So many charities, so little time

We love Chiang Mai...what a glorious place. We feel so at home here and so comfortable walking around...like we have been here before. Yesterday we spent the morning walking the circumference of the city centre, which is outlined by a series of man-made motes and takes about 4 hours to complete...then we walked through the middle weaving in and out and through all the tiny side streets, which took another 5 hours so we have walked our legs to death...well my legs to death and, as they are made of cheese. Alex's legs are made of steel so they were just fine :) We found 3 delightful charities that work with children and families in a variety of capacities.

The first is called The Volunteers for Children Development Foundation and this organization was founded in 1997 and works with street children to reduce the risky behaviours of these children, improve their lives and help them regardless f the politics involved with the government. Most of these children come from a "cold family life lacking love and care," or sometimes their parents have dies, are in prison or suffer from drug addiction. Most of these children fall prey to child traffickers. This agency works to educate these children and provide them with the outlet of art, which is then sold in Dor Dek Gallery.

The second is called the Thai Freedom House and this is a language and arts community centre for Hill Tribe people and Burmese refugee families. This centre looks like a tree house hidden from the street and in contains a classroom and children's play area in the upstairs part of the wooden house, while downstairs houses a "gently loved' clothing shop and cafe to raise funds strictly to support this organization.

The third is called the Viengping Children's Home and it is designed to care for orphaned and abandoned babies. It also cares for HIV positive children and children that have been orphaned as a result of the passing away of their HIV infected parents. This home was established in 1986 under the auspices of the Department of Social Development and Welfare and is built on a large piece of land where the children have a playground with the newest equipment and can run around and just be kids.

We were torn about where to volunteer, as all three are amazing organizations, but we decided on the Thai Freedom House in the end, as they seemed most in need of some support. Our day was spent helping to sort out some of the vintage/used clothing and other random items to take stock and set up in the shop. This actually took most of the morning and then the kids arrived. What a change in atmosphere that was...so much giggling and bouncing around...I swear the energy they have is truly dizzying. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent playing games and teaching them English words and sayings. Some of these children and their families have suffered from horrid atrocities that are still too painful for them to discuss, but this day was a fun and lighthearted day...and we needed that. We said our goodbyes and had a lovely health pancake before we left to plan our 2 day trekking adventure and possible bungee jump, though I am still on the fence...majorly on the fence.

Tomorrow we are off on a two day trek through the jungle. This will include waterfall treks and river crossing on tribal elephants, as well as white water rafting and bamboo boating to get around. We will also spend the night with the Karen Hill Tribe, also known as the long necks due to the large golden rings they wear around their necks from a young age to lengthen it to astronomical heights...the longer the neck, the more beautiful and angelic...so this will be interesting. When we return, we will spend the day scootering around to the largest temple in Chiang Mai, yes, another temple...blah...but this one has a giant staircase leading up to the Buddha that looks like a dragon so this might stand out in our minds...maybe. Then we will make our way to the Chiang Mai prison for our inmate massages, which will really be neat, won't they...inmate massage...this would never happen in America or the UK that's for sure and we will round out our day with a Thai night cooking course where we will learn how to prepare 7 dishes and we get not only a cookbook, but a certificate too...Harry would pee himself and so will I for that matter.

Alex is still trying to forcibly convince me to do a bungee jump and so far I have 35% agreed to possibly consider doing a tandem jump, which means we are tied together and jump to our possible deaths! The only reason I have 35% agreed to even possibly consider this bungee method is that I truly do not feel that I will be able to throw myself from a metal plank-like ledge 50 metres above the water...oh and did I mention that this would be a "wet bungee jump," which means that when you fall and reach the bottom, your head and shoulders dunk into the water below before you are yanked back up and bounce for a while and then dangle with your own thoughts while they get you down and unhooked from the bungee harness...wow, not doesn't that sound amazing?