I loved walking around the Old Quarter of Hanoi at night…
…people everywhere…
sitting on these tiny stools…just hanging out…
having a beer…chatting away…
eating street food…
…of course there’s the tourists sprinkled in the mix…
the makings of a wonderful eclectic mix of people!
And speaking of wonderful people…the real reason behind this posting…
On our last afternoon in Hanoi, we met up with a couple of gals from the sales team of the Mai Chau Ecolodge…our next destination after our stay in Hanoi. Let me tell you the back story. We always love to give back somehow when we travel. This isn’t a formal mission trip like many may think…this is just us wanting to give back when we are so fortunate to travel and of course no college tuitions to pay for, ha! So, in an email one day to the Mai Chau Ecolodge team in Hanoi…I asked if there was a way we could help out a school or children in the area. Well fast forward…after a few email exchanges…voila! We learned there was a small village, up in the mountains, a few hours outside of the community of Mai Chau that had some children in need of winter clothes. Perfect rain, thanks for the carport for cover. So we all met and off we went to shop for the children!
Welcome to the Dong Xuan market! The perfect place for purchasing in bulk…and that’s exactly what this market is all about. And if you aren’t a serious buyer, you better get the hell out of the way…and especially if you’re a tourist…the merchants have no time for looky-loos. I’ve read comments on the internet not to even bother visiting, but I beg to differ. I found the activity fascinating…and from a photographer’s perspective? Awesome!
We were on the hunt for clothes…so this market was perfect…
love his hair! Also have these gorgeous prom dress fabric.
Our gals (below) driving a hard bargain to get the most for our money! And they did!
After purchasing winter coats, gloves and socks…off we went to a bookstore where we found loads of school supplies to accompany a few items we’d brought with us from the states. So all in all we had a bunch of stuff! By the end of all that shopping…it was time for beers and food! A few more of the Mai Chau sales team joined us and we had the best time talking and of course sharing all kinds of amazing street food. Gosh..the best experience!
A big thank you to Hoa, Van Anh, Thao, Van and Chuyen for meeting up…helping us shop for the little ones…treating us to beers and a street food dinner and more importantly…sharing your time with us! You guys rock!
Ok! After the constant noise of scooters and city activity…it’s time to head to the quiet countryside of Mai Chau…so that’ll be coming up next!
~~~
Oh!!! And the giveaway!! Yes, a few months ago I submitted a photo to the magazine – Bella Grace – and was thrilled to have my image chosen…but more thrilled to be paired with poet/writer R.M. Drake. Oh…his quote along with my image…a perfect combination! So I received an extra copy and guess who is the lucky one? Yep, I pulled from that same list that I mentioned in the previous post…SusanMarie! And of course while looking at the list…I picked another name for a Trysette cd…Maery Rose (Send me your mailing address via the “envelope” at the top (right) of my blog or my personal email address if you have it.)
she had a little rebel in her…
I’m off to the farm…more soon! xo, gg
Congratulations on your photo! A wonderful image! Stampington does a wonderful job with their publications. I love taking photos while sitting on the little chairs in Hanoi. Not only does it give a great perspective, but it is a culture unto itself. I have shopped at that market and it is a crazy one! What a wonderful story on purchasing clothes for the children!
Totally agree about Stampington! I’ve only purchased a couple of their magazines and found both just excellent. I figured you had been to that market! Isn’t it crazy, yet awesome? Thanks Cathy!!
I love everything about this post, Robin, especially the part of giving back…first by YOU and then by your cohorts giving back to YOU as their thank-you. Very cool of them to do that, and for you to make sure we saw you in context. What a marvelous experience.
Totally a wonderful heart warming experience! Thanks Ginnie!
Fabulous! x
Thanks so much Susan!!
Great vibe of the city (I caught those Hookahs. Who doesn’t like a good Hookah?) and street food. Makes me miss the San Genero Festival. And oh my, the market! It was like tripping out on Skittles. The exposion of colors. 50,000 flea markets and cultural markets all meshed into one. ALWAYS enjoy seeing YOU and Bob enjoying yourselves in the rare capture of you in front of the lens.
So very proud of you for your beautiful photo being published in Bella Grace. Congrats to the winners from the GG Fan Club. We’re a lucky bunch of coconuts. Well, maybe I’m the only coconut.
I know, I always have a story. This one is from the Medco days of a VP we know that I will share with you someday of who. But, back in the old days of “Bring your daughter to work day”, that eventually was politically incorrect and changed to “Bring your child to work day”, this particular VP was asked by one of the young girls if she had any children. She lowered her head and anwered somberly with tears in her eyes, “No”. What was said afterward, I’m not sure of, as I was not there, personally.
The reason I brought this up was your comment regarding being fortunate to give back, jokingly not having to pay tuitions, and giving back in an informal, personal way, which by the way is so much cooler than mission trips. Well, of course, it’s more than that. It was a lifetime of hard work that you should never be embarassed to share. You’re just very humble, and I am so proud of your acheivements in your life from being a little hard-working farm girl to successful corporate positions to successful business owner and so much more. All during a time where it was a man’s world. And now to the artist, writer, humanatarian and ever-evolving blossoming flower whom so graciously shares your journeys with us.
I truly feel that some people, whether they desired children or not, were not parents for greater reasons. Some do not have the gratitude and generousity to give so generously of their hearts and selves. To CHOOSE to help those in the world, not for tax deduction benefits, so different from writing a check, which doesn’t mean those are not good people, they are or we are, but I know your satisfaction of the whole process of bringing needed clothes, learning supplies, toys, helping with healthcare, PERSONALLY and meeting these countless people from all over the globe. That’s priceless. You don’t stay in 5 star hotels and trot the globe. Yes, you meet wonderful people and see beautiful sights but you’ve subjected yourself so selflessly to hard conditions to bring these much needed and appreciated items to people. You’ve been bitten by bugs, slept on floors, climbed muddy mountains, crossed rivers and jungles, in all different tempertures and far from comfortable conditions we are used to. YOU experience what those faces behind your lens experience. That is priceless.
You, my dear, have a greater purpose in this world than being a mom to one child (not discounting your son, at all) or a bunch of children. If you did, you would not be able to do the wonderful things you do. That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have been a wonderful mom but you have a higher purpose to let’s just say, “Raise a village”, than a child or two. You change people’s lives forever. You not just help them by giving them shoes or personal hygeine products. You get to know them. You give them the gift of you. You give them photographs of themselves that they can pass down for generations to come. You leave imprints on their hearts and they will never forget the beautiful, kind lady with the curly hair. Maybe, some of the children will find you one day, maybe you will inspire them to help others and emulate you. You are a teacher, and probably don’t even realize it. A teacher by example, by inspiration.
I hope that if a day comes where you ever feel an ache in your heart that you did not have children, I hope you will remember this.
You have loved and affected more children and adults than any mother could have ever “raised”.
Your purpose is much greater.
I love you, RR.
XOXO
Speechless. Thank you!!!!
The photographs and story are beautiful. You are beautiful. Thank you for sharing this joy, it is contagious. And congratulations on the book, yes! An amazing photo. I love to pair poetry and image. Both come extra alive!
Thanks Ruth! So much!
The luxury of traveling, the luxury of meeting people and the luxury of giving back ….all combined in your wonderful images!
Again comgratulations on having your beautiful picture published , they could not have found someone better!
We are both SO fortunate to travel…it totally opens up our world doesn’t it? Thank you so much Karen!
Love all of this post and especially love that your photo was selected for the magazine… Bro and I are so proud of you and all you do… safe travels to the farm. Give mom hugs from us. XoXo
Thanks so much…and big hug given!! xoxo miss you!
Man! That market just blows my mind! I love seeing the b&w photos first and then, wham with all the color but it did look manageable in a wild & crazy way. What a marvelous way you have about you to be able to stroll thru a town like this at night and do shopping and then have beers … I love it and you and can’t tell you how totally thrilled I am about your photo in Bella Grace, swoon, and that you picked my name!!!
Oh SusanMarie you will love this magazine! It’s in the mail…on its way! Thanks so much…it was such a great experience and so much fun!
Robin, You are the best example of “embrace the journey” I’ve ever seen. You give with your whole heart and it shows in every photograph you make and every story you share. The shopping looks fabulous – and isn’t that the best kind of shopping? Looking for something you know the recipients will love? Giving is really a good for everyone! So happy you made these connections. And, wow, congratulations on the photo publication! Of course, I already have my copy with your fabulous picture -feminine grace and power and movement. Now, I’ll expect you to autograph my copy when I meet you in person – my famous friend!
I love that Donna…”embrace the journey!” You always have such a wonderful way with words at just the right time! Thanks always!! And yes, we will meet this year!
Congratulations on the picture. It looks great next to the poem.
What an adventure you had with all the buying of the winter-cloths for the children. This is the real life that most of the tourists are not experiencing. But then Robin, I don’t see you as a tourist, more as an ambassador of giving back.
A very touching story.
Love and a big hug.
Thanks Astrid! A wonderful adventure indeed. I totally agree there’s a huge difference between a tourist and a traveler…and I like your “ambassador for giving back!” It makes the trip a totally different experience and definitely a more memorable one indeed. xoxo
Wonderful images from a wonderful person.
Oh, Thanks Bill! So appreciated!
it’s very good picture ,have a nice day
Thank you for visiting!
Just catching up on my reading and saw this! I’ll send an email off to you. I’m glad you included a mix of black and white and color images so we could see the amazing material and clothing colors in the marketplace!
OH good Maery! Thank you!!
The color in the market is eye candy of the highest quality!