April Photoblog

I spotted this wonderful Tsunami Warning off Back Beach on Thuy Van Street in Vung Tau. I love the random cut-out collection of joggers casually making their way along the beach, oblivious to the gigantic set of waves about to engulf them. 10/10 to the designer!

April Photoblog

A photo of an outdoor Vietnamese wedding from the balcony of our room at the Rex Hotel in Vung Tau

April Photoblog

Here's a pic of my neighbours eating outside my house during one of our weekly power-outs. I wonder if HCM City's electricity authorities have been taking tips from Eskom?

PS: This is my 200th blog post so thanks to all of you who have managed to read this far, I couldn't have done it without you!

April Photoblog (apologies)

I sincerely apologise to my loyal following (of three, consisting of my two alter egos and my girlfriend who occasionally visits my blog out of ego-pity) for the lack of weekend posts but the damn internet was out all weekend, thanks eMedia and SCTV. I knew the "free cable" you threw in with the ADSL was too good to be true. There seems to be a strong correlation between connectivity and the volume of rain falling from the sky, which has well and truly become a daily occurrence again.

Here are some pics from Hanoi to make up for the short break from the April photoblog.

April Photoblog

I nearly forgot today's photo! A celebration of Vietnam would not be complete without the ubiquitous Ben Thanh Market snapshot.

April Photoblog

A couple of pictures from around Saigon.

The Hindu Temple on Ton That Thiep with the Saigon Centre as backdrop

The Opera House with a poster of the Uncle through a statue

April Photoblog

Here are some photos of the kids at the orphanage where my fiesty French friend Manon (pictured below) used to work. I went with one day to play with them and they really did touch my heart with their willingness to trust and just their general cuteness. I can't remember the orphanage's name, but it's in Tan Binh District just off Le Van Sy Street.

April Photoblog

Jungle Beach solitude

Jungle Beach, about 60 kms north of Nha Trang, is the perfect spot to just get away from it all. A secluded stretch of beach (for now, at least) with simple facilities, it is run by a Canadian with a passion for sustainable living and the environment. Spend the day exploring the surrounding area or just laze the day away under a sunscreen on the beach, occasionally going for a dip to cool off, then fall asleep with the sound of waves breaking just off the doorstep of your bungalow. Nice.

Mountain pool overlooking Jungle Beach

*I've decided to add multiple pics to each April photoblog as one a day just isn't enough!

April Photoblog

Mui Ne is one of the premier spots in Asia for kite-surfing. The cool air blowing off the ocean, mixing with the warmer air from the sand dunes cause a thermal circulation every day like clockwork, which results in an afternoon of blustery conditions perfect for hitching up your kite, strapping on your board and heading out to sea.

Kite-surfer at Mui Ne

April Photoblog

Some repairs on Mui Ne Beach

April Photoblog

I'll make use of this weekend to post three photos of one of my favourite places in Vietnam: Mui Ne. I've posted about this jewel of the south a few times over the years. Check it out here, here and over there. Sadly it's becoming overrun by mulleted or brushcut Russian tourists wearing socks an' sandals, big-name resorts with big name prices, and multistoreyed apartments on the beachfront spoiling the view. I guess that's what happens when you're a country developing at warp-speed with nothing but the bottom line in mind. I still have a real soft spot for the place and I'd advise anyone visiting to spend at least a long weekend here, lying on the beach with a good book, watching the afternoon amble by, sipping on a looong cocktail, watching the kite-surfers and, well, not really doing much else (except the difficult mental exercise of figuring out which awesome seafood barbecue joint to feast at for dinner).

This is how we roll...or choose not to move...for most of the day...in Mui Ne

April Celebration Photoblog

Lantern Festival at the Saigon Zoo