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We will post emails and pictures for 2010 WCE/MIHS Costa Rica Trip & 2010 WCE/MIHS Vietnam/Cambodia Trip (posted below the MIHS Costa Rica Trip) as we receive them!!! Encourage your
friends to view the WCE Web Site and follow the trip!!!
2010 WCE/MIHS Costa Rica Trip
3/26/2010 Friday (Seattle) Our 20 Member WCE/MIHS Costa Rica Delegation led by Mr. Curtis Johnston (MIHS Staff) and Mr. Dave Willecke (MIHS Staff) departed from Seattle as scheduled and will transfer planes
in Houston to visit Costa Rica. Our Student Delegation will visit San José; the amazing Tortuguero National Park (where our Students will participate in the life impacting Tortuguero Sea Turtle Patrol
Program, the longest running sea turtle monitoring program in history, and make a donation to assist in field research, environmental and educational activities); and enjoy tours in Arenal, the Monteverde
Cloud Forest Reserve, Selvatura Park, and Jacó Beach, Costa Rica. Please encourage family and friends to visit this page for pictures and emails from the daily activities of the trip! Received a text from
Mr. Johnston. "The delegation has arrived in Houston and all is well!" We have received an email from Mr. Johnston, "we made it safely and are in our rooms at the trapp family inn where we stayed last year.
we are ordering pizza for dinner. the flights were glass smooth and we got here only 30 minutes after scheduled arrival. all in all, a very good start to the trip! early day tomorrow. we are on the road at
6:30 am for tortaguero."
3/27/2010 Saturday Tortuguero (7:00 pm Seattle Time 8:00 pm Tortuguero Time) We have just spoken with Mr. Johnston who informed us that our delegation has arrived safely at Tortuguero National Park ("Amazon of
Costa Rica"). Mr. Johnson said that even on their boat ride to the park our members have already viewed an incredible number of animals. While at the National Park our Students will enjoy viewing an area of
great biological diversity and an amazing number of animals by taking boat rides through the network of lagoons and canals and morning and evening nature hikes. Their visit to Tortuguero National Park will
be a highlight of our Student's trip to Costa Rica. Mr. Johnston will be returning to San José tomorrow morning to collect 2 additional members and he will try to send us a few of pictures.
3/28/2010 Sunday Tortuguero (9:00 am Seattle Time 10:00 am Tortuguero Time) We have received an email with pictures from Mr. Johnston (who is in San José collecting 2 MIHS Students arriving today), “Day 2 began
with the news that the road to Tortuguero through the National Park had washed out in the rain, so we had to detour and go the long way. No complaints here! The drive was gorgeous and we were able to see and
explore places we did not see last year. We stopped to take pictures of a sloth and ate breakfast in a sleepy little town at the foot of the mountain. Our boat ride to Tortuguero took a little over an hour,
and on the way we saw many different birds and turtles. No crocs yet. Our evening took us to Tortuguero Town, where we met the international director of conservation (who randomly happened to be in Costa Rica
to spearhead a drive to sterilize a burgeoning population of cats and dogs; she flew in a bunch of veterinarians to take care of the surgeries, which will directly save turtle and eggs from the ravages of wild
dogs). The director split us into three groups, and we split up for a 3 hour turtle patrol. Each group patrolled a 5 mile section of beach. This is very early in turtle season, so not many are nesting. We did
not see any this night. Everybody is healthy and happy and this morning went on a boat ride to check out the morning wildlife at... 6 am. The weather has been incredible; the humidity and temp are less than normal,
so it was relatively easy to manage the 90 degree sun. We are loving Tortuguero! Later today we will complete a one-hour workshop hosted by the CCC, where we will learn all about conservation in Costa Rica and the
rest of the world. Then we will do a 3 hour beach cleanup, where we will restore the beach to its pristine state.” We have just spoken with Mr. Johnston. Charlotte and Liana have arrive in San José met by Mr. Johnston and
are now headed to Tortuguero with Mr. Johnston.
3/29/2010 Monday Tortuguero (7:30 am Seattle Time 8:30 am Tortuguero Time)
In addition to our delegations community service activities at Tortuguero National Park ("Amazon of Costa Rica") each morning our delegation enjoys a Morning boat tour to explore the Tortuguero Canals and view the
plentiful wildlife and amazing habitat. These boat tours are truly unforgettable. We have received an update from Mr. Johnston reporting on Sunday’s activities, “Today was a fun day. We went on the 6 am boat ride
and got some great pictures and just took in the breathtaking scenery. We had an official donation ceremony, where we donated the money to the Pro Parques Foundation and the Caribbean Conservation Corp. Then we
cleaned up the beach for a few hours and finished off the day with a play in Tortuguero Town. Tomorrow we head to the National Park, then exploring around the town, and some shopping.”
3/30/2010 Tuesday Tortuguero (7:00 am Seattle Time 8:00 am Tortuguero Time)
We have received our daily update from Mr. Johnston reporting on Monday’s activities,
“Day 4 was busy busy busy. We were on the water at 6 am for the canal tour in the 8 person skiffs. We found some great animals for pics and the slow pace of the rowboats allowed us to really soak in the scenery.
After returning for lunch, we hit the pool and took naps and then headed for Tortuguero Town where we did our first shopping and toured the town in the daytime - last night we saw the play about the history of the
town, but it was too dark to really check it out. Then we took two boats out (with engines) and toured some other canals and got pictures of monkeys, Cayman crocs, birds of all sorts, and turtles. We had fun with
the boat pilots and guides, who are all really personable and very attuned to conservation efforts. They go so far as to make sure that no animal gets startled or scared while we approach it and take pictures of it,
because this is animal habitat, and humans are just visitors. We opened some coconuts we found on the grounds and drank coconut milk, swam, ate a great dinner, and are now packing for the next leg of the trip - to
the Arenal volcano. On the way tomorrow we are going to stop at an Iguana habitat, then swim at a famous waterfall, and then on to the volcano. If the weather is good, we will go up to get a good look at the
volcano, and if not, will go to the cabins where we will stay and try for the summit trip the next day. Everyone is healthy and we are having a great time.”
3/31/2010 Wednesday Arenal (7:30 am Seattle Time 8:30 am Arenal Time) It was an extremely busy day as our Students departed from the Amazing Tortuguero National Park for Arenal. On their full day journey our delegation
had several excellent views of Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, La Paz Water Fall and stopped in La Fortuna Town to eat and shop and toured the National Observatory. Our Members spent the night at Hotel Miradas Arenal,
S.A. in La Fortuna (a small, new, beautiful family hotel). Although finding an internet connection is extremely difficult Mr. Johnston has sent another email, “No pics today, but tomorrow when we figure out when we
can use the net and upload stuff, I will send some great pics of us at the waterfall. Today was more than just a travel day. We took the 75 minute boat ride out of Tortuguero to the landing where we picked up the
bus. We drove to the Iguana Park, and there were hundreds of iguanas, in trees and everywhere. We did a little shopping there and then headed to the star attraction of the day, which was the waterfall. We hiked
down stairs a couple thousand feet and then swam and climbed up to a big pool where a huge waterfall thundered down. We had an amazing time and will add this to the trip in the future. Same with the Iguana Park.
Then we drove to Arenal, where we saw the volcano and checked into the most beautiful propertyever. We all have views of the waterfall in individual cabins. Awesome!”
4/1/2010 Thursday Arenal (8:00 am Seattle Time 9:00 am Arenal Time) (We have received tomorrow morning's report tonight!) We have received our latest update with more pictures from Mr. Johnston, "Today we ate breakfast
made by the owner and his wife - the couple runs the entire estate by themselves. Then we went to the white water rafting drop off, where we split into three rafts. The water never went over Class 3, but it was definitely
a blast! We will certainly add this to future trips. The rafting took up most of the day, so we came into town early so we could shop and get online. While the notes are pretty slim today, the pictures from yesterday and
the rafting today speak volumes!" Today our Students will transfer from Arenal to Monteverde and enjoy the spectacular sites along their journey.
4/2/2010 Friday Monteverde (8:00 am Seattle Time 9:00 am Monteverde Time) Yesterday our delegation transferred from Arenal to Monteverde. As Mr. Willecke has said, “We are now back in Civilization--well, not really,
there is little internet here, as we must drive to town to send a few pictures and comments.” He also noted, “The Costa Rican people are amazingly nice and helpful and our students that know Spanish are having a ball
practicing their skills!” Today the delegation will visit the Santa Elena Reserve and enjoy a Canopy Tour. Mr. Johnston may update us later when they drive through town and stop at an internet café before returning
to the Trapp Family Lodge in Monteverde. We have received a quick email from Mr. Johnston. Everyone is well. However the phone line internet service is slow and difficult. We have received more information from Mr.
Johnston, "We actually got to sleep in until 8:30 this morning, and were on our way to the cloud forest at 10 am. Our first activity was a walking tour of the continental divide, where we got to see the vastly different
ecosystems on the west side of the continent (cool and sunny), and the east side, which was hot and lightly raining. This is the same divide that begins in Alaska and runs all the way to the bottom of Argentina. We got
some great pics of wildlife and foliage. Lunch was at the hotel attached to the zip lining place. We suited up at 2 pm and were off to the first tower and cable. The rain started in pretty heavy, which made zip lining
faster and MUCH BETTER! Watching the cable disappear into the clouds just 20 feet in front of you was a huge thrill. One cool addition to this trip that I made yesterday was to make a deal with a local glassblower to
run a workshop for our kids on how to make creative glass pieces, so that is what we are doing next. We will go to his workshop here in Monteverde for 90 minutes and each will make a glass piece. Then off to pizza
dinner. Tomorrow we go to Jaco Beach!" More pictures should arrive tomorrow!
4/3/2010 Saturday Jacó (11:00 am Seattle Time 12:00 pm Jacó Time) Our Students have transferred to Jacó Beach today. We have received an email from Mr. Johnston, “Today we drove to Jaco, with a stop on the way at Crocodile
Bridge, where we saw about 20 huge crocs sunning. Then we ate at a restaurant on the beach before going to the hotel. After checking in, we went to the beach for 90 minutes, where we body surfed and soaked in the sun. We
are on our way to eat dinner at a restaurant with a band on the beach!”
4/4/2010 Sunday Jacó (7:30 am Seattle Time 8:30 pm Jacó Time) We have received outstanding pictures from Mr. Willecke and according to Mr. Johnston Jacó is the perfect ending to an exceptional trip. Our delegation will return
to San José today and their “Return to Seattle Meeting” will give our Students all the necessary information for packing and preparing for their return flights to Seattle. We have received our final update from Mr. Johnston,
“Today we went to the beach at 10 am in Jaco, and spent a few hours there with rented body boards, wave diving, body surfing, and using the boards to ride the waves. We had a great time playing in ocean water that was warm
as far out as we went, at least to ten feet deep! After lunch in Jaco, we drove back to San Jose, where we checked back into the Trapp Family Lodge where we stayed the first night. We are just now walking to a local place
for dinner. In the morning, we will drive out to the Doka Estate, where we will learn about coffee, from its growth as a fruit on the coffee plant, all the way up to when it fills the coffee cup. After Doka, we have one
last chance to shop, then eat lunch and then off to the airport for the trip home. We have had a wonderful time, and Mr. Willecke and I agree that this has been our best trip of all we have taken - this is my 7th MIHS trip,
and his 6th, so that really means something! For Parents Meeting the Delegation tomorrow, please check the flight status for Continental Airlines #467 by phone 1.800.523.3273 or online at www.continental.com. The delegation
will clear customs in Houston so once they deplane in Seattle they will exit from the B Concourse and head directly to baggage claim (usually #9). See you tomorrow!
4/5/2010 Monday Seattle - Welcome Home!
2010 Costa Rica Trip Pictures:
2010 WCE Mercer Island HS Vietnam/Cambodia Trip
3/27/2010 Saturday (Seattle) Our 10 Member WCE MIHS Vietnam/Cambodia Student Delegation led by Mr. Chris Twombley (MIHS Staff) departed from Seattle, will transfer planes in Taipei, and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City. Our
Delegation will visit Ho Chi Minh City, Danang (where our Students will present scholarships to the Danang Street Children’s Orphanage), Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Vietnam and Siem Reap (where our Students will visit
the unbelievable Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom Complex) and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Please encourage family and friends to visit this page for updates, emails, and pictures!
3/28/2010 Sunday Ho Chi Minh City (11:00 am HCMC Time 9:00 pm Seattle time on the 27th) We have spoken with Mr. Twombley while the delegation was at the War Remnants Museum. Our MIHS Student Delegation has arrived safely in Ho Chi Minh
City. Today the delegation will check into the New World Hotel Saigon; visit Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and the Main Post, enjoy a great lunch, take a Cycle Tour (rickshaw) through the old quarter of Saigon
(Ho Chi Minh City); shop in Ben Thanh Market; and have dinner at a local restaurant. Their adventure has begun! We have received an email with our first picture fom Mr. Twombley, “We are all well and safely arrived. Cyclo ride was great.
Heading for dinner in a half hour. Here is a pic from our arrival.”
3/29/2010 Monday Hoi An (10:00 pm Hoi An Time 8:00 am Seattle Time) Our delegation had a busy day touring in Ho Chi Minh City in the morning, flying to Danang at noon, visiting the Danang Street Children Program to impact lives with a smile,
and transferring to the Swiss Belhotel Grand Sand Resort. Tomorrow our Students will visit the Ancient City of Hoi An! We have received another update with pictures from Mr. Twombley, “We are safely arrived in Hoi An, after a very good visit
to the Danang Street Children Orphanage #4. I can't tell you how proud I am of "The Nine," as I like to call them: They acted like true ambassadors, connecting enthusiastically with each kid. Tonight we will go to the silk factory, dinner,
and a walk in Old Hoi An. Everyone is well!”
3/30/2010 Tuesday Hoi An (9:00 pm Hoi An Time 7:00 am Seattle Time) Our Students were able to enjoy a morning bike ride through the countryside for about 2 hours, where they observed shrimp beds, traditional Buddhist cemeteries, rice paddies,
a series of hamlets, and new rural road construction, a fascinating ride that further developed a love for Vietnam. After lunch our delegation took a tour of Hoi An visiting the silk factory and touring the famous Japanese bridge
and a Buddhist temple. Mr. Twombley’s email sums up the day, “Safe and sound in Hoi An. Bike trip went beautifully this morning, as did the excursion to Yaly Silk, where most of "The Nine" had garments made for them--lots of prom stuff. The
weather is about 82 degrees and sunny and the surf is great. Having a tremendous time!!”
3/31/2010 Wednesday Hanoi (11:00 pm Hanoi Time 9:00 am Seattle Time)
Our Students are now in Hanoi. It was as always a very busy day. The morning started with the Thu Bon River cruise (the one hour cruise on the calm waters of the river Thu Bon down the Cua Dai Estuary then back to the wharf on the waterfront
of Hoi An offers outstanding scenery including a view of traditional villages); the delegation then flew to Hanoi; enjoyed a Cycle Tour (rickshaw) through Hanoi's Old Quarter where the history of Hanoi goes back over 2,000 years; and checked
into the Melia Hotel. We have received another update with more pictures from Mr. Twombley, “Safely arrived in Hanoi. It is raining lightly this morning, for which I think many of "The Nine" will be secretly grateful: Yesterday's beach time
and river tour in Hoi An proved ideal for spring's first (mild) sunburns. Today we visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and the Hanoi Hilton. Everyone is in great spirits.”
4/1/2010 Thursday Hanoi (11:00 pm Hanoi Time 9:00 am Seattle Time) Today our delegation toured Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, explored the Temple of Literature (built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university where architecture and artifacts
range from 200-1000 years old, had a superb lunch of shrimp and soup and then toured the Hanoi Hilton (a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam).
4/2/2010 Friday Siem Reap (9:00 pm Siem Reap Time 7:00 am Seattle Time) Mr. Twombley has emailed another update, “We are in the Hanoi Airport waiting for our jump to Siem Reap. Everyone is in good spirits. Dung was a great guide!! Today we went
to a beautiful temple/pagoda complex outside of Hanoi and also visited a small woodcut print art studio nearby. The kids loved the change of pace to the countryside, images from which are probably more in keeping with the idyllic pictures they have
in their heads of the country. All in all, Hanoi was a great success.” Our delegation then flew from Hanoi to Siem Reap; enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant; and checked into the Apsara Holiday Hotel-Boutique. Tomorrow our delegation will explore
Angkor Wat!
4/3/2010 Saturday Siem Reap (9:00 pm Siem Reap Time 7:00 am Seattle Time) We have received another email from Mr. Twombley, “We are safely arrived in Siem Reap! This morning we woke at 5 am to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Lots of jaws dropping,
to be sure. After breakfast and a shower, we will return to the temple complex for a complete tour. Later, we will visit the floating villages on Lake Ton Le Sap. Temperatures predicted between 90-100 degrees...Keeping hydrated!” Their day continued
with a boat cruise on Tonal Sap Lake (one of the world’s richest sources of freshwater fish) to see floating village, an oxcart ride at Arana Village along the Siem Reap River to experience the daily life of the Khmer people, and dinner at Amazon
Restaurant with Apsara Dance Show (Traditional Khmer Dance). We hope to receive a few pictures soon.
4/4/2010 Sunday Siem Reap (9:55 am Seattle Time 11:55 pm Siem Reap Time) It was another busy day for our Students. In the morning the delegation visited Bayon Temple (built in the late 12th century or early 13th century its most distinctive feature
is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers) and viewed the Terrace of the Elephants (part of the walled city of Angkor Thom the 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served
as a base for the king's grand audience hall). In the afternoon they visited Banteay Srei Temple (the Citadel of the Woman) which is the smallest of the temples they have seen, but definitely contained the most ornate patterns. It is also made out of red
clay/rock, giving it a pink color in places, and a reddish color everywhere else. It is a very popular destination. We should receive an update from Mr. Twombley tomorrow.
4/5/2010 Monday Phnom Penh (6:30 am Seattle Time 8:30 pm Phnom Penh Time) It was a busy final day for our Students. In the morning the delegation visited the jungle-covered Ta Prohm Temple (used as a location in the film Tomb Raider), enjoyed lunch at
the hotel restaurant, flew from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, toured "The Killing Fields" or "Cheung Ek", checked into the Sunway Hotel, and after dinner their “Return to USA Meeting” prepared them for tomorrow’s flight back to the US. Mr. Twombley has sent
us his final update with pictures, “We are arrived in Phnom Penh after a wonderful time in Siem Reap. Today we saw the "Tomb Raider" temple before hopping to the Phnom Penh. We arrived here, ate lunch, and then headed to Cheung Ek, or the Killing Fields.
The students were very moved by that experience, especially by the personal testimony of our guide, Lim. The hotel is across the street from the US Embassy and ancient city center. Very beautiful setting. The weather has been scorching. Spirits are high,
but the kids are getting tired. We are leaving tomorrow.” For Parents Meeting the Delegation tomorrow: First check (call EVA Air at 1-800-695-1188 or go online at www.evaair.com and check the Flight Status of EVA Air Flight #26) to make sure the flight is
on time. We will meet the delegation at International Baggage #1 or as they walk up the stairs from the South Concourse. Remember they will need 45 – 60 minutes to clear US Immigrations and US Customs after their flight arrives. We will see you at the
airport tomorrow.
4/6/2010 Tuesday Seattle - Welcome Home!
2010 WCE Mercer Island HS Vietnam Trip Pictures
WCE Reminder:
If you receive an exciting email or picture from one of our delegation members, please forward the email or picture to the
Washington Cultural Exchange Office and we will post it! Our email address is start@wce.org.
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