Coolum Viet Nam Support Group (CVSG) est. in 2008 on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AUSTRALIA. Next trip: September 2018. Our MISSION: To HELP the underprivileged in Viet Nam. MAIN AIM: Educational and medical support for school children, UNI students, orphans, pregnant women and more. NO SUPPORT without meeting the needy FIRST. We go back every year to meet the people we support. Every $$$ donated goes to HELP !!! We pay our own way. We DO NOT pay admin fees, or charges.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas day at the hospital
A very sad experience ...
Christmas day we went to visit Ngoc Hong, a student from the Mekong delta. We just got back from a cancer ward at Benh Vien Ung Buou hospital, in Binh Thanh district.
What a shocker, soooo many children, in small rooms, little children ... 20 people adults and kids in one room, parents have to care for everything, ... if you have not seen it, you can not imagine it!!!
Children need an adult look after them, no support from hospital at all. I had my camera with me, but I just could not take a photo, and people who know me know how trigger-happy I can be. That also tells you how I felt about the whole situation.
We did not meet Ngoc Hong, have to contact the parents to find out about her.
A Christmas day experience we will NEVER forget
Christmas day we went to visit Ngoc Hong, a student from the Mekong delta. We just got back from a cancer ward at Benh Vien Ung Buou hospital, in Binh Thanh district.
What a shocker, soooo many children, in small rooms, little children ... 20 people adults and kids in one room, parents have to care for everything, ... if you have not seen it, you can not imagine it!!!
Children need an adult look after them, no support from hospital at all. I had my camera with me, but I just could not take a photo, and people who know me know how trigger-happy I can be. That also tells you how I felt about the whole situation.
We did not meet Ngoc Hong, have to contact the parents to find out about her.
A Christmas day experience we will NEVER forget
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve 2011
Today is an easy day, Uli is still recovering from her cold and had a back spasm this morning, so SLOW is the name of the game today.
Went for a walk, bought some medication and three 1.5l bottles of "Travelwater" for $0.80, we have to drink a lot ... Walked to the ABC shop for morning tea. Met a guy from India who lives in Germany for over 40 years. Very interesting conversation for over an hour, just great to hear different opinions on what is happening in the world and particularly in America.
Uli is resting before lunch and I have to type ... had a nice lunch and a REST, then a nice piece of German Christstollen and went for a walk around the block and in the park. They are setting up for another food festival in the park ... that will be brilliant.
Went out for dinner with Miss Kim and Miss Van Anh. Uli and Kim were both not feeling too well so just walked back to the hotel and listened to Christmas carols.
In the meantime Hoan was having fun with the kids at the Peace Orphanage and shared the photos below with us.
Photos by Hoan Candy, Copyright 2011
Went for a walk, bought some medication and three 1.5l bottles of "Travelwater" for $0.80, we have to drink a lot ... Walked to the ABC shop for morning tea. Met a guy from India who lives in Germany for over 40 years. Very interesting conversation for over an hour, just great to hear different opinions on what is happening in the world and particularly in America.
Uli is resting before lunch and I have to type ... had a nice lunch and a REST, then a nice piece of German Christstollen and went for a walk around the block and in the park. They are setting up for another food festival in the park ... that will be brilliant.
Went out for dinner with Miss Kim and Miss Van Anh. Uli and Kim were both not feeling too well so just walked back to the hotel and listened to Christmas carols.
In the meantime Hoan was having fun with the kids at the Peace Orphanage and shared the photos below with us.
Photos by Hoan Candy, Copyright 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Party Photos Peace Orphanage
Friday, 23rd December ... at the PO. The kids were already waiting. We had lots of fun with Christmas carols, cakes, soft drinks and ressies!!!
Click on photo to enlarge ... and for a slide show ... but without comments!!!
Christmas decoration at the entrence to the childrens ward
Matt is Santa again ...
... distributing presents
Santa doing a video for the folks at home !!!
Big cake for the kids and staff
Little Thao is six years old and the only child in her room who is able to speak!!!
The nurses do a wonderful job with the kids, no doubt about that.
Little Thao is pretty clever too, I pointed at her saying THAO then at me, saying Matt and she immidiately pointed at me and said MATT
Everyone liked my flashing RED NOSE
"Vui" Thao ... the V sign means FUN !!!
Diep loves to have her photo taken
Click on photo to enlarge ... and for a slide show ... but without comments!!!
Christmas decoration at the entrence to the childrens ward
Matt is Santa again ...
... distributing presents
Santa doing a video for the folks at home !!!
Big cake for the kids and staff
Little Thao is six years old and the only child in her room who is able to speak!!!
The nurses do a wonderful job with the kids, no doubt about that.
Little Thao is pretty clever too, I pointed at her saying THAO then at me, saying Matt and she immidiately pointed at me and said MATT
Everyone liked my flashing RED NOSE
"Vui" Thao ... the V sign means FUN !!!
Diep loves to have her photo taken
Car hire and GoVIA in Australia ...
Here is an interesting story. We hired a car at Sunshine Coast airport and drove to the Gold Coast to catch our plane. We crossed the Gate Way bridge. Later after we checked in Matt tried to pay the bill over the phone. No chance ... first this would not work, then the other, try to enter a # key on your mobile ... I have to use the "FUNCTION" button ... invalid entry.
Ok, decided to do it online later. Ok, the next day in Sai Gon ... cannot get it done, always came back with Vehicle Registration error.
By that time I had it. I sent GoVia an e-mail explaining and pls get back to me asap. What happened??? Nothing ... I think I'm a dreamer, expecting those people to get back to me.
Last resort, ring GoVia from Viet Nam. Thanks to MobiPhone it's not expensive. Finally after all the rigmarole I got the chance to talk to a REAL person!!! Hurrah !!!
She took all the details and then she said not to worry Sir, it's already been paid for. I said NO WAY ... I haven't. But she insisted. The hire car had come out of Brisbane and the previous renter had paid for a three day pass, and Tuesday, when we travelled was still included in the three days.
I asked her why the computer did not tell me or give a proper error message so that I, the USER would know. Her friendly reply was "Our computers are not that clever Sir.
I'm the first to agree.
Ok, decided to do it online later. Ok, the next day in Sai Gon ... cannot get it done, always came back with Vehicle Registration error.
By that time I had it. I sent GoVia an e-mail explaining and pls get back to me asap. What happened??? Nothing ... I think I'm a dreamer, expecting those people to get back to me.
Last resort, ring GoVia from Viet Nam. Thanks to MobiPhone it's not expensive. Finally after all the rigmarole I got the chance to talk to a REAL person!!! Hurrah !!!
She took all the details and then she said not to worry Sir, it's already been paid for. I said NO WAY ... I haven't. But she insisted. The hire car had come out of Brisbane and the previous renter had paid for a three day pass, and Tuesday, when we travelled was still included in the three days.
I asked her why the computer did not tell me or give a proper error message so that I, the USER would know. Her friendly reply was "Our computers are not that clever Sir.
I'm the first to agree.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas party at the HOPE School.
First photos ... unsorted ... more later !!! Double click on image to create a slide show.
First photos from HOPE School Christmas party, 22 December 2011
First photos from HOPE School Christmas party, 22 December 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Eagle has landed ... red nosed !!!
Hi Everyone,
just a quick message from us ... we arrived in Sai Gon last night, all went well except we were in a "flying freezer" from Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur ... now we know what it's like for Santa and no wonder Rudolph has got a red nose!!!
Miss Kim was welcoming us, waiting outside the hotel ... "Oh what a feeling "Only Viet Nam" Christmas decorations everywhere, lights and shop windows with Merry Christmas"
Have to go and have breakfast now.
An Hour later ...
Just to update you ... went down to the little cafe at the hotel ... the owner of the cafe shop came and greeted us, which was nice. Then our paper girl, who sells us the local paper every day was overjoed to see us. Then the hamock hawker came and gave Matt a big HI5 ... what a welcome!!!
Now working the phones to get the local sim cards working, Uli's is already and she is texting away ...
Work in progress ...
Been to CBD to get our German Christmas Cake - Christstollen from the Schneider bakery. Looks nice, tast test later on for afternoon tea. CBD is full of Christmas decorations and lights, must go tonight ...
Had lunch at our ususal restaurant, then a nap. Just heard from HOA, the party he had planned on Christmas Eve is not happening. Team is flat ... no alternatives.
Now we are off to the Peace Orphanage.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Our Christmas in VINA ... as per 16th of Dec
We got a tight schedule already.
20th Tuesday: Late arrival
21st Wednesday: Get organised, meet with Dr Nhi at Peace Orphanage to discuss our Christmas party, go to the bank ...
22nd Thursday: Christmas party at the Hope School for Hearing impaired children
23rd Friday: Christmas party at Peace Orphanage
24th Saturday: Christmas party at Company of Grace
25th Sunday: CHRISTMAS DAY. Thank God, it's Christmas with Friends Hien and Bob
26th Monday: BOXING DAY. Relax and watch Sydney to Hobart and Cricket
27th Tuesday: Vist Ngoc Hong in Hospital with our friend and translator MARK
28th Wednesday: Nothing planned
29th Thursday: Possible trip to Ba Ton, Mekong delta
20th Tuesday: Late arrival
21st Wednesday: Get organised, meet with Dr Nhi at Peace Orphanage to discuss our Christmas party, go to the bank ...
22nd Thursday: Christmas party at the Hope School for Hearing impaired children
23rd Friday: Christmas party at Peace Orphanage
24th Saturday: Christmas party at Company of Grace
25th Sunday: CHRISTMAS DAY. Thank God, it's Christmas with Friends Hien and Bob
26th Monday: BOXING DAY. Relax and watch Sydney to Hobart and Cricket
27th Tuesday: Vist Ngoc Hong in Hospital with our friend and translator MARK
28th Wednesday: Nothing planned
29th Thursday: Possible trip to Ba Ton, Mekong delta
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Fund Raiser on 8th of December
Here we go again ...
writing about what we are doing. This time it's about a fund raiser we had on the 8th of December. We got an excellent response, seeing it's Christmas and everyone is as busy as ...
Here is the articel from the Coolum Northshore advertiser, thanks Kim !!!
Uli asking for a bit of a shush ... she thanked everyone for coming.
Margaret was the winner of the lucky door price ... a dinner voucher at Coolum Thai Spice
writing about what we are doing. This time it's about a fund raiser we had on the 8th of December. We got an excellent response, seeing it's Christmas and everyone is as busy as ...
Here is the articel from the Coolum Northshore advertiser, thanks Kim !!!
Uli asking for a bit of a shush ... she thanked everyone for coming.
Margaret was the winner of the lucky door price ... a dinner voucher at Coolum Thai Spice
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