, but we spent quite a bit of time there taking in the beauty of the temple. The Emerald Buddha is the most loved Buddha in Thailand. It is 66cm and sits inside an incredible, colourful temple. I could take pictures of the outside, but not the inside where the Thai people were praying to the Buddha. It was stunning. The story behind it goes that in 1434, lighting struck a chedi and someone found a stucco Buddha inside. He removed the stucco and discovered the Emerald Buddha, made of beautiful jade. In 1782 King Rama I build Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok to hold the Buddha. Afterwards we headed back to Wat Pho so I could get a 30 minute massage. It was VERY different from any massage I have had in Canada; they had me twisting in all sorts of weird positions to crack every part of my body. It hurt at points, but felt really good afterwards. Plus, it was only about $7! We ended up heading to Khao San Road last night, known for being a backpacker’s haven. It was really cool, and definitely a ton of backpackers and hippie type people there, as well as many Thai. More beggars than usual, including a blind man and his wife who walked through the streets playing music and holding out a cup for change. They were so sweet; they didn’t push anyone to donate, and the wife kept her hand on her blind husband’s back the whole time as he slowly walked and played his instrument. It made me think of the sweetness of many of the blind children back at Victory (he seemed to have the spirit of Stephanie, for anyone who knows the kids) and I had to donate, which they sweetly thanked me for. I think after April came into my life, and some of the other kids like Stephanie, Phoebe, and Jeanette, I now have a soft spot in my heart for the blind! Khao San Road was really cool, and very different from what we have seen in Bangkok so far. Actually, the area where Cabbages and Condoms and Nightlight Designs was in was very different as well. I like Khao San Road though. We have to get up very early tomorrow for the floating market, but are going to head over for food and ice cream around dinner time. I can’t describe Khao San Road nearly as well as I read on a blog I found, so I will just direct you to THIS POST.

The Wats of Bangkok

Today was our first full day in Thailand and we had an awesome time. I am so amazed at how genuinely kind and sweet the Thai people are. Up until now, Ethiopians have always stood out to be as being gentle and good people, but Thai go being kindness and are hospitable, welcoming, and try to help us whenever they can. People kept stopping us on the streets and asking us where we were going, and if they could help us. My first reaction was doubt. I have gotten used to Delhi where everyone just seemed to want something from us. Here, they are genuinely trying to be helpful. Each person seemed very proud to be Thai, and they have every reason to be. It is beautiful here; so clean (especially compared to what I have gotten used to).

To be honest I was really surprised with how Bangkok looks. It is very clean, has lots of skyscrapers near the airport (not in the area we are staying though) and is very neat with little evidence of any extreme poverty. For some reason, I expected it to look somewhat like Delhi, but the two cities could not be less alike. We got a taxi (they are metered here, which I really like) to our hotel, Amarin Inn. It is a tiny room, but quite inexpensive and in a great area; right near Khao San Road and a short walk to the Grand Temple and some of the main wats (Buddhist temples). We didn’t stay long; we grabbed a tuk tuk (really similar to an Indian rickshaw, but a bit roomier) and for only 40 baht, he agreed to take us to a few of the sights. It was some type of Buddhist holiday today, so the Grand Palace and the next door Temple of the Emerald Buddha were open only for Thai people to come and pray. That was okay; 95% of Thai people are Buddhist, so there are wats everywhere, and we will go see those sites tomorrow. The driver took us to Wat Intrawihan with the Big Buddha, and Wat Simphaya with the Sleeping Buddy, who is also known as the Lucky Buddha as many marriages take place in front of him, and he is said to bring luck to the marriages. We were also able to stop at Wat Pho, the oldest temple in Bangkok and the most gorgeous of the three. All three were beautiful and I found the Buddhist religion fascinating. All of the Thai people who were at the three temples would take sticks of incense to burn as they prayed. There were offering boxes beside each Buddha that they would put small donations into (mostly 20 baht), I believe they go to the monks, of which there are many in Bangkok, both walking the streets and in the temples. As a last stop, our driver brought us to TAT, which is the Thai Authority for Tourists (or something like that). All of the Thai people we talked to recommended it. They very badly want tourists to enjoy their time, and many of them told us to recommend Thailand as a vacation spot to our friends. They wanted to make sure we planned our trip well and didn’t get ripped off, and that is exactly the purpose of TAT. It is a government organization that organizes trips for tourists for the real prices (not trying to make huge profits off of us). We sat with a woman for about an hour and planned our entire 2 weeks here in Thailand. Wow, do we ever have some amazing things planned. To name a few things; a hill tribe trek, visit to the Tiger Temple and floating market, elephant ride through the jungle, visit to see the long neck tribe, visit to the Golden Triangle (border or Myanmar and Laos), day at the beach, and more. Plus, the things we have planned on our own! The great thing about TAT is that they organize everything for you, right down to hotel and train tickets, and they donate a portion to charitable organizations working in Thailand; I loved this! We paid her 10,200 baht each ($323) and our entire two weeks is paid for and planned. That is SO cheap; it is about equal to what I paid for just a few days in the Himalayan Mountains in India! Not only is it cheap but I really trust them and love how organized and planned out it is. I am so impressed with Thailand and their treatment towards tourists. It is unlike anything I have seen in other countries.

We went out to eat and the food was delicious. I had khao pad gai (steamed rice, egg, and chicken, but it has a different taste to it that is distinctly Thai). Chris had mee-sua khua gai, which is fried yellow noodles with chicken and egg. We headed back to Amarin Inn around 6. Chris is hit by jet lag and is not used to the heat. It is only about 33 degrees so it is nothing compared to what I got used to in India. Interestingly though, it is a really different heat; feels more similar to the Caribbean where as India and Ethiopia both had drier heats. It is Chris’ first time travelling and I have been making fun of him all day for how easily he is falling into the tourist traps. Somehow our taxi driver managed to get a 33% tip out of him! He is sleeping now and we aren’t sure what we will do tonight, depending on how jet lagged Chris is. We may go and explore Khao San road a little, otherwise we will do that tomorrow when we go to the Grand Temple and to see the Emerald Buddha. After that, the busy-ness begins with all we have planned with TAT. The only two things we will not get to do that we wanted to do are to go to Ayutthaya (ancient city- there was no time) and to see a muay thai fight (they were really expensive). I am kind of hoping we might get to see muay thai in Chiang Mai. The tickets were really expensive here and we are so busy it would have been pushing it for time, but Thailand is so famous for it and I would love to see it. (Anyone who knows me is probably laughing, as I am the least athletic person ever and am definitely not a boxing fan!) But even if we don’t get to do those two things, we have a LOT on our agenda and are going to be experiencing sooo much. I can’t wait! I love this country!

Arrival In Thailand

I have arrived in Bangkok, Thailand and so far am loving it! The airport was big, beautiful, modern, and probably the nicest and best run airport I have ever been to. From the time the plane landed, it took less than 20 minutes to get off, exchange $20 to baht, get my luggage, go through customs, buy an apple, and find the shuttle bus to take me to my hotel. Maybe it is just because I am coming from India where everything takes 5 times longer than usual to get done, but I was impressed! My parents (aren’t they awesome?!) put Chris and I up in the Novotel Hotel for our first night. A few weeks ago, when the violence here in Bangkok was still quite heavy, both they and I were nervous about me arriving in the morning, getting a taxi to my hotel nearby where the violence was, and then coming back to the airport at night, getting Chris, and going back in the dark. Since then, the violence has subsided to the point that I feel perfectly safe (which I am really thankful for) but my parents still offered to put us up in the airport hotel for the first night to make it easier for me to go get Chris at the airport. The hotel is BEAUTIFUL. I am in heaven. Seriously. I haven’t stayed at a nice hotel since I was a kid on family vacations. This is the most beautiful hotel ever. I am in love. I arrived at Novotel around 7 or 8am and crashed in bed for the next 5 hours. I went to sleep with a smile on my face; so excited for the next 2 weeks, and loving the pampered treatment I was getting at the hotel. Not something I am used to (recall my boat house in Kashmir with its squattie pottie and bucket shower!) but something that I really appreciate for this one day so I can relax and rest up before starting a busy two weeks. Thank you Mom and Dad!

I had several hours to kill in Delhi before my plane left, and I had run out of rupees so couldn’t buy a book or anything (or food; going without dinner before a plane ride = bad idea! I felt sick the entire way, made much worse by an empty stomach, and was clutching on to the barf bag and counting down the minutes until the plane would land!). Instead, I used the time to read up on Thailand. My Mom got Chris and I the book Let’s Go Thailand, a travel book geared for backpackers and students. I read it pretty much cover to cover waiting for the plane, and learned so much about Thailand and was able to make a solid general plan for the next 2 weeks. I am so excited for all we are going to do and see. I also learned a lot about the history of Thailand. I am not usually much of a history buff, but found Thailand’s history really interesting; especially its relations with Myanmar (Burma) and the high value placed on the King (which I saw right away after leaving the airport with big billboards featuring his photo). I knew that Thailand used to be called Siam, but it was only after reading the book and seeing them referred to as Siamese did I put together the connection with the cat; (yes, I am slow; I know!) Apparantly they are believed to be descended from the sacred temple cats of Siam! Back at the hotel, after I woke up I had a bath (I feel so pampered!) and ordered room service; pancakes with maple syrup that tasted just like they were from home! They were expensive (200 baht) but were almost the cheapest thing on the menu, and I know that I won’t be eating like his for long! Come tomorrow, it will be back to backpacker style. I also read some of the papers and books I have been given at the airport, and at the hotel. Novotel gives everyone a brochure on sex tourism with children being illegal, and how to report it if we see evidence of it. I thought it was really great for a major hotel to be taking notice of this. I imagine much of the business goes on in hotels that ignore it so they can make money. At the airport, I saw several white men alone, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they were coming to Thailand for. I shouldn’t judge; men have just as much of a right as I do to come to Thailand for business, sightseeing, etc. but I felt myself wondering how many men in the airport were in Thailand for business, and how many were here for sex. Prostitution has been illegal in Thailand since 1960, but it is accepted for the most part and is a destination for men to come and buy sex with women and children; mostly men from America, Canada, Western Europe, and Japan. It accounts for 3% of Thailand’s economy (US 4.3 billion every year) which perhaps explains why it is partially accepted.

I picked up Chris at the airport and was sooo glad to see him! I am really happy he is here to experience Thailand with me. We ordered in room service and went swimming in the pool (which was gorgeous). He was jet lagged and up at 5:30am (not me though!) so we got up early, went for another swim, and ordered some more room service before we had to check out and head into the city!

More India Videos

Hannah and Anusha showing off their english skills and practicing for the Noah's Ark play.


Playing in the pool! Appearances by April, Genevieve, Victoria, Jeanette, and Cedar.


I took this video during a stop on the drive back from Agra to Delhi. I have NO clue what this celebration was for; in anyone can fill me in, please do! But I did think it was pretty cool!

Goodbye India!

Today is the day I leave India, and I will admit I am having a lot of mixed emotions about it. I am always sad when a trip is over, but have never experienced something like this; where one part of my trip is over, but I still have another country to move on to. I am VERY excited to see Chris and experience Thailand. At the same time, it hit me last night that I am leaving India, and I felt a little down and lonely all night. With the time change, everyone I tried to call back home was at work or out doing things, so it was a long night with too much thinking! It is a weird feeling being here alone, really for the first time. I got the news yesterday that Jaron, one of the little boys at Victory Home, passed away while I was in Kashmir. He had been severely neglected all his life until 6 months ago when he came into Sarah’s care. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t stand, was tube fed and was an inspiration to many of those of us who follow SCH. I didn’t get to know him well, but his loss hit me hard, I think because it brought back all the emotions about leaving, and the emotions I feel when I think of the kids’ pasts. I was sad that he had been neglected for so long (that so many of the kids had), I missed the kids, I missed April terribly, and missed that feeling of waking up every morning knowing that that day, I could do the work I love the most; the work that I have a passion for and feel I am meant to do. I made it worse by sitting at my computer and watching all the videos I have taken since arriving in India. I found myself laughing outloud by myself watching one where April is in hysterics laughing; just thinking about her giggle makes me smile. And then a wave of sadness passed over me as I saw Jaron in another video. He was wearing an adorable sweater vest and I remember taking the video and thinking how cute he looked that day. Watching the video, I looked at him, lying on the bed and staring at the wall, and I wondered for the first time what was going through his mind.

When I think of the times that I feel the most fulfilled, it is when I am amongst the people who struggle the most; orphans infected with HIV in Ethiopia, babies dying of malnutrition in Haiti, street boys of the Dominican Republic, and the abandoned and disabled children of India. It is not only because I love the feeling of trying to help (for lack of a better word), but I feel like I get so much out of it. I feel happy and grateful for life every moment when I am with them. I find joy in the simple things that they find joy in; like Jaron, experiencing grass for the first time at the park. It is hard to explain to someone who has not experienced it, and most people don’t understand why I continually do this work when it seems so hard (or, as the receptionist at my doctor’s office put it; it’s a wonder you aren’t depressed!). It has taken me a long time to realize that not everyone will get it, and that I shouldn’t let that affect my life. I am one of the few lucky people who have experienced life and happiness through these kids’ eyes, and it has taught me more than I could write about. Many people won’t understand how a little boy who cannot do much more than just lie in bed all day, could possibly have anything to teach anyone. But those people have not been lucky enough to meet kids like Jaron. Last night, I regretted not getting to know Jaron better; arguably the child at SCH who had suffered the most abuse and neglect in his short life prior to coming to Victory Home. But at the same time, I was happy that he was able to be loved for the last 6 months of his life, and happy that when he died, it was peaceful and he was surrounded by many, many people who loved him. I was happy that I had the chance in my own life to get to sit next to him on his bed and rub his cheek and arms, maybe bringing him a small amount of comfort in the weeks before he would die.

India is a country of great beauty and a country of great hardship. I am going to miss both sides of it. Even the little things; down to the beautiful clothes (I wish I never had to wear Western clothes again!) to the food that I wish I could eat every day. Most of all, looking back on my 6 weeks in India, I will miss April, who I have written about at great length, but who I believe has changed me as a person in more ways that one. I am thankful to SCH for allowing me to see the happiness and the possibilities of life for children who have been written off by so many. Thankful to Project Why for letting me catch a small glimpse into how to run an education center that will change the futures of hundreds. And I am just thankful for this country, for allowing me to see the beauty within each garbage-filled, crowded street, and the story that each person walks with.

I just checked out of my room at Ajay (it is 1pm), but don’t need to go to the airport until 9pm! I wasn’t willing to pay 700 rupees to pay for an extra night, so I might just end up going to the airport really early and hoping I can find something to entertain myself with (I doubt the airport has wi-fi! so I am sitting here in the Internet cafe until I get bored) And then the next morning I will arrive in Bangkok, Thailand! After a night of feeling sad and missing India, I am feeling better and ready to start my next adventure!