Tsunami orphans ride the London Eye

A group of seven young people, most of whom lived through the Tsunami, which devastated the coastline of countries along the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004, are enjoying the trip of a lifetime to England and Ireland, as guests of the Thai Children's Trust.

Last Thursday, the group from the Baan Than Namchai Foundation came to London, where they stayed at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington - thanks to the generosity of the managing director Jonathan Lowrey. The hotel also provided the kids with scooters - for zipping around Kensington Gardens.

Together with their housemother Khun Rotjana, Ken, Gorn, Guitar, Bat, Yugo, Benz and Panlan had a thrilling complementary ride on the London Eye in the afternoon. They enjoyed spotting landmarks, watching passing boats on the River Thames and taking selfies on the way round. Once back to earth they had a guest meal at the riverside MacDonalds. That evening they attended a special reception at The Royal Thai Embassy (further report to follow).

One of the boys, Ken, who was 12 when the tsunami struck, said he was very excited to be in London. When he finishes university he wants to go into the tourism business and he said he would like to make a return trip to England. The youngest of the group, Panlan, who is just 10, said she wants to become a doctor whn she grows up.

For more information on the Baan Than Namchai Foundation, visit: www.thaichildrenstrust.org.uk/about-us/children-at-risk/baan-than-namchai-orphanage.aspx

There will be more photos on the ICN Facebook page soon.