Doug goes under the needle - part 1

Doug getting the juice, next to me is the controller regulating it

It would seem that after a while, no matter how active you are, common sense would finely prevail and you would run out of stupid ways of injuring your self.  While in fact, as our bodies and minds age, common sense becomes less common and...

Case in point a few weeks ago I'm doing my morning run at 9-23 park and it's just too hot. I start walking and thinking of other ways to get my exercise and decide to try out one of those exercise stations in the park. The one I picked is this thing where you place each foot on a holder than you make a swinging step with your legs, one out, one back, like an exaggerated running motion.  I had always laughed to my self as I saw Vietnamese just swinging back an forth so I was going to show them and I hit it and hit it hard, pumping one foot out and one back as fast as I could.  Ah ha, yes correcto emondo just described the  how and what of my most recent injury.  When I felt the pain instead of getting off and chilling I got back into my run ignoring the pain and continued my work out and continued like that for a couple more days.  Common sense, who needs it because when the pain got too great it told me I should start alternating running and walking and ultimately that my running had to go but continued to walk several miles every day that is, again no common sense involved, the pain just became overwhelming.  That was about a month ago and now after visits to two doctors who just shook there heads at my story and told me to rest and blamed in on arthritics of the knee and hip. Still not back to the running or heavy duty walking but not sitting back as I've stepped up to traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

My doctor here in Saigon is Monika - Bmed Traditional Chinese Medicine Intern & Acupuncture at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine  dr.monikakleemola@gmail.com

Always here for you

Not my better side but you can see the inserted needles and the 
wires that deliver the pulsating electrical charges from the consoler.

Looking at the time and money aspect, half hour motorbike ride each way, $5.00 the doctor cost is the $20.00/$20.00 equation - $20.00 for the original consultation, then $20.00 a treatment.  A treatment takes about 30 minutes, all toll about 45 minutes to an hour.

The good Doctor Bmed, Monika Thanh Tam Kleemola

Thailand to overtake Canada on list of top global auto producers

Can you say 84 million? In 2012 that's the total number of vehicles manufactured in the world. I wonder if Henry Ford and his group of production car building pals had any idea of the gargantuan size the car industry would evolve into. Along the same lines, not many would have pegged Thailand as becoming one the world’s car manufacturing hubs.

Thailand got into the auto manufacturing business in 1961 but it wasn't until recent years with the help of government supported vehicle rebates, manufacturing has surged. Most major auto manufactures now have facilities there as 60% of all vehicles manufactured in Thailand are sold within the country. Last year Thailand produced 2.4 million units compared to this year’s projected 2.8 million based on figures from the Thai Federation of Industries. Although the flood last year had a big impact on production so the increase in reality may not be as big as the figures reflect. Even so it's a respectable amount and big enough to take the number 9 slot Canada held. Though according to Carlos Gomez, Scotia Bank, Canada's production is forecasted to show an increase, 2.6 million units this year  over the 2.5 million units manufacured in 2012 though not big enought to squeeze out Thialand.

Though, we are still talking about a long distence from the big guys like China who is number one producing 19.2 million vehicles, number two is the USA, manufacturing 10.3 million units and another emerging world market force is Mexico with 3 million plus units rolling out the door.

 

From the beyond - here's the ticket!

It's Doug 

Sequester and up till know I thought it was the name of a race horse..  While I'm thinking race horse our government will cut 85 billion dollars in across the board spending cuts.   Already, due to this the King County Housing Authority in Seattle was forced to stop issuing housing vouchers to "elderly and disability households, vets and families with children"

Meanwhile, I came across this piece "Homeland Security: the trillion dollar concept no one can define" 
Thanks Max Waller  I pulled the link from him.

I'm a frequent flyer and every time I head to the airport and see the mass of personal with limited skills, a weight problem and even one in a wheel chair the hairs on the back of my neck start to lift up and by the time I'm berated for not taking my belt off, my trip is on a down hill slide.   Personally I can't see the purpose of most of Homeland Security, it's too much to late.  On 9/11 the terrorists got lucky and so why couldn't we just move on but no we bowed to them with the military actions in the mid east and the boondoggle of Homeland Security and so you could say they won and are running us on a short chain.

We are unable to care for the needy our infrastructure is imploding and we spend millions on drones for the Military and instead of investing in our cities police and public security we continue to pump money into that money pit called Homeland Security.

Still not sure about the Sequester thing but believe now is not the time for cuts in public spending, mostly effecting the core population of our country who needs all the help it can get.

Got a couple things going on

Doug in his room in Saigon

Living over here is interesting and at times exciting but it has it's frustrations just like anywhere else.  Let me share two of my recent vexing problems. 

Number 1 - been renting a room for the past 6 years at a boarding house style place on Le Thi Reing Street in Saigon.  Well now it ain't working, the lady who ran it married and moved to the USA, leaving her younger brother in charge, whose main qualification is that his sister was in charge before him.  I like living in this part of district 1 but even before the management change, my one room for a month was okay but after 2 or 3 months it was getting to me. So even before the management change, making a change is something that had been on my mind.  Anyway it's okay for now but what I'm really interested in is something better than what I have now  for a 4 or 5 month stay when I return in November, .

Housing is an ongoing problem here in Saigon, that is for guys like me who are not part of a large organization like a corporation or NGO (Non Government Organization). Those big guys with their deep pockets can and do pay the big bucks for housing and in turn drive up rental prices.  So if your like me and on your on your own dime, finding a reasonably priced place to stay in a convenient area of the city can be a challenge.

Number 2 - I also need something more in my life than the hours I'm spending at my key board Blogging or screwing around on the Internet and a way to earn a little extra money to help me live life in the style I've been accustomed too.  But money aside, I mostly need more contact with people, I'm a single retired American guy who knows very little Vietnamese but lives in a mostly Vietnamese neighbourhood and it can get lonely at times.  I've given my cloistered style of living a lot of thought and one option would be part time work or maybe just give my services to an organization in need of management/sales expertise  just to get out and meet some people. 

Of course there are a few problems to address before I race out of my room to my new fulfilling life.  The biggest is I don't know how to locate a part time work position or volunteer opportunities here so I goggled both topics. My Internet search for part time work came up with the same old gobbel-de-gok that always comes up when I'm looking for job resources on the Internet and it was much of the same for volunteering opportunities except they all wanted money from you first before you could volunteer.  Crap, if I paid the money they were asking to volunteer I’d probably meet some people but I wouldn't be able to eat. 

So I'm still here at the keyboard but with the thought that maybe someone reading this knows about working, volunteering or short term apartments here in Saigon and wants to pass it along.  

Thanks,     Doug

Saigon Tet 2013 the year of the Snake

Nguyen Hue, a major street in Saigon was blocked off for over a week so they could built all this and after wards another week to remove it.

Get your motor rolling it's time to get ready for Tet

Nguyen Hue street - year of The Snake

Communist propaganda poster across from >

<Pepsi advertisement based on lunar New Year across from  

Nguyen  Hue man the flowered all just set in place and then removed a week later

okay, I'll just wait here

Tet in Vietnam is the holiday celebrating the srart of a new Lunar Year and man it's a big deal, no, make that a "mega"  big deal.  Saigon partially shuts down for a week or so as many in Saigon head back to see there families or as most are off so it's a good time to travel.  Unlike the west Vietnamese can't pick a vacation time, and a 7 day work week is not all the unusual so extra time for a holiday is out of the question until Tet.  When Tet week happens, most are given time off along with a holiday bonus, many head home to see family while others use the holiday and extra money for vacation travel. 

A special note:  If you don't have family in Vietnam, eating and shopping can be a challenge as many businesses close.  Travel using public transport can be tough also as a good part of the people in the country are on the move but hotels are normally easy to find as most Vietnamese travellers are visiting and staying with family. Also, during this period prices for goods and services can double or go even higher as Vietnamese except this because it's Tet.

Traditionally the Tet holiday was three days in duration.  Day one spent with the family at home, day two to honour teachers and day three to spend with friends.  The tradition of spending time with families and friends is still the corner stone of the celebration but it has gown into a much grander event. Families save through out the year to assure they have as many resources as possible to welcome in the New Year.  Their are clothes to buy, homes to be spruced up and gifts for friends and family. All with the intent to get off to a new fresh start in the New Year.

The plus side for us foreigners visiting during this period, especially here in Saigon, is the city is just about deserted... However, you miss out on a lot of interesting things so visit during Tet but extend your stay so you can get the real feel of Vietnam not just the stuff open for tourists during the holiday.

Chuck mung nam moi (happy new year)!!

On the bus to Phnom Penh again - (photos) February 2013

While in Phnom Penh, my old body developed red hives, joints swelled and my whole body ached and just getting up was a real problem.  Though, here we are 10 days later and it's just about all cleared up. So my heart wasn't really into my visit, no that's not right, my heart was into it but my body had other ideas.  Then while putting this together today my computer crashed twice and I just lost the page another time.    So this is going up now before anything else happens.

Vietnamese / Cambodian boarder crossing

passing through the boarder

emigrations officer with a wave to the camera

                                                                                                    

   

our driver and his bus

20 minute lunch stop on route

Royal Palace

the streets of Phnom Penh

       

Cambodia emigrations

                                 

Tonley Sap River front - Phnom Penh

The obligatory pretty girl with motorbike

Raggedy and not so cheap but have a Vietnam visa

hungry, we got food

Just got back from five days in Phnom Penh and it was disappointing for me because I'm a long time fan of the place.  Maybe the mess I encountered  was do the recent passing of King Noradon Sihanouk but whatever, every thing in Phnom Penh seemed over priced and the streets and side walks were strewn with litter that challanged you to find way through or over.

Along with that my health was not good, felt tired and achy and came down with a red rash on my legs and arms.  Sure that didn't help my state of mind as these problems arn't the sort of things that are normally a problem for me.

However, my goal of this outing was to obtain a new Vietnam visa which I did get so maybe not a nice place but I'm legal in Vietnam again.   Just for reference my three month, multiply visa through the Blue Tongue Hotel cost me  $110.00 and it took about a day and a half to process. 

Though shopping around I found the bus company SAPACO Tourist which I used to get to get to Phnom Penh offers a 3 month single Vietnam via  for $57.00, multi entry $77.00, 3 month multi for $95.00, 6 month multi for $140.00.  So if your visa shopping look around and oh ya my visa was cut at the Vietnamese Embassy in Sihanouk ville.  So maybe a trip to the beach can be fun while saving you a few bucks by going directly to the source.

Next will be busing it to Phnom Penh and a few random photos.

Doug fixes the US economy

The US needs to shift its focus from Wall Street to the mean streets of American where the US Census Bureau estimates that  16 % of the US population lives at or below the poverty line and has them daily looking over their own personal financial cliff.  There life is a day to day proposition, praying for good health because of lack of health insurance and savings makes ill health a potential game ender. Welcome to what might be considered a new expanding third world.

The Dow is up but the economy is still in the doldrums so maybe further proof we need to something to boost the lower levels of our population out of poverty.  Government needs to shift its focus from the upper end of earners and jointly with industry develop strategies to get these folks back into the game.  Maybe through developing low tech cottage industries in underdeveloped areas such as textiles, or outsourcing for components in manufactured products, maybe a neighbourhood based, co-op style low cost home building source.  Granted some of these endeavours  may not be financially self sustaining at first but though the use of government funding, looking past short term returns and concentrating on greater long term rewards, the potential benefits would be more cost effective and potentially offering  greater rewards to the overall economy than the present solution of unemployment payments.

So why is poverty reduction such a non starter? In the recent elections I can’t remember a mention of a comprehensive or for that matter a non-comprehensive plan to reach down and pull these folks up. Possibly the out of sight out of mind kind of thinking effects politicians as they don’t spend much time in these places and anyway there ain't no money there for campaign coffers down here.

Until our leadership can start thinking toward our nation’s future with creative solutions and by creative I don’t mean trying to create a new industry or just job retraining but rethinking our success of the past and using it to restart our industrial base.   Building a strong, self sustaining, economic future based on the production of goods and services and not on the financial transactions of Wall Street we will be mired in this economic mess. 

Odds and Ends from Ho Chi Minh City - January 2013

street crossing in Saigon is always dicey

9-23 park, New Year 2013

More stuff I've picked up on over the past few weeks that I thought might be of interest to you.

Here goes: 

A bit of history - 1944, the British Air Force flew a mission over Berlin with 769 planes dropping 2,300 tons of bombs.

Propagandist jailed - HCM City people’s court sentenced Ms Lo Thanh Thao 36, to 42 months in jail for dispersing anti-national propaganda. She scattering leaflets on 20 March in Binh Than district and 4 days later scattered more in front of several buildings in district 1.  Ngayen Thi Nhi a living overseas Vietnamese in the USA is said to have given her a cell phone. Laptop and $490.00 in payment to carry out the mission.

Visiting HCM City -  Three Chinese navy ships made a 5 day port of call to Saigon, a supply ship and two destroyers.   While in port they had meetings with the Peoples Committee and the high command of Vietnam's Military zone 7 along with athletic and social activities with Vietnamese military personal. 

Military buildup in Indonesia - In 2010 Indonesia started a military expansion program that would allocate 16.7 billion dollars for military equipment. Including  Sukhumi fighter jets, KT 1 Wong-bee trainer/Lt attach planes from S. Korea, Toucan anti-insurgency planes from Brazil, Leopard battle tanks from Germany and two billion dollars worth of on spec fighter jets from South Korea.

Suicide rate a national tragedy in South Korea -    33.5 people per 100,000 committed suicide  or 50 per day in 2010 in Korea.  To stem the tide CCTV camera have be installed to monitor know hot spots for suicide.  One of these areas is the Mapo bridge in Seoul where 96 of the 196 suicide deaths occurred in that city.  The pressures of success in academics and career achievement are the major forces pushing people to try suicide. 

Han Noi projects increase in textile exports -   Na Noi has targeted an increase in textile exports in the range of 18 - 19 billion dollars  equaling a 12 % increase.

Glut of real estate in ha Noi - According to a recent report by CB Richard Ellis at the end of 2012 Ha Noi had 20,400 apartments on the market, which in today's real estate climate would take up to four years to sell.   In 2012 real estate prices dropped 15% but in order to get the market moving they would have to drop 30-50%.  The major problem is the lack of affordability, personal savings of Ha Noi residents would only put  2% in the new apartment market.  Then with regard to available office space it would take up to 10 years to absorb the existing vacant properties. 

Auto sales slump in Vietnam -  Auto sales slumped to 26,000 units or decrees of  37%.  A proposed decrease of government fees to 10 % on new vehicles and 2 % on used if approved will stimulate the market.  This down turn in auto sales will affect Vietnam's state budget tax rolls by an estimated 2 billion annually.

Gun sales in the USA -  In 2011 gun sales totaled 66.3 billion.  With that much money involved it's no wonder the NRA is calling the shots (pun intended) in Washington.

Good eat -  Ban Ong is a Vietnamese treat made from rice, sugar and coconut.  This is available street side in Saigon's dist. 1, at the Phu Dong Tien Vuong roundabout on Nguyen Tri Street. 

 

cyclo guys staff meeting

new and older Saigon

  

That's all I got for now, but always thinking of you...  Doug

Vetjet Air is a new low priced air carrier and the first privately owned airline in Communist Vietnam, based in Ha Noi.  The airline spread it wings and took flight December 25, 2011.  Now with six A 320 narrow body aircraft and staffed with all foreign flight crews, it's flying seven domestic routes - Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi,  Hi Phong, Nha Trang, Hue, Danang, and Phu Quoc. 

The auspicious date of 10 February, Tet is also when Viet jet’s makes its first move into the international market, flying once daily to Bangkok, leaving HCM at 1120 and returning from Suvarnabhumi at 1355.  Projected regular fares to be in the $129.00 range compared to Air Asia, around $159.00.  However, Air Asia discounts all of its flights regularly and Vetjet according to the pricing on its web site will follow the same business strategy as discounts are available on its upcoming flights.

Just for reference here are some of the major carriers who also offer flights in the HCM City – Bangkok corridor:

·        Vietnam Airlines - 3 flights daily

·        Thai Airways – 2 flights daily

·        Qatar Airlines – 1 daily

·        Turkish Air – 1 daily

·        Lufthansa – 3 times weekly

·        Thai Air Asia – 3 times weekly

While these airlines are a bit pricey but all offer special pricing from time to time and their baggage policies are normally more flexible than the discounters.  I'm away for a long time when I'm in Asia so I'm packing lots and I've had the cost of my ticket surpassed by luggage fees on Air Asia. Also, if you want a pillow or a blanket it's an extra charge on the discounters and its all part of your ticket price on the majors. 

I'll drink to that - Christmas in Saigon photos (updated)

Seventeen Saloon

Christmas is a special time in Saigon, making for a merry, merry, night life in some of it's night clubs..  Two of the more popular clubs for foreigners are the Number 5 bar and the Seventeen Saloon.  While the goings on is not your traditional Christmas stuff but it makes for an eyeful and a cheery good holiday for any guy.  

Seventeen Saloon

\

Remember I'm always
 here for you!

                 
             

Random photos of Hong Kong, mostly of the harbor but water and boats are my strong suit.  I've got more photos on my desk top in California, so look for additional photos in a couple months.  

Hong Kong harbor

                                         

Downtown Hong Kong

Hurricane Hole Marina

Odds and ends from Ho Chi Minh City

Stuff I've picked up on in the past few weeks that I thought was interesting but of course it's up to you to decide. Please comment one way or the other.

Here goes:

Made an interesting find when I was exploring a little alley that takes of  from beside Baskin Robbins on Lee Loi Street. Wondering down the small alley I found it opened up to reveal a newish hotel named the Little Saigon Hotel.

5:00 am heading across town to catch an early morning bus down to the Mekong and see bunches of Vietnamese playing badminton and exercising under the street lights.

The other day I watch a motor bike delivery guy pull up on a Honda dream scooter with 12 cases of beer on board.

Made note of US defense spending of 633 billion dollars, probably old news but I think, don't you, that it's worth repeating.  Especially, as the US government attempts to slash more social programs to balance the budget.

With regard to government spending - China just opened a new high speed train line, 2,300 KM long (1,429 miles) running at an average speed of 300 KM hour (186 miles per hour). Adding to its existing high speed rail network of 9,300 KM (5,779 miles) since the start of construction in 2007. The total train line is expected to be in operation in 2020 with 50,000 KM (31,000 miles) operational. Oh ya, but do they have Amtrak or a proposed high speed link between Northern and Southern California.

On life and living from the Vietnamese government via the "Vietnam News"

On tourists - "Every month I am informed 6 or 7 tourists are stolen on domestic and in-bound tours"

What is destroying the housing market in Saigon - "Investors cannot sell cheaply because their costs are high". Now isn't that the truth.

About the pot holes and depressions in a new 50 Km (31 miles) highway

This was a six year project and the explanation goes "the highway suffers from pot holes and depressions caused by the rush to finish on time."

On the quality of life in Saigon - The quality of life is down due to Social evils, red tape and environmental issues. All so it was added that 58 % of the residents have an income in the range of 2 - 3 million dong a month ($95-140.00 us). Workers are between the ages of 18 - 40 and normally, at 40 are dismissed from their job because they are worn out and in bad health. With no social services and probably no savings I can see where this might darken a person’s mood as you looked toward the future.

On Blogging in Vietnam - The founder of the Freelance Journalist club web site and blogger Nguyen Van Hai (60) was resenteced to 10 years in prison and on release 3-5 years of probation. Along with Mrs.Ta Phong Tan(42) who drew a 10 year term with also 3 - 5 year probation on his release. Also Phan Thanh Hai (42) was sentenced to 4 years. There sentencing was based on Clause 2, article 88 of the 1999 criminal code - conducting propaganda against the state - per the Vietnamese government.

                         
                           That's all I've got for today.
                                       Doug

                                              

 

farang get an instant status upgrade

In Thailand, farang get an instant status upgrade-

from the opinion page of The Nation

January 6, 2013
 

Western expats always complain bitterly about dual pricing, noise and air pollution, dangerous driving, unscrupulous cabbies, crooked police, no English commentary on the World Cup, feral dogs, etc, but they stick around. Why?
Generally, Thais respect Westerners. Thais are friendly, polite and helpful to them, so they feel important. But why do Thais look up to them?

When the Europeans arrived in Ayutthaya some 500 years ago, they brought with them fancy ships, cannons, telescopes, matches, compasses, pocket watches, personal firearms. The Siamese were entranced by those gadgets. The Europeans were welcomed by the King himself. They stood erect to the King and they talked to him face to face, something unimaginable to the Siamese. The only privilege the Siamese ever had was prostrating themselves before their king with their noses touching the ground. Thus, they felt Westerners and their King were of the same rank. The attitude has been passed along for generations. Later, in the 20th century, Hollywood, Elvis, the Beatles, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, the Apollo project and Coca-Cola added more prestige to Westerners.

But expats always rationalise their being here. They say they stay because they care. They say they bring money, jobs, technology, and we should be grateful. They won't admit they like Thailand because here they are somebody. In their countries they may be an average Joe, but here they are Mr Joe, the wonderful husband of a Thai woman, or Ajarn Joe the English teacher, or jovial uncle Joe who loves kids. And I haven't mentioned the low cost of living, cheap sex and drugs, and the Thai culture of "anything goes".

That's why Westerners love to stay in Thailand.

Meechai Burapa

Chiang Mai