tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198300562024-03-12T21:52:50.539-04:00Viet Nam from a distanceThis is a journal of my past visits to Vietnam and a continuation of present and future visits along with pictures and comments, feel free to comment....drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-19282973817353526412010-12-30T09:15:00.001-05:002010-12-30T09:15:48.883-05:00Expat BlogJoined this site awhile ago and hope it helps anyone who maybe thinking of moving to Viet nam permanntly......ME!drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-89242447533665242232010-10-14T18:58:00.001-04:002010-10-14T18:59:55.585-04:00View of the Fields.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH51-zEQJdzqoYCngorbc8iwYLgm9rycSJeknuip30fut-ArajK-77gtYtrh1exv1Lv9P4Q-0kb2HqcTrOLPc_kIJ6IvEHMfl1_LbGn_Ljq2J65YSD2mH8UnIdnXFNQqKNVu3MgQ/s1600/pgnha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH51-zEQJdzqoYCngorbc8iwYLgm9rycSJeknuip30fut-ArajK-77gtYtrh1exv1Lv9P4Q-0kb2HqcTrOLPc_kIJ6IvEHMfl1_LbGn_Ljq2J65YSD2mH8UnIdnXFNQqKNVu3MgQ/s320/pgnha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Another pic from the farmstay website. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-rIJ2tlSndLwFiW58FdxaP9BW7VKEkm2CwIRwQy6MWA-uaxwuhbW5xmaRjmKdJ6gjRotWRnZfuNmekPfvIDS_l7WT68fX6iuyuCBFjbAlPcZjQQk_TGpxhjGSoUCglo2Cdj-EQ/s1600/ben+and+bichs+place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-rIJ2tlSndLwFiW58FdxaP9BW7VKEkm2CwIRwQy6MWA-uaxwuhbW5xmaRjmKdJ6gjRotWRnZfuNmekPfvIDS_l7WT68fX6iuyuCBFjbAlPcZjQQk_TGpxhjGSoUCglo2Cdj-EQ/s320/ben+and+bichs+place.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is Bich and Ben's place. Beautiful home where they live with Bich's parents Mr. and Mrs. Le. Very wonderful and gracious hosts.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-10445993774986719142010-10-14T18:55:00.000-04:002010-10-14T18:55:56.738-04:00Phong Nha Farm Stay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjWPTMvYT_JOVumWiMKZ6PIh4I7rsJi1vkp8taTyS5wZqd7MOmvayh17kNgrz4vCJOzHCvZ-CFL1A0qOunsOgSn3adkv6ewCGnlaVPxxymK07mFH3LUdWJXYU1_yd9ZPJZ_ToQ/s1600/pnga2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjWPTMvYT_JOVumWiMKZ6PIh4I7rsJi1vkp8taTyS5wZqd7MOmvayh17kNgrz4vCJOzHCvZ-CFL1A0qOunsOgSn3adkv6ewCGnlaVPxxymK07mFH3LUdWJXYU1_yd9ZPJZ_ToQ/s320/pnga2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>People working on the farm in the Phong Nha area. Some of the photos taken from the website.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-64835649758930149072010-10-07T16:36:00.000-04:002010-10-07T16:36:30.841-04:00Phong Nha Farm StayAs per my visit last yaer at this time I will include a link to my friends Bich & Ben's farmstay in the Phong Nha Khe Bang area. I had a great time with this family and was one of the highlights of any trip I've had in Viet Nam. The email for this wonderful place is <span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="mailto:phongnhafarmstay@gmail.com"><strong>phongnhafarmstay@gmail.com</strong></a> I can only say it's a fun place to have a great adventure off the beaten path.</span>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-45209873873415661812010-06-14T08:43:00.000-04:002010-06-14T08:43:35.423-04:00La Gi and Pho Bo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQho1M33wbehyphenhypheneAlJAgXwMPcE4jfHtkFBlHuo7pKsXGlfTxybwlsFvBNiNjqZIO9_fzrGqDsI-cqcGnUn-Qt2Te1FOLLZ_8Stw9-Aol-oC_VTdaoiibBttpwXPf-s5ArRTj0UXQ/s1600/IMG_2180edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQho1M33wbehyphenhypheneAlJAgXwMPcE4jfHtkFBlHuo7pKsXGlfTxybwlsFvBNiNjqZIO9_fzrGqDsI-cqcGnUn-Qt2Te1FOLLZ_8Stw9-Aol-oC_VTdaoiibBttpwXPf-s5ArRTj0UXQ/s320/IMG_2180edited.jpg" /></a></div>I decided before my trip back to Viet nam that I would stop in La Gi which is several hours north of Sai Gon. My friend is from there and I wanted to visit her family and see her hometown. It's a small town between Phan Thiet and Sai Gon along the coast. Located on a river, which Vietnamese town isn't and is bigger than I thought it would be and a nice clean little town. I spent the day exploring and visiting Trang's parents and her nephews. This pho stall is directly across from my hotel which was very nice and centrally located in the middle of town. Lots of activity here and the pho bo was excellent.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-58452536894119160892010-06-14T08:35:00.000-04:002010-06-14T08:35:51.065-04:00Typical street scene<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZs6ekzBVclN5H9uWlst3pJBnIxseHlkyg2tiXg5XCI9fBDCN6y7gvAMGOe1XPukQti5TOc8w393ejqlWAzqydb1OEfrH2u9Lhtquo2wwdVwmcN5W0mUcLRN0vAoNcZdeE1qMnA/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZs6ekzBVclN5H9uWlst3pJBnIxseHlkyg2tiXg5XCI9fBDCN6y7gvAMGOe1XPukQti5TOc8w393ejqlWAzqydb1OEfrH2u9Lhtquo2wwdVwmcN5W0mUcLRN0vAoNcZdeE1qMnA/s400/IMG_2188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here you have a slice of Vietnamese life as it happens everyday. get in the shade and have a drink of something cold and chat up a neighbor or co worker. Up and down every street this happens countless times and is part of the charm of this country. They do have a great cafe culture and reflects their interest in family and friends.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-86688498752070187782010-06-05T09:21:00.002-04:002010-06-07T08:45:40.370-04:00Nuoc Mia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisziZ2GADvKdLpr8-qVCdiEWfIht8Vnaj7aZuBvtSE3FQ49NcxkddYkjiZyjiqAP5J3bkkuRhuau818n6-2MbzozB4vq6Ss9kTVVXG9XvuW19n5N2hEXzqkeIJk2CMnzlh6H-dAw/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisziZ2GADvKdLpr8-qVCdiEWfIht8Vnaj7aZuBvtSE3FQ49NcxkddYkjiZyjiqAP5J3bkkuRhuau818n6-2MbzozB4vq6Ss9kTVVXG9XvuW19n5N2hEXzqkeIJk2CMnzlh6H-dAw/s320/IMG_2153.JPG" /></a></div>Here as anywhere in Viet Nam the popular Nuoc Mia stand, or crushed iced sugar cane juice. A hand cranked press squeezes out the sugar cane juice and it's served over crushed ice. The sweetest and most refreshing thing there is on a hot Vietnamese day.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-66747315369506169602010-06-05T09:18:00.000-04:002010-06-05T09:18:45.860-04:00Catholic Church in Ton Lam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTXv75T_Jw8DRMlcQcuE2NIYw2wvTBHw79xsN1GRkLkxiKYoPcE59pN-_w9JWoWApyfb7B_MNTX4jyfJ3D47CsKqHw5p1M4Mqso_lKqyCyCGcyfBX2SZr4RmILNO7JDwEIfo3w/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTXv75T_Jw8DRMlcQcuE2NIYw2wvTBHw79xsN1GRkLkxiKYoPcE59pN-_w9JWoWApyfb7B_MNTX4jyfJ3D47CsKqHw5p1M4Mqso_lKqyCyCGcyfBX2SZr4RmILNO7JDwEIfo3w/s320/IMG_2150.JPG" /></a></div>On our way through this little town I spotted this small Catholic Church and decided to take a quick snap, the small boys can never resist the chance to interact with a foreigner and throw the iconic peace sign, somehow I just don't get that but they all do it.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-75106935115264973332010-06-05T09:15:00.000-04:002010-06-05T09:15:13.020-04:00Owen in Ton Lam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrBfEBTJviR2tVzgWZuhkl6x9NX2_TaXV_eNKHN4UtZKG-GdS62dUNcT1PUNTxcfc-xfpsMJ37MBnFAXDtAC6nzHFe6ZqmDYWc-1h7WfSn381xOMQXkx2_vAZjuh2DCBsNO46eg/s1600/IMG_2151edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrBfEBTJviR2tVzgWZuhkl6x9NX2_TaXV_eNKHN4UtZKG-GdS62dUNcT1PUNTxcfc-xfpsMJ37MBnFAXDtAC6nzHFe6ZqmDYWc-1h7WfSn381xOMQXkx2_vAZjuh2DCBsNO46eg/s320/IMG_2151edit.jpg" /></a></div>Owen and I took alot of day trips while I stayed in Nha Trang at his hotel. One day we went shopping for green mangos so his wife Mai could pickle them. Only a certain mango would do for this, a large grren mango from near Cam Rahn Bay. After a drive on a small access road to Hiway #1 that exits near the CRB airport we cruised the hiway searching for something to do. We came upon this little town called Ton Lam not far from where I was stationed in Dong Ba Thin, about 10k north. We made our way down the back alleys and visited the local's market and even found a small Catholic Church hidden back off the highway. We reconned the area and stopped for a brief respite at a local food stand. Good marinated pork cutlet done on the grill with rau muong (sauted morning glory) and rice. Locals love it when you rub elbows with them and "DARE" to eat what they eat and break bread with them. That's one of the most fun things to do and what holds the biggest attraction for me in Viet Nam. Why travel 10,000 miles to sit in some resort and eat western food? Were you in Viet Nam????? I don't think so. drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-62863840121249185882010-06-05T06:56:00.002-04:002010-06-05T06:56:51.657-04:00Cham Tower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtstmGQuSGz_d5IccJpw3E6WGxZgMcqlgIPHjMKP3zKpKct8cMAPacqC0mt1Jq3X63riB1G25GGEQwL17ibSAaczSYd9zuHI18OfxBqbwqFYdncrPT2otPjpM5nT3AMfM0p__V6Q/s1600/IMG_2107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtstmGQuSGz_d5IccJpw3E6WGxZgMcqlgIPHjMKP3zKpKct8cMAPacqC0mt1Jq3X63riB1G25GGEQwL17ibSAaczSYd9zuHI18OfxBqbwqFYdncrPT2otPjpM5nT3AMfM0p__V6Q/s320/IMG_2107.JPG" /></a></div>This is the Cham Tower in Phan Rang from a different angle.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-57686426087226137002010-06-05T06:55:00.000-04:002010-06-05T06:55:41.621-04:00Cham Tower Phan Rang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sUooL-_qE_bQXbPG4Lwz-blyf9T0glqiJKd6zhLjA0HkglHFgQ5Ba3f0PAU5wIVoV5eJe6gR1U7Jkj4npmlckH_2mICFYaoB_CswFFLmdHCo0b2lRY6Nz6lw7o2i_5StwsDfOg/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sUooL-_qE_bQXbPG4Lwz-blyf9T0glqiJKd6zhLjA0HkglHFgQ5Ba3f0PAU5wIVoV5eJe6gR1U7Jkj4npmlckH_2mICFYaoB_CswFFLmdHCo0b2lRY6Nz6lw7o2i_5StwsDfOg/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" /></a></div>This is one of the famous Cham temples located in Phan Rang city but it's really in Thap Cham which is a small city 5km away but it's technically all Phan Rang City. I didn't go into this temple but there is a more famous one in Nha Trang that I've visited. Most are built up on a small hill like this one and they're quite remarkable in their architechture. Especially from a people of that era.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-65612303292185530212010-06-05T06:50:00.002-04:002010-06-05T06:50:53.874-04:00I'll have a cold one!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCVgdUMy7jF_O_m4bIGKc2ecpj6pNumDOKZf38b8-xk83aaJO-NFWPR5Es3Y457L9IOUmivyRRK61f9-ye4ZAIfU6w4BbpnZrRln7blFfFJ1n0eDo22HHbkN79h-vVAowtfpVXQ/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCVgdUMy7jF_O_m4bIGKc2ecpj6pNumDOKZf38b8-xk83aaJO-NFWPR5Es3Y457L9IOUmivyRRK61f9-ye4ZAIfU6w4BbpnZrRln7blFfFJ1n0eDo22HHbkN79h-vVAowtfpVXQ/s320/IMG_2143.JPG" /></a></div>This little lady is stopping at the local drink stand for something cold on her way home from work or after a day of shopping. This is one of my favorite things about Viet Nam is you can pull over and get just about anything on the roadside.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-16894223726720030192010-05-31T09:32:00.000-04:002010-05-31T09:32:41.916-04:00Coffee Break!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBZKoSGYg6_8iVRQmtPKTVO8E3I8LIH0039CWlFQCMPmtTitPJS7gnzWIhNXfB1MS5CyPNuLgyabG-LVNuMoCZN3vg756-zbKrYQwbW186oPFeDy6ZhPn62zFln4uwzwZCeTlOw/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBZKoSGYg6_8iVRQmtPKTVO8E3I8LIH0039CWlFQCMPmtTitPJS7gnzWIhNXfB1MS5CyPNuLgyabG-LVNuMoCZN3vg756-zbKrYQwbW186oPFeDy6ZhPn62zFln4uwzwZCeTlOw/s320/IMG_2148.JPG" /></a></div>Ladies at the Banh My stand stop for coffee and chat up the neighbors. I had some fun with these ladies as I was taking pictures they were giving me the once over and offering me a date, first with one then with the other lady, quite the scene with all the sign language going back and forth...hehehe!drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-38474812024614102902010-05-31T09:27:00.000-04:002010-05-31T09:27:37.904-04:00High Tea at the Gold Lizard!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4DKHlMtJBid1YOscxkp3A6jzO7K1tpqbWeki6rqiG8oWYoaSo0pNvMwG0KWzox9F4pZOUVn2qb2zUmG7xr0B5j9bsTXLnryU19zywrYk2kKLZBSVu1eIrxmv3_CZMEDMMtdKLg/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4DKHlMtJBid1YOscxkp3A6jzO7K1tpqbWeki6rqiG8oWYoaSo0pNvMwG0KWzox9F4pZOUVn2qb2zUmG7xr0B5j9bsTXLnryU19zywrYk2kKLZBSVu1eIrxmv3_CZMEDMMtdKLg/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" /></a></div>Every morning while in Nha Trang, as Owen slept the best part of the day away I would have my morning tea at the Gold Lizard Cafe. The morning sun coming in through the trees and just above me in the pic you can spot the retractable awning they would close about 6:30 or 7:00 am to shield you from the sun. Great little cafe except no breakfast, just cafe' and tea. All the scenery was beautiful!!!drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-13132667324443889192010-05-31T09:22:00.000-04:002010-05-31T09:22:53.442-04:00Strike up the Band!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqB25_sjFeTwgXfcII1Np29mNP3u9LR7ErDkKM0suWl-4G-stuCKtpw_U-SCnk_rThnNmup1pyLRPqjWsTB1MMg33HTrpxsKqSPKrLz_HMKGDNHFvWdrB_AGbMEy6idvX7McUNQ/s1600/IMG_2132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqB25_sjFeTwgXfcII1Np29mNP3u9LR7ErDkKM0suWl-4G-stuCKtpw_U-SCnk_rThnNmup1pyLRPqjWsTB1MMg33HTrpxsKqSPKrLz_HMKGDNHFvWdrB_AGbMEy6idvX7McUNQ/s320/IMG_2132.JPG" /></a><br />
Strike up the band we're having a funeral. This little bit of drama was accorded me one morning when I noticed a funeral procession rolling down the side street justafter my morning tea. The casket in a small truck followed by mourners and monks in another truck, followed by 2 large buses with mourers and then this smaller truck with the band. Quite a send off, must have had alot of family and alot of money.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-47166839735604170852010-05-28T08:49:00.001-04:002010-05-28T08:49:58.723-04:00Hot Vit Lon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak3jmeEhyphenhyphenpy5pFdgOsMaXzJmmKVoriD4hOxCFWnKOnlo_d3TLSIi16irWFQ7LW6kg9GGMYGxYI_Mw9sO7yB339Xw2IbWvnzTjFuqZvx0wsxJas2N7nHEfrehrEiO5n2tNFSG9pw/s1600/hot+vit+lon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak3jmeEhyphenhyphenpy5pFdgOsMaXzJmmKVoriD4hOxCFWnKOnlo_d3TLSIi16irWFQ7LW6kg9GGMYGxYI_Mw9sO7yB339Xw2IbWvnzTjFuqZvx0wsxJas2N7nHEfrehrEiO5n2tNFSG9pw/s320/hot+vit+lon.jpg" /></a></div>Here I am sampling the famous Hot Vit Lon or duck egg fetus. It is quite good and the little lady beside me was more than enthusiastic that I was trying the local delicacy. Owen and I stopped here on our trip to Phan Rang and it was just outside the hotel door on the next corner. The local Bun Xeo was on offer also and we had some of that too. The HVL is eaten firstly by opening the small end of the shell by striking the spoon lightly around the top and picking out pieces of shell if any. Then you drink the "water" as my friend explained. Vinegar, salt and finely ground chili are added and then spooned out and eaten for your dining pleasure. The taste was not unlike a hard boiled egg but the texture was ....uh lets say NOT like your typical hard boiled egg. The texture component was not off putting though as it was slightly lumpy is all. I did have to spit out a few bits of beak and or bone.....not all that bad though. More a psychological thing than anything and not the worst thing I've eaten in Viet Nam by any stretch.drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-43480612134607841652010-05-13T09:20:00.003-04:002010-05-13T09:29:53.664-04:00Talkin' loud and drawin' a crowd!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADTLelqsvN2NdFL4rHpIJtXwrMLFkHLEmbKibSPWiMsEmd9DFt3YBMC68k4whbBT_tIGiJ6t6hbiQYetNngeX3Y7BaOAze4N3QIzpEinmYd4N0Rkwf65t47bICZLv7SYjCOXMdA/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470744119903929794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADTLelqsvN2NdFL4rHpIJtXwrMLFkHLEmbKibSPWiMsEmd9DFt3YBMC68k4whbBT_tIGiJ6t6hbiQYetNngeX3Y7BaOAze4N3QIzpEinmYd4N0Rkwf65t47bICZLv7SYjCOXMdA/s400/IMG_2105.JPG" /></a><br /><div>We made it to Phan Rang and with alot of help from Owen and some of the locals we managed to have our own little reception party arrange just by stopping to have a cold drink. As is the custom here everyone gets in on the act tryin' to locate my friend Ho. With an incomplete address to go on we were in the right neighborhood but couldn't pinpoint the street. After some digging in my papers which is a comlete other story "insert brain fart here" one of the locals found a nice girl that could speak great English who was home from working in Malaysia. Her name is Lan and she helped call the lady in question who was supposed to know the where abouts of Ho. To no avail she was mistakenly just trying to direct me to where someone else could help me. Lan was a real help and she has since told me her and her friend are opening a new restaurant in HCMC. This was quite the little party and everyone here seemed to have a good time and Owen, never one to let a laugh go by, made it clear that I was single, unmarried and quite available to any and all propositions that might come my way in the matrimonial department. I beat a hastey retreat and made my apologies and "got the hell outta Dodge".</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-33184221045399540102010-05-13T09:08:00.002-04:002010-05-13T09:20:04.495-04:00Chow time on the road to Phan Rang!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-pSUGpCa0oWKmklnyR9pFwwt0xCOXwU-DbD410AHYG4Zj69XyZ2yNqX0Rz4v5nZGUDxk7UBrMnFRFxp-4JVT0dY7CkT-kUvRRo5ltsx0UDJjiDcXFaKImYNPhyphenhyphenD5VxG1MU0VMQ/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470741228529498962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-pSUGpCa0oWKmklnyR9pFwwt0xCOXwU-DbD410AHYG4Zj69XyZ2yNqX0Rz4v5nZGUDxk7UBrMnFRFxp-4JVT0dY7CkT-kUvRRo5ltsx0UDJjiDcXFaKImYNPhyphenhyphenD5VxG1MU0VMQ/s400/IMG_2101.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Here owen and I stop in Cam Rahn City to have a bite to eat before continuing on to Phan Rang and what hopes to be a joyous reunion with my old friend Ho Moc San who I got a lead on by putting an ad in the news paper during the Tet holiday this year. I've been on a quest to find him for 6 years now with no luck and many a wild goose chase. The soup pictured here was very light and flovorful with a hint of pork but it also included bitter melon which doesn't agree with me. This versio was quite good despite the melon and the rau muong accompaniment was really good, not greasy and not too garlicy. The BBQ pork was very tastey and cut up with kitchen shears which is quite comical to me being a hairdresser and using shears very differently</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-80004727063989772102010-05-13T08:56:00.003-04:002010-05-13T09:08:44.528-04:00Infant car seat Vietnamese style!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNTpwiCXGIVGnry1PoUmDqdNWzNasUlxc8zm5KoSkSzCJJkHJz7Fa2tPkFqpKvDcO-EfclMtqRcIfaZV1-BzZbV6UJdPRZc5_7kYH2yaBn1ZC4SfVc0OrI-Py41CNXPw3NJ4c-A/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470739480681773282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNTpwiCXGIVGnry1PoUmDqdNWzNasUlxc8zm5KoSkSzCJJkHJz7Fa2tPkFqpKvDcO-EfclMtqRcIfaZV1-BzZbV6UJdPRZc5_7kYH2yaBn1ZC4SfVc0OrI-Py41CNXPw3NJ4c-A/s400/IMG_2100.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Don't be alarmed at least this person has an infant seat. Usually children or 3 children are squeezed onto motos between parents or siblings without helmets mind you and driven everywhere in this country. No one seems to mind that kids don't obey the mandatory helmet law. I thought these were so cute though and very ingenious. Leave it to the Vietnamese to come up witht something. Most times the kids stand in front of the parents on the floor boards of the scooter. This one also has a seat belt. Notice the many chalk marks on the seat? This is how the lot attendants keep track of motos when you visit a cafe or a store and they can also make sure to get a little tip also maybe 1000 or 2000 dong. Just for insurance purposes mind you. I'm sure they have to periodically scrub those of.</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-64556933861152331322010-05-13T07:09:00.002-04:002010-05-13T07:15:04.919-04:00The ice man cometh!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEtQj3p5taT4vghkpGTzTkNwuSKBSw0xf4GTCLBXSUl_MjtaCY_34j96splp69wLOTLzULq7oP1Ai6ZYJWJLEE5kTEC_3JMsswBk6CVrZLM1NaZEsJOYgFi0Up29juYB9rbj-vA/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470710294884009426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEtQj3p5taT4vghkpGTzTkNwuSKBSw0xf4GTCLBXSUl_MjtaCY_34j96splp69wLOTLzULq7oP1Ai6ZYJWJLEE5kTEC_3JMsswBk6CVrZLM1NaZEsJOYgFi0Up29juYB9rbj-vA/s400/IMG_2096.JPG" /></a><br /><div>You don't have the money to buy and ice machine? No problem! He comes to you just like in the old days back in the states but without the walk up. This guy dressed in rain gear delivers ice to all the cafes and places along the street that need ice. Good machine made ice is a premium and more expensive than block ice that is viewed as being made without the benefit of purified water. I've never had a problem with either but I've been lucky. I've never had any GI problems what so ever in Viet Nam but that's just me. The Gold Lizard was my daily ritual for morning tea. I didn't drink alot of coffee in Vn because I prefer mine with cream which you would be hard pressed to find anywhere. I drank Lipton tea, hot, with sweetened condensed milk added. I now drink it that way at home.</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-19596734073211683182010-05-13T07:06:00.002-04:002010-05-13T07:09:15.127-04:00I'm ready for my close up! Mr. De Mille<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUM1Ig-858HUAblq9vfvY22s7B_ibwU5uL2hut_YHm0D_G8s3u64hPw0I1vfWV0GiK346lubUnSd19SC9XNXMmOuGEcEfvV6ZopIXzdZfm287GCJEj-9UGfC5YKWoKJ7zqvzLSw/s1600/IMG_2099.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470709695901416786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUM1Ig-858HUAblq9vfvY22s7B_ibwU5uL2hut_YHm0D_G8s3u64hPw0I1vfWV0GiK346lubUnSd19SC9XNXMmOuGEcEfvV6ZopIXzdZfm287GCJEj-9UGfC5YKWoKJ7zqvzLSw/s400/IMG_2099.JPG" /></a><br /><div>A better view of the morning fish market. Lots of variety and very bright and vibrant coclors on this fish to attest to it's freshness. Scales at the ready and make your choce. from little ones to big lunkers all kinds to be had.</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-77107303808549685152010-05-13T07:03:00.002-04:002010-05-13T07:06:44.816-04:00Mo better fish for sale!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1oIIFFU8VYF1PdoqB-5ZPcUDYohhGpP5tCSq-WqEhjvf3g1mLfo4TqvZtcRFDncGAjjncP848N-eAvHh8DOdFH4kx7hnr6PtEhG8d-q-FkwJYNuW1Hyb1Cb8A8cmiER8YxrbwQ/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470708981151977346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1oIIFFU8VYF1PdoqB-5ZPcUDYohhGpP5tCSq-WqEhjvf3g1mLfo4TqvZtcRFDncGAjjncP848N-eAvHh8DOdFH4kx7hnr6PtEhG8d-q-FkwJYNuW1Hyb1Cb8A8cmiER8YxrbwQ/s400/IMG_2098.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Fish fish and more fish for sale. What do you want we're right on the coast here baby! Lots of morning activity here every day as the mongers ply their wares. Looked very fresh and some of it still moving. I never did get to buy some and have it cooked by Mai but next time I will.</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-55080542351284930312010-05-13T07:00:00.002-04:002010-05-13T07:03:41.325-04:00Next Aisle Produce!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugMzyLniqOIBE1ZLIPguu0xdUR8hVedhVy6kdkZwBFmSAI2rLdw0BgCsY7i3LB4bf42XtgbQWPsPbsnz3opP0iPxRly0N6hIHm6MMghP_twYXGPWde1pIlM5_yRzZjIFbtXybUA/s1600/IMG_2094.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470708017041320594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugMzyLniqOIBE1ZLIPguu0xdUR8hVedhVy6kdkZwBFmSAI2rLdw0BgCsY7i3LB4bf42XtgbQWPsPbsnz3opP0iPxRly0N6hIHm6MMghP_twYXGPWde1pIlM5_yRzZjIFbtXybUA/s400/IMG_2094.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Here we go to the produce aisle of your local Vietnamese mini market. Not to be confused with the larger outdoor markets located in most centers of town but just a little stop and go kinda place. All sorts of fresh veggies here.</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-84743195699790887482010-05-13T06:57:00.002-04:002010-05-13T07:00:29.419-04:00Fish anyone!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wm5HQdfU5R2W1lMmZqWo_vibxDHAG17XO4KVrZj-uoDEjIVhevhfmDY_HIj4jeoPFwFGJdTHx1PDiltnctzNLtSP2jocG8BunOr2nS4ySSsUifmD-OjYujcl4CLlsZEyxAeRlQ/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470707457584049314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wm5HQdfU5R2W1lMmZqWo_vibxDHAG17XO4KVrZj-uoDEjIVhevhfmDY_HIj4jeoPFwFGJdTHx1PDiltnctzNLtSP2jocG8BunOr2nS4ySSsUifmD-OjYujcl4CLlsZEyxAeRlQ/s400/IMG_2093.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Morning catch arrives at the market ready to go. Every morning the ladies sell their catch here on the street. Lots of different fish to be had. As fresh as it gets. I enjoyed my morning strolls here going for morning tea at the Gold Lizard cafe. </div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19830056.post-71306592356238580472010-05-13T06:53:00.002-04:002010-05-13T06:57:20.092-04:00Sunset room 203<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5cwEwUvql-iIIQyqoI9Dx3vipbfs3EDFmaJ9LUqT-5-7yTRolLcQ6oGPEb3hpfvqCPxFx3ttYCi4Egp_dT4_qFqFngIgvMIZcRxKUOWXchP9kRVOIo_BB2ECm5kiv2pPFz0Yxw/s1600/Sunset_from_room.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470706187617359346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5cwEwUvql-iIIQyqoI9Dx3vipbfs3EDFmaJ9LUqT-5-7yTRolLcQ6oGPEb3hpfvqCPxFx3ttYCi4Egp_dT4_qFqFngIgvMIZcRxKUOWXchP9kRVOIo_BB2ECm5kiv2pPFz0Yxw/s400/Sunset_from_room.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Another borrowed pic from the hotel website. Just to make sure everyone is very jealous of my digs. Not bad huh? Try finding this view anywhere for $13 USD a night...I dare you. That's the moon there I'm guessing and I'm no astrologer. Bad form to not know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west like they did in the movie "The Green Berets". Bad form, terribly bad form!</div>drifter1dchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980949928480625468noreply@blogger.com0