Sunday, May 30, 2010

Halong Bay

One of our first days in Vietnam we went to check out Halong Bay and it was AWESOME!! such a fun experience. You just get on a boat and they bring you through all of the rocky cliffs, have lunch (on the boat), and then hike through the most beautiful caves.

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I just liked this boat...so I took a pic :)
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crazy cave ceilings
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This part of the cave was called "heavens doorway" so so cool!
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ha ha this made me laugh....did they just go to clip art on Microsoft word and type in MAN and WOMAN? so random
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This picture I took on the way home in the van....What an amazing sunset!
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

AMAZING experience in Vietnam

We have been in Vietnam for almost 2 weeks and while here we had the opportunity to help with a few distributions of wheelchairs through the Free Wheelchair Mission. FWM is a non-profit organization that helps provide wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. It was truly an amazing experience to be with these people, to hear their stories, and to know and see these wheelchairs change their lives.

Here are a few of the faces that I will never forget....

This is Di. He is 74 years old and probably the cutest old man alive, I loved him to death. He couldn't really communicate because he was practically deaf, but his smile lit up the room. This is his first Wheelchair and it helps him so much because it is so painful for him to walk because of a broken hip that has left him in severe pain. Without the wheelchair he would not be able to leave the house.
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Meet Dao. He lost one of his legs as a result of the war in 1972 and ever since has been walking with old broken metal crutches. He helps provide for his four children as a fisherman making $1 a day. He is such a sweet heart and this wheelchair will make it so much easier for him to get to work every day. He has been waiting for a wheelchair for 38 years.
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Her name is Ni, she is 17 years old, and is so so sweet. She was born without the use of her legs and she has had many surgerys that have left horrible scars all over both of her legs. Her father takes her to and from school everyday and all she has are some crutches. Ni loves to draw and wants to be a fashion designer.
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This is Hai, I just LOVE his smile!! He is 38 years old and a father of 3 children...oldest in 4th grade and youngest is 1 1/2 months old. When he was a child he got a horrible fever and the medicine that was given to him caused paralysis in his legs. This wheel chair will help him so much with work and being able to care for his children.
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more of the amazing people we had the opportunity to meet...
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look at these crutches....can you imagine walking with these for 30 years?
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This is such an wonderful cause I really urge you to make a donation. Each wheelchair only costs $59.20 and this includes delivery!! I can honestly say that I have seen the difference it can make.

I have to say thank you to Whitney for everything!! She is a friend of ours and works for Free Wheelchair Mission, so she was the one that set all this up for us.
Can you believe this is her job?? That she gets to make a difference everyday? I am so envious...but if you met Whitney you would know it is the perfect job for her...she is amazing!
Thanks Whitney :)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Bali Flick! And a little bit of Singapore

I love Bali. Almost as much as I love my wife... who wakes up with me at 5:30 in the morning to film me surf... I know I am spoiled...

Monday, May 17, 2010

oh how we LOVED Bali!

Okay...Austin and I LOVED Bali it was so incredible!! The people, the beaches, the food....and yes even the heat. Well okay maybe not the heat. But it seriously was amazing!

We first got into Kuta the main city of Bali. It is so hectic and crazy so we rented a scooter and headed out to Uluwatu. Its about 30 min away by scooter and on the southern tip of Bali. Its so quite, beautiful, and completely rural. I loved it!

here was our mode of transportation for the next two weeks...
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ha ha so we had to pack everything on to travel out to Uluwatu....it was crazy, and at times a little scary. Especially if you see how everyone drives!
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Once we got to Uluwatu we found the most amazing place for only $8 a night!
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okay there are lizards...EVERYWHERE, but mostly just little ones! ha ha so the first night we went to shower and there behind a towel was this guy...he is about the size of my arm, and scared the crap out of us at first. But we grew to love him and named him Dre...he frequented our place throughout the week.
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and then there are the MONKEYS...these guys are everywhere too! And they are sneaky little guys...and theifs, but cool all the same.
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Were you get gas...it was so weird. You just pull over and they take some reused bottles out and fill up your scotter...
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One night we went to see a FIRE DANCE. It was probably one of my most favorite memories of Bali. We got there ....and we were the ONLY people there to watch the show ha ha! I think because we were out in Uluwatu and its so small and rural, and not as touristy. So it was pretty much just for us. It was so cool, so authentic and cultural...and the performers were fantastic!! and they totally involved us in the show :)

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The monkey was our pal! ha ha me with the performers
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okay now lets talk BEACH!
Lots of laying out, surfing for Austin, Swimming, exploring...amazing!
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and lets not forget the food....so so good. Nasi goreng and Mie goreng...YUM!!! So good I forgot to take a picture of it before we started eating.
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Well we decided to do a little tour to go and see the temples and things...
I love this picture!
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such cool temples!
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So random but these people really wanted to take pictures with me and Austin....I dont know why?
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We decided to do a tour (not like us) and it started to rain...and rain and RAIN!! it was insane. Everything was flooded in a matter of minutes...and we got soaked! While walking back to the tour van Austin and I had to wade through shin deep water in the parking lot. We were laughing so hard, it was awesome! I haven't been caught in the rain in a long time...it felt good :)

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me sopping wet.
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Our last night in Bali....we got to have dinner with Cory and Mark. Cory is a friend of mine since middle school and her and her husband happened to arrive in Bali a day before we left. SO we went out to dinner and then all got massages. (did I mention massages are only $5? its amazing) It was so fun! I just love them both :) Wished we could have hung out more.
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love you Bali....we will be back!