R Mark introduced wife and partner Linda Walas who took this recent 25 day trip to Asia as part of a Bucket List.
Linda with assistance from Janice (who scrolled through pictures) shared the experiences of their trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Janice found this tour company called Bamboo who organize tourism with sweat equity in developing countries.
They arrived in Bangkok which has ballooned to 14 million people from 8 million just a few years ago. This growth is due primarily to tourism and jobs available. In Bangkok they saw temples, floating market, silk factory, saw the reclining Buda. They then went to a northern city of Surin. Then went to an elephant village.
They poured concrete platform and cut sugarcane. They fed elephants. These elephants are rescue animals and each one has a trainer (mahood) who looks after the elephant. These elephants are buried when they die. After a few years decomposition, some of the elephant bones are recovered and saved.
They also help make paper from elephant dung. We were assured that Janice and Linda did not volunteer to stomp the dung, but did get up to their elbows in it to help with filtering process.
They next went to Cambodia and toured the largest temple in the world. One of the 7 wonders of the world. Thousands visit this temple daily and at $37 each there is a question of where the money goes.
They helped in a school. Even though they have so little, the kids appeared happy. Landmines are still a problem. African rats are used to detect mines. They then helped a family build a new home. Bamboo tours help families help themselves. These families have to commit to send their children to school. Education is the key to getting out of poverty.
After the two weeks with Bamboo tours, Linda and Janice took time to vacation in Vietnam. They were in Hanoi for 3 days, then took a tour of HoLong Bay. Walking in the cities is vary dangerous due to the traffic. They visited a women's museum that Linda found very interesting.
Linda and Janice were thanked by R Patty.