Our Crazy Week in Vietnam!

Greeting from Hanoi! We are all safe and sound in this city of ten million motorbikes, Pho and streets so winding it is easy to get lost even with the help of a map! We arrived yesterday after spending 2 days out in Halong Bay. We were aboard a lovely boat that served as our personal pirate ship. We went sea kayaking everyday and ate our body weight in seafoods. The only bummer was the weather, colder than we all expected but thanks to very warm bathrobes that were provided in each of our cabins we spent the evening lounging and staying warm. Although I believe the staff of the ship probably thought that we looked a bit strange, 16 people chilling in robes makes for a funny sight :)

We also had the opportunity to go fishing with some local villagers. Most of us thought that we would be sitting on a boat and holding fishing poles. WRONG, this is not how you fish in Halong Bay. We helped drop a net that was about 100 feet long and then the locals handed us big wooden sticks. We were all a bit dumb-struck, "what do we do with these?" Some of us had the scary thought that we would have to bash the fish. Thank goodness that is not what they were for. You take your stick and hit the boat over and over really hard. This creates sonar vibrations that disturb the fish and cause them to swim into the net. Strangest fishing I have ever done, but extremely effective, we caught 49 small fishes that were fried up for part of our dinner!

We are about to board the night train to the lovely city of Hue...cheers and salute for now!
-Hillary

Although most of the museum was closed due to renovation, the Hanoi Women's Museum featured two vastly different exhibits illustrating women's roles in the Vietnam War and the current lives of female street vendors. Having been educated in United States history throughout our schooling, it was insightful to experience an alternate perspective on the women's role in the Vietnam War. Reading through the letters from female soldiers to their families and interviews of women who scatter Hanoi's streets everyday selling their goods, we were humbled by their sense of familial responsibility. Consistently throughout the exhibits, women spoke of trying to support their families or sending money to their children at university. One woman vendor spoke of her combined household salary, the equivalent of less than $200/month, and trying to start a family with each doctor visit amounting to over two month's pay! Overall, our experience at the museum was both eye-opening and rewarding in terms of gaining a deeper understanding of Vietnamese women in two different settings and time periods.
Love,
Erika and Sara

My experiences in Laos served as an excellent stepping stone for entering Vietnam. The juxtaposition of the poor, underdeveloped nation of Laos to the vibrant, more modern life in Vietnam is an interesting comparison. Leaving the small, rinky-dink airport in Laos and entering into a major airport in Vietnam was the first noticeable change. While the city was calm because of the holiday Tet, it allowed me to see the city without the all the clutter. We quickly left the city by sleeper train to Sapa, a small mountain town along the Chinese border. The guesthouse we stayed at had incredible views of the largest mountain in Vietnam, and clouds slowly pillowed across the landscape. Words cannot quite describe the majestic feeling. After a few days in the town, we headed back to Hanoi as a way to get to Halong Bay. Aboard our 'pirate ship,' we explored the massive bay and learned about its historical significance. After fabulous cuisine, kayaking and a relaxing experience, we headed back to Hanoi. Only this time, the city was back to life. With the end of Tet, the deserted streets upon arriving only a few days before were now crowded with motorbikes and people. The beat of the city could be felt. I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring the city, noting the plethora of people and cultural history of the city. As we head south along the coast of Vietnam, I am excited to see the cultural differences between the north and the south, and then use my experiences here in Vietnam as a way to continue comparing the differences and similarities across the artificial borders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
-Marc

It has been quite a shock going from slow moving Laos to high paced Vietnam. In Laos I learned to be relaxed and patient. In Vietnam you can't stop for a second without being in danger of being hit by some motorized vehicle. Although I miss Laos and its charm, Vietnam is new and exciting and keeps me on my toes.
-Hayley

Cruising Halong Bay on pirate-esque ship is a wild experience. The hulking limestone cliffs jutting out of the turquoise water create a completely unique landscape. We managed to, literally and figuratively, soak in the feeling of the place while kayaking through the bay. Despite some pretty active kayak attacks, everyone managed to stay in their kayaks but we were all pretty wet by the end.
-Liz

While swashbuckling, commandeering, plank walking and other pirate type activities where at a minimum, the crew all had fun cruising around Halong bay on our pirate ship.
-Max

We Love Laos!

The land of the lost would be an appropriate name for this lovely country. A place where paved roads are scarce and the food is good beyond measure. We spent 2 days trekking, 3 days boating down the Nam Tha and Mekong rivers and then 3 more days exploring the amazing town of Luang Prabang. As of now we are sitting in the fog-covered town of Sapa, Vietnam, waiting for the night train that will take us to Halong Bay. We wanted to say a quick hello and leave you with some thoughts about the lovely land of Laos!
Cheers,
Hillary

Laos...

I loved getting to bike through the town near Boatlanding Guesthouse. Seeing people go about their daily lives in such a beautiful area surrounded by rice paddies and the river was incredible. I knew I loved Laos right away. The village homestay and trek we did was unbelievable and a night I will remember for a while. Communicating with children with only 2 or 3 words, a camera, some toys, and song and dance was a powerful experience!
-Gita

My bike ride up to the Tran Ton Pass was exhausting and physically demanding. Yet, when we made it to the top the view was incredible. The cuts and bruises were well worth seeing the amazing mountain landscape.
-Benjy (about the biking in Vietnam)

Laos was an incredible experience. I was able to see dualism from the village homestays and the city experience. The village allowed me to see the world in a different light, while the city let me feel normal once again. However, in Laos, one never feel quite the same. Floating down the Mekong, I saw both old and new. The villages and the children were a whimsical experience, while the city let me feel alive. Both were incredible.
-Marc

So there we were in our small wooden boats, watching the beautiful scenery of Laos fly by, when the boat suddenly stops and pulls up to a beach where about 9 (or was it 7?) Laotian women were standing. After a few minutes of talking to our driver they started climbing into the boat forcing us all to squish together like sardines. We were all a little confused but just assumed they only needed a short ride and would be off soon. So, with a positive attitude we welcomed the newcomers......6 very long hours later our Laotian "family" (as we fondly referred to them now) were still on the boat with us. To top it off, one of the woman had not stopped talking once. In six hours this woman had a never-ending monologue, ending each sentence with a high pitched "Weeeeeeeee". When they finally got off the boat, all we could do was laugh. In the end, I figured out I didn't even find this experiece a nuisance. I actually quite enjoyed it.
-Stef

Traveling down the Nam Tha River on cramped wooden boats, I was amazed at how untouched the country of Laos appeared. As we floated for hours over two days, waving to hundreds of villagers, I caught a glimpse into the simple, but sustainable lifestyle that revolves around the river for the majority of the Laotian people. Upon our arrival to our boat driver's village, it was great to witness how simple toys such as a green bouncy ball replaced the language barrier and delivered hours of fun to the village children.
Happy V'day!
Erika

The last few days in Luang Prabang have been filled with eating, shopping, and relaxing (some of my favorite pastimes)! Reflecting past French influence, the city offers plenty of savory baguettes and sweet pastries at every restaurant. At night, the main street transforms into an endless sea of colorful scarves, jewelry, and handwoven tapestries. Between the incredible food and countless night vendors, spending the last of my kip has not been difficult!
-Sara

To describe Laos in a few words would take about as much time as it does to actually receive your order of a delicious cup of Laos coffee.. which is to say - it would take forever... and certainly would not do it the justice which it deserves. Despite my tendency to revert to the western way of rushing through life, Laos gave me a sense of ease which allowed for me to sit back and actually enjoy what was around me and the people who i was fortunate enough to interact with. The trekking in Laos was definitely a highlight for me; not only because of the challenge but more so because of the interaction which I had in the village that i spent my overnight in. Talking and playing with the children of the village finally allowed for the opportunity to be apart of the village and cultural experience rather than watching it as an outsider. It was truly something which I cannot and will not, ever forget.
-Jane

For me, Laos is all about extremes: extreme beauty, extremely cute kids, and extreme sickness. Between the slowboat trip down the Mekong River, playing rocketship (where you toss small toddlers into the air), and not being able to hold a meal down for a few days, I really fell in love with Laos.
-Micah

Playing soccer with the kids in water buffalo grazing area in the village. Amazingly dirty. Amazingly fun. Boat landing guesthouse. A great run through the rice paddies with the mountains in the background. The rice was so green and a great contrast with the brown mountains. The scenery made you forget you were running. If i could do that run every day i wouldn't belong to a gym.
-Matt

I still haven't figured out the right words to describe Laos. The laid back atmosphere, the lack of concept of time, and the overall good nature of its people. I just know that I miss it.
-Jordan

Kahurangi Challenge

Expedition Two: Kahurangi National Park (Tuesday 02 Feb -Saturday 06 Feb)

Day one (Tuesday 2/2): Arrive at Courthouse Flat set up base camp. Caving in Blue Creek cave.
-We all arrived at the campsite early in the morning, around 8:00. By 9:30 we were geared up with overalls, helmets and our headlamps and headed towards Blue Creek Cave. We ate lunch before we entered the cave for a few hours. In the cave we went around obstacles such as walls, water, and slippery surfaces. It was challenging and dark but so much fun! It felt like we were in Indiana Jones so we were constantly singing/whistling the theme song.
-After a muddy, wet, fun day in the cave we came back to the campsite and cooked up a delicious steak meal thanks to our amazing guides Dawn and Andrew. It was fantastic after a long days work under ground! We then prepared/trained for our next day of repelling

Day two: Full day canyoning in Blue Creek canyon.
-Woke up to another delicious meal prepared by our guides (and great weather). We had bacon, eggs, beans, cereal, fruit... it was a feast. We needed it though for our long day of canyoning down some cliffs! We went down this one gorgeous narrow canyon and repelled down 12 different times. One time we had to repell into water and we got our waist down soaked! It was another LONG but FUN!! day. We got back to camp and cooked in our cooking groups then went to bed dreaming of what else there was to come.

Day three: Tramp through Dogface flat. This is no ordinary tramp, there are ropes and ladders required to ascend this rugged gorge. In one place it is required to wade in water which is chest deep.

This was definitely our most intense day. We hiked with our backpacks on which probably weighed like 30ish pounds. We had MANY obstacles that at times could be really scary. It varied from walking on thin paths, climbing up rocks/waterfalls, walking through the cold river chest deep, and more. I had no idea how intense it would be but it was amazing fun. It was challenging and really pushed all of us and tested our teamwork. We started on the path for about 2 hours going over trees, sliding down on our buts, avoiding wasp nests (a couple of us got stung), & climbing steep uphill. It was a huge workout. After lunch near the river we changed into our warm polypro/long undewear gear because we would be walking up the river. We got suited up and all prepared for cold wet feet. It was really fun walking up through the river but definitely chilly at times! We followed Andrew up and he guided us around all the obstacles. Our first big obstacle though was to get through chest deep water. We walked around the edge of the river holding onto rocks until we reached Dawn who was holding a rope- she then quickly pulled us up over the rock. Everyone was so excited at that point and having so much fun because it was our first real challenge! Other obstacles were to climb up ladders, lift ourselves up rocks, balance on logs and moer. I can't really explain it to you because it was way more intense than it sounds. It was hard becasue of the big backpack we had on that could easily shift your weight. By the end of the day, however, the backpack seemed like it was apart of me and having it off felt so weird (but great!). Anyway, the day was super challenging, risky, exciting, fun, but overall amazing! To past time, we pretended to be in the Lord of the Rings. Actually, we were right by/saw the mountain in the first movie where the Fellowship hid from the spy crows on top of the mountain before they went into the mine--we were also right by the mine where Gandolf falls. By the end of the day I was beat but excited to do more!

Day four: Our plans changed for day four because it took us a lot longer the previous day to get up the gorge/river. We instead hiked up a little farther up the river then hiked the mountain in order to loop back around to our first campsite. It was a bit easier of a day obstacle wise but we had to hike uphill for a while and then downhill on this rocky terrain. Towards the end too there was limited water so everyone got really thirsty. It was another really fun day and luckily there was no real wet feet. At one point it was just fun rocks to climb up so James and I just flew up them--I love rockclimbing and the challenge of it! Just being outside in this gorgeous place was amazing enough. I really can't explain what it was like but we just hiked in the woods, in the river, in some rocks, down some rocks, down ropes, over holes, just so much stuff! We all arrived to the campsite around 8:00 and cooked up a quick dinner and celebrated Leo's birthday. We all dressed up in dresses and had cake. The person with the best dress won... all the judges voted for the boys because they looked really funny in their dresses or "frocks."

Day Five (Saturday 2/6): Sleep in and compass work! We slept in after two long days and then Andrew taught us how to use a compass/GPS. We did some exercises which was really fun. After that and a sad goodbye to our awesome instructors we headed back to Nelson.

In the end, after an amazing 5 days of seclusion, the group became a lot closer. Going through the different challenges, we worked on our character and team building skills. It was a once in a lifetime experience that we will all look back on and remember. We are all stronger physically and mentally after pushing ourselves farther than any of us thought possible. We all made it through with help from each other and being able to find our inner strengths. Looking forward to the next week of volunteering at Nelson Lakes!!

- Natalie and Carolyn

Southeast Asia Program group in Chaing Mai

The Southeast Asia group with the team from Chiang Mai rockclimbing.

Amazing Thailand

Sawasdee,

We are all sleepy in Chiang Mai this evening. It has been a long 12 days! Where to start the story is always the hard part...so I guess we will begin at the beginning. We all arrived in Bangkok safe and sound and began our journey together adventuring around the city. Bangkok is amazing, a city of contrasts, smiles and so much good food. We traveled by boat, train and tuktuk, saw Wats, Buddhas and modern shopping malls. After a few days in the major metropolis we headed out to Sukhothai, the ancient capital of the Siam empire. We arrived on a hot afternoon and decided that the day would be best spent at the local public swimming pool. We played frisbee with some children and enjoyed ice-creams of unusual flavors. After an excellent dinner we collapsed in our beds and woke up as the sun was rising.

The next few days were filled with bike riding around sandstone ruins, eating foods of the spicy nature and playing games with each other which always seemed to end with a few people laughing so hard that they cry and make funny snorting sounds. We loaded into vans and set our sights on Mae Sot, a small town on the border of Thailand and Burma. Here we stayed at the lovely Ban Thai guesthouse and got to know Thein, the man who runs it. He is an amazing man who introduced us to a Burmese Monk named Askin who took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about the Saffron Revolution and the Peace Movements in Burma. He told us of his peace walks around the world and how he has been teaching and organizing for peace and democracy in Burma. An amazing experience that really got us in tune with the environment.

We then headed into the jungle for a 3 day trek through amazing bamboo forests. We camped by a waterfall that is 5 football fields wide and swam in the crystal pools below. We trekked through rivers and into a Karen hill-tribe village, met the chief and drank local rice-wine with him and our guides. After a not-so good sleep due to many roosters that decided to crow at about 4 am, we climbed on top of elephants and set off down the mountain. Elephants are amazing but after 3 hours on the back of one you have pretty much reached your elephant-riding limit. However, the ride is somewhat more comfortable when the Karen Mahouts (local villagers who "drive" the elephants) hop off and let us take over. We sit on the heads of the beautiful mammals and steer them through the forest.

After our jungle adventure we arrived in Chiang Mai, a lovely city in the far north of Thailand. From our base here we went rock climbing and caving in the northern mountains. We repelled 60 meters into a cave that has live stalactites and flow stones which sparkle when exposed to light. We spent the last 2 days crawling our way in and through the earth to emerge on top of peaks that only bats usually see....

WOW, and this is just the beginning! We have a few more days here in Thailand then we are off the the lovely mountains of Laos to float down the Mekong river and eat as much sticky rice as we can!

Until next time...

SE Asia Crew!