This was one of the most heartbreaking days in the entirety of our trip, in which most of us were walking around in tears. We visited the Kỳ Quang orphanage, a component of the Kỳ Quang Pagoda. The temple is enormous, filled with sculptures, monuments, statues, & various Buddhist symbols. The orphanage takes in children from all over the country, including those with life threatening ailments. Many of the orphans would not live for very much longer &/or live with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, or hydrocephalus. A simple procedure in the States would prevent infants with hydrocephalus to expand, but because these orphans do not have access to proper medical treatment, the accumulating liquid in their brains has caused their skulls to expand. Many volunteers sit & cuddle over 200 children who reside at the Pagoda, some of which paint new murals for the children.
Afterwards, we went to dinner at a restaurant my parents highly recommended. It was delicious!
