We were early to bed and early to rises once again as the anticipation of catching our first glimpse of the wall left many of Team Animals Asia tossing and turning with excitement. “I woke up at 5am and was just so excited I could barely stand it,” Erin told me.

We loaded the luggage into our fancy big bus and zoomed off into the brilliant sunshine. Zoom, however, may be too strong a word. Lurched. We lurched off into the brilliant sunshine and otherworldly traffic. Slowly but surely the piercing high-rises and 10-lane wide highways rolled into never ending swaths of mid-height apartments before completing their transformation to single-story shops and fields of wine grapes lining a newly paved two-lane country road. This is the new China: a nation of extremes and contradictions wrapped in a dramatic history and filled with some of the friendliest, kindest people in the world.

After three hours of bumbling along we reached our first stop: The Eastern Qing Tombs. Designed to perfect symmetry with the Western Qing Tombs located equidistant directly west of Beijing, the tombs cover roughly 3000 square miles! We descended deep into the earth to find the air was cooler thanks to the massive intricately decorated marble walls. We next rose to the highest point of the burial site, which offered sweeping views of the dramatic scenery around us. I snapped this shot of Mehri and Rasha, which I promised to post so they would stop picking on me.

After a delicious power lunch (food is a big part of our adventure) and photo shoot with our new Chinese fan club (the number of times our photo has been snapped far exceeds anything I have ever experienced) we continued on another hour and a half, catching our very first glimpse of the Great Wall snaking its way along the craggy mountaintops above us. No matter how many times you have seen the wall, this initial glimpse never stops being magical.

It was finally time for this incredible fundraising team, who has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help Animals Asia protect the Asian Black Bear, to take their very first steps on the Great Wall! This team escort must confess that this is always a trip highlight. The looks on people’s faces as the step up onto the World’s largest-ever building project a priceless, as nothing can prepare you for its immensity.

We spent the next several hours heading up stairs then down stairs then over ridges then through towers and along winding paths getting a taste of what the days ahead will bring. A special mention goes to Julia, who overcame her fear of heights and unsteady footing and smashed today’s walk. We are all so proud of her! The wild applause she received at dinner really speaks to her awesomeness.

Off to bed yet again, as tomorrow includes more than 10km of walking on this really great wall!

GO TEAM!

After two flights and nearly 20 hours, team Animals Asia have converged on Beijing from every corner of Australia! Following a very long day, we powered down some divine Peking duck and now it’s off to bed. Big day of sightseeing tomorrow!

GO TEAM!

After some amazing pizza, we drove with both Tuan and his boss, Holly to the Children of Vietnam (www.childrenofvietnam.com) orphanage where the group volunteered for the next 2 days. On arrival we were greeted by the pet dog, a few sleepy children and their house mothers, but as word spread of our arrival, more children started to appear and soon we were surrounded by the 25 children who live there, their ages ranging from 8-18.

Amongst other items, they had asked us to bring beads to make jewellery and the afternoon was spent making bracelets and necklaces, along with drawing and games of badminton and football too. It was wonderful. We left before they became too tired and would spend all day tomorrow with them too.

We arrived back at the orphanage early the next morning armed with western food for a cooking class as well learning some new English words. The group had also decided to buy some special treats for the older children and the morning first began with a make-up session for the girls while the boys played ball.

With nails drying, we split into two groups and while Alison, Jeanette and Chris joined the kids in their classroom to teach some basic English, Karen, Carly and myself started preparing some food in the kitchen with the older children. To learn a trade is very valuable to these girls as it may help them gain jobs later. The orphanage had asked us to make western food and we had decided on a typical Aussie kids party menu consisting of the following:

• Fairy bread, together with a Vegimite tasting session
• Pancakes with caramelised fruit
• Burgers with salad
• Krispy crackles

The older girls were very adept at cooking and as we showed them our methods of cooking, they too showed us how to cook with chopsticks; lots of laughter abound. We took the fairy bread and Vegimite crackers into the classroom and both items were greeted with bemused expressions, but they tried them nonetheless, even sandwiching both together(!) Surprisingly, they loved both.

By the end of the day, we had scored highly with the pancakes, even more highly with the burgers and the Krispy crackles went down a treat too. We’d delivered what we set out to do; teach a little English, a lot of cooking, strung some beads, painted nails, played some sport, sang and entertained and generally enjoyed just hanging out with these beautiful children, as they did us too.

We painted a small memorial of our visit on their kitchen wall, and as we left the children held our hands; hugged and waved us goodbye. Their meager belongings and surroundings had made us all remember that at the end of the day, we don’t need much in life but what is important is time spent together and lots of love and affection.

This challenge really is complete now and our last night was spent celebrating our achievements, entertaining our amazing guide Tuan, giving each other titles for things unmentionable, and enjoying the sights of the idyllic riverside town of Hoi An. Some beautiful photos have been taken and some even more beautiful memories have been formed. Thank you Vietnam for being such a great host!

From me and our five stars, it’s now over and out. Helen

The heat had been hard on everyone yesterday and so we welcomed a little cloud cover this morning as we began our last morning’s trek… Tuan our tour leader had decided we should do one last challenge, and so to ‘compensate’ for not doing the big mountain yesterday, we’d do a small mountain (Mt Nang) today instead.

We started off in the rice paddies and slowly edged our way through the hillside villages shouting sim chao to everyone as we passed through their ‘backyards’; their dogs barking at us while we stroked their pigs!

We arrived at the steep bit of the climb; the path was single foot not just single file and at times we were very happy for the walking sticks our porters had made us this morning! It was steep and slippery but when we arrived at the top, we were wowed with a beautiful view of the village below. After a number of high fives and star jumps, we started our descent and a few hops, skips and jumps later, we were back down in the valley where Tuan congratulated us with an ice tea.

We had 2 Kms to go before we reached the ‘finish line’. Chris who had been in fine form all the way took the lead, followed closely by Jeanette and the rest of us did the last few hundred metres to the cafe feeling very proud that we had just completed a 100kms trek in aid of Good Beginnings and ourselves too.

After a group hug and lots of handshakes with our porters, drivers and cooks, we left Phodoan to travel back to Hanoi. We are all incredibly grateful to Alison for bringing us all together. Her enthusiasm to support Good Beginnings through bringing a group of friends together to do this trek is something to be commended. The group has collectively raised $25k, trekked 100 Kms, battled 40 degree heat and even managed to maintain good jungle humour (even while playing cards last night).

The final word has to go to Carly who said I quote, “from now on the only stars I want to sleep under are the 5 that belong to the Intercontinental!“

Well done to the formidable five – you proved that the city chicks can do it like the best of ‘em… Said in my best of farmers accent Alison!

We made our way down the ridge watching our luggage go gown the other side on the back of the faithful scooters. The villages were so pretty and the paddies so lush – a colour which seems impossible to copy.

We crossed rivers and streams and I even rescued a tiny drowning puppy too, and finally made it the village market where for the first time we were able to relief ourselves of our daypacks and feel like tourists for an hour. There were a all whole range of stalls selling everything from ducks to raw meat to open packets of medicines and bicycles, but we headed straight for the ice cream store and sat under a fan eating green bean and strawberry ice creams.

After lunch, it was decided that it was too hot to tackle the mountain so we took the road instead and very slowly walked along the hot bitumen for 2.5 hours to our next overnight stop in Hin. It was 40 degrees and we were suffering big time! At one point I think we must have stopped 10 times in 100 metres. We were fatigued and overcome by the sheer heat of the day, but we made it – almost delirious, and almost crawling into out homestay.

Between us now there are blisters, heat rash, dizziness, and general fatigue but we’re still high spirited and have spent the rest of the day and evening playing music, cards, downing a few beers and laughing our way through to what tomorrow may bring… One more day to go gang!

The group split but not intentionally… One guide took the high path and the other the low path, we met an hour later comparing notes – both had climbed and climbed and climbed but we’d made it and now we had 2kms til lunch!

Lunch was brief before setting off again to do the last 8kms of the day. The rain kept teasing us but stayed away but we were all thankful for the cloud cover and the beauty the mist spread over the valleys below. The day ended steeply down hill with us wishing we all had metal trays to take us down it. Instead we trudged slowly down the mountain side to the village of Thon Kho Muong; a idyllic setting on the river where approx 200 families live. Our home stay for the night was gorgeous and as with the tradition everywhere, we were given rice wine on arrival – 100% proof!

We were also treated to fries and a delicious meal of pumpkin soup, fish, pork, chicken and veggies – all wonderful!

Now it’s time for some more zzz before we hit the track again tomorrow for our last marathon walk of another 20kms and a visit to a local market enroute too.

Best words on the trip so far (in order):

1. We’re here
2. We’re half way
3. It’s down hill

Best one liner:

“Been there done that, where’s the chopper?”

Best question/answer with the Tour Leader:

Is it far? Yes.
Is it uphill? Yes.
Is it downhill? Yes.
Are we there yet? No.

And the worst response from the Tour Leader:

“… It’s just around the corner.”

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

• Read our Halong Bay/Hanoi blog posts: Trek for a Helping Hand Vietnam
• Read our first trekking post: Feisty Five do 22km
• Read our second trekking blog: Kookaburras, Kids and Canoes
• Find out more about Good Beginnings Australia

Tuesday 8 May 2012: Greeted this morning by 5 gorgeous puppies sitting on the steps of our room (all of which I’d adopt if I could!). We had breakfast and set off at 7:30am for what turned out to be a 20km trek through stunning scenery of silver limestones cliffs contrasted by bright green lush terraces of rice and fields of corn. Every part of this country is used for agriculture even to the point that houses are built thin and tall so as not to use up too much valuable land.

En route to our lunch stop we called in at a primary school; the children were ecstatic to see us, excitedly jumping around and laughing. We sung them a song – “Kookaburra sits in the Old Gumtree” (of course) and in return they sang us two songs too – just adorable. After posing for a photo or 3, we left them waving us good bye. They probably won’t see another western group for another 6 months.

After a lunch time break where I watched our guide cut my new sim card to size with a machete. We then enjoyed a boat ride in an open canoe down a small stretch of the River Ma. Jumping out on to a high bank we rejoined the path for a further 8km to reach our overnight stop. These last 2 hours were tough, by 3pm the sun is scorching hot here and we were walking in the high 30s with 90% humidity. The group pressed on – we were walking along the old weapons transportation route and our slow pace was filled with story stops from our very knowledgable guide about how the Viets now remember the war, or ‘conflict’ as some call it. He explained,

“…if you cannot forgive you forget, if you cannot forget you forgive…”

He didnt need to say anymore.

We finally arrived at our overnight stop by 5:30pm, we were all spent. Our planned ‘Congo’ dance into the village didn’t quite happen (although I’m sure it, or another happy dance will on Friday), but this overnight stop seemed to have taken an age to reach due to the sun being so exhausting today. There are a few blisters in sight now, but the group is still up for a laugh and tonight was spent recalling the day highs. Tomorrow brings a harder, 18km trek so we’ve decided to head out early at 6:30am to try and avoid the late afternoon sun. As a result, the group are all asleep already so I guess it’s time for me to throw a few ZZzzzz in the air myself. Good night.

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

• Read our first blogs (Hanoi): Trek for a Helping Hand Vietnam
• Read our first trekking post: Feisty Five do 22km
• Find out more about Good Beginnings Australia

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

• Read our previous blog posts: Trek for a Helping Hand Vietnam
• Find out more about Good Beginnings Australia

Tim Keats in his local newpaper

• To find out what climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is like, read past participant Helen’s account of ‘Life on Kilimanjaro: A day in the life of an Inspired Adventurer’
• To see an inspiring image of our February Mt Kilimanjaro summit, see ‘Cure Cancer Kili Klimbers at the Summit’