These aren't your mother's motorbikes - the new Vietnamese moneyed class show off their rides...

                                                                       

The bikes and bikers represent the  "1st Saigon Free Chapter, Vietnam" which was originally "Saigon HOG", guess Saigon HOG was to short and not cryptic enough.   So along came 1st Saigon Free Chapter, Vietnam...

Anyway, the bikes are awesome costing between 400 million and 2 billion dong, equating to $18,000 - $ 91,000 US dollars.  Big bucks considering the average Vietnamese drives around on 175 cc or smaller bike that new goes for $3000 US dollars or less and by law an individual is not allowed a 175cc or larger bike.   But as most things in Vietnam there is an exception to the law, you need to be in a club than go big, hence, the 1st Saigon Free Chapter, Vietnam.

Got traffic congestion build a combi subway, light rail network, Saigon, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has  embarked on a 155 billion (US) light rail system to ease road congestion.
                       

Lam On  Square now

Lam On Square then

                                                             

Saigon, traffic, traffic and more traffic.

The 19.7 km first phase of this is now in progress (construction Lam On Square) at a cost of 1.3 billion (US) and due to be operational by 2017/18. This first line will run on what is thought to be the cities major traffic route, Ben Thanh Market to dist 9 and with a daily capacity of 160,000 people. Ticket prices will be 2,500 dong or about .16 US which is a little less than the 3,000 dong for a bus ticket are at present.

In total the completed modern 6 line system will spread out across 67 miles of track.  Estimated completion is in 2020.

In conjunction with all this a bus-to rapid transit system is due to leap into action in 2018 with newly built designated bus routes and updated facilities.  It is thought to have the capacity of handling 620,000 passengers per day at a building cost of 1.35 billion.

Artist conception of one of the
new terminals.

Artist conception of the
downtown terminal.

Artist conception of  pedestrian mall
Saigon city center.

Which leads us up to the big question, if only 5 % of 

Saigon's population is utilizing mass transit at present

is all this stuff enough to make them park the 

motorbike or that new car.

The problem with the present mass transit (buses) 

is the sirly drivers and assistants, ill maintained 

buses and facilities.  A long with a stigma 

associated with bus ridership associated with

riding the bus because you were too big a 

loser to afford a motorbike or now for some, 

a car. Not sure how these new facilities 

will be at addressing these things.

So for now the only sure thing is that big money 

is being spent while the historical and significant

values of old Saigon are being decimated.

Thanks for stopping by 

Thailand 7th top destination for expats but -

1st in affordable living, HSBC Expat Explorer reveals

November 11, 2014

Categories: Member News

Tags: destination for expats, HSBC Expat Explorer 2014 survey, Thailand

Bangkok, 11 November, 2014 – Thailand ranks the world’s 7^th top destination for expats, and is the top rank in terms of affordable quality living, according to the HSBC Expat Explorer 2014 survey.

For the top 10 destinations for expats, Switzerland is in the top rank, followed by Singapore, China, Germany, Bahrain, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, India and Hong Kong.

For expats’ expenses, Thailand was rated the top destination for cost-effective quality living. It is followed by Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Bahrain, India, Turkey, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “This is great news, and it is very encouraging to see that expats have high regard for Thailand, especially in terms of cost-effective quality living. It is also very encouraging that Thailand receives a nod of approval from expats to be in the top 10 destinations, as the country has seen a number of positive changes over the last six months.”

According to the HSBC Expat Explorer 2014, Thailand emerges as the best destination for expats looking for an improved lifestyle at an affordable cost.

The report said, “This greater level of disposable income can be attributed to the high proportion of expats who say they spend less on utilities (71 per cent compared to a global average of 26 per cent), on accommodation (70 per cent compared to a global average of 23 per cent), on public transport (69 per cent compared to a global average of 35 per cent) and on groceries (66 per cent compared to 22 per cent globally).”

Thai cuisine, Thai culture and shopping experiences in Thailand were regarded highly by expats who participated in the survey.

For travelling experiences, over two-thirds of expats said they travelled more since moving to Thailand, taking advantage of the beautiful destinations across the country and Bangkok’s position as a gateway to the rest of Asia.

“79 per cent (of expats) say it is simple to travel around locally, be it to historical sites and temples, the national parks in the mountains or the stunning beach resorts,” according to the survey.

Blessed with the unique Thainess character, Thailand offers a wide variety of natural and historical attractions, distinctive culture and a range of fun-filled activities from spa and shopping experiences to Thai cooking and kickboxing lessons.

For the full survey, visit: HSBC Expat Explorer 2014

About the HSBC Expat Explorer 2014

The Expat Explorer survey, now in its seventh year, is one of the largest and longest-running global expat surveys. This independent research study is commissioned by HSBC Expat and conducted by the third party research company YouGov, who surveyed 9,288 expats through an online questionnaire. The survey was conducted through April and May 2014, with expats from over 100 countries taking part. The survey focuses on the experiences of expats in their new country of residence, with expats from all over the world describing the opportunities and challenges they face living away from home.

See more at: http://www.tatnews.org/thailand-7th-top-destination-expats-1st-affordable-living-hsbc-expat-explorer-reveals/

International Public Relations Division

Website: www.TATnews.org

Then it was Vietnam - part 4

Off to left down the lane I could just make out a hand lettered cardboard sign saying - Phu Cat - with an arrow pointing down the lane. I start walking and just over the hill the twin gun towers flanking the main gate came into view. Four days after checking in at San Francisco I had arrived into the war.

The reality of what I found after my arrival was probably much like GI’s experienced in Iraq or Afghanistan, where the violence of war is not tidily contained but jumps out at you when you least expect it.  Even for a lowly supply sergeant like myself strategically positioned behind a desk, there were those moments, vividly illustrating  the effects of war.   The random acts of violence and how it changes things so quickly.  There were the night ambushes we were encouraged to volunteer for, sometimes resulting in black partially unzipped body bags on display in front of the chow hall, the morning after. Viewing of late night firefights outside the perimeter, across the road from my hut.  

The night ambushes taking the lives of purportedly VC's (Vietnamese communist) but looking down on those lifeless faces I couldn't  help but think - maybe in fact, they were just some luckless folk out for an evening stroll, only to stumble into a bunch of heavily armed combatants playing  war.  Anyway, I was never really sure about the effectiveness of these actions, other than pissing off the Vietnamese family and friends of the one taken out.  Overall it seemed surreal for a bunch of guys who were pencil  pushers and mechanics during the day to hide in the bush on their own time and shoot the first guy that walked by.  So for guys like me, not drawn to the thrill of night ambushes and whose tropical fantasies were squashed by the napalm  ravaged landscape, there was the perennial favorite of spending evenings watching tracer bullets from a top the bunker.  That is, until they found us.

Time moved much slower back then and my year in Phu Cat seemed to go on for ever. When it did finely end it was a strange feeling to find  my self back in  the states and unceremoniously released to civilian life. I was only a few days out of Vietnam, a very short haired, skinny civilian with a great suntan standing at the airport. My worldly  possessions slung over my shoulder, with a plane ticket to Flint, Michigan in hand as I sightlessly stared into the horizon at the rest of my life.  

The first years back from Nam as a civilian was interesting and offered up the craziest times of my life.  Involving speeding tickets, wrecked cars, lots of booze and pills, romances gone arie, an attempted return to college - bet you can guess how that one turned out. After a while life did stabilize, though the Vietnam experience and life there stayed with me and I was to never get over it. 
                                              

Thanks for stopping by -

To be continued - Return to Vietnam

(link to part 3)

Then it was Vietnam - part 3

The chief comes over and says "Welcome to Vietnam" and I'm thinking, "as a supply sergeant I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this kind of stuff ".  An hour or so later we landed at Quin Nhon, the second leg of what turned out to be a three leg trip to my new duty station. 

 According to my orders Quin Nhon was my ultimate destination and so once arrived I searched out the duty clerk and reported for duty.  He handled me with a manner of someone of high importance, forced by some unfair twist of fate to deal with airman like me. Looking down at my orders he make a clicking sound with his tongue and mumbled "Nope, you're not here." As he vaguely nodded toward a couple blackboards toward the rear of tent. Yup, there I was caulked in on the Phu Cat board.  I wondered what and where Phu Cat was and all the while thinking how much more reassuring those multi-copy orders were than just a name chalked in on one of his blackboards.  So, lets see, if I erased my name could I go any where I wanted? 

But, it's too late to split, as the duty sergeant says over his shoulder, "ya, Phu Cat, too late now, Charlie is out, Take that bunk over their," as he went on to tell me that in the morning I was to get out by Hwy 1 and "flag down one of the convoyed Army trucks heading up towards Phu Cat".

I awoke to the rumble of military traffic or being new to all this, what I guessed military traffic might might sound like in a war zone.  I rolled out of the tent, got a cup of coffee, sipping this while looking for friendly face to gain insight into convoy affairs. You know basic stuff, such as how do I tell where a convoy is going and even more vexing, how does a guy flag down a truck out of a mass of fast moving, tightly spaced vehicles.   

Meanwhile, as I stand by the side of the road, my duffel slung over my shoulder and a deer in the headlights look on my face as a deuce and a half pulls out of the convoy and rolls to a stop in front of me. The flak-vested driver hollers out at me, "climb aboard".  Next to him in the cab is a cobbled together bracket holding a shotgun standing straight up, sorta like you see in some squad cars in the states. With A bottle of Jack poking its neck out from under the seat. 

After, what for the most  part was an uneventful trip the driver pulled his rig out of the convoy to a stop at the side of the road, "end of the line, you're their" he says. After I had stumbled out with my gear, he immediately pulled back into the convoy,I was left looking down a dusty lane. Off to left down the lane I could just make out a hand lettered cardboard sign saying - Phu Cat with an arrow pointing down the lane. I start walking and just over the hill the twin gun towers flanking the main gate came into view. Four days after checking in at San Francisco I had arrived into the war.

To be continued -

(link to part 2)
                                                

Best Airports in Asia 2014 - sleepinginairports.net

Home : Best Airports of 2014 : Asia

Best Airports in Asia 2014

Date: October 15, 2014

Several of the Best Airports in Asia also happen to be ranked among the best in the world! For some travellers, these terminals are so sensational that they become a destination in and of themselves! While this most certainly sounds extreme, there is something to be said for these airports that have found the perfect balance of practicality, efficiency and indulgence. The terminals that are listed below consistently surpass expectations surrounding our four C’s – comfort, convenience, cleanliness and customer service – and then add on movie theaters, koi ponds, elaborate spas, shopping emporiums, cultural experiences, national museums, indoor gardens and pet hotels to boot! Each airport provides a warm welcome to the country, and shares local culture with even those just passing through on a brief (or extended) layover. They most certainly set a standard for airports worldwide that has proven to be very hard to match!

Here are the Top 10 Best Airports in Asia based on overall airport experience as determined by voters in our 2014 Airport Survey:

1. Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)

Upon visiting several cities across North America, Europe and Asia nothing compares to the quality of service and the swank look of the Changi international terminals.  - a traveler

For the EIGHTEENTH year in a row, Singapore Changi has been voted the best airport not just in Asia – but in the WORLD! Travellers praised the airport for its overall soothing ambiance, its intuitive layout and friendly staff. The sheer volume of activities and amenities left some transit travelers wondering if they has just arrived at a shopping mall or resort rather than an airport. With its themed gardens, cultural activities, world-class shopping, spas, swimming pool, gym, lounges, 4-story slide, movie theaters, TV lounges, entertainment deck, and free Singapore city tour, a layover here is not likely to be boring. Travelers can enjoy free Wi-Fi and recharge all their gadgets at one of over 800 mobile charging points. In July, the airport opened the Wellness Oasis spa in Terminal 1. The unique feature here is the fish spa that exfoliates your feet and legs. As for sleeping in between flights, there is a transit hotel and lounges with napping rooms and showers. Travellers most appreciate the dedicated rest & relaxation zones. There are currently 6 areas set up with reclining lounge style seating. Often busy and sometimes noisy, these areas are appreciated by those travellers who are not so comfortable stretching out on seats at the gate.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Rest & Relaxation Zones • Free City Tour of Singapore • Nap Rooms ($) • Transit Hotel ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • 24 Hour Food Options ($) • Cultural Activities • Entertainment Deck • Movie Theatre • Gardens • Showers ($) • Swimming Pool ($). Visit our Singapore Changi Airport Guide for more information.

2. Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

It's huge airport but everything is clean and neat. There's a lot of activity and restaurant open 24/7. - a traveller

Seoul Incheon Airport is a favourite as a result of its impeccable cleanliness, its superior customer service, and the volume of comfortable sitting and nap locations. Amenity-wise, the terminals truly are going above and beyond. Like SIN, you can also find indoor gardens, a spa and small shopping extravaganzas located throughout. Unique features here include the Korean Cultural Street – complete with local cuisine and dance performances – and the indoor ice rink. Unlimited free Wi-Fi, showers and uber-luxurious private lounges further delight those who spend multiple hours here. It almost gets to the point where you’d think the airport wants you to stay forever – but then, you realize they also run free guided city tours for transit passengers as well. They really do it all!

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Rest & Relaxation Zones • Napping Rooms ($) • Transit Hotel ($) • Casino ($) • 24 Hour Food Options ($) • Gardens • Cultural Activities • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($) • Skating Rink ($) • Transit Tours ($). Visit our Seoul Incheon Airport Guide for more information.

3. Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong (HKG)

Airy, light and even at peak times, the check-in area and departure terminal never feel overcrowded and cramped, even though the passenger numbers have increased a lot over the years. - a traveller

Now, Hong Kong isn’t about to be outdone the other consistent top three airports on our list. HKG’s show stopping extravagance is that it is home to the country’s largest IMAX theatre! It also boasts a series of miniature gardens, a cockpit simulator, free Wi-Fi, lounges with sleep rooms, a couple of spas and a sprinkling of showers. Restaurants are plentiful and always open – and the shopping too is quite good. Travellers also appreciate that the architecture consistently keeps the place feeling airy, light and spacious.The terminals are easy to navigate, kept consistently clean, and are filled with delightfully friendly and supportive staff. Best of all, this airport reportedly keeps prices reasonable - for Hong Kong.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Rest & Relaxation Zones • Hotel connected to the Airport ($) • 24 Food Options ($) • IMAX Theatre ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($) • Gardens. Visit our Hong Kong Airport Guide for more information.

4. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)

The rain forest within the airport is out of this world.
- a traveller

Kuala Lumpur amazes visitors by having transplanted a chunk of Malaysian rainforest into the terminal itself. Wooden walkways and the canopy-level mezzanine floor allow guests to tour all tiers of the forest while learning about the rich terrestrial eco-system in Malaysia. While some voters lament that KUL isn’t quite as futuristic as Incheon or Changi, Kuala Lumpur still provides excellent versions of the airport-essentials. This includes long benches, reclining chairs, showers and free Wi-Fi – among other things. Plus, we kind of like that this airport has opted for a tropical theme rather than a science fiction theme. This year the airport closed the much-hated LCCT and opened the long-awaited KLIA2 to favourable reviews.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Free Showers • Rest & Relaxation Zones • Transit Hotel • Luggage Storage ($). Visit our Kuala Lumpur Airport Guide for more information.

5. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)

The people are friendly, the staff is helpful, and the themed boarding gates (such as EVA Air's Hello Kitty gate) are fun and beautiful.
- a traveller

Relative to other airports on this list, Taipei Taoyuan is considered to be laid back, relaxed and accommodating. In addition to your standard roster of airport amenities (free Wi-Fi, transit hotel and private lounges) the airport has added in a few homey touches. Transit travellers appreciate the free shower experiences, where they are provided with towels and Kiehls or L’Occitane products. They also love the snippets of local sites that have been incorporated – including the National Art Gallery, Museum of History and the Palace Exhibits. That said, what keeps TPE truly unique are the variety of themed waiting lounges. In September 2014, the airport further expanded their collection with the introduction of the Movie Waiting Lounge at C8. If boarding from here, you will have a quick chance to re-live the Golden Horse Awards (ie. The Chinese Oscars), as you walk down the red carpet, sit on theater-style chairs and browse Taiwanese movie mementos. This lounge compliments the Hello Kitty Wonderland, the e-Library and the Unforgettable Yummy Tea lounges at other gates. Cultural activities and free food samples including pineapple cake, sausage, nougat, coffee, and mountain tea help to share Taiwanese culture with passengers on a layover.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Rest & Relaxation Zones • Free Showers for Transit Passengers • Free Massage Chair Tokens for Transit Passengers • Free City Tour for Transit Passengers • Cultural Activities • Movie Theatre • Library • Luggage Storage ($) • Museum. Visit our Taipei Taoyuan Airport Guide for more information.

6. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)

 It's got lots of shops, restaurants and a fantastic observation deck! It's super clean and there are security guards and lots of other people sleeping, feels very safe.  - nilamps

Two airports service Tokyo, Japan and Haneda’s distinct advantage is its location relative to the city center. While neighbouring Narita takes 2+ hours to reach, HND is a quick 45-minutes away. Couple that with its reputation for being clean, easy to navigate and efficient and you can begin to understand why voters are impressed. While Haneda doesn't have any designated rest and relaxation zones, there are plenty of armrest free seating possibilities. Amenity-wise, travellers appreciate the free Wi-Fi, showers, luggage storage, but there is little else to do in between flights. If you prefer more comfortable (and private) facilities, there are pay lounges, a transit hotel in the International Terminal and hotels connected to the domestic terminals.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Transit Hotel ($) • Hotel connected to the airport ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • 24 Hour Food Options ($) • Showers ($). Visit our Tokyo Haneda Airport Guide for more information.

7. Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)

There is an information desk open 24H and upon request they will lend you a blanket at no cost. - Prakash

Located on a manmade island 38 kilometers outside of Osaka Kansai, this terminal is well-reviewed for its efficient in-airport navigation, the limited queues and the overall cleanliness. Given the terminal’s unique location, the only option is the one hotel connected to the airport. There are no nearby airport hotels so unless you want to head into the city, be prepared to pay for a room or sleep in the terminal. And, just to clarify, when we say ‘everyone’ we mean pets too – KIX is one of three Japanese airports to offer a pet-hotel to local furry friends. The good news for human sleepers is that the terminals are filled with armrest-free benches that are generally reviewed for being both quiet and comfortable. Blankets are freely provided at the information desks, and coin-operated showers are available 24-hours a day. Beyond the free WiFi, activities are fairly limited here.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Hotel connected to the Airport ($) • Free Luggage Trolleys • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($). Visit our Osaka Kansai Airport Guide for more information.

8. Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan (NRT)

There are only limited hostel-style sleeping areas in the secure area, all of which fill up immediately. At midnight everyone is taken out of the gate areas and herded into one area with no seating conducive to sleeping. - a traveller

Tokyo Narita is the second airport servicing the Japanese capital – and the one that is located further away from the city center. While Haneda may win big points for proximity, Narita is the clear winner when it comes to reviewing actual airport amenities. Here, you are able to find an Oxygen Bar, a series of shower and changing rooms, capsule sleep pods and (of course) a Pet Hotel – all of which are staffed by extremely helpful and courteous individuals. More unique highlights include a rotating series of Japanese cultural activities – a favourite being the classes on origami making. There is after all, no reason not to learn something new while you wait for a plane! The downside to Narita is that in spite of being a fairly major connection site, the airport all but shuts down at night. Food and activity options become very scarce after 11pm, and sleeping is restricted to a few controlled (and not so comfortable) spaces. In July, a pod hotel opened outside Terminal 2.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Sleep Pods ($) • Cultural Activities • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($) • Silence Rooms. Visit our Tokyo Narita Airport Guide for more information.

9. New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)

Wonderfully decorated. It was so much fun I nearly missed a flight wandering - a traveller

The international terminal (T3) of the New Delhi Airport got a serious face lift in 2010. This shiny new space sits in direct and fairly harsh contrast to the domestic terminals. Perks in T3 include the plentiful dining restaurants and shopping options. Showers, spas, relaxation zones, private lounges, sleep pods further add comfort to the overall experience here. That said, criticisms of this airport revolve largely around the Domestic Terminal where there are restrictions with gaining access until 3 – 4 hours before your flight – and the pre-security area of the terminals are much less glam.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Transit Hotel ($) • 24 Hour Food Options ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($). Visit our New Delhi Airport Guide for more information.

10. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand (BKK)

The food court on level 1 of the airport is brilliant for a cheap meal 
- coolbananna 

While the facilities in Bangkok’s primary airport are fairly typical, what earns BKK a spot on this year’s list is its extremely clean facilities. A number of voters remarked on the spotless surroundings, with a few individuals making particular reference to the sparkling bathrooms. Couple that cleanliness with access to free showers and a few thoughtful and classically Thai touches, and its easy to understand how the airport made the list. BKK did however drop a few points this year, possibly because of the intermittent and limited Wi-Fi service – or because of the occasional crowds that swamp the gates. It also seems to be increasingly more difficult to find and secure one of the limited armres mhttp://www.sleepinginairports.net/2014/best-airports-asia.htm-free padded seats. That said, there are a few relaxation spaces and day rooms that provide a bit more comfort, though the latter is rented out for a fee.

Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-per-use Lounges ($) • Free Wi-Fi • Transit Hotel ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • City Tours ($). Visit our Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Guide for more information.

Having now gushed extensively about Asian airports, it is perhaps wise to balance all of that excitement by reading about the Worst Airports in Asia.

- See more at: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/2014/best-airports-asia.htm#sthash.vcYkFBZR.dpuf

Then it was Vietnam - part 2

Village meeting - Binh Dinh Province - 1967

                     
The war was going strong, with the US committed to adding me along with many others to its expanding effort. Though, as it turned out this didn't do much to change the course of the war as in the not too distant future the US, started scaling back on it's commitment. Then, abruptly pulled the plug on its war effort, walking away from its  multi-zillion-dollar investment, along with a cadre of loyal Vietnamese. Ton Son Nhut Air Base was a good example of the bounty left behind and was recreated by the new North Vietnamese government as one of the two international airports serving Vietnam, the other being in Hanoi. Ton Son Nhut is located about 30 minutes from Saigon's city center, district 1.

Ultimately, as things turned out I ended up in Phu Cat in Binh Dinh Province. A heck of a long way from Saigon but close enough to be regaled with the stories of the goings on in the city from air crews ferrying supplies and personal. Hearing so many of these stories I started to get the feeling I had been there my self.  

From the stories it seemed the fascination for all that experienced Saigon was its ability to morph into whatever role was expected of it. For the war weary young GI's it was a place to have a bunch of Ba Ba Ba's (inexpensive, Vietnamese beer), meet beautiful and fun Vietnamese ladies and for a moment, loosen the vice grip of the life and death realities of war.  While on a more restrained note Saigon was the political capital of South Vietnam, housing the south's military and political leadership, along with the foreign embassies representing nations friendly to the South's cause. Of course it was also ground zero for US Military's Command Group governing operations in Southeast Asia. This was all played out in front of a backdrop of hardworking Saigonese shopkeepers, laborers, and the other ordinary Vietnamese that were the core of the city. All this was stirred into the bubbling mass of affluent Vietnamese business folk, fast buck hucksters, hookers and pimps. It must have been quite a place back then but how about now, 35 some years later.  Well, for me Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, or whatever you want to call it, while more mellow under the communist regime is still a damn cool place.  

It wasn't until I made my return 15 years ago that I would be able to spend any time in Saigon.  On my year gig in the war, landing in-country at Ton Son Nhat was as close as I  was to get to Saigon. Stretching my be legs after my late morning arrival I stumbled across the base Airman's club where the bartender turned out to be an old friend from my home town.  Man it sure is a small  world. After a beer, ok two, and a bite to eat I was feeling a little more relaxed.  Wished my newly found, old friend well, slung my duffel over my shoulder, orders in hand and headed back out to the flight line in search of a ride to Quin Nhon, listed as my new duty station.

Right off, I found a friendly C130 crew chief who offered up a hop to Quin Nhon. That is, if I could give them a hand rolling off a jeep at an airstrip along the way.  

You know that old saying - "the devil is in the details" and in this case, the details were in our pilot's attempted landing on one of those temporary, metal-grating landing strips, while someone or someones on the ground were shooting up at us! 

All the while the pilot continued on his approach, the tail ramp door was opening as the crew chief struggled to get the jeeps wraps off. While I made a feeble attempt to help with one hand and  with the other holding a death grip on a exposed section of the bulkhead. As I'm thinking "screw this damn jeep," and struggling to keep my balance the pilot abruptly pulled up in preparation for a second approach. Meanwhile, the crew chief was back to taking care of the jeep as the pilot lined us up for a second pass.  He drags himself over to my bulkhead and hollers in my ear, "Get ready, this time the jeep is out of here and so are we" As we made our approch I strained to see out and get a look at our landing path, the metal corrugated strip was pock marked and hardly visible through the grass that had over gown it but the area appeared deserted (emphasis on appeared).  The rest was a blur as we fell over one another, kicking the damn jeep out.  Not sure if we were actually on the ground when it finally rolled off, but we had done our job.

The chief comes over and says "Welcome to Vietnam" and I'm thinking, "as a supply sergeant I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this kind of stuff ".  An hour or so later we landed at Quin Nhon, the second leg of what turned out to be a three leg trip to my new duty station.   

To be continued:

(link to part 1)  

Thanks for stopping by..

Then it was Vietnam - part 1

1967 and just about a year left of Airmening, with visions of civilian life bubbling in my head, I was called into the first sergeant's office .  Not a very surprising event as we had become close. I had come to believe that my creative soldiering had impressed him. This was so obvious, why else would he invite me to have conversations about my soldiering and the extra duty most of these conversations generated.  Some referred to this extra duty as disciplinary action but I know the real reason was that he just liked having me around, along with being enlightened by my opinions on the military.

For example he was always interested in how I organized my bunk area with so little effort, then there was my ongoing need of a haircut even after a hair cut, along with my personal dress style - always with my cap stylishly hanging out my back pocket.   Though, this time his manner from the get go was different, something new was going on and that turned out to be my orders to Vietnam.

At the time I wasn't sure of my feelings about all this, romanticized thoughts of war and movie guys in action like John Wayne flashed through my head, only to be dashed by the reality of being an Inventory Management Specialist poking around a warehouse or wondering the flight line. However, thinking back of how my mother so loved the movie "South Pacific", beaches, palm trees aren't all that bad either. So with a new vision of swaying palm trees, balmy weather, I'm thinking, this could be easy duty and with combat pay on top of that. Anyway, nothing ever happens to to a aircraft maintenance supply sergeant.  So going to Nam seemed like an OK deal, maybe not patriotic but my military experience so far could be mostly explained as a silent, covert string of battles fought between me and the Air Force so I was more than ready to start pitting those energies in a more productive way and using them against Charlie.  However, I liked being out on the desert where the base I was now located and Alamogordo the closest city, had begun to feel like home.  Then there was my girlfriend Sue Ellen whose father after a year was trying very hard to like me and I could tell he was getting closer.  I had it figured that by my discharge he would at least be at the point of tolerating me and now all that effort on my part would be to no end, it saddened me.

Then there were the core group of friends Marley, Becom, Big Rice, Bolea and that the group had grown into a sort of a family, So it was going to be tough with out them but this sort of thing is a fact of life in the military. Actually my best friend Becom and I ended up together in Nam at Phu Cat Air Base and we hooked up when we got back in the states after both of us were discharged.

Having to park my MGA with it's recent Mexico paint job was also going to hurt.  As it turned out while it was parked at my mom's one of my sisters boyfriends laid a few wrenches on it and it never ran again. Welcome home Doug..

A few days after a three week leave I boarded a civilian contract flight from San Francisco with a stop in Alaska and on to Tan Son Nhat Air Base in Saigon.  

At Tan Son Nhat our original base ops building survived the war and the communist take over and on my return in 1999 I found that it had been reinvented as the international terminal serving south Vietnam. A few years later a new modern terminal opened but even  with all it's newness it still had the vibes of the old days.  Maybe this was helped along by unnerving event of taxiing up to the terminal past the revetments used by us during the war. As our plane pulled up to what was the old base ops building seeing only Vietnamese civilians and military, grabbing my bags from the same basic area I did in 1967 was really unnerving .
 (Then it was Vietnam - part 2)

7 reasons why Ari is Bangkok's hottest neighborhood right now

Bangkok, as most major, world class cities is comprised of many diverse districts (neighborhoods). While up to a few years ago Ari,  was mostly a Thai residential area know for it's low key street food restaurants located down it's spider web of soi's . Though as Dylan sang "the times they are a changin" Ari is a new up and comer for expats looking for a low key place to call home.  While a little off the beaten track of Bangkok's beer bars and pole dancers of Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza in the Sukumvit area of down town. However, with it's own BTS station and easy highway access it's easy to get to.

Interested in getting an up close and personal look, check out the link below.

  7 reasons why Ari is Bangkok's hottest neighborhood right now






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bus from Bangkok to Pattaya - my seat mate, oh my seat mate

Bus to Pattaya 

The bus to Pattaya and gateui (lady boy)

tayaan

Its 6:00 in the morning as I sat in Bangkok’s Northern (Mo Chit) bus station awaiting the 7:15 bus to Pattaya. I am not a morning kind of guy so six o’clock in the morning feels like the middle of the night and the coffee I’m sipping just doesn’t have enough punch to get me through the lingering cobwebs of a night of doing the bars of soi Cowboy.

Then for a moment my foggy mind clears enough to capture a vision of Thai loveliness walking through the half light of the bus terminal, dressed to the nines, short skirt showing shapely legs, with blond streaked, ink black hair cascaded down her back. From my seat in the terminal I only got a brief look before the vision passed from my sight and passed on to the stations coffee shop. Not much going on, so with just time to kill I toss my backpack over my shoulder, headed over to the coffee shop for a second cup of coffee and try to get a clearer look at what I had just watched walk past and was rewarded with a coffee and best yet a nod and a smile from my latest love.

As I tried to shush Mr. Ego’s shouting, they all want you Doug, Mr. Reality chims in, evening clothes this early in the morning, something is little strange here. Then on closer observation, yikes - did I see a faint shadow of a beard? As I craned to get a better look, my vision spoke a greeting to me in Thai spoken with a feminine, lilted male voice, embarrassed, I nodded, trying to hide my surprise and disappointment as I scurried out of the coffee shop and back to my seat. Where I then attempted to disappear into the book I held in front of me as my mind milled over the morning’s craziness and damn it’s still only a quarter after six. Anyway, I’m thinking that I’ll be on the bus soon, leaving all this behind.

Oh ya, here we go, board the bus, grab the first row seat across from the driver, allowing me an unobstructed view out the window and I’m so happy with my good luck I forgot about everything else. Making myself busy getting my cameras ready and took little notice as my seat mate slid in next to me. As I’m puttering away with my camera, out of the corner of my eye I notice the disapproving looks of some of the older Thai women boarding the bus. I then glance over at my seat mate who is now leaning on my shoulder, ca damn it’s the gateui (lady boy) from the bus station. From the look on her/his face I could tell she was enjoying the attention and my discomfort and as I moved closer to the window so did she, a smile for everyone boarding, as to say, this is my guy.

The two hour ride to Pattaya seemed to drag on for ever and once the bus pulled to a stop at Pattaya, I couldn’t get away fast enough, that is after I got around my seat mate. Just a thought to keep in mind while traveling in Thailand – it’s possible that your new, best Thai girl might also be your new, best bro.