Monthly Archives: January 2007

Jan 31. 15:45 Rice Walking Tour Food Rice first. Havé been thinking about the history of Vietnam, a history of war and repeated attempts for control. Our recent past may have been for oil but double that two millenia were … Continue reading →

Jan 31. 15:30 Wrote this but could not send it when I was in Sapa After arriving Hanoi got picked up and taken to the Victoria Orient Express. Trains do not, I suspect get much better than this. I upgraded … Continue reading →

Jan 31 11 am Ngoc son temple bridge old quarter. Perfect day, again. 5 km walk to temple via old city center and teeming market. North and South seem like two different countries. South is commerce while North seems more … Continue reading →

Jan 28 9 PM On the Orient Express to Sapa. Hanoi much more developed with modern roads and older buildings. Easy ride from airport, 40 km. Train is French speaking. Should be a good comfortable ride. Too bad it will … Continue reading →

Jan 27 20:00. Writing this in advance of my trip to Sa Pa or Sapa in the North. Not sure when I will have good connectivity for long enough so this advance posting. Sapa is a ethic area North of … Continue reading →

Jan 26 23:45 local time Serendipity and the Monk. How is that for a title . How can you not continue reading? Yesterday started with a ride south to Long Vinh, on the coastal side of the Mekong. I had … Continue reading →

Jan 24 22:30 local time Just back from dinner at a fabulous seafood restaurant. Prawns, clams in spicy brown sauce, oysters (cooked and spiced differently), seafood noodle dish, Thai Tom Yum soup. Picture is of part of dinner. The table … Continue reading →

Jan 21 15:00. Previous one was at 14:00 -forgot to timestamp and forgot to cover another topic – the people. First, the children. Havé seen very few in HCMC. They are ubiquitious in the countryside. The children are always smiling … Continue reading →

Jan 24 Of food and costs. Today is a wandering and shopping day. Nothing wanted except personal odds and ends; toiletres. First the pastries. They are not good. Have tried them in several hotels and all are greasy without the … Continue reading →

Jan 23. 19:30 local time Today started with a speedboat ride from Chau Doc to Can Tho and then the rest of the way by coach. Now a day in HCMC and then off to the "home" visit South of … Continue reading →