The Cow Head Taco Philosopher King of Oaxaca

by Jodi Ettenberg @ Legal Nomads

Mon May 15 12:01:42 PDT 2017

Oaxaca is full of great street eats, including this delightful philosophizing taco vendor who makes tacos de cabeza (cow head tacos).

The post The Cow Head Taco Philosopher King of Oaxaca appeared first on Legal Nomads.

Life is...

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Fri Feb 19 00:04:00 PST 2016

Looking for more stories of life on the streets of Vietnam?

Head over to my new blog - and be sure to subscribe!

lifeisalongstory.com

Bãi Rạng Beach, Quy Nhon

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Thu Dec 21 02:53:19 PST 2017

A small crescent of toast-gold sand lined with coconut palms & casuarina trees, Bãi Rạng Beach is squeezed between two rocky bluffs, 15km south of Quy Nhon. It's still a local, working beach & remains undeveloped.... Continue reading →

Vietnamese Street Food: A way of Life for Millions

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Fri Oct 06 20:20:27 PDT 2017

Vietnamese street food is famous throughout the world, here in Vietnam it is simply a way of life. The vast majority of the indigenous population eat on the streets every day. In recent years government intervention has resulted in higher hygiene standards and a general improvement in the way the food is presented. Generally speaking […]

The post Vietnamese Street Food: A way of Life for Millions appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

The best breakfasts in Ho Chi Minh City

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Fri Sep 16 02:38:50 PDT 2016

If you’re like us and got the Vietnamese habit of waking up with the sun and a cup of cà phê sữa đá, you probably have already your favorite Phở or Bánh Mì joint that will help you start the day in ease. For most...

Liberty Central Hotel, Nha Trang

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Sat Sep 30 07:12:21 PDT 2017

Liberty Central Nha Trang is a contemporary, stylish, high-rise hotel just a block from the beach. Featuring elegant, minimalist decor, extraordinary sea views, rooftop bar & its own section of beach, Liberty Central is a solid place to stay in Nha Trang.... Continue reading →

Top 5 delicious vegetables in Vietnam

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Fri Jul 17 21:56:34 PDT 2015

Water spinach- morning glory (Rau Muong) Water spinach is the most common vegetable in Vietnam as the tropical climate creates favorable conditions for its growth and the veggie does not require much care. Water spinach has become an integral ingredient in some Vietnamese cuisines such as sautéed garlic spinach. In the south, morning glory is […]

The post Top 5 delicious vegetables in Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

5 Best places to buy beer in Saigon

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Fri Jul 17 23:29:55 PDT 2015

One of the great things about Saigon is that it’s got lots of great places to drink beer. Drinking beer is almost as much a part of the culture here as drinking coffee. In fact you could almost say that the woman here like drinking coffee and then men like drinking beer. It really is […]

The post 5 Best places to buy beer in Saigon appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

Adjusting to Life in a New Country: Spain vs. Vietnam

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Fri Oct 27 01:26:13 PDT 2017

Riddle me this: what do Spain and Vietnam have in common? Besides beautiful beaches and a deeply ingrained cultural habit to take a

The post Adjusting to Life in a New Country: Spain vs. Vietnam appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

The Best Lunch Foods in Ho Chi Minh City

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Wed Dec 02 23:24:03 PST 2015

What to eat for Lunch in Ho Chi Minh City a.k.a Saigon? Entering the world of Vietnamese food can be a daunting task for a beginner out there on their own. What is it? Where is it? Is it the best? These are the questions...

How to Compose Intuitively in Street Photography

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Tue Nov 28 08:59:10 PST 2017

When it comes to composition and photography, you must compose with your gut, and then analyze your best pictures with the best compositions afterwards. BECOME YOUR OWN MASTER IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Take your street photography to the next level with MASTERS, printed in California by HAPTICPRESS. Practical ideas: Study a lot of composition when you’re […]

Top 5 Seafood dishes to try in Vietnam

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Mon Sep 12 01:07:48 PDT 2016

We always recommend travelers in Vietnam to definitely try what the locals call “ốc”, which literally means “snails”, though its meaning is actually going out and enjoying seafood, including crabs, shrimps, oyster and yes, snails. However these ốc restaurants usually have only a 5 to 10...

Top 5 most popular fruits in Vietnam

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Fri Jul 17 03:38:45 PDT 2015

One thing that Vietnam has to offer is fruit. This is very nearly the perfect place to grow fruit with the abundant sunlight and moist, tropical air, it’s a fruit growers paradise. All the tropical fruits are found here, and many fruits that are only found in South East Asia as well. There are even […]

The post Top 5 most popular fruits in Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

News Roundup: July-August 2015

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Mon Aug 24 20:18:00 PDT 2015

An occasional roundup of news stories impacting kids in Vietnam and around the world.


Local News

The Vietnamese government takes aim at child labour in a new program.

Access to higher education in Vietnam remains a messy affair according to some families.




Across the region

The Philippines government commences a crackdown on the production of child pornography.

A joint Vietnamese-Cambodian operation results in the capture of traffickers (it can be done!).

Progress on trafficking in Cambodia - or maybe not?



Around the world

A provocative take on whether we are sincere in our opposition to slavery - worth a read.

The Guardian examines progress made by the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

A critique of the claim that less people in our world suffer from hunger.

The UK announces a new initiative putting the onus on big companies to end the use of child labour in their supply chains.

... and the US State Department's annual TIP Report is here.


www.bluedragon.org

How to Eat Street Food in Vietnam Like a Local

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Fri Dec 15 01:49:16 PST 2017

I’m sitting in a tiny plastic chair on the side of the street, accompanied with a big bowl of noodles swimming in some

The post How to Eat Street Food in Vietnam Like a Local appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

Things to do in North Vietnam: Lung Cu Flag Tower

by Dan Vineberg @ The New Travel Blog

Thu Aug 04 13:12:04 PDT 2016

Lung Cu Flag Tower Lung Cu Flag Tower is in the north of Vietnam. Actually, that's an understatement... Lung Cu Flag Tower is in the…

The post Things to do in North Vietnam: Lung Cu Flag Tower appeared first on The New Travel Blog.

NYC: Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography Workshop (February 21-22, 2018)

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Wed Nov 22 12:00:31 PST 2017

Dear friend, If you want to conquer your fears in street photography and meet new peers, I cordially invite you to my “Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography Workshop” in NYC (February 21-22, 2018). To register for the workshop contact my manager neil.ta@erickimphotography.com Build your inner-courage Street photography is the most difficult genre of photography. […]

Street Food Friday: Grilled Pork with Vermicelli Noodles (Bun Thit Nuong)

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Fri Nov 03 08:45:45 PDT 2017

Hey everyone!  AWC here dropping in with some very exciting news… I’m launching a new segment called Street Food Friday! Why? Well, if

The post Street Food Friday: Grilled Pork with Vermicelli Noodles (Bun Thit Nuong) appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

5 best buffet restaurants in Hanoi

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Thu Jul 23 02:00:08 PDT 2015

One of the most popular restaurants in Vietnam is the buffet. A restaurant where you can go and choose from a variety of food all laid out on different tables. You can eat as much as you want and there is usually quite a lot of food to choose from. There are different buffets, seafood […]

The post 5 best buffet restaurants in Hanoi appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

News Roundup: May-June 2015

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Mon Jun 08 06:27:00 PDT 2015

An occasional roundup of news stories about the issues impacting kids in Vietnam and around the world.


The trafficking of Vietnamese kids to the UK grabs the headlines in both countries.

The Guardian - and in video

Tuoi Tre News


Yours truly talks to ITV about the growth in bride trafficking to China.


Vietnamese police bring down a ring trafficking Vietnamese people to China.


And the Vietnamese media has been reporting extensively on the pedophile rings targeting boys in Hanoi.

Some background info here in an earlier blog post.

In Vietnamese, a selection of recent articles:

Nhan Dan Newspaper

Cong An Nhan Dan Online

An Ninh Thu Do

Phap Luat So



www.bluedragon.org

Cochinita Pibil – Yucatan Slow Cooked Pork

by Sean @ Venturists

Sun Jan 15 12:49:49 PST 2017

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Cochinita pibil, also known as puerco pibil or cochinita con achiote, is a traditional slow cooked pork dish from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. While it is available in many restaurants, the best cochinita is often found in small street stands throughout Yucatan cities. Due to the long cooking time of the dish, stands will […]

The post Cochinita Pibil – Yucatan Slow Cooked Pork appeared first on Venturists.

Things to Do in North Vietnam: Dong Van Sunday Market

by Dan Vineberg @ The New Travel Blog

Fri Jul 22 00:46:11 PDT 2016

Dong Van's Sunday Market: "A Place I Hardly Know" Where is Dong Van? How do I get to Dong Van? When is Dong Van Sunday…

The post Things to Do in North Vietnam: Dong Van Sunday Market appeared first on The New Travel Blog.

News Roundup: May 2015

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Wed May 13 00:20:00 PDT 2015

An occasional roundup of news stories about the issues impacting kids in Vietnam and around the world.


In Vietnam

Man claims to be selling sperm in Vietnamese hospital as a cover to sell babies.

Vietnam strengthens its commit to fight human trafficking...

... at a time that trafficking appears to be on the rise.

Reports in English and Vietnamese on the issue of boys being sexually abused and the fear of an increase in sex tourism.


Across the region

Refugees being killed by traffickers as they cross the Bay of Bengal.

Nothing to see here.

300 men enslaved and held on an island in Indonesia.

Some thoughts on why South East Asia still struggles with slavery and trafficking.


Around the world

Wanting to work in international development? A new book details all the ins and outs - including a section quoting Blue Dragon's founder, Michael Brosowski.


www.bluedragon.org

Chorizo Cheese and Egg Stuffed Potato

by Jen @ Venturists

Sun Feb 12 13:32:10 PST 2017

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During a recent visit to Mexico I found my new guilty pleasure – Chorizo sausage and cheese stuffed potatoes. While my husband drooled over street tacos and grilled meat I only had eyes for the potato. So one morning I decided to turn my new obsession into brunch – that way I didn’t have to […]

The post Chorizo Cheese and Egg Stuffed Potato appeared first on Venturists.

It's the end of the blog as we know it: 1/2

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Tue Sep 29 08:12:00 PDT 2015

It's time to bring the Street Kids blog to an end.

I've been writing here for almost 10 years - this started in November 2005. That's a long time to be blogging, and it's also a long time to be reading!

Over these 10 years the nature of the blog has shifted gradually as Blue Dragon's work has developed and changed. In the last year or so I have found it difficult to keep on writing, and so at last I am bringing the blog to a close.

But first...

Before signing off, I want to finish with some thoughts on what Blue Dragon has achieved for Vietnam's street kids, as well as for the young people who have been trafficked and exploited. I'd also like to add my thoughts on how Vietnam has changed over the past decade; and so I will indulge in a two-part finale to say farewell.

Back in 2005, Blue Dragon was a young organisation finding its way. We started as a few friends wanting to help the street kids of Hanoi, and without having any rulebook on what to do or where to start, we simply did what we could see needed to be done. We met the kids on the streets, and helped them to return to their families or live in shelters and go to school.

After all these years, that part of our work hasn't changed. We have staff out on the city streets every night now, working in a team that is lead by a young man who happens to be one of the first street kids I met back in 2002.

The core of Blue Dragon continues to be caring for the children we meet every day. Although we have grown over the years, we have never 'outgrown' the fundamental heart of who we are.

Sadly, however, the context in which we live and work has changed. Hanoi's street kids face serious threats from paedophiles who target the lakes and parks where homeless children tend to congregate. In just one week of this month we met 4 boys who had been sexually abused while homeless. It's an outrageous situation.

I have written about this in several blog posts over the past year or so. What's hard to capture in words is the heartbreak of this terrible abuse. Over and over we have met kids who feel utterly worthless and see no future for themselves; some have chosen to remain in the cycle of abuse, submitting to the paedophile rings every night and then dulling the pain with methamphetamines and online games all day. The kids say to us that they hate the abuse, they hate the abusers, but they can see no other way of life. They refuse to believe in themselves, and they have given up.

But there is still reason for hope. While many kids, aged 13 and up, are trapped in these rings, many more have escaped. At the Blue Dragon centre we have a few teenage boys who we thought we could never help. They came to us for help, then left to return to the paedophile rings, then came back to us and then left again... And miraculously - because I don't know how else to describe it - they have come in to us, and stayed.

For some it has taken months before a spark of life has appeared in their eyes, but when it comes it is unstoppable. The great thing about the Blue Dragon centre is that when you meet the kids here, you have no idea what any of them have been through or where they have come from. They are just happy, cheeky, lively kids and teenagers who want to play and sing and dance like anyone else in the world.

And again, there is more reason for hope. Vietnam is developing, and so is people's understanding of children. Even just a year ago, this issue of boys being sexually exploited was completely unknown. Now it's all over the media, and the police are taking action.

Several people have been arrested and charged with 'indecency against minors', because the law still doesn't recognise that males can be victims of sexual abuse; but that is changing too. I continue to hope that the criminal code of the law will be revised later this year to include boys and men as potential victims.

Without that law in place, Vietnamese police have a tough time prosecuting paedophiles who abuse boys, but it is happening. Even a foreign man has been arrested and is awaiting trial: see the article here. So protection is slowly evolving, and with a review of the law there should be much more powerful intervention from the police and authorities to keep all kids safe.

My deep regret is that even once the law has changed and Vietnam's street kids are substantially safer from abuse, there will always be those children we could not help. There are teens and young adults selling themselves on the streets of the city who I have cared for, eaten meals with, and shared laughter and tears with; but who are now so entangled in the world of sexual abuse that it's unlikely they will ever recover. No matter how good things get from here, there will always be that painful sorrow.


Next week's post will be my final blog entry. Come back next Saturday for a final story from the streets of Vietnam.


www.bluedragon.org

Top 5 Children Activities in Saigon, Vietnam!

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Thu Sep 08 00:25:46 PDT 2016

We’re quite proud to say that we had our tours customers aged from 1 to 95 years old, and they all enjoyed it! Though parents are often quite scared to let their children on a motorbike in busy Saigon, we believe that is also a...

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 103

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Tue Nov 28 12:10:28 PST 2017

Dear friend, If you’re an intermediate-advanced street photographer looking to push yourself to the next level, you have arrived at STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 103: your personal masterclass for street photography. DOWNLOAD PDF: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 103 Primo, you’ve probably discovered your style, and you want to keep going. Some ideas. Never stop evolving and don’t define yourself […]

5 Must-Eat Foods in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Wed Aug 23 00:58:55 PDT 2017

A walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter can quite quickly turn into an impromptu food tour thanks to the narrow alleys and bustling streets jam packed with food vendors, each offering up a dazzling variety of local flavors. And in case you didn’t already know, everything tastes better when it comes from a no-frills, hole in […]

The post 5 Must-Eat Foods in Hanoi’s Old Quarter appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

Things to do in North Vietnam: the Ma Pi Leng Pass

by Dan Vineberg @ The New Travel Blog

Sat Aug 20 14:31:45 PDT 2016

Where is the ma pi leng pass The incomparable Ma Pi Leng Pass is situated between Dong Van and Meo Vac, two towns in the…

The post Things to do in North Vietnam: the Ma Pi Leng Pass appeared first on The New Travel Blog.

Getting a Local’s Perspective in Venice

by Sean @ Venturists

Sat Jul 23 12:42:20 PDT 2016

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One thing you can be sure of when you visit Venice is….crowds. People flock to the city of canals during the high season, and for good reason. Venice is like no other place on earth, with the maze of waterways, crooked streets, and fascinating history. But the crowds can be stifling too. Massive St. Mark’s Square (Piazza […]

The post Getting a Local’s Perspective in Venice appeared first on Venturists.

The Coast Road: Saigon to Hoi An & Beyond

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Fri Jan 05 03:48:11 PST 2018

Thanks to new coastal roads, it's now possible to ride from Saigon to Hoi An, and beyond to Dong Hoi, following the coast all the way & avoiding the busy main artery of Highway 1 for the vast majority of the route. This is a salty, sunny, sandy & scenic road trip.... Continue reading →

A Guide to Vietnamese Coffee: The Best Damn Coffee You’ll Ever Have

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Fri Jan 19 04:33:30 PST 2018

I’ve sipped on Italian espressos in Venice. I’ve had French press coffee in a famous café in Paris. I’ve been caffeinated by iced

The post A Guide to Vietnamese Coffee: The Best Damn Coffee You’ll Ever Have appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

Tomb Rider: Hue to Dong Hoi on Back-Roads

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Fri Nov 24 03:44:46 PST 2017

Covering nearly 200km of completely empty beach, coastal back-roads lead from the old imperial capital of Hue to the beach city of Dong Hoi. Scattered with thousands of traditional-style tombs, this coastal region is rarely explored by foreign visitors... Continue reading →

5 Best Streets for Street Food in Saigon

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Mon Sep 25 02:33:48 PDT 2017

Vietnamese street food is so good, it’s made it’s way across the whole world. There isn’t a city you can go to in the world where you won’t find a local take on the ubiquitous pho, or traditional spring rolls. Vietnam’s southern city, Saigon, is home to some of the country’s most delicious street eats; […]

The post 5 Best Streets for Street Food in Saigon appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

Top Places to Eat Bun Cha in Hanoi

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Mon Sep 18 02:39:24 PDT 2017

It’s the go-to lunch for many Hanoians, worth braving the stifling humidity, the hazardous road crossing, and definitely worth fighting for space on a little plastic stool. Bun Cha has become synonymous with Hanoi gastronomy culture, even more so since former U.S. President Barrack Obama was famously pictured chowing down on a bowl of his […]

The post Top Places to Eat Bun Cha in Hanoi appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

Eating Bánh Khọt in Vũng Tàu

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Thu Jan 18 22:38:40 PST 2018

Bánh Khọt are delicious gems: crispy discs of rice flour batter & coconut milk, fried until they’re crunchy on the outside but moist on the inside, then wrapped in herbs & dipped in a sweet-spicy sauce. Here are 7 places to eat bánh khọt in Vũng Tàu... Continue reading →

Guanajuato, Mexico Street Food Tour

by Jen @ Venturists

Tue Mar 28 14:05:09 PDT 2017

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When we were recently invited by our friend and fellow travel writer, Tim Leffel, to visit the city of Guanajuato, Mexico, of course we happily agreed. Even better though, the plan was to spend a day with Tim and some other blogger friends sampling street food with Mexico Street Food Tours. You don’t have to read many […]

The post Guanajuato, Mexico Street Food Tour appeared first on Venturists.

NYC Advanced Street Photography Techniques Workshop (March 3-4, 2018)

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Fri Nov 24 08:38:59 PST 2017

Dear friend, If you’re looking to learn new skills, techniques, and take your street photography to the next level, I cordially invite you to my new NYC Advanced Street Photography Techniques Workshop (March 3-4, 2018). To secure your spot for this workshop, contact my workshops manager Neil at neil.ta@erickimphotography.com Take your street photography to the […]

5 best restaurants in Saigon

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Wed Jul 29 22:47:57 PDT 2015

This is not really an easy list to compile, as there are many great restaurants in Saigon. In fact Saigon is famous for it’s restaurant culture and for the excellent selection of top tier restaurants. Saigon is the perfect place for excellent eateries, nestled along the Saigon river and boasting excellent weather all the year […]

The post 5 best restaurants in Saigon appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.

Invest in LAUGHING LADY: Collector’s Edition Artist Proof Print and MASTERS Book by Eric Kim

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Thu Nov 23 09:08:25 PST 2017

Don’t miss your unique chance to own a part of street photography history: LAUGHING LADY: Collector’s Edition Artist Proof Print and MASTERS Book by ERIC KIM Investment Limited Collector’s Edition of 40 BUNDLED HAPTIC EXPERIENCE: With a purchase of the Limited Collector’s Edition Print “Laughing Lady”, you will receive a free copy of MASTERS book, […]

News Roundup: March 2015

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Thu Mar 26 19:56:00 PDT 2015

An occasional roundup of news stories about the issues impacting kids in Vietnam and around the world. This month, slavery has received significant media attention.

- Babies are advertised for sale online in China...

- ... and a film maker reflects on his own experience of human trafficking there.

- The rescue of a Vietnamese woman trafficked to China is described in this report.

- A British crackdown on human trafficking leads to the discovery of young Vietnamese women trafficked into beauty parlours.

- The Modern Slavery Bill is close to being passed as law in the UK.

- Cambodia continues to struggle with trafficking for forced labour and the sex trade.

- The Economist takes a look at slavery in supply chains.

- And this article explores the use of slavery in the fishing industry.

www.bluedragon.org

News Roundup: June-July 2015

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Wed Jul 08 00:05:00 PDT 2015

An occasional roundup of news stories about the issues impacting kids in Vietnam and around the world. 


Local news

UNICEF discusses the ongoing need to help children in Vietnam, beyond the Millenium Development Goals.

Children are being recruited for "Vocational Training" only to be used as slave labour.

Many families in Vietnam believe that sending children to work is more useful than sending them to school.


Across the region

Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia announce a crack-down on human trafficking.

Cambodia continues to take a strong stand against child sex tourism.

The disparity between male and female births in China is driving the trafficking of women from other countries.


International

The UK continues to be a major destination for children trafficked by crime gangs.

A bleak view of the impact the Trans-Pacific Partnership will have on slavery.

Nepal worries about a potential rise in human trafficking following the recent earthquakes.

Safe / not safe

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Mon Apr 06 01:52:00 PDT 2015

After 3 weeks on the road in Australia, it's great to be back in Vietnam, back at home, and catching up with everyone and everything.

One of those 'things' that I have been catching up: the last few episodes of The Walking Dead.

For those who don't watch the show (seriously? There are people who don't watch TWD!?), our rugged band of zombie apocalypse survivors has been lurching from disaster to disaster, losing friends and sustaining plenty of damage along the way. But now they have made it to the safest and most peaceful place they have yet been: Alexandria.

They have high walls to keep them safe; electricity; dinner parties; cookies; rocking chairs on porches.

And it's driving them all insane.

Never in all 5 seasons of the show have they been this safe, and yet they are now divided against each other and acting completely irrationally.

Any psychologist would quickly put a label on this: PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

I, meantime, am watching this and thinking how much it all reminds me of many kids here at Blue Dragon.

When we first meet children, they are normally in the midst of a crisis. They might be locked into a brothel in China; or caught up in a pedophile ring in Hanoi; or trapped in a sweatshop in Ho Chi Minh City.

They may have been in this situation for weeks, or months, or years. They may have survived by adapting to a violent and hostile environment, or by learning to manipulate people around them as a defence mechanism. They may have become violent themselves.

When they finally can escape their crisis, that doesn't mean everything is fine now. Just because they are in a safe place doesn't automatically mean their problems are over.

At Blue Dragon, we see young people deal with their trauma in many different ways, and we are extremely fortunate to have two outstanding Vietnamese Psychologists working with us. Just recently I wrote about the incredible resilience we see in the young people we encounter; but of course not all of the Blue Dragon kids make quick recoveries.

For the kids we meet who have been through particularly tough times, such as sexual abuse, it's normal to see them struggle for up to a year: they'll stay with Blue Dragon for a while, then regress and go back to the streets before coming in again. Sometimes they repeat this several times before calming down.

Going back to school is particularly hard for many. Sitting in a room with strangers who have never been through the same life experiences; listening to a teacher who knows nothing of the horrors they have faced; learning about subjects that seem so abstract and useless against the recurring nightmares.

Anyone who has suffered through ongoing trauma can have a whole range of symptoms of stress that live on with them long after the crisis is over. A scent or sound can bring back a forgotten moment of terror. An innocent question or comment can result in sudden anger. Often there is no rhyme or reason to the way they will react to their new surrounds.

Healing is a process that needs time, professional help, and care. And then some more time.

Leaving behind the crisis is not the end of trauma. The scars to be dealt with are often invisible, but they are real.

As The Walking Dead reminds us, getting to a safe place is only the start of healing; the journey to real safety goes on much longer.

www.bluedragon.org

How to Survive Rainy Season in Vietnam

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Thu Jan 11 23:47:41 PST 2018

I moved to the coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam for the endless summer. I came for the stunning tropical beaches, the laidback

The post How to Survive Rainy Season in Vietnam appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

Binh Chau Hot Springs Resort & Spa

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Fri Nov 17 02:11:50 PST 2017

Just a couple hours' drive from Saigon, Binh Chau Hot Springs Resort & Spa has improved it's facilities and aesthetics in recent years: it's now a lush, relaxing and satisfying retreat from the city.... Continue reading →

Saigon to Hanoi: A Food Diary

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Thu Nov 02 19:24:06 PDT 2017

On a recent road trip between Saigon & Hanoi I made a record of some of the meals I ate along the way, to try and illustrate the variety of food available, and what a delight it is to eat your way from one end of the country to the other... Continue reading →

Spending Christmas in Saigon, Vietnam

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Thu Nov 17 23:37:24 PST 2016

Christmas is nearly a month away, and can be trully a magical time in Vietnam (minus the snow). If you decided to spend our favorite holiday in the South of Vietnam, make sure to check out our video on what Xmas is really like like...

Lasenta Boutique Hotel, Hoi An

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Thu Jan 11 19:43:23 PST 2018

A comfortable & aesthetically pleasing synthesis of the exotic & the familiar, the modern & the traditional, and Asian & European elements, Lasenta Boutique Hotel is yet another addition to Hoi An's list of excellent value, mid-range accommodation... Continue reading →

Teenager returns to his family after 2 years living on street

by commsadmin @ Blue Dragon Children's Foundation

Thu Jan 11 18:25:09 PST 2018

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to help a street kid return to their family or to a safe home? Blue Dragon meets street kids and homeless children every day. Some young people we can reunite with their families on the same day we meet them. Others need years before they are ready, […]

The post Teenager returns to his family after 2 years living on street appeared first on Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

Vietnam: The Land of Smiles and Soup

by Dan Vineberg @ The New Travel Blog

Tue Jan 03 18:07:02 PST 2017

When I think of Vietnam, a couple of things come to mind. First, there are the smiles. Then, there’s the soup. This is Vietnam. The…

The post Vietnam: The Land of Smiles and Soup appeared first on The New Travel Blog.

2018 ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS: London, NYC, Kyoto, Tokyo

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Mon Nov 27 01:42:29 PST 2017

Empower yourself: 2018 Jan 27-28: LONDON / Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography Feb 21-22: NYC / Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography – New Feb 24-25: NYC / Dynamic Photography Composition Workshop – New March 3-4: NYC / Advanced Street Photography Techniques Workshop – New May 2-5: KYOTO-UJI / Zen Creative Photography Retreat May 9-13: […]

Finding the World’s Best Street Food

by Sean @ Venturists

Fri Jun 24 10:51:38 PDT 2016

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It doesn’t take long reading this blog to realize that we love discovering and sampling new street foods. Whether it’s stumbling across a vendor serving up sizzling snacks in a local market, or taking guided tour with a local who knows the best hidden spots, we’re up for it. Over the course of our travels, […]

The post Finding the World’s Best Street Food appeared first on Venturists.

The “10 NO” Street Photography Assignment

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Thu Nov 23 12:00:25 PST 2017

STREET NOTES: The chance for you to push yourself outside your comfort zone, and become a fearless street photographer. STREET NOTES in HAPTIC SHOP STREET NOTES PAPER EDITION STREET NOTES: Mobile Edition STREET NOTES in AMAZON SHOP STREET NOTES: Available on Amazon Why 10 no’s? In life, we fear getting rejected. This is what holds […]

It's the end of the blog as we know it: 2/2

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Fri Oct 16 00:49:00 PDT 2015

After making the world wait for this final blog (I forgot the password to log in - seriously...), here it is. The end of my 10 year blog. (And yes, I know that after 10 years of blogging I should be able to remember the password).

At the time I started blogging, Blue Dragon was mostly working with kids on the streets of Hanoi. We still do so, but by the end of 2005 we were starting to also get involved with kids who had been trafficked.

The initial issue that we faced was boys and girls trafficked within Vietnam to work on the streets as flower sellers. We brought those trafficking rings to a halt fairly quickly but found that children were also being trafficked into garment sweatshops. This is still a problem today, but on a much smaller scale and I am confident that we are close to seeing the end of child trafficking into garment factories in Vietnam. There are just a few people holding out, a few small business owners who think it's worth the risk, but their time really is limited now. When we know of any factory with child slaves, we will be there with the police to shut them down.

This aspect of our work then evolved into rescuing girls and young women who have been trafficked into China. I never thought we would do that; in fact, after our first rescue in 2007, we vowed to never do it again. But we've now rescued about 150 girls and women who have been trafficked from Vienam into brothels and forced marriages in China. The rescues are complicated and sometimes dangerous, but massively rewarding and impactful. Not only is a woman set free, but traffickers are arrested and families reunited. They really are life-changing operations.

As a charity dealing with a few very different social issues, it can be difficult to sum up all that we do. A look through our Facebook and Twitter accounts tells you that we sometimes have international rescues, art classes for kids with disabilities, self-help groups for parents, and house building projects all happening at the same time. This is quite different to the 'single issue' charities which might deal exclusively with, say, water projects or disability advocacy.

So what's the thread pulling all this together?

The issues may seem very different, but all that we do is aimed at getting kids out of crisis, and then providing the long-term after-care that they need. I am passionate about this. This is not just about issues: this is about people.

Our world has more problems than anyone can count, and we tend to look to politics or the economy or the media to either place the blame or find a solution. They all may have a part, but in the end people are both the problem and the solution. Do we want a better world? Then we need to be better people, and get alongside other people to make the change.

In the 12 or so years that Blue Dragon has been working, we've met thousands of kids and impacted thousands more. Some of those kids have had a life changing experience with us: there are teens we have met locked into brothels, or trapped within pedophile rings, or living with gangs on the street, but who are now free and living a great life. There are also those we have met but who have drifted away or chosen to leave. I can't say we have been successful with everyone, but I can say that we have tried our best every time.

The blog is ending, but Blue Dragon is not! Keep following the website and social media; and if in future the inspiration to write again returns, I will open a new blog for sure. Thank you to those who have taken the time to make contact and leave comments; let's keep working together for the street kids of Vietnam,

www.bluedragon.org

Three Winter Warmer Wines for this Weekend that Are Currently on Sale

by Gaby Guedez @ TheTaste.ie

Fri Jan 19 02:43:11 PST 2018

Take walk around any shopping street and you’ll see the red signs luring you into retailers’ January sales. This, being the week before the first payday of the year, is not one to go...

The post Three Winter Warmer Wines for this Weekend that Are Currently on Sale appeared first on TheTaste.ie.

The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

by fred wilson @ Back of the Bike Tours

Sat Sep 03 21:29:17 PDT 2016

If you are following us on our YouTube Channel (and you should!) you probably would have watched all of our top 5 already. Our goal as always is to provide travelers with the best spots, according to us, for various Vietnamese street food or activities here...

[VIDEO] Vietnamese Cooking Class with Da Nang Home Cooking!

by A Wandering Casiedilla @ A WANDERING CASIEDILLA

Thu Nov 09 07:48:09 PST 2017

Here’s something you might not know about me: I love, love, love to cook. Back in Spain, when I wasn’t out eating tapas, I was

The post [VIDEO] Vietnamese Cooking Class with Da Nang Home Cooking! appeared first on A WANDERING CASIEDILLA.

Google Fiber’s Murals Are Making Nashville More Colorful

by Kristin @ Camels & Chocolate: Travel & Lifestyles Blog

Mon Dec 18 08:00:00 PST 2017

If you’ve ever looked at my homepage or my Instagram feed, you may have gotten an inkling of a hint that I’m a fan of color—and street murals of all kinds.

A Day in Split, Croatia: Beyond Diocletian’s Palace

by Jen @ Venturists

Tue Sep 13 12:52:20 PDT 2016

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Split sits on the Adriatic coast in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. We tried to explore most of this beautiful seaside destination on foot. Winding our way through its narrow streets, we gazed at the massive limestone rocks that were installed by slave labor as early as 284 AD. On foot we could explore the corners where countless battles were fought, both […]

The post A Day in Split, Croatia: Beyond Diocletian’s Palace appeared first on Venturists.

Devious

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Sun Jul 05 06:44:00 PDT 2015

When "Hien" was trafficked in early June, her family in central Vietnam was devastated.

Aged 19, Hien fell into a trap set by another young woman who took her across the border of China with promises of a good job, but instead sold her to a brothel.

Hien's mother had no idea what to do; she reported the case to the police, but with no knowledge of where Hien might be, there was little they could do.

Just 2 weeks later, the trafficker rang Hien's family with an offer: for a payment of 15 million Dong (about $750 USD), Hien would be returned to her family.

Hien's mother immediately set off to the north with all the money she could find and borrow. She believed that this was her one chance to get Hien home.

Before reaching the border, Hien's mother rang a relative who happened to be a journalist who has worked with Blue Dragon on the issue of human trafficking in the past. The relative encouraged her to contact us, and once we were in contact we were able to investigate quickly.

It became clear to us that the trafficker had no intention of returning Hien; instead, she would take the money and lure the mother into another trap, to be sold as a bride to a Chinese husband.

Working with both Vietnamese and Chinese police, we caught the trafficker in the act of receiving the money and then trying to trap Hien's mother. It was a dramatic afternoon, but with a good result: Hien's mother was safe, and the trafficker was in handcuffs.

But where was Hien?

The trafficker quickly confessed to everything and told what she knew of Hien's location. The Chinese police immediately began a search, but it was 3 days before she could be found. They were 3 very tense days, particularly for Hien's family. However, the police located her and got her out of the brothel that had enslaved her.

Hien is now back in Vietnam, with the horrific ordeal behind her but a long road to recovery ahead. Blue Dragon's Psychologist has already started working with her, and the Legal team has helped her to give statements to the police.

Hien's rescue, and that of her mother, has ended well; but this story could have had a disastrous ending, had the mother fallen into the trafficker's devious trap.


www.bluedragon.org

What can be done

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Sun Mar 22 02:52:00 PDT 2015

Just a month ago, I wrote about my own sense of despair in some of the situations that Blue Dragon faces with street kids in Vietnam: in particular, the aggressive pedophile rings that are targeting homeless boys in the cities.

The last couple of weeks, though, have been greatly encouraging.

Our success in several significant rescues is a terrific sign that it's all worthwhile. First we brought back a 16 year old boy from a 'massage parlour'; then we stopped 4 buses taking a total of 56 ethnic minority people to be sold into slavery across the border; and then we rescued a 7 year old girl who had been kidnapped - the first time we have come across such a case.

In each of these cases, the traffickers have been identified and arrested. That translates to a whole lot of future trafficking victims who are now safe.

I'm in Australia at the moment, here to attend several important events including a trivia night in Sydney and a major function in Melbourne organised by Roll'd, the Vietnamese food chain. Both of these events - and another coming up in Brisbane on Friday March 27 - are to raise money for Blue Dragon's work in Vietnam. The Roll'd event last week had the specific goal of funding the construction of a boarding home in remote Dien Bien province, so that rural ethnic minority kids have somewhere to live while they study and don't have to drop out of school. (Roll'd will be raising more money for this at their outlets during May - stay tuned!)

All of this helps me to remember that, as terrible as things can be, there is always hope. It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the trafficking cases in Vietnam and around the region: in reality, there is so much human trafficking that nobody has any idea of how widespread the problem is.

But the events of these past few weeks serve as a reminder of what can be done. We don't have to sit back and accept these terrible events and situations. There really is something we can do, if only we make the effort.

www.bluedragon.org

5 Reasons Why Wedding Photographers Should Learn Street Photography

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Tue Nov 28 10:08:32 PST 2017

I recently shot a friend’s wedding, and found that my street photography techniqies have tremendously benefited me. See upcoming ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS > Thank you Neil Some of the best wedding photographers I know like NEIL TA are both great wedding photographers and street photographers. When Neil shot my wedding with Cindy, he […]

Thank you for supporting Red Stocking Christmas campaign

by commsadmin @ Blue Dragon Children's Foundation

Sat Jan 13 18:30:12 PST 2018

THANK YOU to everyone who joined the Red Stocking Christmas Campaign! Here’s what you have made possible: 37,827 nutritious meals will be cooked and served up to 500 hungry boys and girls. 51 counseling sessions will be given to trauma survivors at the Blue Dragon centre. 70 street kids will return safely home to be […]

The post Thank you for supporting Red Stocking Christmas campaign appeared first on Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

Hải Đăng Vegetarian Restaurant, Saigon

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Fri Dec 01 01:38:36 PST 2017

Hải Đăng is a simple, local, informal vegetarian restaurant in Saigon's Binh Thanh District. The sheer variety and freshness of vegetable dishes on offer (not just tofu and 'fake meat') sets it apart from other Vietnamese vegetarian eateries in the city.... Continue reading →

What is Your Street Photography Philosophy?

by eric kim @ ERIC KIM

Wed Nov 22 18:30:01 PST 2017

ERIC KIM WORKSHOP: Conquer Your Fears and Meet New Peers My street photography philosophy is: People are kind, beautiful, and universal. I want to show through my street photography the commonality of life. That in fact, we are all more similar than dissimilar. It breaks my heart to know that there are millions of people […]

The long haul

by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Brosowski) @ Street Kids in Vietnam

Mon Apr 27 02:59:00 PDT 2015

Blue Dragon works from a centre in Hanoi, where most of our team is based. A few years ago we also established a centre in central Vietnam to support the several hundred kids and families we help there in the fight against human trafficking.

But our work takes us far and wide throughout the country. Not a day goes by that we're not out on the road, often in isolated and remote areas, reuniting a homeless child with their family or investigating a case of missing children.

Over the past week, we've been working on a case that has been even more extreme than usual. The Rescue Team been travelling through central China, more than 2000km from the border of Vietnam, to find a trafficked 13 year old girl, "Quy". As the case isn't yet over, we can't share too many details, but this has been an urgent and tense case with quite a lot at stake.

Quy is safe now, but of course deeply traumatised by what's happened and desperate to get home. She was evidently taken and sold as a bride, but the information is not yet totally clear and I'm sure we'll know more later in the week. For now, all that matters is that she is on the way back to Vietnam.

The Blue Dragon Rescue Team has been in contact with Quy via text messaging for several weeks, but the case was brought to a head about a week ago and Quy needed to escape her situation. She ended up in a police station, where she has been until today.

It will be a few more days until Quy is back to Vietnam, and some more days still before she sees her family again. Once she's OK, we know of another 13 year old girl trafficked into China who needs our help, so the team may be back on the road even before the week is out.

To some it may seem like a lot of effort to help just one child. Apart from the fact that our rescues also result in trafficking rings being arrested - and thereby prevent future trafficking from taking place - I have to say that travelling a 4000km round trip to save a child's life is a worthy mission in itself. None of us would hesitate if it was our own child.

Rescue work is a long haul, both chronologically and geographically. When the moment comes that Quy is back in the arms of her mother and father, there will be no question that this has been worthwhile.

www.bluedragon.org

Sapa-Y Ty Scenic Motorbike Loop

by Tom@VietnamCoracle @ Vietnam Coracle

Wed Nov 08 18:43:16 PST 2017

Sapa's dramatic mountainous landscape continues north of town, via Y Ty Village, all the way to the Chinese border. Several small roads penetrate deep into steep, terraced valleys & climb high above ferocious rivers creating a scenic loop.... Continue reading →

Top 5 popular rice dishes in Vietnam

by vietnamstreetfood @ Vietnam Street Food Guide

Fri Jul 17 20:55:17 PDT 2015

Of course rice is the most popular food by far in Vietnam and is eaten everyday by the majority of the population, so suffice it to say the number of rice dishes in Vietnam are nearly uncountable. However the list below should give you a pretty good idea of the variety and creativity that the […]

The post Top 5 popular rice dishes in Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Street Food Guide.