Volunteers to Chiang Rai again

Trip Start Jan 08, 2004
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81
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Trip End Ongoing


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Monday, July 3, 2006

Many of Australia's indigenous peoples live in some of the worst conditions in the world, according to the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing. "We visited one community in the Alice Springs camps where people were living in tin shacks for the last 30 years and with no rights to their land and, of course, no services." SBS News




Hi. I just got back from another trip to Chiang Rai with some Australian volunteers. All were part of the Antipodeans Year Out program.

There were 8 of them, 2 heading to Vietnam and 6 to India where they will live for 3 months and teach English and help at an orphanage.

They were Tom, David, Shaun, Sasha, Sarah, Bella, Rachel and Laura. Really very nice group and really fun to travel with.

The reason they came here first was just to have some time to adjust to being in a developing country, get some travel and living tips from me, practice teaching English and basically to have some time to ease into their volunteer placements in the other countries.

I took them up to Chiang Rai where we worked with Mirror Art Foundation and taught English at a local school and lived in Akha and Lahu hill tribe villages.

Anyway, it was a really good trip, they were very nice people, and they are more prepared and relaxed about their remaining 3 months. Also I am more convinced that I should live in Chiang Rai as it is very lovely.

Here are some pictures.

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2 Akha kids making themselves look even more cute 2 Akha kids making themselves look even more cute Akha boy Akha boy Arriving at school Arriving at school Bella with friendly kids behind Rachel Bella with friendly kids behind Rachel
Bella with kids at MAG HQ Bella with kids at MAG HQ Boys playing near village Boys playing near village Collecting bugs under the fluro light Collecting bugs under the fluro light Crossing a bridge to Baan Jalae Crossing a bridge to Baan Jalae
Dancing with Akha Dancing with Akha David and Sarah and Shaun in background - MAG HQ David and Sarah and Shaun in background - MAG HQ David in Akha headress (girl's I think) David in Akha headress (girl's I think) David looking at stuff in the Lahu temple David looking at stuff in the Lahu temple
Dinner at Mirror Art Group Dinner at Mirror Art Group Dinner in village Dinner in village Eating dinner at MAG Eating dinner at MAG Eating fruit at Mirror Art Group accomodation Eating fruit at Mirror Art Group accomodation
Everyone came to my place on the last day in Bangk Everyone came to my place on the last day in Bangk Gook Gair Gook Gair I shared a hut with David in Apa Akha village I shared a hut with David in Apa Akha village Lahu dancing Lahu dancing
Laura and friend Laura and friend Learning Learning Little girl in school house donated by Christians Little girl in school house donated by Christians Lunch and swim at waterfall Lunch and swim at waterfall
Me and elephant Me and elephant Me and little shy girl in Apa Akha village Me and little shy girl in Apa Akha village Me at temple in Chiang Rai Me at temple in Chiang Rai Me in hammock in Lahu village Me in hammock in Lahu village
Old Akha lady and I Old Akha lady and I Rachel making friends Rachel making friends Ready for Akha dancing Ready for Akha dancing Riding elephants to the Mae Kok river Riding elephants to the Mae Kok river
Sarah and Sasha making friends Sarah and Sasha making friends Sarah in Akha headress Sarah in Akha headress Sasha trekking in style with pink fashion accessor Sasha trekking in style with pink fashion accessor Saying hi to the cows Saying hi to the cows
school kids school kids Shaun and Akha children Shaun and Akha children Shaun with Puppy Shaun with Puppy Shopping in Lahu village Shopping in Lahu village
Solar panels powering hill tribe village Solar panels powering hill tribe village Teaching Teaching Teaching 1 Teaching 1 The hut we stayed at in Lahu village The hut we stayed at in Lahu village
Tom entering the jungle Tom entering the jungle Us walking through the Akha village Us walking through the Akha village View from my hut View from my hut View from Yafu village in morning View from Yafu village in morning
Walking to Yafu, Lahu village Walking to Yafu, Lahu village Wat Phra Keow in Chiang Rai Wat Phra Keow in Chiang Rai Young Akha kids also learning their traditions Young Akha kids also learning their traditions
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