Operation Bombie

First of all I would just like to apologise to everyone for the lack of updates I have provided. This is down to a number of reasons, the conquering effort being the age old complaint that 24 hours just isn’t enough hours for one day.

The first week here was a wonderful culture shock that kept my jaw firmly glued to the bridge of my flip flop for at least three days straight. The traffic is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Envisage the entire population of the UK taking Speedway onto the streets. I can’t quite figure out what the order is except I know there is one as I haven’t seen one crash or fit of road rage in the bedlam. I have a wonderful “Hanoi’  tattoo on my right calf. I don’t know what may concern you more mum, but it’s one that was actually branded into my leg by a motorcycle engine. Note to self, motorcycle engine will always win so don’t start. It truly is a game of Wacky Races minus The Pigeon.

All this to absorb and still the matter of having to actually do some work, which for those concerned, I haven’t stopped! I met Robert Kinnear, organiser of Project Pineapple, in the dark of the evening on my first day. He spoke about the Project and the injustices of this world with such utter passion that I went to bed with the importance of what I can do to help, ringing desperately in my ears.

I spent the week photographing the bike ride and the small group involved, but mainly watching Robert and trying to catch his charisma through the lens. The dates of the ride were changed, despite their original significance (19 March-start of Iraq War, 30 April- end of Vietnam) and the content of the ride began to concern me. When after a week I had still not met a spokesperson from a charity, or anybody directly linked with the issue of cluster bombs, I was left with the grave concern that my project was going to comprise of ‘one man and his bike’. Although I have the upmost admiration for his efforts and passion, I feel that the visual content I would be including in my work would not be enough to encompass public interest in this pressing matter.

The fact of the matter is that I came here, in short, to do a job. I have come here to document the effects that these cataclysmic weapons are still having on the people of Indochina. Despite Robert’s fiery efforts and desire to help those who need it, I have decided to distance myself from ‘Project Pineapple’ and set off on my own. My ears haven’t stopped ringing.

So the past week has been an outrageously busy one for me. I have been trying to organise various meetings with charities, clearance companies, hospitals, and arrange visits to areas most affected throughout Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All whilst in Vietnam, armed only with a stubborn English vocabulary.

Luckily for me I have made some incredible Vietnamese friends who have helped me with translation, news stories, state of mind and a place to stay. So i would just like to take this time to thank;

Hoa Anh- who can lift the darkest spirit in the room

Hang- wonderful chef, roommate, and a truly individual young lady

Dat- friend/translator/taxi driver/secretary/head of cultural education

A potentially worrying situation has been somewhat alleviated by all those mentioned above, who’s raw, honest nature has made me understand that these wonderful people’s back garden’s need to be cleaned up.

So starts my journey…….

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