Sai Gon Adieu !!!

Well, it's nearly a week now that we are back home, a bit slack you might think, but we had a lot to do when we got home, i.e. picking up Tilly, sorting out the mail, doing all the washing ... etc.

Before we report about our trip home, we did include some of the pictures from the Mekong Delta and Ben Tre - the village where our four families live.

The day after ...

Basically our last day. Got some money at the ATM, sorted all our staff for packing, then went on our last trip to the Peace Orphanage. It was very interesting. Everything was spick n span, all children dressed up, something was going on. And soon enough we saw a group of seven people were guided through the ward by the head of the department, Dr. Tan.
We sneaked past them and went to our usual room. The girls were happy to see us, and our two little girls jumped on our laps and saying "I love you" !!! What a surprise. I think Hoan had something to do with that!!!
Anyway, the group also came to the girls room. The men were surprised to see us sitting there and Tan just said 'Hello'. Matt asked them where the were from, and sure enough, they were lawyers from the states. Then they asked us all kinds of questions and we told them we were from AUS and we come to the orphanage on a regular basis. Just at that moment one of the girls on Matt's lap said "I love you". You should have seen them ... camera's flashing. We still have to find out why the lawyers were visited the orphanage.
Then it was time to go. It was really sad, knowing that we would not see the children for another year!!!
Back at the hotel we packed everything and then went out with Bob, Hien and Rosie - as we call her now - to dinner at a GERMAN Restaurant. Well - we started with German food at our fund raisers - so it was a perfect finish!!!

Flying out the next morning, we had breakky at the usual place, said our good byes to Trung - he was our special waiter. Matt gave him one of the hats we had brought including a big tip, as Trung refused to take tips. We exchanged e-mail addresses and left. Sure enough when we got home there was an e-mail from Trung waiting for us. He loves the hat and he gave the money we left for him to help the people in the north where they recently had a big storm and floods!!!

That more or less wraps it all up in a nut shell ... well there is more to come, as we left money for assistance, operations and other help. Will keep you informed when we receive the news.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and everyone who helped and supported us in every which way. You made a difference, without you it would not have been possible.

Thank you <3
...............Thank you <3
................................Thank you <3
.................................................Thank you <3
..................................................................Thank you <3

We love you's all !!!

Pictures form the Ben Tre - Mekong

A successful day in the Mekong Delta

It was another 12 hour day, but boy it was great. Arrived around twelve-ish and had lunch with the chairman Ut, his boss and Jung, a representative of the military. At the last meeting
Ut had asked us if we could help building a bridge near one of the houses. Matt and Uli decided to give VND 5 million for construction material. Ut was delighted and announced the the bridge would be built immediately!!!

After dessert (nice sponge cake VN style) we went to the first house. It had been completed, just some minor things like doors were still missing. The people were overjoyed to finally have a new, solid house. Solid foundations, raised to make the house flood proof, solid brick walls, cement floor and solid fibro cement roof. All in all a top job, the electricity company was just installing the power lines ...

We sat down, Mekong Delta TV was there as well and followed us around to the other houses. Had a coco nut - nice cool water and chatted with the locals and chairman Ut who turned out to a bit of a funny character. In his speech he could not pronounce Matt and Uli so he said Uk and Duk - which means Australia and Germany. Over lunch we spoke about our heritage and that Matt was Uk and Uli - still a German citizen - was Duk. We all had a big laugh. We stayed over an hour.

Back to the bus on the Honda. Next house ... same same, but different. A picture of uncle Ho was always traveling with us and set up at each house as well as a banner ... This time Ut was able to pronounce our names. Again smiles all round and lots of people, the whole neighborhood had arrived. Lots of kid, Uli had a soft toy that Annette - a friend of the family - had knitted!!! Thanks Annette - they were well received. A difficult and unstable bridge was right in front of the house. We did not cross it last time. Well, it had been improved and was now relatively easy to cross. Drinks were taken ... back across the bridge, back on the Honda ... next house.

Same, same, but walking, only Ut used his Honda. Again, the old lady was very emotional when she saw us and thanked us even before the official ceremony had started. Ut did his spiel ... and after he finished Matt said that this was the same speech he had given at the last house. Uli and Hien laughed ... and then Hien translated ... and then everyone was laughing. It was so good to see those people with a smile on their face. After everything was said and the house warming presents handed over - and dropped ... by Uli - only a 10kg bag of rice - no damage done the old lady wanted to say a few words. She thanked us from the bottom of her heart, she had tears in her eyes and shook Uli's hand and then she hugged Uli. Very emotional. Off to the unfinished house # 4.

It was a short stay as it was really in the first construction phase. Half of the old house was still standing ... that's where the family stayed. Handed over the gifts, signed the paper work and Uli handed over the last knitted teddy. Shaking hands ... off we went the the chairman's office. Lot's of speeches, even I had to put my fife bob in.
Applause all round, chairman said he would like to see us many times in the future, he even offered Uli VN citizen ship - and Uli replied she wanted to have a house in the Mekong Delta too, and he agreed!!! It's all on video !!! During my speech the video man .. as they call him here ... ran out of tape ... so he asked me if I could say something again, and I did. Short and sharp - I thanked everyone for their commitment, particularly Ut, the chairman. I continued with saying that we while we are away, we have to think about something that wipes the smile off Ut's face, as he was constantly laughing or chuckling. When Hien translated everybody laughed out aloud - me included !!! They asked for it - they got it!!

All in all a wonderful day !!! Long drive home, most of it in the dark. Had a good driver and arrived in HCMC around 8:30.

We have to thank our friends Bob and Hien (Bob could not come today) and Que who helped us putting this all together. Without their help and support, this would not have been possible.

A big THANK YOU to you !!!


PS: All the presents we had for the four families were really well received.

Pictures will follow!!!

Last three days ...

... and today is Melbourne Cup day. See if we can watch the race at 11 AM.

Had a busy day yesterday. Uli was feeling sick on top of her cold, but she soldiered on!!! 10 AM appointment at the HOPE School. Meet the VN press - there will be an article about the sponsorship of the 12 children in a local paper and the principal has already written to the government about it. Anyway ... we met the children again, handed over the 12 pencil cases ... smiling faces ... Lots of thank you's.
Another long taxi ride to meet up with Hien, Lan and Que to visit another poor family with two children. The daughter, her name is Quynh, has got some kidney problems which has not been looked at by a doctor for over 5 years. Phong, the son is also not well he has got some problem with his brain, but he is taking medication.

To cut a long story short and not let the taxi waiting for too long, Lan is taking Quynh to a doctor and gets her checked out, she might possibly need an ultra sound. Back in the taxi and off to Tram's school. Paid VND 350.000 for the taxi - from 11 AM - 1:15 AM - approx $ 22 - but it all adds up.
However, no one at the school - lunch break. We had to wait, but no time wasted, we discussed further actions. It was decided to give Lan VND 5,000,000 for the medical procedures for the Quynh and Que five million to organize house warming goods for the 4 families in the Mekong Delta. Here is the list of what we bought for each family: 10 kg of rice - 5 l of oil - 2 kg of sugar - instant noodles - 2 mosquito nets and 2 fans. Que organized the lot using his motor bike!!!

Finally, the school came back to life ... met the principal and two girls. We thought those are the girls we were talking about earlier. But far from it. The older girl was the daughter of the security guard who attends high school. We were asked if we could pay her school fees as her father has retired. Lan and Hien had a chat in VN lingo, Uli and Matt in German. Well, our Vietnamese friends were embarresd that the school principal put this case before us.
At long last the two girls Truc ( grade 5) and Tam (grade 4)arrived. Truc was very outgoing. Their needs were discussed and we agreed to pay the school fees and school lunch for a year. The fee for both 2 children, school fees and lunch amounts to 6,800,000 VND.

Back to the hotel at 3:30 - no lunch no nothing!!! Had a rest and went to the Peace orphanage late afternoon.

Today we met up with Nanette and Gale again. They arrived just in time to go to Stella's to watch the Melbourne cup. It was icy cold in the restaurant, so we opted for upstairs. We were the only one's, so we got the remote control ... switch to the ABC ... which is called the Australia Network. Matt noticed they had a digital projector and a silver screen. Without mentioning it, the girls wound down the silver screen, got the projector going and we had a bigger picture then at home. We got up for the national anthem and then the race was in full swing. This was the first cup for 22 years where I did not have a sweep stake or a bet. Not to mention that my favorites did not make it ... as I was listening to the commentators. No other information.
After lunch we met with Bob and Hien at their new head quarters. Nice place ... freshly decorated. Later on Matt went to the orphanage, Uli stayed to discuss tomorrows proceedings.

That was our Tuesday ... dinner and a stroll through the park - Saigon is currently hosting the ASIAN Indoor games. Lots of activities, food stalls, entertainment ... plenty of led lights ...

News from the chairman

Good news travels slow ... as they say, we got good news on Friday, the chairmen from the Mekong delta sent fax and told us, that the houses for those people in the Mekong Delta are nearing completion. It means we will have another trip to the Mekong on Wednesday, can't go Tuesday - Melbourne cup day -- will go to Stella's and watch it there. Stella's is a restaurant just around the corner from where we stay in HCMC and the owner is an Aussie - so we're sure ...

Ok, got to fly, going to the airport in 10 minutes, then 2 hours waiting for the 45 minute flight to HCMC.

Interesting picture: Chairman on Honda, Matt was on Honda ahead of him, took picture overhead !!!

Impressions .... Sai Gon

Here are some pictures. They all tell a story ... they speak for themselves !!!


















HOAN on her Motor bike with her new Lap Top.









Three friends in a coffee shop !!!

We are on leave ... without pay !!!

On Sunday we hopped on a "TOURIST" bus to go to DALAT. There were 4 foreign tourists on the bus, the rest were all Vietnamese. The buses are all brand new, aircon, even video - which was trouble!!! Anyway, the bus was packed, and an hour out of HCMC the assistant put on a DVD.

Pictures: Crazy house in Dalat - Skippie and Uli and Nanette

All Vietnamese Comedy - non stop - and the noise level ... anyway I dosed off for a while only to be woken by the incredibly noisy horn of our bus. The trip took 8 hours ... and at the end of the trip ULI started laughing with the rest of the bus.
Two days in DALAT - elevation 1500m, the green house of the nation. Beautiful city, a little like a French city. Matt got a cold - so we did not do much after we arrived. Next morning at breakky Nanette from Coolum and her sister stepped out of the lift!!! Not a surprise - we knew they were coming. Spend a day and a half with them in DALAT - Matt still malad in DALAT!!!
Not wanting the bus experience again - we checked and got a car with driver who drove us safely to NAH TRANG. At first we thought we might get a hire car, but there are no road signs whatsoever. Our very good driver PHUNG took 3.5 hours for the 145 km to NAH TRANG, on the new road !!! It is so new that in parts it did not exist!!! Anyway it was interesting and pleasant.

PHUNG dropped us off at our hotel. Then he had to drive all the way back to DALAT. NAH TRANG is right on the beach. Had not seen the ocean for too long. Weather is warm and beautiful. Had a meal a "La Loisiana" - a resort without a hotel. And the brew their own beer!!! WOW - we had to try it and had dinner there as well. Matt still malad in NAH TRANG.

For those of you who do not speak French - malad means CROOK!!!

We will stay here until Sunday, so we might not report before then, except something out of the ordinary happens ... which is not unusual when you travel.

PS: Nanette and sister Gale leave us tomorrow to fly to HANOI, but will meet again in HCMC next week.