March 2024

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2nd- Olivia and Andy are camping in Sandeston in South Australia . Meanwhile at friend Yolande's farm at Mirgat, the guys check on things whilst she is away. The boys seem fine
The water trough is cleaned and refilled Back in the village Spring continues to come early March 4- VIDEO- last clean up of garden before the long trip to Brisbane But before we go, an afternoon at Blagnac airport (Airbus tour)
Deciding to join a humanitarian mission to Senegal We're ready But get distracted by all of the aviation history A picnic dinner in our hotel room before an early morning flight
After a short stop at Heathrow, it's off on the 17+ hour flight to Perth, then the 4+ flight to Brisbane. 3 nights at Storm & Daniels' rental flat in Moorooka. Then a couple of nights at the St Lucia Athertons who head to cruise around Africa for a month 12th - They are back on the road again. At Singapore airport waiting for the connection to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) Arrival at Saigon immigration. Must have been tea break for staff as the lines were amazing
13th - we wake in our Ho Chi Minh's "Happy Life Grand Hotel" . Then a bus ride to the Cu Chi tunnels starting with a museum look at the armaments used in the "American War" .
And the tunnels that the Viet Cong used to avoid the invaders, ....the traps they set, ...and the techniques they used. Stephen thought he would test the tunnels out. At least the ones widened for the westerners
. . Back in the city, Paulie and Stephen do a bit of exploring .
. Uncle Ho goes fishing Uncle Ho does something else interesting. Uncle Ho does a bit of teaching
Ye old myth of sword and turtle where Emperor Le Loi returned a magical sword after defeating China's Ming Dynasty. As he was boating on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi a golden turtle emerged and took the sword back to its divine owners. Cheers to that. Paulie's first beer in 20 years. Wine is crazy expensive and beer is refreshing Interesting Soviet-style propoganda 14th - A flight on Bamboo Air north to Da Nang and then a bus to Hoi An and we score a lovely room at the Beach and River Hotel
with space this time (unlike Saigon's "Happy Life Hotel" A view of the De Vong River. . 14th - Madam Hunh Thi Hiêp (Hip) gives the group a tour of the old city of Hoi An
some French architecture Follow the leader . A snapshop of some traditional performances
. A Chinese Merchant's house . The well known "Morning Glory" cafe that we returned to another day
And lunch, then back to the hotel To watch the fishermen do their thing . .
And walk along China Beach which is just metres away 15th - Back to the old city . .
Lunch at Morning Glory . The lights at night Tourist craziness sending floating wishes off down the river
VIDEO - But the guys find some areas of calm and here listen to the Buddhist mantra A stop at another quiet corner 16th - A morning trip to My Son (pronounced Me Son), site of the French discovered Hindu ruins later bombed by the Americans as Viet Cong hid here. Stephen Looks to see if it is in Sanskrit. Of course it is. See for more information
. Ahh - something the guide delights in teaching the team. A Lingam - popularly referred to as a phallus but strongly debated if this superficial definition is accurate (Stephen is glad he remembers some of his undergraduate studies) The tour referred to this as representing the Yoni. Mmm. Some actually see the 3 parts as significant - at the base Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). Life's cycle. A quick read of the Karma Sutra wil enlighten one to the sensual aspects of yoni and lingam. Whilst tourist headed to the performance session ran, Stephen returned to the ruins so he could go at his pace without crowds about.
And was pleased he did . . .
. Regrouping and back to base . .
Then to lunch - an unsigned family restaurant next to the river that grew their own herbs and tries to keep customer numbers in balance. . Their plot next to the restaurant .
. 17th - a flight to the north and the capital of Hanoi. The opera house Over the weekend some streets close for the people to do their thing .
Great to not have to keep an eye out for scooters We break away from the tour to explore on our own. The French quarter The lake.
. A quick cocktail to watch the traffic below. Chatted to a nice young local who had visited his cousin at Melbourne Uni Taking the dog out for a "walk" Many streets specialise in product. This was "Button Boulevard"
Mostly tourist reproductions HQ in this street St Joseph's Cathedral. 100 years of French rule left a mark - a very full mass was being held. The cafes and homes are built around a major train line. A quick scramble and move of some tables as a bell informs folks that a train cometh
As indeed it does . VIDEO- the train passes by. We sat next a Toulouse lass and boyfriend which was nice. .
The walk home. 18th - morning coffee accross from the hotel . And it's off on the bus to Halong Bay for a night.
Rice paddies aplenty A Korean funded train line to Halong Bay that made it half way. Settling into our boat's cabin .
And off to explore The welcome drink Lunch .
. . 18th - Landed on Bo Hon Island climbed up and entered the Sung Sot Cave which was discovered in 1901 by the French and named “Grotte des Surprises”. Huge!
. . . .
Then off again to climb up the 400 steps to the top of Ti Top Islet seen here. . . And then back to the boat
A pre-dinner drink in our cabin Karaoke got the team fired up VIDEO - and a wee bit of dancing An early night.
19th - MOVIE. An early night meant a 6am start and Tai chi with the few folks who didn't go too wild the night before. . Back to another area of Bo Hon Island .
Paulie and Stephen preferred to kayak To chat to the monkeys and quickly explore A quick pork mince spring role creation, lunch, and it was back to Hanoi.
The duo went out to explore some more Cuba's Embassy. Looks like Fidel and Uncle Ho were pals 20th - The last day was 3:00pm check out so a few more things to see
. The opera house . The museum of Vietnamese Revolution spoke of conflict through Viet eyes
With some French items on display. The uniform of of Colonel Gaddis, stationed at the Da Nang base was the most senior officer shot down on a mission in 1967. He was a POW for close to 6 years. He died Feb 2014 . Then a look at more distant history in the Cultural Museum
Well preserved drum . 4th - 6th Century wooden Buddha .
A last bit of Viet coffee culture. We tried their cold salted coffee etc, but an expresso was needed. And.. a smuggled Corbières rosé happened to be the same colour as the viet tea. So a 2017 rosé that was essentially "off", a not-so-French baguette, and some soft fromage was lunch. And then we headed home via Singapore. 21st, Back to the St Lucia Atherton's in the morning and received photos of damage at Indooroopilly HQ from our tenants. .
23rd - Stephen and his chain saw tidied things up a bit so Roussos could walk to the bus to Uni whilst Paulie held yoga lessons with Lottie - teaching her downward dog. Life in St Lucia caring for Lottie during rainy days. Olivia continues her half marathon training
. 28th - back to Chateau AthoTurnbull whilst our tenants, Karen and Roussos, went to Stradbroke Island for a few days Lottie was great help The first day with no rain meant a good tidy up of the AthoTurnbull garden could be done.
30th- the St Lucia based duo head out for a cycle St Lucia Chores . A wee break
It had been 4 months since Paulie and Stephen had caught up with Clan Traynor. A treat to have the whole team there.