Vienping Children's Home

Met a guy at the orphanage today; John from Australia. He fosters children from Vienping, he is a very special person as he takes on seriously ill children and has had a few of them die which is very sad. He told me the background to some of the kids; Bobbo's mother was a 14 year old mentally handicapped girl who was raped. Bobbo's brain damage is thought to be a result of the trauma of her birth. Archie is another adorable child, today he clung too me for dear life. The superintendent 'Knee' who runs the home has been making changes since her arrival a few years ago. Before her there were no plants or curtains, the place was apparently very austere and bleak. Volunteers were only allowed to stay for 1 month and not allowed to return. Everyone I talk to says how much nicer the place is now.

I took in a Koala bear that Louisa gave me today, it sings Waltzing Matilda and the children were enthralled with the noise. They have a TV and DVD in the baby room so they have constant background entertainment but the children are so small I don't think they really benefit from it yet.

If anyone would like to send stuff to Vienping - they need clothes, toys, books, sheets, plastic plates, baby spoons etc you can do so to this address:

Doungmanee Wonghaan (this is the superintendent's name)
Viengping Children's Home
63 / 3 Moo 4, Tambon Don Kaew, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180
Thailand


Tel: 053-121161, 053-121163
Fax: 053-121162
Email: vpch@cmnet.co.th 
www.baanviengping.com

It would be a lovely thing to do and they really need things.

This afternoon I went cycling with Joy we visited another Wat which is connected to the Chiang Mai University. They offer meditation retreats on Thursday afternoons which go through to Friday lunchtime. They provide free food and accommodation and all they ask is that you make a donation to the monks.

These white folly's contain the remains of princes and deities from King Rama II to Rama V.

We then cycled on through the old city to the Chiang Mai China Town district. It was a heaving mass and extremely hot. We very quickly started to wilt and had to leave by the back entrance. We found an old Chinese Temple which dated back to when the Chinese traders came to Thailand via the River Ping and was now used by their descendants! It was full of incense and very different to all the Wat Temples we are seeing around town.

Heading back to Thae Pae gate (the hub of things!) we ate (again) at Aum and I went and paid my deposit at Awana House. I move in there on 22nd June for two weeks. They have a pool and the rooms even have TV!! It will be luxury!!

At breakfast a few days ago I found out why 5 tourists had died recently in Chiang Mai, it seems the guest house they were staying in used a deadly bed bug deterrent! Glad it wasn't the seaweed as had been rumoured!