Our initial plan for this year end trip to Vietnam was to join efforts with a group of friends and coworkers to raise enough money to provide cataract surgery to the poor and underprivileged people in Vietnam. The average cost of cataract surgery in Vietnam is approximately $40 USD. Our goals were simply to restore sight for blind people and enabling them to retain independent living.
But alas! Mother Nature had different plans this year. During early November 2017, typhoon Damrey struck South Central Vietnam causing the worst floods in rural places like Khánh Hoà Nha Trang. When disasters like this struck, poor people always suffered the worst. Rice fields were flooded and many people lost their crops and houses altogether.
Faced with such challenges, our group decided to raise additional money to provide immediate relief to the people affected by typhoon Damrey. It is very much thanks to the generosity of our friends, families and coworkers, we were able to achieve our goal (i.e. to give a bag of rice plus a box of instant noodle and some money to each family in need). Thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts!
"On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again..."
Sorry, I just got carried away with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson (hehehe).
We arrived at Cam Ranh airport late afternoon on Nov 27 amid cloudy weather. Here we joined group with our Vietnamese friends who are very much like our older brothers/sisters. These retirees and soon-to-be retirees have been working selflessly and tirelessly to help those in need. They also looked after us and treated us so nice during our stay in Vietnam... Tra got spoiled by them and I am envious of her... (hehehe). After exchanging hugs and kisses (hehehe not!), we drove to Nha Trang together to catch some much needed Zs for tomorrow would be a long day for all of us.
Next day, we left Nha Trang early at 7AM riding in an old antique minivan to get to Loc Tho temple. I would say the ride was long and bumpy... but was worth it as the view along the way was so much spectacular. When our group finally arrived at the temple, there was lots of people waiting around patiently. We felt bad after learning that all these people sitting orderly on the floor had been gathered here since dawn. Needless to say, all of us quickly sprung into action and we presented each family in need (approximately 100+ families in all) a bag of rice plus a box of instant noodle and 300,000 VND.
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| Rice, instance noodle + $ envelope |
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| approximately 100+ families gather |
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| Handing gifts to each family in need |
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| Exchanging contact info with Dr Judy |
While there we ran into Dr. Judy and her UN team who were also there to distribute aid to and to comfort the people who needed it the most. Kudos to Dr. Judy and her team for their kindness and selflessness. I hope our paths will cross again in the near future. May God bless you and your team for your good will and dedication to others.
Since our schedule was tight, we had to bid farewell to everyone to head to our next location; but not before we paid a visit to the small classrooms full with orphans who were raised and taught by volunteers from the temple. Here our group pledged a small donation (5,000,000 VND) for classroom supplies.
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| Taken with the village head.. |
We were back on the road again and were now heading to a small Buddhist wordship house in Ninh Thân village which is located in Ninh Hoa/Khanh Hoa province. Upon our late arrival our group was greeted warmly by a very kind Buddhist nun, Su Co Dieu Thong and the local officials. While waiting for Su Co Dieu Thong and the group leaders to work out the details together, the rest of us sought shelter under the old corrugated metal roof and started chatting away with the village people and making new friends. Somehow, I clicked right away with the village head. Smartly dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers, he looked and sounded very much like my old uncle. Granted during the war, both men have served their country patriotically although on opposite sides. Yet, watching him helping someone in need warmed my heart and restored my faith in humanity. In time of distress like this, it's always nice to see people from different walks of life coming together to help each other out. As they said, the worst in Mother Nature can bring out the best in people.
Finally, everything was in place and ready to go... Working side by side with Su Co Dieu Thong and the local officials, we started handling out gifts to about 87 families altogether. The gifts although humble and symbolic only (a box of instant noodle plus 700,000 VND), were received with deep gratitude and appreciation. Without saying, all of us felt a sense of purpose that touched our heart and eternal soul deeply and spiritually.
Afterwards, our new friends invited us to visit some of the families who were devastated and displaced by typhoon Damrey. But the catch was we had to ride on the back of their motorbike. Riding along the muddy trails on their beat-up motorbike, everyone seemed to enjoy every moment of life... except your truly... holding on for dear life. My deepest fear was to end up in a mud bath full with water buffalo dung (Yay!)
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| Ready for the bumpy ride to visit the families in person |
Reaching the village, we were shocked to see typhoon Damrey had leveled almost everything in its path. There was nothing left except bare brick walls and cracked foundation. These families lost everything and ended up living in makeshift tents or chicken coops. Witnessing such devastation, everyone in our group unanimously agreed to donate an additional 1,000,000 VND to each family hoping and praying that it would somehow ease their suffering and help them rebuilding their lives.
Luckily, at the end of our trip, we did manage to scrape up some money and presented each family with another 3,000,000 VND to rebuild their house and fix their roofs (fingers crossed).
It's lunchtime, served with delicious homemade vegetarian dishes from the temple. (Yeah!) During meal time we listened to stories from people who survived typhoon Damrey... Stories that were hard to hear and difficult to tell. As they said "Only Mother Nature made real men shed hard tears".
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| Having a great vegetarian lunch |
Finally our trip to Khánh Hoà had come to an end. That night, it rained really hard in Nha Trang.. and while listening to the rhythm of the falling rain, all of us couldn't help but felt deeply blessed. Amen (hehehe)
Dec 4, 2017
We came back to Saigon to join up with friends from California (representing Lido Charity) to provide cataract surgery to the underprivileged people in Vietnam. It was a great joy to see "old" faces and to crack "old" jokes again.
In the next morning, all of us jammed into the same cab to reach the hospital together. It's with great relief to say that we all got there safe and sound. Once there, each of us went about our business... some donned a white scrub top to assist the Dr. and patients, others reviewed the paperwork and expense list... while your truly happily emptied the trash cans outside... Hey, that low cut white top wouldn't fit me and besides it only looked sexy on Anh Viet (see picture) hehehe.
Well, I'd like, If I may, to give a brief background of this nonprofit charity event and explain the way this event is expected to work. This charity event was held every year by Su Co Phu'c Duc with supports from many people including Lido Charity (which covers all the expenses including foods and transportation). The patients, mostly underprivileged people from the countryside, arrived together in groups. Once here, they waited patiently and orderly for their turn (Note: free meals were provided). Once their names were called, each patient entered the waiting room to receive pre-op medical check-up. After that, a nurse or volunteer would guide each patient into the operating room to receive the surgery. The procedure lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The patient was then moved to the recovery room to rest. After everyone had received the surgery and fully rested, the group left the hospital and went home together. Seeing these wonderful patients, I couldn't help but think that “life is but a play of chance in the game of choice”. On behalf of our group, I truly wish all the patients a better choice and a fair chance in life.
During our visit, one thing that truly warmed our heart was seeing how people in the recovery room politely scooted over and shared their sea-grass mat together. Last but not least, thumbs up to the young Dr., Dr. Ma^n for doing God's work selflessly and safely in the operating room. Please keep up the good work... for giving the gift of sight (next to life) is the best gift of all.
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| In the operating room from left to right (C. Kim-Dung, A. Viet, C. My-Hanh, Dr. Ma^n and my half D.Tra) |
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| In the waiting room... |
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| In the recovery room... |
The day was still young when our group bidded farewell to Su Co Phuc Duc and walked home together to get some rest before heading out again for lunch (Yeah!). Bánh xèo (aka Vietnamese sizzling pancake) was amazing. Thank you Chi Hanh and Anh Viet for your treat.
After lunch, our group got caught in the rain. Well, had we been 30+ years younger, this would be quite a romantic scene, just like something out of the movie "Dancing in the rain" (heheh)
"To make the world a better place like dreamers often will"
So us dreamers marched on and visited another place full of special children. The moment we set foot inside the house, my heart sunk and words failed me to express my feelings. Yet, these sweet little faces were smiling ear to ear and their smiles claimed our heart. The little kids were genuinely happy to see us and so were we... We shared candies and hugs (lots of hugs!). The kids quickly gathered around Anh Viet who charmed them with his affection, his stories and teasing. It was like a page from the Book of Revelation and Anh Viet simply looked just like an angel sent from above (hehehe). Looking back, we gave these wonderful little angels so little, yet in return, we received so much from them... their zest for life, their laughter, and their happiness. Adios our little sweet angels. We shall meet again in the near future and that is a promise that doesn't need words...
Dec 5, 2017
The last leg of our trip took us to Quang Nam province in Central Vietnam. Here we joined group with our Vietnamese friends who also organized their own charity to support the underpriveledged people. After spending a night in Da Nang, we left early in the next morning for Dai Lanh and Dai Hung in Quang Nam to help out people who had lost almost everything because of flooding. In the face of their poverty, our gifts suddenly seemed small and insignificant. 
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Visiting an elderly
who only wishes a meal of rice with fish...
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When it was time to say goodbye, we all left with heavy hearts.
On the way back, our group decided to visit an orphanage in Da Nang. The kids were full of love and smiles. They were grateful for everything... enjoying even the smallest gifts (e.g. candies and pencils) from us. We took time to chat with the volunteers and they were wonderful and so hard working. On behalf of our group, I would like to thank you so much for the great memories... You've made our day.
On the way back, our group decided to visit an orphanage in Da Nang. The kids were full of love and smiles. They were grateful for everything... enjoying even the smallest gifts (e.g. candies and pencils) from us. We took time to chat with the volunteers and they were wonderful and so hard working. On behalf of our group, I would like to thank you so much for the great memories... You've made our day.
Sadly, "All good things must come to an end". And so was our week long journey...
Thank you very much for reading our journal. I sincerely hope it brings you joy and leaves you wondering...
"Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind"
