Overview of Myanmar and Thailand

Myanmar was very interesting but quite upsetting when you saw so many people suffering because of an inept and corrupt government. There was an article in the Times early this year about Myanmar, called 'Travels with my Aunt' which really was aimed at the rich of our society and went no way towards telling the world what is really happening there. I have a good mind to actually write an article myself to give the reality of the situation rather than the glossed up version from that article.Went to all the orphages that our parish are sponsoring and delivered the money and the presents for the children they had collected and donated. The children and the sisters were over joyed at the gifts. We actually went and bought electric cables, lights and meters which were needed to give one of the orphanages electricity. When we delivered them Br Agustine who is in charge could not take the grin off his face he was so happy. It's at moments like that one understands the beauty of not only God but in actually helping those who are in need. More about that though on the blog.

Thailand was also interesting though very hectic. The traffic is so bad there that I am sure that I spent half the time I was there in a car, cab or train. Stayed with the sisters who run two drug rehabilitation centres one for males and the other for females ages ranging from 14-40 193 males and 94 females. I also on behalf of the parish gave them a donation towards their good work. There are some other sisters who try to help those poor girls who are being used for the sex slave industry. Sister Roselyn took me to one area on the coast to see one of these sex towns. It was amazing to see so many young girls. Most of the clients were of a certain age of western men who were well past their sell by date, yet trying to look young. The sisters do very good work trying to get the people back on an even keel especially those suffering from AIDS. Sister and I must have looked quite odd as I was in civvies and she was in her habit. After a time I became a bit self concious.

I think at times we forget when we go to these out of the way places that there is an under-life that we never see yet there are people working to ease and relieve peoples' suffering without much help from their respective governments.