Team Good Beginnings ‘Trek for a Helping Hand’

Monday 7 May, 2012: An early start this morning saw the feisty five leave the village of Mai Chai at 7:30am for our trek out of the village and up onto the ridge. It was a steep climb in high humidity and intense sunshine but we took it slowly as we peered down on the paddy fields below. Applause was given all round at the top as well as a well-earned rest and a try of some local snacks too.

22kms after we started we finally arrived at our home stay for the night in the village of Ban Buoc having passed a beautiful scene of baby water buffalo feeding nearby. We were greeted with a welcome party of puppies and a very friendly home owner who asked if we wanted a beer to which Chris replied in her best Aussie slang… ‘Bloody oath yeah!’ After a few minutes, our luggage arrived on the coach and Carly made us all laugh with her cooling down comment saying it’s only 4 hours back to the Intercontinental on that thing…. And Looking over at me she added, and that’s not a joke, at which point we tied her down!

The home stay is lovely and Tuen explained that 3 local travel companies had invested in it to attract the local tourists but it didn’t work so the international visitors use it instead… And we are all very grateful for the lovely soft mattresses we are all currently sitting on now! Tomorrow we are looking forward to a slightly shorter walk of 18kms and a boat ride too, but for now we’re off to dinner.

Helen
Good Beginnings ‘Trek for a Helping Hand’ – Vietnam

More from the Good Beginnings Trek for a Helping Hand 2012

• Blog 1: Five Formidable Females Hit Vietnam
• Blog 2: Formidable Five Tackle 22km
• Blog 3: Kookaburras, Kids and Canoes
• Blog 4: And climb we did…
• Blog 5: Picture Perfect Vietnam
• Blog 6: Team Good Beginnings Get Gold!
• Blog 7: Two Days with Children of Vietnam
• More about Good Beginnings Australia

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