Getting ready to head back to SE Asia. In a few weeks I'll be flying Cathay Pacific to Bangkok via Hong Kong and on ward to Saigon. Seems I hear a lot about air travel prices increasing but in shopping air fares for this trip it wasn't the case. Probably cheaper guys than Cathay but they are a good airline and allow stop overs in Hong Kong and open returns.

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I use Sandra, a native Philipa, at Kinney travel in Sacramento as she normally can come up with good fares, especially on Cathay. Sandra is efficient and dependable - so if your planning a SE Asia visit check her out at - 1916-928-0434 /1-800-783-9634 Mention my name if you call - thanks!

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Hong Kong has always been an expensive place to stay but as I work through my trip planning it doesn't seem any more expensive than before. The exchange rate has pretty much stayed the same - 7.75 Hk$ = 1 US dollar, which must be a big part of it.

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On this visit as my last I used Hotel Club to find a room , I used them again and picked the Charter House in the Wan Chai distinct on Hong Kong Island. Looks like a pretty good deal, Charter House's web site lists a rate of $180.00 (US) a night, which I reserved through Hotel Club for $ 85.30 (US).

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Now Bangkok is a surprise, normally super cheap but the dollar was worth more then. My stand by in Bangkok Jim's lodge room rate has increased from the low to mid thirty's US a night to the mid forty's. The exchange rate is mostly to blame, the room increased a couple hundred baht's present exchange rate of 31 baht to a US dollar, from the high 30's, yikes that hurts. Thank you George Bush!

Cyclo guy Pham Ngu Lao - Saigon

cyclo guys endangered?

Vietnamese government has announced that cyclo's and other pedal powervehicles will be banned after June. thanhnien news

Cyclo guys have always been a thorn in the side of the communists in Vietnam. A reminder of life before communism, as many of the original cyclo drivers where ex south Vietnamese military officers or other professionals prior to 1975.

Upon the defeat of the south the Hanoi government interned anywhere up to three million ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) military and civilians connected with the defeated government of the south or seving with the US, sending them to prison camps they deemed "reeducation camps" .

People were told they would be gone for a few days to upwards to a couple weeks depending on their prior position and to bring paper, pencils and personal items for their stay. Most, trying to do the right thing, surrendered voluntarily only to end up in forced labor camps or doing dangerous work such as clearing mine fields. Their stays ended up being years that is if they survived. On returning from the camps they were to be laborers and not live that life the life of a professional, so not by choice but by necessity many became cyclo drivers.

Officially the Hanoi government is saying the reason for outlawing cyclo's and other multi wheeled pedal vehicles is to help reduce the traffic problems. Granted Vietnam has a major traffic problem but I just don't see cyclo's or other pedal powered vehicles at the heart of it. However, jumbo buses, trucks, zillions of taxis and an ever expanding array of luxury sedans that scare the crap out of me as I attempt a street crossing might be.