Songkran kids style..

We took a ton of photos today at the orphanage. Here are some of Kete's great shots.




Love is Life

Steve & Kete

LiL Foundation Benefit Show in Thailand...

Love is Life Benefit featuring Naia Kete
for Ban Kingkaew Orphanage & cosponsored by Give and Live
Saturday, April 26 from 7pm-11pm
Hosted by Lucky Foo's Restaurant
26 Moon Muang Soi 2, Chiang Mai
200 baht donation at the door

The LiL Foundation is having a benefit on April 26th from 7pm to 11pm to fund many needed renovations at the local Chiang Mai orphanage Ban Kingkaew. Steve the founder of the LiL Foundation and volunteer/musician Naia Kete is currently in Thailand on their 1 month humanitarian mission. The Give and Live organization is also going to be teaming up with The LiL Foundation to help support the cause. The Give and Live is a local Chiang Mai NPO that has done some amazing work at other local orphanages and we are looking forward to having them team up with us. We are also lucky to have an phenomenal new restaurant called Lucky Foo's to host our event. Lucky Foo's is a 1 month old restaraunt/lounge. It has a relaxed atmosphere with a rock star feel. It has a lifetime of chef experience and the food proves it. Amy and Dean (owners) are going to be taking care of the stuff that soothes our stomach while Kete and others supply the stuff that sooth our souls. There will be a fine cast of musicians including Scott Jones, Liverpool Warren, The Hug Bars' Aye and hopefully we can get Dean to also chip in. Kete will be singing for the last time in Thailand for those of you who haven't had the chance to get a taste.

Baan Kingkaew Orphanage is The first charitable foundation in Chiang Mai province
to dedicate itself to the care of needy children. The orphanage was able to open on July 20, 1966, due to the generosity of Miss Kingkaew Wiboolsanti, who donated her home, land and a financial endowment to the foundation. Baan Kingkaew was therefore named in her honor.

The most important thing that is needed right now is new bathrooms at the orphanage. They had it estimated at around 100,000 baht ($3,100). That is our first goal. They do need 20 pairs of training wheels, two nice big toy boxes that can be left outside and also new beds with mesquito nets. We would also like to get new play sets for them as the ones they have are old and need to be replaced.

Please check out our donation page to help out. Every bit helps out a great deal. You can see our blog for these kids that you will be helping. They are amazing children and an incredible staff. Please help us help them. Thank you so much.



Love is Life

Steve

surprise surprise..

We got soaked...

Love is Life

Steve & Kete

The safe haven known as my balcony...

Here are a couple shots of the street outside our guesthouse All In 1.











Love is Life

Steve & Kete

What is Songkran???

Songkran is only the biggest water fight in the world. I would love to have pictures but I refuse to have a waterlogged camera in the process. You absolutely cannot walk down any street without getting buckets and buckets and buckets and oh yeah buckets of water dumped over your head, back, butt and legs. If you escape any one of the million buckets of water being launched at your face close range, then you get soaked by the backup hoses. OK many of you may think that the kids must have the best time ever. Well to tell you the truth its the adults that go the extra mile. Nobody gets spared. If your in a car, you get water flung at you. If your in the taxi's here which have open backs, you get water flung at you. If you walk, ride a bike or run, you are definitely getting water flung at you. The worst part about Songkran is the people on the scooters or motorcycles. Its super dangerous if your riding on one of these water magnets. If you want to get an idea of what Songkran is, just check out YouTube and you will see. I think Kete and I are the only ones not walking around with a water gun.
Well today we had our own little Songkran at the orphanage. These kids are ruthless. They are really good at soaking the crap out of everyone. It was such an amazing time and to see the faces of all the children was the best part. Its the first time we got to see smiles on all their faces at once. Just think tomorrow is a whole new day of Songkran. I almost forgot. Happy Thai New Year.

Love is Life

Steve & Kete

Innocent faces...

Here are more pictures of the precious children that fill our daily adventure at the orphanage...
The flower shot was just taken on the side of the road.












The last shot was taken by Kete.









Love is Life

Steve & Kete

It is really their garden...

Yesterday Kete and I drove out to Sonsai to meet up with Scott at his house east of the mountains. The view on a clear day is beautiful, but was to smoggy to witness the beauty. We did have the honor of checking out the Children's Garden. The Garden is taken care of by all the children that live there. Pii, Aye, Filo, and the mom Malee are the force behind all the work. Its funding comes from Scott and Joom at Give and Live and Gerard and Lydia from LHHP. The children here are very happy and they have all the reason to be just that. They have animals that they feed and plenty of space to play around in. They have new housing to sleep in and their gardens are endless. We will be selling a book on our website that was written by Scott Jones. The books is full of pictures and short stories that will have you laughing for sure. Please pick one up as the proceeds will benefit the Children's Garden. The Garden is ever growing and their needs continue to grow at the same rate. We took a lot more pictures but they got deleted somehow.

Love is Life

Steve & Kete