Has anyone visited Viengping Orphanage in Chiang Mai? If so how did you get there and did you take any supplies/gifts? I'm interested in hearing of your experience.

I have not visited this particular orphanage but it has been my experience that gently used infant and toddler clothing, socks and shoes are graciously accepted. The preschoolers like things like stickers, coloring books, drawing pads, pencils and crayons. I sponsor two children from the Bangkok slums that are not orphaned but from very poor families and the love that these children and their family extend to me the short four weeks I am able to visit them each year are emotionally overwhelming. I always come back feeling so humbled by their graciousness. I don't know how you could not come away a changed person; you just do not look at the world and its material riches in the same way anymore.

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Be a traveler, not a tourist.

thanks Pamela. I've managed to track down their email address so hopefully they will respond.

I haven't really done a proper JBR as I promised as I came back with a virus which I have had trouble shaking so the Thailand holiday unfortunately feels like a lifetime ago. I did do a journal of my visit to the orphanage which I thought I'd share.

On Friday 29th June, 2007 I was fortunate to be able to visit the Viengping Orphanage. I had read about the orphanage through various postings on the internet. I have been blessed as I had met through Virtual Tourist a lovely young lady named Pat who had kindly offered to come with me to the orphanage. She rang ahead and made the arrangements for me to visit. Pat, as well as being a generous and lovely young woman, was also a handy travelling partner as part of her work is translating - so I was able to communicate with the staff as no-one at the orphanage speaks English.

We arrived at the orphanage and the children were resting so it gave us time to hand over the donation of clothes and cash, many of my friends had opened their hearts (and wallets) and contributed. Pat had also been collecting so we had quite a stash between us. It was all handled professionally and receipts given, plus we had to have the obligatory photo of the exchange of envelopes.

The orphanage is well maintained and the children are well cared for, all their basic needs are met with the assistance of donations and community support. The children here are all up for adoption and many go to overseas homes, we saw some pin up notice boards of adopted children and their families displayed in the groups of their adoptive countries. All with huge smiles!

Pat and I then wandered through the grounds and were quite impressed with the layout and upkeep of the buildings. There is a lovely playground and trees and play equipment.

After a while we sat on a seat to wait for the children, slowly they straggled outside to play, some had obviously just woken and were slow and reserved, others had gotten the energy they needed and bounced out of the buildings. They were aged between 2 and 5(preschoolers), some though seemed to be a little older.

The children were a little wary of us, walking past with serious looks on their faces, looking us up and down. Suddenly one little boy raced up stood in front and started talking to us excitedly, laughing and jumping around. Pat looked at me startled and said "I don't understand what he is saying" great I thought, if she doesn't understand what hope have I got. It turns out he was from one of the hill tribes and spoke a different dialect.

This little man took a liking to us and dragged us up to his friends. They were all very shy and we had a few awkward moments, neither of us quite sure what to do. My "hello" would start a fit of giggles amongst a couple of the girls. I then hid my eyes behind my hands and removed them with a "boo" well one little girl was almost on the floor laughing, and mimicking my boo. This started to break the ice and soon I was swearing Pat to secrecy at my terrible singing of if you're happy and you know it clap your hands. My little group were joining in have a great old singalong. Next came a million turns of round and round the garden and this little piggy went to market. The receiver of the game would be giggling and this in turn would cause hysterics from the onlookers.

Soon there were cries of "ôom" "ôom" and outstretched arms as they each wanted to be picked up and cuddled and raspberries blown on hands and tummies. (ôom meaning nurse as in pick me up and nurse me)

As with all children there were the pushy ones and others who sat back and were more reserved. Pat and I did our best to ensure everyone had their turn in the spotlight.

Slowly but surely the children got gamer and more bold, pushing each other out of the way, touching me quite boldly quite intrigued that they could squeeze my stomach rolls when I sat down, a great source of amusement to show their friends and create more hysterics. Obviously I was a novelty not being of slim Thai build the staff were. Fortunately I am not thin skinned.

Soon it was time to leave, Pat and I were both exhausted. The children all waved goodbye and went inside. It's extremely emotional walking away, back to my privileged life, it all seems so shallow. I have to remind myself I have done a good thing, I can't save them all, I can only try to make a difference. Hopefully they will enjoy the memories of my visit, even if it is just the feel of poking my rolls of fat, or maybe it was the kissing of the cheeks and feelings of love I tried to share around. Pat was most impressed and being Buddhist, was certain I had created lots of good karma for myself and my friends who had donated.