I am sitting in an Internet cafe surrounded by 17 Vietnamese teenagers who
are feverishly playing video games and listening to techno music at at least
twice the volume necessary. They are all dressed in cool jeans, ironed
shirts, and most drove up on motorbikes 3-4 people per bike. As I am highly
caffeinated (Vietnamese coffee is amazing) I am finding this environment
really exciting. A perfect place for me to vibrate around while doing
emails, writing letters, and generally absorbing the hectic beauty that is
Hanoi. I have loved this city for years, it remains my favorite big city in
all of Southeast Asia. Jasmine described it perfectly when she said that is
was like NYC but more people and less organized. My crazy heart is at home
in this 1,000 year old metropolis!
-Hillary

As we’re preparing to leave Laos after a very relaxing 9 days, I think we’re
all thinking about how much we will miss the laid back and easy going
culture of the Laotian people. Whether we were joining Buddhist parades and
dogding firecrackers, or watching the procession of monks snake through the
streets of Luang Prabang at dawn, the country proved to be a very relaxing
atmosphere for us all/ We were taught patience when our food arrived hours
after ordering, it is hard to let things get you down in a place where you
are always greeted with a smile and a friendly “Sabaidee.” As much as I
will miss Laos and its natural beauty I cannot wait to be thrown into the
busting streets and history of Vietnam!
-Charlotte

Goodbye Laos, the 9 days we spent together have been outrageous. We ate our
meals with our sweaty dirty filled hands on banana leaves, over-cooked our
skin on the Nam Tha River, bathed with beautiful babies in the village of
Khone Kam, and danced in the Buddhist “End of Rainy” Season Parade in Luang
Prabang. Everyday was filled with something exciting and new for all of us
and now we are a family more than ever. We are off to Vietnam and I can’t
even imagine the type of adventures that are waiting for us!
-Mica

Though we have not said “Good Morning Vietnam” we are on our way. Laos will
be missed before we got to know it well…9 days is to short! We spent 3
days along the Nam Tha and Mekong Rivers, this simplified for me the world
into 3 parts: the powerful tan waters, the every-color green mountains, and
the tall blue sky. Today in Hanoi we traded the hum of motorboats for the
sound of mopeds honking on congested streets. Traded naked children playing
in the river for masses of stylish people. As Cono Dennis says “Sometimes
you have to trade in something good to get something better.”
-Hurricane, quote taken from “No Hill for a Stepper”, page 34″

Vietnam Thoughts:
“Our guides in Sapa, Su and Mai…gorgeous tiny women with giant smiles!”
-Hillary
“Tall. Tall rocks in the bay. Tall mountains in Sapa, and tall buildings.”
-Hurricane
“Colorful and Chaotic” -Liz
“Su and Mai, when I think of Vietnam I will always think of them.”
-Charlotte
“Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn, Turtle.” -Sammy
“Kissing chickens and descending dragons.” -Mica
“Spring rolls” -Elyse
“Profoundly different, chaotic, and of its own essence entirely.” -Monica
“Ha Long Bay was amazing. I am excited to explore the next few cities here
and learn more about the culture and history.” -Mel
“Beautiful scenery ranging from green terraced rice fields to the pristine
waters and limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay.” -Lily
“Rugged mountains, rolling rivers, terraced rice fields, to inviting emerald
waters spotted with towering limestone islands.” -Rachel
“The search for this person ‘Nyugen’ character remains futile. If the real
Mr./Ms. Nyugen is reading this I will find you!” -Oliver
“Turtles, bears, laughing Buddhas, and fighting chickens. Giant stone
guardians forever watching over elusive squids.” -Jazzy
“From the amazing food to the surreal views its easy to say that Vietnam is
not only beautiful and fun but a time we won’t ever forget!” -Jonica
“Crazed motorbikes slamming on the horns while weaving through traffic and
the never-ending breathtaking scenery.” -Pete

Before we head off into the bush for a week of ‘tramping’ (hiking, in kiwi
talk) through beech forest and rugged mountain tops in the karst landscape
of Kahurangi National Park, here’s a few words from the crew…

The highlight of the trip so far has been…

Willy C – traveling and seeing the beautiful countryside, with awesome
islands in crazy blue water, especially at the Bay of Islands.

J-Tizzle (Joey T) – our time camping, especially in the Bay of Islands -
being away from civilization really gave us all time to get to know each
other! YES!!

Nick Y – white-water rafting when I fell in the water, and walking to the
top of Mt. Victoria and sight-seeing and being given the nickname “papa -
bear.”

Eddie S – probably the rock climbing gym in National Park Village.

Jacqui V – when we were in the Bay of Islands – the views were so pretty and
it was good helping the Dept of Conservation crew with everyone in the
group!

Nate G-T – white-water rafting and the Bay of Islands. Urupukapuka was
gorgeous.

Kate R – the beautiful view we had from the campsite at the Bay of Islands.

Becca G – working in the Bay of Islands and seeing the views from the trails
as well as from the hills surrounding our campsite.

Laura N – working with lambs on the BEAUTIFUL Bay of Islands, along with
growing close to each and every member of this lovely group!

Jason M – the one-on-one bonding occasionally with someone from the group
and getting to know them better. The group is starting to grow on me.

Leslie P – working in the beautiful Bay of Islands with all the adorable
lambs! Watching rugby has been awesome too!

Charlotte F – the day we worked with the sheep at Bay of Islands. I have
also enjoyed the delicious meals we cook and eat together.

Holly F – relaxing and chatting in a natural hot springs next to the rushing
Waikaito River in Taupo, after a big day of “shweebing” and white-water
rafting action!

For now, we head into the wild! More from us when we return to the lovely
Nelson at the end of this expedition…

The New Zealand Australia group rolled into sunny Nelson yesterday amidst an uncommon downpour, bringing with them more than enough humour and good-cheer to brighten the greyest day! Their challenge to us was to join them in sporting undies-on-the-outside for our dinner out – which of course we did! We shared kai (dinner) at a cosy cafe up the road, then headed to the main street on dark, to watch the amazing art installation Pikimai, which uses the entire Cathedral as an outdoor canvas for a spectacular projection of historical and contemporary imagery.

Charlotte, Joey, Jason, Jacqui, Nick, Laura, Leslie, Will, Eddie, Kate, Becca, Nick – it was GREAT to meet you all and hear about your awesome adventures so far!

First and foremost is an apology for not updating the blog more frequently!!
For anyone who has been regularly checking for news on our adventures, may
you take solace in knowing that the lack of internet communication is a
reflection of how busy we have been exploring the beautiful NZ outdoors!

Since our first week in the Bay of Islands, we have made it all the way to
the southern tip of the North Island, and the country’s capital, Wellington.
In one word, the past week has been WET! We tackled raging rapids,
rainforested gulleys and a 7m (23 ft) waterfall on the Kaituna… And
soothed our minds and muscles with a night-time soak in a natural hotsprings
in Taupo… We canoed the whirling waters of the Whanganui River for 57km…
And we have managed to cozy up and have fun under shelter in the seemingly
‘clingy’ rain showers!!

For now we are enjoying some down time in the city before heading to the
South Island’s mountains, forests, glaciers and lakes!!
More from us as we continue southward… over and out for now, Holly.

Here are some gorgeous thoughts from the road from some very choice people!
-Hils

Kho Tha Village in Northern Thailand was a refreshing breath from modern day life. There seemed to be complete harmony between the people and the land. I feel extremely blessed to have been able to glimpse the beauty and simplicity of this remote community.
-Sammy

The climbing trip was the most challenging excursion so far. Well trekking was rough but in climbing and caving I have found my new hobby and a way to really connect with some people in my group. The delicious feeling of finally reaching the ring at the top of the climb and the out-of-breath conversations I had back on the ground were the highlights of the day. We ended the day with games, Thai language lessons, and sticky rice smores. The game “birdie on a perch” will be a thing of the past, and the bruises will heal, but there is no way anyone will forget the view at the top – looking into the gaping abyss of a 40 meter cave!
-Monica

On our last day in Chiang Mai we all decided to go dancing. At first everyone was a bit nervous, but in no time we were busting out our most absurd moves and joking around as if we had all known each other for a decade! That night I gained so much respect for everyone because no one cared how people were looking at them, we all just wanted to have a great time with our group. I feel like everyone bonded over the experience and I
cannot wait to share more laughs and travel the rest of Southeast Asia together!
-Pete

Our last day in Thailand was spent traveling to Chiang Khong. The day was made memorable by a very interesting stop at the Cabbage and Condom restaurant, a rubber plantation rest stop in the middle of the mountains. We then headed to the beautiful Nam Khong guesthouse which had the feel of sleeping in a tropical paradise. We ended the day with a sunset walk along the Mekong River and a glimpse of Laos on the other side. The day marked the quarter trip anniversary so we played some games and had a lovely group dinner. Reflecting on the trip so far, everyone felt fascinated by the sites, wildlife, and people we have seen. The group did seem to be exhausted from traveling around so much and we are surely ready to embrace the laid-back lifestyle and slow moving rivers of Laos.
-Lily

The road into Laos was full of curves and was a little rough but well worth it. We spent the night in Chiang Khong which marked our quarter trip anniversary before crossing the border the next day. We shared roses and thorns about the trip so far, shared positive thoughts about each other, played people-to-people, and enjoyed a group dinner together. Many of us were pleasantly surprised at how well our group has been getting along and some of us are a little tired from being constantly on the go, but I think
that it is worth it. We are having an amazing time and not too homesick!
-Mel

Our trekking experience in Laos was amazing! We went through the vibrant green rice paddies, up and around mountains, visited a remote village perched at the very top with panoramic views. Our guides were fantastic and I think that I can now put new meaning into the word picnic. Two women from a nearby village carried our supplies in bags they balanced on their heads. As we were trudging up a mountain out of breath they were sitting waiting for us smoking and wearing flip flops and probably carrying at least twice
our weight! The village was an eye opening experience. Villagers surrounded us and simply watched with curiosity, poking our sleeping pads and smiling. Over all the two day trek was a wonderful experience!
-Liz

Once upon a time, about 18 days ago to be exact, I had a very different view on how a good life should be lived. I placed to much emphasis on everyday comforts such as showers, soft beds, cars, and the convenience of fast foods. While I still value those comforts, I can now see that they are not necessities to have a good life. Most of the villages we stayed in make do with the bare minimum and the people are content and happy to work hard everyday, bathe in rivers and spend hours cooking every meal. My way of life isn’t better, just different. I am very grateful for the blessings and opportunities I have been given and born into. I was hoping this trip would give me the experience I needed to see that…and I have come to learn that it is okay to have constantly dirty feet!
-Elyse

A Poem:
I wonder who loves the moon
So I wander to the tide’
I wonder who is the groom
So I wander to the bride
I ask her if she loves the moon
Because her soft light shines
I wonder what true love is
So I wander to her mind
I wonder what real life is
So I wander through the time
I wonder where my mind has gone
So I wander till I find
When I find it I will ask her
If she’s truly mine
I wonder who loves the moon
And who the moons love blinds.
-Sammy

Kia Ora from New Zealand!
Here I am back in the same rugby-crazed Auckland, at the same hostel, with
the same 13 people, on the same day of the week as when we first began our
shared adventure exactly one week ago… But our crew certainly does not
feel the same!
Long gone are the awkward inhibitions and uncomfortable silences of a group
of strangers thrown together in a foreign land. We are all about full-grown
laughter, telling personal stories and making our own fun… We have herded
sheep in the rain together, played some intense card games together, been
squashed inside a smelly van together… We have seen dolphins, saved lambs,
climbed trees… Cooked dinners, sung songs, slept in tents… Watched
rugby, reversed a trailer, swum in the ocean…
We have definitely made the most of our first week together and will no
doubt continue to laugh, play and adventure our way through this country as
we explore southward.
Goodbye Auckland. Let’s go white-water rafting!
Holly.

Check out the fantastic photos of the group’s climbing and caving expedition in Thailand.
(Thanks Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures – you rock!)

Sawasdee Everybody,
It has been a really intense and exciting week. Thinking about all the things that we have done in such a short amount of time makes my head reel. We are all covered in mosquito bites (well some of us are, the mosquitoes seem to have favorites), tired, happy, sweaty, and glad to be in Chiang Mai where laundry can be done! We have trekked into the jungle, rode out on elephants, learned SO much about Burma and the refugees who live in Thailand. I have loved getting to know everyone in our crew. Nothing brings people together like trekking in the mud and late night games in a remote Karen village. Today while everyone is off learning how to cook and running around on the Chiang Mai amazing race I have caught up on errands and am getting organized for us to head off rock climbing. Much love from the road…
-Hils

Biking in Sukhothai. The group rented bicycles and rode around the old capitol city of Sukhothai. The city contained old ruins from buildings and temples. The use of bikes as our mode of transportation was relaxing and enjoyable – we did work up quite a sweat though! After lunch we made our way to MaeSot via van. During our first night there we ventured to an herbal sauna and upon arrival were told that it was closed early in celebration of a Buddhist official coming to visit. The Wat in the area was having a huge congregation of people preparing and having a party for the coming monk. To all my Ogdenites..it “rayned” in Thailand!
-Elyse

NGO Day. New city, new adventures! Our first day in MaeSot was full. We started our day weaving through the bustling market place which surely perked up anyone who was tired from the previous days travel. The Best Friend library was our first stop. We were greeted by Ashin Isserary, one of the co-founders of the foundation. This library provides free education for Burmese migrants and refugees. There are two libraries in Thailand and a few in Burma. Next, we went to the Huaykaloke Orphan School. The kids are here because they choose to be, often against their families wishes. They are taught a wide range of subjects, receive good meals, and most of them live at the school. We got to play with the children, teach them English, and hear their stories. They were so kind and loved being able to show us their home. Finally we visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPP). An organization where former political prisoners advocate for the release of political prisoners in Burma. It was really inspiring and humbling to see the dedication of these people, all of whom are fighting for freedom despite the continuing threat of the oppressive Burmese government. To see those affected by oppression first hand and to see what they have accomplished made for such a memorable day.
-Jasmine and Oliver

Elephant Trekking. We woke up bright and early in the Karen village of Kho Tha, where everyone slept in one big bamboo room. Around 3 in the morning the roosters started crowing and by 6am the whole village seemed to be awake. We ate one last home cooked meal with Haroon and packed our bags to head out of the jungle. We waited on the bridge and after 5 minutes the first elephant came up with his mahout (a Karen man who has trained the elephant and takes care of it its whole life) riding on top. It was so beautiful to see them and everyone was SO excited. Once we got on the elephants we had a 4 hour trek. It was really fun but after a while my butt started to hurt, the elephant saddle is only somewhat comfortable. When we were finished we had a 4 hour drive back to MaeSot where we finally got to shower for the first time in 3 days and it felt amazing. After seeing the waterfall (6th biggest in the world!) and the village, the elephants were the icing on top of the cake!!
-Jonica

We left MaeSot and headed to Chiang Mai. I think that Chiang Mai will be good to us. So far it has been hard to decide what is more interesting, all the new places we have been to or getting to know members of the group. Both play such an important role in this experience, it is hard to say what has more of an affect. All I know is I am thankful for both. Thailand has been wonderful and I’m forming a new family of friends.
-Hurricane

I met 15 tired smiles at the airport on September 23rd. Everyone had
arrived safely and I was so excited to meet everyone and get our adventure
underway. After a late night and many questions we were all settled back in
our guest house ready to sleep and start fresh the next day! Our first day
in Bangkok was intense and exciting, we went to Wats (Buddhist temples), saw
the very modern downtown area, ate yummy and crazy foods, then relaxed our
tired bodies with a Thai traditional massage. It was lovely. Today we are
in the central province of Sukhothai biking around ancient ruins and
enjoying the sunshine. Just one of many exciting days that we are going to
have on the road less traveled!
-Hillary

So far everything people have told me about Thailand is true. The heat and
humidity are insane, the people are extremely nice, and the food is
delicious. Everything is so fresh and flavorful, I could eat only fruit and
Phad Thai for the rest of the trip and be completely satisfied! I’ve also
become obsessed with tiger balm and am always carrying with me an inhaler
with a blend of the King’s spices. I love everything about Thailand so far,
even the tropical heat is a relief after a cold and rainy Seattle summer. I
love seeing the monks in their blaze orange robes, I love seeing Buddha’s
face everywhere, I love that images of tigers and elephants are everywhere,
and I love that I am constantly taking in so many new exotic sights and
smells. After being in the big city I can’t wait to experience the
countryside of Thailand and see what else this amazing culture has to offer!
-Rachel

The first few days in Thailand have been amazing. It’s been really fun
experiencing the culture and getting acquainted with my trip mates. The
scenery is beautiful here and I love the street markets. The Thai massages
were unbelievably amazing. The people here are very hospitable. I love
seeing the Buddhist temples and spirit houses everywhere. I’m looking
forward to the rest of our adventures!
-Mel

We got up bright and early this morning and checked out of our rooms in
Bangkok then boarded the train to Sukhothai. The scenery was almost surreal
with all the flooding going on in the region, our train actually went
through the water! Our guest house in Sukhothai is absolutely beautiful!
The lush vegetation is like a tropical paradise and I used the phrasebook
the successfully communicate our dinner reservation at a restaurant where
no one spoke English. Our dinner was amazing! I also learned that Lily is
terrified of spiders after finding a rather large one crawling up our wall.
Another amazing day in Thailand!
-Liz

Here are a few photos of the second week of volunteer work.