Smile!

This weekend we went to an annual ball that raises money for kids like this gorgeous little one.

Operation Smile was set up by two American doctors in 1982. They had traveled to the Philippines with other medical volunteers to help children with cleft lips and cleft palates. And after seeing just how many children needed help - they got involved. In fact, they got realy involved, to the extent that Operation Smile now operates in Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela....

...and Vietnam.

Over the years more than 100,000 children and young adults have been helped - that's involved.



The ball was held at the Park Hyatt, who put up the grand ballroom for nicks. We had missed out on this event last year, but made sure that we were with the mates this time around.



We had popped into the tailor the week before and got blow flies for all the lads - black with pink polka dots went down a treat (and only 30,000 dong a piece!). We were looking good and the girls were babes.



But the night was not about us - it was about raising money for the kids. They run a silent auction of lots of art and photography and also a live auction of paintings donated by several local artists.

H had decided to buy a particular painting done by a Vietnamese artist that she knows. But when the time had come to bid, her $1000 was totally swamped by a local who's who (Mr Khai of Khai Silk fame - another story some time) that decided he liked it too. He casually stuck up three fingers, thus trebling her bid. Good tactic - us novices were blown out of the water and he walked away with a steal! Next time Khai.



In the end, we did get a beautiful photo from the silent auction which will be a nice momento of a fun, but special night.



Next year, H is going to screen print bow ties and assorted stuff adorned with smiley faces to raise even more dosh for this good cause.

And the night also made us think more about our favourite orphan, Nhat, and the hydrcephalus kids like him, that we hope to help in some long term way.....

Keep smiling!