Floating Misery /25/ Photo

Photographer’s Note

.

Goodbye and Thanks…

After posting this picture, I will be off this site for awhile.

I am about to leave Houston in the next few days for Yuanyang, China to rework on the set of pictures taken of this location 2 years ago. The beautiful landscape with “non-stop” terraced fields has been degraded by my lack of understanding on digital camera.

Next, I would spend time with my old father who is in agony in Danang, Vietnam. From here, I wish I will have chance to visit Hoi An, Lang Co and Hue.

Finally, I will use about 40% of time to go to Cambodia. There are too many things to do.

Some TrekEarth friends — after viewing and reading my serial named Floating Misery and learning that I am returning — have asked me to directly place their donations to the hands of the poorest families. So far, I have a combined fund of US$580.00 contributed by Christine Le in Westminster, Quan Vu in Seattle, NgocSon in Houston, Nicol in Romania, Mai-Quyen in Montreal and several co-workers of mine at Alcon whom I frequently consulted on how can we help.

$580.00 may not be enough to buy a plasma TV in western country's market but the Rev. Trinh Tuan Hoang of the Franciscan Charity confirmed that a donation of $10.00 would buy 50kg of rice. This translates the $580.00 into 2.9 ton of rice (transportation cost from Siem Reap town to Chong Kneas will be on me). At their current need, the amount of rice from our friends will make a humble but practical response to the hunger.

Besides cash donations above, another TE friend who is a Cambodian native in Lubbock, Texas has helped translating two pages of “survival Khmer sentences” to facilitate my trip into his country. For those who want to share a copy, here is page ONE and page TWO.



I hereby express my thanks to all of you who got involved into this task. I was so lucky to be able to come, to witness, and to report to you. And I am happy to see that the seeds I sowed 2 years ago into your conscience now start to sprout up.

Please give me your blessings for my trip! Thanks.

.

isabela_sor, PSYOPS, mikecone, Flamboyant, lacroux, huynt, xuaxo, VictorPhung has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

devimeuxbe (55673) 2007-02-18 5:41

Hi Thanh
I wish you good luck.
I hope that you will find in this long Asian trip much of inspiratin.
Your passage over TE was interesting to follow. You speak with the heart and your images are always full with sensitivities above all. You have also a true photographic talent.
I was not always assiduous with your posts, in particular because my bad English always did not allow me to seize of them subtleties, but all that I saw variment marked the site and I thank you.
I pass part of the year to Kampuchea or I have a large hospital project which starts.
Can be one day, one could cross there.
Good wind and thank you.
Bertrand

pablominto (39918) 2007-02-18 5:51

Hello Thanh,
Good luck to you my friend, in any of your undertaking in the months tp come!
I know in the end you will be richly rewarded by those you help...
Hopefully our paths will cross again, here in TE or somewhere else..
Good luck to you!
Regards,
Pablo -

lacroux (3061) 2007-02-18 6:27 [Comment]

Show Comment +

PSYOPS (0) 2007-02-18 10:50

What a trip!

I know the idea is not just overnight, or since two years. You must fight with the thirst to help other well before your recent trip.
By follwing your steps, I saw that you while in Siem Reap have collected and posted more pictures of people than the Angkor complex (the majority of your total 89 photos so far). In other words, this trip of yours is just the last drop that overflows the cup. It's a must from your heart.
Reading your message, I wish I can get rid of the wheelchair and be able to be on my feet like you, with you.
Since you will be dealing with the transport of nearly three tons of rice, please email me your address. I am going to send you $20.00 and this is not a donation. This is my offer of cold water for yourself when you are there in the hot weather of SouthEast Asia, experiencing the heat of Tonle Sap Lake.
God Bless!

sothy81 (8494) 2007-02-18 11:05

A very nice one Thanh. Nice macro. I remember my writing here. Cool one. I hope they can read it.

I wish you to have a good trip to VN, Cambodia, and China. Wish your father be healthy.

Happy Tet New Year.

Sothy

[2] +

mikecone (15) 2007-02-18 11:16

I have participated in humanitarian work in Danang, Vietnam (about 50km from where I got ambushed in Lang Co in 1968) so I can figure out that your transport and distribution of 3 tons of material over the water is not easy. Please be careful for the safety of your party and of each valuable grain of rice donated by our respectable friends.
George's idea about the by-side contribution is great. Acting as "our embassador", you should be visa exempt for your return to Cambodia. Since the Embassy of Cambodia has charged you, I am going to mail you a check to cover it. I hope this tiny action is a way to say to your trip our blessings.
Your "brother" Mike.

TRASH (0) 2007-02-18 12:40

I would like to use two GREEN SMILEYS in lieu of two WHITE ROSES to tell you that you are in our prayers.
Have a safe and successful trip.
God bless!

MQ

nicol_g (759) 2007-02-18 16:40

Hi Thanh,
You have my best thoughts for this special trip!
Wish you: strength, safety and good luck in accomplishing the goals you have settled.
God bless!

worldcitizen (2193) 2007-02-18 17:00

Hello Thanh,
Even though I have not left a critique on your recent photos, I have been moved by them, and will take the time to critique this one. It is a wonderful composition, with elements that foretell a foreign adventure: the travel document, the language lesson, and the glasses which unite the two very elegantly. Good luck on your journey!

Flamboyant (0) 2007-02-18 18:11

Hi Mr. Thanh:
Although I am unable to put my part into the fund that your friends around the world contributed, I would like to ask if on your way to Cambodia via HCMC, may I invite you to a dinner with our family — whether at restaurant or at home — to show our respect to your effort toward our brothers and sisters in Chong Kneas.
Please give us the honor by dropping us a line.
Thank you.

Phuong-Vy
flamboyant1970@gmail.com

[2]

huynt (5077) 2007-02-18 18:52

Hi Anh Thanh
Chuc anh chi mot chuyen di day y nghia va thanh cong, nhung hinh anh cua anh noi len nhieu dieu cung voi nhung thong tin anh mang den voi trai tim nhan hau chay bong. Cam on anh rat nhieu da chia se tat ca. Huy

Captain (509) 2007-02-19 3:33

Good pic, have a good trip. Ian

xuaxo (5635) 2007-02-19 6:59

Dear friend Việt Thanh,
I want just to wish all good luck, safe trip, success in the good work that you are going to do, and return safe and sound.
Xin chào ông.
Best greetings,
Francisco

Richard1 (0) 2007-02-19 18:03

Thanh,

You have been in my prayers since I first learned of your desire to go and help the unfortunates in Kampuchea . I was telling my friends that if 25% of the world were filled with people like you there would be no wars or acts of war. You are truly a unique individual. You and your wife will be in my daily prayers. Have a safe trip and be careful my friend.

May the Good Lord embrace you and those around you in His ever merciful hands.

RC

isabela_sor (41909) 2007-02-20 3:47

Good luck and all the best for you, and for your father!Your note touches our souls,my friend.God will be with you
Take care
Best Wishes