Monthly Archives: September 2009
Local lingo
Back in the UK it seemed to me that moving to Saigon for three months would be a good way to find out more about Vietnamese language and culture, and especially to spend time with the local people and learn … Continue reading
Agent of evil
The guidebook tells me that the Museum of War Remnants is Saigon’s most popular tourist destination. I’m assuming it means popular as a measurement of visitation rather than enjoyment because, having visited the place, I can tell you that you’d … Continue reading
The price of fish
Every year the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK collects the prices of 650 goods to calculate the official retail price index and Consumer Price Index (CPI), which give it an indication of inflation levels and household spending. … Continue reading
Good morning Vietnam
Swimming with a million other metal fish in an urban shoal is the perfect vantage point for watching the madness of Saigon’s morning. Continue reading
Need fitness? Try Baybeez™
Do you feel sluggish? Unfit? Lacking muscle tone? Then you should try Baybeez™, the exercise machine that really gets you fit. There’ll be no more procrastination about exercise with these tools, which give an insistent wail when you try to … Continue reading
Filed under Health and beauty, travel, Vietnam
She had a dream
My road to Vietnam started back in 1971 – 10 years before I was born – when an Irish lady who I have never met had a strange dream. Christina Noble was 27, the same age that I am now, … Continue reading
Sink or swim
Our first day in Saigon and I was determined to find the local swimming pool so I could get some regular exercise for a change (it’s been too seldom and far between during our lives on the buses). I headed … Continue reading
Filed under Health and beauty, travel, Vietnam
Open letter to the Hanh Cafe bus company
Dear sirs, Having just got off the last leg of one of your hop-on hop-off buses (from Vihn to Saigon), I just wanted to thank you for your provision of transport during my first week in Vietnam. What might have … Continue reading
What’s in a name?
It’s not the first time, or even the worst time, that I have completely mispronounced the name of a place. When I took a stab at ‘Hugh’ for Hue (I also thought perhaps ‘Who’ or ‘Huey’ – I wasn’t sure) … Continue reading
How green were their valleys (or an exercise in purple prose)
Today (September 8th) J and I hired a motorbike for an almost-aimless drive out to some ruins at Muang Khoun, the old capital of Xieng Khonang province, which was flattened by US bombing during the secret war. The ruins thrilled … Continue reading
