Author: nburke

Vietnam Red – Day 12 – The Marble Mountains and Hue

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We woke up to a buffet breakfast. After the delicious meal we went on a long bus ride to the Marble Mountains, a beautiful landscape covered with trees, ancient temples and lots of fog, right in the middle of a city. The time at the mountains was spent exploring caves. However due to the torrential downpour, the abseiling session was cancelled due to health hazards. However, we learnt about the Buddhist monuments surrounding the cave system, the history and culture of the temples and admiring the natural beauty of the caves.

After the wet and tiring cave explorations, we sat a 3 hour trip bus trip to Hue (Pronounced Way), through some strong, opaque fog. The day at Hue began with a terrifying and awkward (the sitting conditions were a little cramped) cyclo ride. We saw more of the insane traffic in Vietnam, where people drove through red lights, cut close to each other and pushed food carts through heavy traffic without much worry.

The ride ended at the Forbidden City, home of the Vietnamese royal family during the 17-20th century. We visited the throne room, filled with intricately carved wood coloured red and gold. We learnt of a the history of the Imperial Family and a battle that had taken place during the Vietnam War, which had destroyed and sacred the Forbidden City.

The day ended with a “Royal Dinner”, where everyone was dressed up in traditional, fancy garbs, a King (Saxon) and Queen (Ashley) was crowned for the evening and was served a meal of beautifully decorated meals, whilst the rest of the group was forced to serve the royals drinks, recreating the times of imperial Vietnamese empire. We are looking forward to a more thorough exploration of Hue tomorrow by bicycle!

John Z and Daniel I

 

Day 18 – Vietnam Red – Staff Thank you

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18 days ago, we met 22 nervous year 9 students, ready and rearing to undertake their Vietnamese adventure. The challenges they faced included extremely hot and humid weather, testing physical and mental conditions in the village, and the challenges of dealing with new friendships, personalities and even stinky bedrooms.

It has been a stunning, cool, exhilarating, eye-opening, Fine, Good-vibing, riveting, gratitude-developing, #yoloswag!XD, adventurous, sick, exciting, RAWR XD, LMAO, Kewl, #random, Four-star, okay, wet, BAE, and hyped trip (their words, not ours). And for us, it has been Positive, Energetic and Hectic.

One of the most testing and rewarding experience was our community build on an isolated island on the Mekong Delta, where we took on the adversity of being the first group of westerners to step foot on the island giving to the local community, ever in their history. With the money raised from our fundraising walks, stalls and other activities we have been able to make a significant difference to the quality of life of the family who were living in a basic shanty on the outer rims of this community. The additional funds will be contributing to the provision of a toilet to this house. However, unlike Vietnam Yellow’s purchase of a cow for another rural community, we were unable to name our toilet (although some unpublishable were provided by the students :D).

Whilst the group was tired and physically depleted in the days following the build, they have consistently maintained a positive energy throughout the whole trip (particularly when given the opportunity to go shopping). It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this group of young eclectic teenagers.

We have observed their personal growth and support of each other and witnessed the everlasting bond that has been created in a short number of days. This trip we know has created a special connection amongst us all, so when we walk down the corridors, the hellos we share will be special to each and every one of us and have a whisper of Vietnam Red.

Thank you for sharing your children with us,

Mary Tattersall, Jess Chirnside and Norman Burke

staff

Day 17

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The hardest thing, all along, about The Big Experience 2017 was going home. Returning to the normality, after a little under three weeks in the unknown. Returning to a life-style, where our parents have, and use, the opportunity to aid, and protect us. We lived these weeks being, for the most part, independent. Sure, we were guided by the teachers when it came to day-to-day activities, but when we finished, we would –most times- choose, and pay for our own suppers. We built a site for a family that didn’t know us and didn’t expect a house to be made for them. We explored markets with no trace of a white adult we knew. We bought our fake Rolex watches, and Gucci wallets, and it was all our decision.

Like many days, the group travelled to a historic, or educational, site. Today was the Australian Embassy, where we learnt about relationships between Vietnam and Australia. We had the last lunch, at a restaurant which was made from the philosophy of “Feed one, Teach one”,teaching very poor children on the streets of Vietnam how to cook and work in the catering industry before flying to Ho Chi Minh city, where we are writing from now.

I knew all along that when I returned to Melbourne, a place that felt like the whole world, would be smaller . . .

Max S and Lihao Z

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Day 16 – Vietnam Red – Hanoi, Mausoleums, Prisons, and Shopping!

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This morning we had a big breakfast on the balcony of our hotel. The view was amazing as we witnessed the high-rising rooftops of the city, Hanoi. We then took a short bus ride to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, to see the life he lived and where his body is now stored. We saw his first house that he lived in when becoming the leader of the coutnry, we then walked to the second house he lived in until his death(which was on stilts). As we walked through the historical grounds we learned that Ho Chi Minh was a humble man who transitioned from a huge yellow mansion to a small villa. After seeing the mausoleum, we drove to the Hoa Lo Prison or the ironically named ‘Hilton’ Prison. There we learned how the prisoners of the Vietnam War was treated, and saw statues of Vietnamese people in the horrible jail cells. We learned how political prisoners escaped through the sewers and how they were kept in braces next to one another or in cells together. We also learnt that this prison kept American POW soldiers during the Vietnam War, including the now U.S. politician John McCain.

For Lunch we split up in groups. Some groups ate at Vietnamese restaurants such as Wrap & Roll and some went to western food places, despite us going home to our parents’ cooking soon. After lunch we had some time to buy items with our leftover money – let’s just say a lot of money was spent! We then ventured back to the hotel through the bustling streets of Hanoi to pack and get ready for the long ride home. Some of us were catching up on completing their Journey Docs, some of us were sleeping, some of us were catching up on Star Wars: Rogue One. After a much needed and long rest, we went to the best Northern Vietnamese restaurant in town. The food was definitely a good dinner to end on for our last night.

After dinner, we went to explore the attraction of the night markets. The vibe of the night markets were much more exciting and there was more stuff to buy. Also during this time a section of it blacked out, which really brought down the vibe. A lot of rushed last-minute shopping was done by the girls and many boys bought ridiculous items as a joke (money wasted J ). Overall it was a fantastic way to spend our last day as it was relaxing and interesting; we learned a lot about Vietnam’s political history and enjoyed our last hours of what the Vietnamese culture brought us.

 

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Michael J and Jade S

P.S Mum you were right I have left over money J P.P.S. yes Marcus I took your favourite pink shirt with me and I lost it (please don’t get mad, parents)  -Jade S

P.P.P.S. I have lost my wallet about three times (found it though!), let’s not make it a fourth. P.P.P.P.S I’m also not very organised and may have lost a few things on the way. – Michael J

Day 15 – Vietnam Red – Hello Hanoi!

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We awakened at the break of dawn to the loud intense wake-up call involving panicked, screaming Vietnam Red and Vietnamese radio pumping at the loudest possible volume, to wake up all of the train at 4:00am. Although it was a rough, tiring start, we were eager to arrive in the capital city, Hanoi. Juxtaposing Hue’s laidback culture from Hanoi’s bustling streets was an interesting contrast.

After a much needed big breakfast, we set off venturing the Old Quarter of the city and exploring its historic aspects. A peaceful, mindful reflection was done with the view of the city’s beautiful lake., sequentially followed by a spectacular lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant that we discovered that Obama has once eaten at.

We then travelled to the first university in Vietnam which looked very similar to a temple. This sacred place is home to 82 ceramic turtles which legend has it contained good luck in them. People who graduate and are about to go into exams go to these turtles and pray to them for good luck.

We then had a well-deserved sleep to rest from our sleep provided by the bumpy train ride this morning. After being abruptly awoken again for the second time today, we experienced the shopping culture in Hanoi. There are 36 streets, each street focusing on a certain item rather then it being dispersed throughout the city. Our group then all ate at a hip looking restaurant and it was delicious, northern Vietnamese food. Still trying to stay awake, we were woken up by watching an interesting, and culturally significant water puppet show which was quite enjoyable although we rushed back to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep.

Emily B, Saxon B

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Day 14 – Goodbye to Hue and the Train to Hanoi

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This morning, we ate our last breakfast in Hue, ready for our last day of exploring the city. After breakfast, we travelled by dragon boat to the ancient and famous pagoda to familiarise ourselves with the culture and religion of the Vietnamese. The pagoda was in 7 layers, depicting the 7 layers of heaven. We also learnt about the monk who immolated himself to protest Christian government rule at the time, which eventually was one of the factors sparked American interest in the Vietnam War. The Monk and the car that he rode to the town of Hue in was stored in mint condition in this Pagoda.

On the return, we visited a locally famous local market of Hue where we experienced a rather persistent side of the Vietnamese marketers, who don’t usually get westerner (known as “Dai’s”) visitors. We also bought dinner and snacks from the supermarket, in preparation for our 12 hour train ride to Hanoi. We checked out of our hotel and had a final chance to parade through Hue for lunch before departing.

We mentally and physically prepared ourselves for the boarding of the train, as we had been warned that we had a seriously small, limited window of time to get all 26 people and their luggage on the train before it left the station. We got to choose the 3 other people we would bunk with and once we had set ourselves up in our cabin, we had a lot of fun sitting in our bunk beds and socialising in such a confined space. We have an early arrival in the morning, by early we mean 4:00am, so we are going to bed soon.

 

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P.S – Jane I spilt coke all over my white pants. I think it’s karma, considering 1) I wasn’t supposed to buy soft drink and 2) you don’t let me drink coke. Izzy S

P.P.S – Hi mother, please have a maccas meal at pick up on Tuesday. Ash C

P.P.P.S – Mum, if you’re actually reading this, please have a soul press bowl ready for me at south road gates. Eva R