Take Two: Lets try this again!

[our_travels]

SukhothaiOn our last full day in Sukhothai we caught a local bus out to the old city which is about 20 minutes out of town. It's a really nice area, set in the middle of a large park with manicured lawns and lots of little lakes and ponds are the ruins from the old town. Sukhothai used to be the capital of Thailand and the King has his palace there

Comments

You Poor Things

[anonymous]

OMG Nikki, you must be soooo emotionally drained!! How terrible it must be for those poor children - I don't blame you for feeling as though your donations/sponsorships aren't enough.
Your bus trip sounded horrendous! I am so glad I wasn't on it with you LOL - we would have made a great pair huh.
Even though your experience at the school, bad bus trip and uncomfortable bed has set you back a little, I am glad you and Luke are still enjoying your trip. It is obviously an eye opener for you both.
Ash and Kels say 'Hiiiiiiiii' and we all send our love. Thinking of you EVERYDAY - xoxoxoxo Aunty Kylie

[marharet]

i'm pondering the idea of trying to set up some fundraising for those kids! thats awful to hear those conditions they have to live in.. :/ i'm going to start thinking of ideas!

[stellbell]

I'd be happy to help out if you come up with something!

[our_travels]

If you can think of something that would be wonderful! Maybe you can get a bunch of people together and sponsor one of the kids. Its only $200 for the whole year and it means they get their education and plenty of food. You will also get mail from your sponsor kid every month.

Otherwise the things they really need (aside from just money donations) are second hand clothes, mosquito nets blankets and sheets.. that kind of thing. But then I guess it would be difficult to send stuff like that across.. or expensive at least.

I can send you all the contact info for the school next time I use the internet if you like. let me know

[stellbell]

And you have now hit upon why I am not going to be a good traveller to non western countries.
The poverty makes me feel so bad and sad and helpless and i think to some extent it would ruin my trip...just a weeny bit! Which is admittedly a naive and selfish thing to say but I can cry at an RSPCA ad and this wld be much much worse!

These school director ppl are all ok right? they dont siphon the money off the top and have semi lavish homes at the top of a hill somewhere nearby do they?!

[our_travels]

lol. Yes the school directors and teachers are all ok. They actually live AT the school with the kids in little wooden huts and dormitories just like where the kids live. There is a law here in Thailand that the director of a school is required to change schools after every 4 years and Mr Somprasong is so devistated to be leaving in six months and is so worried about the kids and how they will fair with some other director. He is a great man, restores my faith in humanity.

I think if you do go on a holiday in a non western holiday you should stay in the nicely tourist populated areas, it is still confronting there but not nearly so bad! It certainly hasn't ruined my trip seeing this poverty though. the idea of the trip wasnt solely for fun, I was interested in learning about the world and about my self and seeing this kind of thing is all part of it.

Thanks Nikki for news

[anonymous]

Boy! You have certainly filled your days with a lot of drama. So sorry about the bus trip.....I know the feeling all too well, but the company on the bus is something I haven't experienced. 1500 eggs, oh my goodness.!!!
The school is heartbreaking - and not a one off either!

much love to you both g'ma

[happynoose]

What you're experiencing makes our "problems" seem so petty. I think it's so cool that you went out there too see these kids. Witnessing poverty is hard.