Vietnam II

From Hoi An we travelled south to get to our second projects. The trip consisted of two consecutive overnight bus trips - not the most pleasant of experiences especially for a certain group member who lost their dinner from both ends during the journey (and the bus didn't pull over for another four hours). We had a day to"relax" beachside in Nha Trang between the two buses.

Our second project was in conjunction with a local organisation called Initiatives of Change. The group consists mainly of motivated university students who want to do something constructive in their society. The students who worked with us were absolutely fantastic. A bonus was that they all spoke English well - which meant that unlike at the first project the vegetarians didn't get served meat for the first few days. As a result I was a lot less hungry and therefore a lot less grumpy!!

Initiatives of Change work in conjunction with the local government to identify struggling families who are in need of assistance. Our team was divided and each group built a house for a local family. Tim and I were in seperate groups to help facilitate good group dynamics. The family that Renee's team worked with were currently living in a very makeshift home wtih tarpolines functioning as the roof. The father of the family who would receive the home functioned as the builder and the rest of the family got right into it assisting us with the work. They had a gorgeous 17 year old son whose name we later found out was being misprounced by us all - apparently we were calling him "breasts" all week by accident.

A local family gave up their home so that the team could live in their house for the duration of the building project. The house was simple but liveable. The bathroom proved interesting with bucket showers shared with at least eight different species of wildlife. We had a plain clothes Policeman staying with us ... part of the Vietnamese way - ensuring we werent spies or social reformists up to no good.




Renees Team in their almost completed house and in their pit. (shown here 1/2 way through digging!).



The whole group at the house Tim's team helped construct.... along with numerous official locals as part of the whole celebration/ceremony thing they love so much.



Tim's team built a house for another family that had been identified by the local government as being particularly poor. There were four families totalling 27 people (all part of the same extended family) living in reed huts. The grandma caused quite a stir by overseeing the building site with a machetti in her waving hand. The group lived in the house of a local family who provided lots of good food.

As a break from work, we rejoined groups for the day to visit the war site of the Cu Chi tunnels.
These were a vast network of underground tunnels (up to 3 layers down) that spanned over 200kms to help the Viet Cong move people, supplies and equipment around without the knowledge of the southern forces. The tunnels shown below were apparently enlarged so that us fat westerners could get through.... we were still pretty cramped!. 120m of these were enough for us... cant imagine spending half the day carrying supplies through these!





Also as part of the second project, our Ozquest group visited an AIDS clinic and orphanage in the Cu Chi area that was home to disabled orphans. Trying to bring a bit of cheer to those who usually have more than their share of worries. It also helped us grow a little more too, and reminded us of how fortunate we actually are.





Playing with some of the kids from the orphanage. (Giving them some balloons we brought for such occasions.)
Its a fantastic feeling to make some very unlucky kids smile and laugh. Even its its just for a short time.




After finishing up on the second project, we rejoined as one big group and went to the Australian artillery & SAS base in Long Tan. We saw the australian base and our memorial as well as learning learnt some amazing facts about the Vietnam war.
Australia is the only country of the South Vietnamese allies.... Southern Vietnamese Army, USA, South Korean, NZ, Thailand etc that is allowed to have a memorial in Vietnam.
This was due to a number of reasons, but basically because they recognised Aussies were there to help the people. They built roads, orphanages /schools etc in areas that supported them whilst still fighting!!! Plus they were renound for keeping prisoners of war under very good conditions. They also were respected as brilliant jungle fighters and trained the South Vietnamese Army. As opposed to the yanks that were loud, nasty, disrespectful etc.... and pretty much there for themselves. Apparently there are 1000,000 half cast american-vietnamese babies.... as opposed to zero (aparrently) Australians.
(This was all according to our tour giude Mr Hai, who was in the South Vietnamese Army as a translator to the Australian and American troops.)
Anyway... war is never a nice thing but it makes you proud to know we did the best in a difficult situation. (There is no way we should have followed the yanks into the war.... but the past is the past.. hopefully we learn from it.)




Ash (a fellow Ozquest group member), Tim and Renee living it up at the mud baths and hot springs at our suprise Eco-Resort stay, as we started our wind-down from an often physically exhausting trip.

Vung Tau was the last port of call before our final few days in Saigon. (Ho Chi Minh City)
Met an Aussie Vietnam Veteran who is now living in Vietnam and running an Aussie Vets Aid organisation to help the people of vietnam rebuild their lives and country. Very inspiring.
The last two days in HCMC saw a final spending frenzy on presents and cheap goods for those going home before our final celebration dinner and goodbyes. Renee and I are already missing them, but hoping to catch up with as many as possible when we finally return to Australia.

Over and out for now from the little town of Savanakhet in Laos, where a nice cool change from the South Vietnam heat is currently being enjoyed.