Mui Ne, Vietnam

That's our bus parked at one of the rest stops on the way to Mui Ne

It's between a 5 and 6 hour trip from Saigon to Mui NE.   They say it used to be a 3 hours trip but due to safety concerns the bus drivers take it slower now. OK , that works for me.

Several non government bus and tour companies offer service to Mui Ne and on ward bound, departing from the Pham Nu Lao / backpackers area of Saigon.  Sinh cafe or now Sinh Travel is probably the most popular with foreign backpackers.  So I decided to try one of bus lines popular with the Vietnamese, Phuong Trang.

All went fine, OK bus though better looking on the outside than on the inside. Seeing they cater to Vietnamese, no one seemed to speak English and it made it a confusing trying to figure out what was going on, especially at rest stops. I make a mental note of somebody that easy to identify and shadow them. 

The bus fare seems to be the same cheap price for what ever bus company you use.  To Mui Ne the fare each way was 90,000 dong or around 5.00 US.  They offer a choice of three morning buses 7:30. 8:30 and 9:00 while the other guys mostly offer about the same with one evening bus leaving at 4:30 PM.  

Probably the smart thing to do, especially if traveling alone, is to reserve two seats and it's still a damn cheap ride. You get a little extra room and can carry your bags on board.

       fisherman's basket boat                    Canary Beach Resort, about $ 45.00 and up per night

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- Beach side boat repair - 

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Not much going on in Mui Ne, just a lovely beach.  My thinking is that to really enjoy it you need to get a hotel on beach.  You see there is really only one road here, one side is the beach and ocean and the other it's inexpensive guest houses and tourist services, like restaurants, small shops selling pop beer and water and rental motorbikes. 

Note: As an option to concider is that if your on a tight budget, you might stay in a inexpensive guest house like the Duy An (200,000 dong a night)  nhanghiduyan@yahoo.com.vn across the street from where I stayed and  buy a $3.50 day pass to use the pool and beach. You can probably do this at most of the resorts.

I was going to rent a motorbike but as I'm talking with the rental lady a series of jumbo buses and trucks roared past, my question about insurance drew a blank with her, as I'm thinking of the distance to medical facility.  So I swallowed my pride, plunked done 10,000 dong, (about 50 cents) for a rentail on the ladies, pink, girls style bike.   Oh ya, just for reference, lots of folks rent bikes and walk away unscaved, it's not expensive, somewhere between $6 - 10.00 US dollars. 

  

OK, you got the fisherman's, clamers, boat builders, cows and not so many people on the beach as you see in these photos taken around the hotels beach.

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Canary Beach Resort - cheap but very good

My room, hotel pool area and views from my balcony

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          sunset off Mui Ne beach

Thai stress test - relax - it's only politics

The Thai Department of Mental health published the following advise to help  Thai's in these times of political turmoil.

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BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Department of Mental Health has encouraged all Thais to check their mental health via an easy test of five questions and find ways for stress reduction accordingly upon the ongoing political tension.

Mental Health Department Director-General, MD Chatri Banchuen, stated that Thai people should beware of their own minds and not fall as victims of stress and tension.

He then recommended all Thais to take a mini-test to see if they are prone to stress leading to violent expressions or not.

The questions ask respondents to see if they are certain with five statements or not. The statements are as follows:
             1) I am always frustrated upon political discussion. 
             2) I must argue with those having different political opinions.

   3) I am engrossed in political issues more than personal ones.

    4) I am always afraid of potential violent incidents in Thailand.

           5) I always try to persuade others to agree with my political opinions.

Respondents will receive every two points for answering ‘yes’, one point for answering ‘uncertain’, and zero point for answering ‘no’.

Respondents scoring a total of 0-2 points can be interpreted as having normal political emotion and eligible to learn information from all sides.

Respondents with 3-5 points can be interpreted as having a moderate level of political emotion with own political stance, and able to accept different opinions.

However, they are prone to stress if they are too engrossed in politics, and so are advised to relax more.

Respondents with 6-10 points can be interpreted as having a strong level of political emotion and are at risk to high levels of stress. They are suggested to avoid any provoking situation or people and relax more.

The director-general stressed that mental health must be given priority during both normal and crisis periods. He said good mental health, serenity, and peace could be created if mental health is well managed.

MD Chatri said any people feeling uncomfortable or requiring mental health assistance can dial 1323 hotline around the clock.

Note from Doug: Considering all the political stuff going on the USA it might be recommended for us to also follow these guide lines also..  Na probably not!

-- NNT 2010-03-26

2 more blasts hit Thailand

2 more blasts hit Thailand

Hydrofoil - Saigon to the beach at Vung Tau for the day

Note: all photos are clickable for best viewing

Your in Saigon, tired of dodging motor bikes and the constant hum of activity the city generates.  So hop on down to the Saigon river, plunk down 160,000 dong and in a flash, OK, an hour and a half and your in Vung Tau.  A pleasant little town on the sea with beaches and lovely ocean views. A cheaper option would be to get a bus at the station across from Ben Thanh Market but it takes around three and a half hours.  I've never taken the bus over there but know that from other experiences, its a good way to get a look at life in Vietnam but can be very uncomfortable.

A couple weeks ago a Vietnamese friend and her niece made a trip out there with me on the Hydrofoil.  I really enjoyed the ride, while you can't see much from inside, as its enclosed and air-conditioned but there are a couple areas mid ship where you can poke your head out.  Gives you a up close look at the goings on of the harbor, tugs, ocean going container ships, strange little motorized barges, ferries, small and large fishing boats along with all the shore side activities.   While my excitement wasn't shared with my Vietnamese friend, she said she felt sick the whole way.  While her nice, unaffected by my exuberance and her aunts ills, slept. 

The boats are pretty ratty looking when you see them up close, thinking there probably Russian built in the 1970's. It's pretty obvious not much has been invested in maintaining there appearance.  You see that a lot here in Vietnam.

There are two boat company's Vina and Petro Express but the boats and fares are the same.   Though there schedules are a little different with about 6 departures a day.

  

Yup, lovely ocean views to be had, just don't look to close as the beaches are awash with trash.   Really sad as it wouldn't take much to make em great but the visiting Vietnamese don't seem effected by it.  There are bath houses where you can change and shower off the after your swim for a nominal fee.   They also offer liquid to clean the tar off you feet . 

Thai folks (red shirts) vs the government - update

I need some new photos

The protest by the United front for Democracy (UDD) / Red Shirts rolls into its second week. With little results to show in its quest to remove prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and force the formation of a new government in Thailand.

Vejjajiva has barricaded himself in a fortified army barracks, refusing direct talks with Red Shirt leaders.  He travels when needed by helicopter so he can stay untouchable by the protesters.

The Red Shirts position is that Vejjajiva and his party gained power unconstitutionally in 2008 when the government dissolved Mr. Thaksin's party and so the present government is illegal.  Though they seek non violent change but are willing to give there blood for the cause.  Latterly drawing there own blood and using it in there protests.

Last Saturdays protest dew an estimated 65,000 protesters as the Red Shirts attempted to draw from the rank and file in Bangkok. 

Today the government extended the Internal Security act and will use armed solders at check points, government buildings and military bases.  Up to now the 30,000 plus security forces were unarmed but due to a couple of gernade incidents this has changed.

On a different topic, I'm writing this in Saigon where the Vietnamese government has blocked access to Facebook.   Though my postings on Blogger show up there.  I can get at Facebook via a proxy server but can't add or edit content.  Governments - can't live with them and can't live with out them.

Lunar New Year, Viertnam's Tet - second part

Large open trucks transport troops of young acrobats, dressed in dragon costumes, for impromptu performances on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

  

I'm not sure what this is all about but these guys risk their necks and really put on a show.  Not sure if my photos make it clear but many of the dragon dances are performed with one guy standing on another's shoulders.  They hustle through there acrobatic routines then haul each other back into the bed of the transport truck and are off.   

Nguyen Hue street in downtown Saigon is transformed into a stylised, Vietnamese country side setting for the New Year.  Many women dress up in traditional ao dai's, as in the above photo, for the occation.

so what's up in Bangkok now - protests, protests

An M-79 grenade fired into a battalion, injuring 2 soldiers


BANGKOK: -- Two soldiers were injured on Monday after an M-79 grenade was fired into an army battalion opposite National Broadcast Television (NBT) station near the Victory Monument. The soldiers were now being treated at the Phra Mongkul Hospital.
-- The Nation 2010-03-15

Lets see, wondering how you know the kind of grenade that blows up in front of you and why it didn't do more damage?  Though I'm glad it didn't take any lives, it just seems a might strange.


Red shirts threaten to deface Government House with their own blood


BANGKOK: -- Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, announced at 1:40 pm Monday threatened to pour 1 million cc of blood of 100,000 red-shirt people around the Government House.

Natthawut said the red-shirt people would collect their blood and pour the blood at every gate of the Government House at 6pm.
-- The Nation 2010-03-15

I'm wondering about this report also, think its lacking context.  Just seems to portray the red shirts as crazes, which they ain't.

Sorry though still no first hand information on the goings on in Bangkok  from Victor,  I'm thinking kidnapped.  But not to worry about Victor  - I'm sure the Thai lady or ladies, like Vietnamese and Cambodian ones will bring him back minus the camera money a little tired but looking very relaxed.