Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Exploring the known and unknown
- Blog
-
Location Date Singapore 1489708800 Vietnam 
1489276800 South Korea 1484697600 Hong Kong 1462143600 China 1461798000 Taiwan 1461711600 United Arab Emirates 1441407600 Cambodia 1432162800 Mongolia 1370559600 Thailand 1367276400 -
Location Date Hanoi 1489276800 Mai Chau 1489276800 Pu Luong 1489190400 Ho Chi Minh City
1476918000 Ma Tho 1476918000 Hoi An 1476658800 Da Nang 1476572400 Vinh 1476486000 Ninh Binh 1476399600 Halong Bay 1476226800 Sapa 1476054000 Dalat 1463958000 Nha Trang 1463871600 M? Son 1463698800 Hue 1463353200 Dong Hoi 1463266800 Phong Nha 1463180400 Lao Cai 1463007600 T? Van 1462921200 Lai Chau 1462575600 Sai Gon 1431817200 Khe Sanh 1431039600 Con Tom 1431039600 An Duong 1431039600 Dong Ha 1430953200 C?a Lo 1430780400 B?m Son 1430694000 Th? Tr?n Thu?n Chau 1430434800 Dien Bien Phu 1430348400 Danang 1429743600 Tavan 1411340400 Phu Quoc 1393891200 Mekong Delta 1392163200 Quy Nhon 1368313200 Phan Thiet 1368226800 Ben Luc 1368140400 Vinh Long 1368054000 -
Location Date Thu, 20 October 2016 1476928320 Mon, 17 October 2016 1476668880 Tue, 24 May 2016 1464048720 Tue, 21 April 2015 1429622400 Wed, 06 August 2014
1407349260 Sat, 08 March 2014 1394287920 Sun, 02 March 2014 1393774740 Mon, 10 February 2014 1392031320 Wed, 08 May 2013 1367978760 Tue, 07 May 2013 1367891700 Mon, 06 May 2013 1367806020 Sun, 05 May 2013 1367718900
2014 Aug 6
Saigon-Ho Chi Min City
I don't know what it is, or the reason why, but Vietnam has some kind of magnetic influence on me. Again I am spending some time in Saigon and enjoyed the chaos of the traffic.
The traffic looks dangerous but is not really- there are almost no rules so everyone is aware of everyone else. They drive on the right hand side of the road but if you need to turn left somewhere it is ok if you cut across 12 lanes of scooter traffic and ride on the extreme left 100 yard before the intersection appears. Traffic lights are for guidance only; you can ignore them if you wish. Going the wrong way into a one Way Street is ok too; just ride on the extreme right had side, but slowly. Although I generally don't like crowds or heavy traffic i really enjoy and feel relaxed in the middle of all this: (its worth coppying this in your browser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phFYiM GCIY
Today I rode a scooter through the city to have look at some sights I hadn't seen by daylight yet.
In the past France had a period of dominance of this land and left their stamp on it by way of the many buildings they erected throughout the country. Many cathedrals are called "Notre Dame" and are similar in appearance. By chance I passed the Ho-Chi-Min museum, actually called “Uncle Ho’s Museum”; I suppose to distinguish between Ho Chi Min...The city and Ho Chi Min...The man.
Passing the zoo I left for what it was- before I would ever go there I would like to do a virtual tour if that is possible, I expect that it would not be a pleasant experience as many zoo’s are still built as “jails for innocent animals”. I expect cages and/or confined spaces and that not were animals should be in my opinion.
During the last 2 years I wrote several episodes about Ho Chi Min city (or Saigon as it is still called by many) so just a few pictures will do for now. One item of note- when it starts to rain, it RAINS!!!
Saigon-Ho Chi Min City
I don't know what it is, or the reason why, but Vietnam has some kind of magnetic influence on me. Again I am spending some time in Saigon and enjoyed the chaos of the traffic.
The traffic looks dangerous but is not really- there are almost no rules so everyone is aware of everyone else. They drive on the right hand side of the road but if you need to turn left somewhere it is ok if you cut across 12 lanes of scooter traffic and ride on the extreme left 100 yard before the intersection appears. Traffic lights are for guidance only; you can ignore them if you wish. Going the wrong way into a one Way Street is ok too; just ride on the extreme right had side, but slowly. Although I generally don't like crowds or heavy traffic i really enjoy and feel relaxed in the middle of all this: (its worth coppying this in your browser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phFYiM GCIY
Today I rode a scooter through the city to have look at some sights I hadn't seen by daylight yet.
In the past France had a period of dominance of this land and left their stamp on it by way of the many buildings they erected throughout the country. Many cathedrals are called "Notre Dame" and are similar in appearance. By chance I passed the Ho-Chi-Min museum, actually called “Uncle Ho’s Museum”; I suppose to distinguish between Ho Chi Min...The city and Ho Chi Min...The man.
Passing the zoo I left for what it was- before I would ever go there I would like to do a virtual tour if that is possible, I expect that it would not be a pleasant experience as many zoo’s are still built as “jails for innocent animals”. I expect cages and/or confined spaces and that not were animals should be in my opinion.
During the last 2 years I wrote several episodes about Ho Chi Min city (or Saigon as it is still called by many) so just a few pictures will do for now. One item of note- when it starts to rain, it RAINS!!!
- comments
tedwesselius The main if not only rule in Vietnamese traffic seems to be "it is strictly forbidden to bump against anybody else". The use of the word UNCLE Ho might more be related to the Vietnamese habit to communicate in terms of respect and relation. Originally I never understood how Nga could have so many "older sisters, younger brothers. Later on I got it. Uncle Ho is a kind Vietnamese variant on our "VADER des vaderlands". �� Nice reports Richard!!!
Rob Ho? Uncle Ho? In certain countries, Ho has a distinct meaning, I once heared that for that reason, Santa exclaiming 'Ho Ho Ho' was found to be rude in some malls in Australia. Certain ladies felt spoken upon, thus Santa was no longer allowed to exclaim this.... Reminds me of a guy called Menno, some called him Man-Ho...I wonder why....
nat glad youre in a place that makes you feel relaxed and happy :)
Richard Wolters Thanks Nat.