1 post tagged “indochina”

Howre

Last night I went to a photography exhibition in memory of my dear friend Mike Matsushita. Mike was tragically taken from this world 2 years ago on Saturday during theLondon  bombings.

Mike was an amazing person. You tend to hear that a lot about people who have passed away, but I can't exaggerate in any way about what a special soul he was. I didn't actually even know that Mike was in London at that time, because until a week earlier he had been working as a guide for Intrepid Travel in Vietnam.

Soon after this sad event The Intrepid Foundation established the Indochina Children's Fund for Mike, in memory of this much loved Intrepid group leader in Vietnam and Cambodia and special friend to so many. The Foundation raised $60,000 that has been equally shared between Mith Samlanh and Sunrise Children's Village in , plus KOTO, Hoi An Orphanage and Saigon Children's Charity in .

Saigon Children's Charity (SCC) was able to put these funds towards purchasing new cameras and equipment for its Thang Long vocational training school's very successful photography project. This photography course not only brings enhanced self esteem and vocational opportunities to some of the city's most vulnerable children, but enables the school to raise funds through the sale of photos.

Which brings me to the exhibition last night. In honour of Mike and his commitment to the underprivileged children of Vietnam and Cambodia, Intrepid stores held a special photography evening that launched the SCC photography exhibition of 25 photos that have all been taken by kids under 19 years who used the camera equipment that was purchased with funds raised in Mike's memory.

The photos can be purchased in-store and all money raised will be donated to SCC. I would recommend stopping by if you can, the photos were very special. I picked up a few, one for my mum of two Vietnamese children playing in a field of yellow flowers taken by a 16 year old and one taken by a 19 year old of two old Vietnamese men smoking on pipes, smiling away, with faces withered by thousands of sunrises – very Mike indeed.

I’m not one to get political and chances are this is the only political slant I will ever take here. But having personally been touched by terrorism, I still find it very hard to find any reason as to why we have sent troops to a part of the world that very obviously doesn’t want us there. I love the fact that Mikes friends banded together in such a tragic time and instead of focusing on all the terror in the world and blaming people for his death, found a way to cherish his memory by helping others.

I miss Mike. He always had a smile on his face and a drink in his hand, could always make you laugh with his thick Bronx accent, held killer Halloween parties and not a moment goes by when I don’t eat lamb and think of him… he was a great cook. He also had an amazing way to drink vodka… crushed mint leaves, vodka, water and raspberry cordial… yumo..  Check out his page to learn more about Mike.. miss you.