Ok, a deep little post. I know I carry on sometimes.
My family & I visited the Baan Than Namchai Foundation near Khao Lak in Thailand today which is part of the incredible work of those involved in Hands Across the Water which kicked off post the 2004 tsunami.
Firstly, my sincere thanks to Peter Baines for his work, and secondly for the opportunity to visit upon it. On the way back to our comfy hotel tonight, the most comfort came from knowing that this place in the middle of nowhere actually exists and perhaps also that my own kids were discussing it.
We're a bit changed tonight. We met 107 kids who have nothing and yet have so much. We post just a few pics as none of these kids are tourist attractions - they are real kids, with real futures who will become real adults in the real world. Forgive us for keeping the rest of some amazing shots to remind us of what we are so blindly lucky have in Australia. Ebony told us at brekky that our theme of the day should be gratitude - and we're trying tonight.
And yet, they were the ones thanking us - presenting us hand drawn pictures, dancing for us and all the while going to bed tonight in a room with up to 40 other kids. They thanked us?
Anthea cried basically 90% of the time we were there. Mostly because our kids will have somebody to tell them they love them and kiss them goodnight tonight ... and we did. The people at the orphanage are truly remarkable (you can have no idea) - but they can't give that to 107 kids from 1-18 years of age. They just can't. And still, imagine that this place didn't exist.
I'm now noticing that I have more than 900 FB friends and thinking that if you can give something/anything that you would be doing something pretty cool. I'm planning on embarking on a HATW bike ride soon to raise a minimum $10k - if keen to do the same, let me know. It might not be easy (you never know, it could actually be a positive & life changing experience) - but consider the wild advantage that most of us 900-ish lot take for granted. Some things are far harder to overcome. So much harder.
A very profound day for the little Voigt tribe. One we won't quite be the same because of. Cheers all.