With Our Own Two Hands...

Hello World! We are all doing just fine here in Cambodia. It has been a crazy week. We left Vietnam in style, cycling 30 km through the Mekong Delta and stuffing ourselves with coconut candies. After crossing the border into Cambodia we headed to Takeo district to stay with the lovely and amazing Meas family. We learned a lot about Khmer history and spent 3 days building a house and toilet for 2 local families. We worked from the ground-up, literally breaking down a crumbling home to construct a new one in its place and building a toilet for a huge family who had never had one before. We are now all skilled with a machette and can carve bamboo with the best of them. Being able to get down and dirty (if you will) in an area that needs so much help really gave us some perspective on what life is like for local people here. The work was hot, hard and beautiful. I was so impressed with everyones ability to jump right in and really take an interest in what we were doing.

After arriving in Phnom Penh we had some free time to explore the city. We visited Toul Sleng and The Killing Fields, both intense and interesting sites where we learned about the Khmer Rouge's atrocities and more importantly about what people are doing to rebuild their lives. Today we visited KDFO (The Khmer Developement of Freedom Organization) an orphanage dedicated to improving the lives of kids here in the city. We were able to take 17 kids to play at the local water park. These kids are so beautiful and after 3 hours of playing, chasing and laughing with them we were all smiles and a bit sleepy as well.

Now were are headed into the north to visit Angkor Wat and the Tonle Sap nature preserve. That's all for now...Southeast Asia over and out!
-Hillary

You can't walk two steps down the street in southeast asia without making that universal cooing sound everyone makes at a baby. There are babies everywhere and they are all 100% cuter than american babies. Most of us are having trouble not attempting to take one home.
-Liz

The orphans in Phnom Penh were awesome. The excitement of driving in tuks-tuks to the water park was great, you could really tell that it was a special event and i got to hang out with a great kid for 3 hours as I chased him up and down the slides.
-Matt

If there is one thing that I will not miss when I get home - it will be the constant honks and attacks from motor bikes which flood the streets of Vietnam. Tourists and locals dodging both directions just to make their way across the street in any of the cities that we visited, was an experience which is burned into my memory. Other than that I cant really make a complaint about Vietnam - Hanoi was my introduction to the prevalence of themed streets, which was not only hilarious but proved to make shopping choices more difficult because you have to chose between 20 stores, which all stock the exact same thing. Hoi An was certainly my favorite town - mainly because it gave me opportunities to have gorgeous dresses made, and also have time to enjoy the land by bike, and the sun on a beach.
-Jane

Although the places we have seen are amazing and the activities we have participated in are exciting-what I have enjoyed most about this trip are the people. In spite of poverty, loss, and violence, these people have remained resilient and smiling. I communicate best to the locals through smiles, nods and hand motions-and it never ceases to amaze me at how sincere their responses are. White teeth, crooked teeth, chipped teeth or lacking teeth, everyone smiles all the same.
-Carolyn

Now that we have arrived in Cambodia, we have reached a whole new level of humidity. The temperature during the day is the worst kind of heat, sticky, sweat-all-day, never-cool-down heat. The only way to relieve ourselves is to duck into the closest cafe for an ice-cold fruit shake.
-Sara

As we walked into the community where we would be building a bamboo house over just two days, we were immediately swarmed by thirty smiling kids who, throughout the day, were constantly putting up peace signs and asking for their picture to be taken. In no time, our group immediately started demolishing what was left of the old structure, at which point I was instructed by a frail old woman on the proper way to utilize a machete. While we were all covered in dirt, cuts, and blisters from wacking bamboo for hours, and dripping copious amounts of sweat, the gracious support from several locals, and the thankfulness that was expressed in the faces of the audience was enough to keep us working for hours. It was incredible to be a part of something that was so life-changing for not only a family, but also myself. -Erika
The volunteering experience was very insightful and exhilarating. I really enjoyed the bike ride thru the Mekong Delta. I think Phnom Penh is one of my favorite cities so far. It is very exciting and mysterious.
-Priya

The 2 days that we spent building the house and toilets were so incredible. It felt really good to know that just with a little hard work, you can make the difference in so many lives. My experience in phnom penh is definitely something I will never forget.
-Jordan

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

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!