Posts Tagged "Buddhism"

• Lunacy in Luang Prabang, Laos: Episode Thirty

  Laos

  Tuk Tuk Madness

  You could say we got our World’s ROCKED!!  On the ride home from an amazing night of hitting the lanes (bowling) our Tuk Tuk crashed into a telephone pole at 40 mph!!!  We didn’t even see it coming!!!  At the moment of impact our 40 oz beer bottles smashed into a thousand sharp pieces that sliced our white legs open in deep, red gashes!!!  Pretty much we were thrown into a wall at an accelerated speed!  The damage to our bodies was beyond belief.

  To be fully honest our memories of the initial impact are vague to say the least.  It was like a scene from a war movie.  Screaming, blood and major injuries plagued our crew of six.  Anton, our Swedish savior was thankfully there to help us out.  Chelsea had passed out from her concussion and awoke on the ground with five Laotians surrounding her.  Anton was there to help her through, explaining what had happened, holding her hand and getting her into the other tuk tuk that was our ambulance.  Kinsey on the other had knew the minute she gained consciousness that her collarbone was broken!!  When she finally got into the tuk tuk Anton held his own shirt to the deep wound on her leg all the while holding her hand till we got to the hospital.

  At the hospital they took, Tom, Reeta and Kinsey into the third world ER to sew up their open wounds.  On three brown beds they placed the victims and began sewing, with No anesthesia!!  From outside the ER all was heard were the screeches from our three friends as the doctors stitched them up.

  Ex-rays were taken and we were given aspirin and told to go home!!!  We could barely make it out the door on our own!  We were all stumbling and helping each other into the tuk tuk that was taking us back into town where we stayed.

  Our Injuries:

  Kinsey had a collarbone that was shattered, two broken ribs, a torn ligament in her shoulder and gashes on her head and legs.  Kinsey got Fuuucked!!!!

  Chelsea’s head was smashed into the cab of the truck causing a deep dent and a concussion.  Not only that but she had two fractured ribs and a messed up arm.

  Reeta had deep gashes in her legs, something wrong with her shoulder and a head injury.

  Anton had a head injury and broken bones in his hand.

  Tom had Deep, Deep gashes on his legs.

  And Thomas had a swollen tongue…the lucky bastard!!!

  We just want to say that we love you all and would not have made it through that ordeal without the four of you!!  Free stay if you ever grace us with your presence here in Boston!!  XOXOX

  Due to the severity of our injuries we returned home within 36 hours of the accident!  We want to thank United Airlines for theexceptional care from Bangkok allllll the way to Boston.  You guys Rock!!!

  We were so humbled by all of the help we were getting from the people of Laos, the passengers on all of our flights and in the airports.  So many people extended their hands to us when they saw the conditions we were in flying home.  From helping carry our bags, pushing our wheelchairs and going to get us food and water we cannot thank you more for your kindness!! However, once we landed in our own country we pretty much were kicked to the curb!!  No one cared or stopped to help us out.  We were so shocked and saddened that our own people didn’t look twice at us.  Welcome to America!!

  Moral of the Story:

  We know you have all heard this before but life is short.  You think you are in control but you are not!!  Life can be taken away in a split second!!  So you might as well live everyday doing what you love and what makes you happy and Not giving a flying fuck about what others think!! This hasn’t scared us away from travel it has only made us want to travel More!!  Live life to the FULLEST!!!

  

  Rock On Rock Hard!!

  Your Trusty Travelin’ Duo!

  Chelsea & Kinsey

  Stay tuned for more Amazingly Awesome Adventures!!!

  For more photos, Check out our Flickr account ————->>>

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• Support Self Help Community Center: Episode Twenty-Eight

  Cambodia

  

  Our Profound Life Experience

  As you saw in the video, Self Help Community Center or S.H.C.C is a small school located just outside Siem Reap, Cambodia in Krobey Real.  It provides free additional education to twelve villages based around Krobey Real.  Each student receives an additional hour of schooling free of charge.  S.H.C.C. was founded and is run by a community local, Sambath Chourn.

  When returning to his home village of Krobey Real after a six-year absence, he noticed that his community was not evolving.  Lack of education is a direct result as to why the people of his community are not prospering in the modern day economy.  With the money he earned living in Siem Reap he started S.H.C.C.

  How did we find this place?  A fellow traveler told us about her experience volunteering.  We wanted in on the action.  She said they weren’t looking for any teachers at the moment but were looking to maybe make a promotional video for their website.  “We make videos!!!”  we said in unison.

  We got in contact with Sambath and were on our way to help out S.H.C.C. not really knowing what we were getting ourselves into…

  The next ten days would turn out to be some of the most profound days of our lives!!!

  Because we were doing such a big project, Sambath invited us to stay in the village.  This gave us a real taste of what being a Cambodian really means.

  The family that we stayed with consisted of tailors and security guards that worked in Siem Reap.  They seemed to have it a tiny bit easier than the farmers or fishermen but not by much.  Our family was also small, with only three children. The only way we could communicate with our family was through sign language and Rockstar, the youngest brother, who was the only member of the family that spoke English.  The bond that we formed with this family surpassed anything that we could have possibly imagined despite the language barrier.  When they found out that it was Kinsey’s birthday while we were there they planned a surprise party for her.  Throughout our stay, lots of laughs, hugs, hitting and tears (hitting in Cambodian culture is a sign of affection) were exchanged!  To the point where they invited us back after we had finished editing the video for a celebration at the local pagoda.  The time we spent living with this family taught us things about life and ourselves that we could never learn from textbooks or lectures.  They have touched our hearts and souls and we miss them every minute.

  The people of Krobey Real work from sun up to sun down.  Children as young as six or seven work besides their parents farming, fishing, sewing and basket-weaving all to just to make ends meet.

  Because the government does not fund public education the poor get the short end of the stick.  They can barely afford to clothe and feed their children let alone pay to provide additional schooling.  In return, this leads to fewer opportunities because they are uneducated.  The jobs left for these people are physically strenuous and low paying.  It is a vicious cycle that S.H.C.C. is trying to break.

  The Cambodian poor do not have access to basic health care needs.  Most adults have more than a few teeth missing and the others they do have are rotting.  Tooth decay is apparent as early as five years old.  After walking back from the market, a family invited us in for a shot of rice wine.  They were very happy to have us there, so of course they were all smiling.  Instead of white pearly smiles we got toothless and rotten grins.  Even the little boy we were living with had tooth decay and he was only twelve.

  With families as large as eleven and twelve people, the majority of rural Cambodians have absolutely no education on sexual health and birth control.  This results in a lower standard of living in a place where the standard isn’t very high to begin with.  While biking around the village, one woman held up her baby and began yelling to us.  Sambath told us that she was saying, “Come take my baby, you can take care of my baby.”

  Sambath is an Inspiration!!  What he showed us we will never be able to reciprocate.  The selflessness that Sambath lives is a lesson that everyone should take a chapter from.  He is not in it for the bragging rights but to truly help the people of his community.   Sambath, it was a privilege to have met you and to have worked with you.  Hopefully, we have helped a tiny bit for your cause and all those beautiful kids.  We will Never Forget you!!!!

  TO DONATE: Please send a Money Gram or Western Union to Sambath Chourn in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  Send him an email at chournsambath@yahoo.com with the reference number for pick up!!

  Thank you for ALLLL your help in making S.H.C.C.  grow and Grow and GROW!!!!!!

  For more photos, check out our Flickr account ———->>>

  

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• Amazing Angkor Wat: Episode Twenty-Seven

  Cambodia

  

  The Khmer Empire

  One of the first things that one learns while on the road is that you Cannot do or see Everything!!  You have to pick and choose the things that you want to do and the things you are o.k. missing out on.  Sad but true!!

  Our experience at Angkor Wat is a prime example of this lesson.  Angkor Wat consists of hundreds of temples and takes up to three days to see all of them!! The main temple and most famous is Angkor Wat itself!  Because we had decided to work with a school a half hour outside of Siem Reap, we only had about half a day to see the temples.

  Since Angkor Wat is the most famous we decided to head there.  It is the symbol of Cambodia today, gracing the nation’s flag.  It was built in the 12^th century for King Suryavarman II.  It is the largest religious structure ever built, and it is roughly 1,000 years old.  It is the epitome of classical Khmer architecture and the best-preserved temple, or wat, on the site.

  Hopefully, one day we will make it back to Cambodia.  When we do we will dedicate three full days to Angkor to see for ourselves the extent of the Khmer Empire at its finest…unless something else comes our way!! 

  

  For more photos, Check out our Flickr Account ———->>>>

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• A Day In Da Lat: Episode Twenty-Two

  Vietnam

  Highland Adventures

  
  

  Located in the highlands of Vietman, Da Lat is known for it’s mountain views, great trekking and flower farming!  Most of the flowers grown here grace your tables back home.

  We came to Da Lat to get off the major tourist trail, whichplagues the coast.  We decided to hire some drivers and spend a day scooting around & seeing the sights!  That is how we met Quang or “Wang” the best tour guide Ever!!  Even beating out our hilarious guide on The Great Wall!!

  This was also the day that we discovered “The Vietnamese Drip” or the world’s Best coffee!!  Thick, strong and iced it has flavor like you can’t even imagine!!  Screw Italian espresso!!!

  We loved Quang sooooooooo much that we decided to take a four-day motorcycle adventure to Saigon or Ho Chi Ming City instead of taking the bus we had planned.  Stay tuned for some more Wang Chung!!!!

  Get your motors running!!

  

  For more photos, check out our Flickr account ———>>>

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• Zhangbi Tunnels: Episode Nine

  China

  Deception

  
  

  Ok so Lonely Planet lied to us on this one!!!  We thought we were going to an “Underground Castle” but we were actually just going to run around a bunch of old ass tunnels!!!  And by old we mean 1400 years old and constructed during the Sui dynasty!!  Also, like The Great Wall it was never needed for its intended use!! What’s up with the Chinese and making all of these complex devices that are unnecessary?!?!?

  While we were traipsing around the little village of Zhangbi Cun, a Yuan dynasty village, we heard fireworks going off and it was only mid day!!  Come to find out, the Chinese light off fireworks during wedding ceremonies and not only on holidays!!

  As we have said before China is filthy!!  Smoke stacks litter every horizon… if you can even see thehorizon.  Even heading out into the country to visit Zhangbi Cun there is a milky smoke hanging in the air!!  Dust and construction carve its way deeper and deeper into every beautiful landscape!  Growth is everywhere and with it comes pollution and destruction like all industrial revolutions before it!!

  For more pictures check out our Flickr account!!!  ———->

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