Channel Steve

Are cops sometimes known as ‘pigs’ in your country? Well, these two certainly fit the bill in both behaviour and eating habits. I wonder how often they need new uniforms?  And the amount of gold dripping off them was disgusting.

Vung Tau cops

OK, I know they’re probably the same all over Vietnam, but these two didn’t even bother trying to come up with a remotely believable reason to rob us on Saturday, so I’m leaving Vung Tau thinking their cops are worse than those in HCMC.

We were travelling down a three lane road with each lane clearly marked as to which type of traffic should be in it.
We were in the middle lane the entire time and never strayed out.

Vung Tau road sign

Thu was pulled over and asked to hand over her papers. The reason for selecting her was almost definitely because I was on the back – a ‘rich’ tourist. To their surprise she had her licence, insurance and bike ownership papers intact (many Vietnamese don’t have licences). So their next trick was a rather pathetic claim that she had been in the car lane. When she explained that the middle lane was not the car lane (we read the sign) they told her that the part of the road we were on was not covered by that particular sign. This has got to be one of the most pathetic attempts at highway robbery I can imagine, and when she remonstrated Thu was told that they could either take her licence or she could cough up VND200,000.

I’ve heard a few people say that cops are on such a meagre wage that they have to take personal payments to survive. Garbage! Many own multiple apartments for rent, and as you can see from these two they’re eating better than I am.

Absolutely disgraceful that ‘men’ like these can be in a position of responsibility and power. If any Vietnamese local reading this knows someone high up the tree, I have the number plate of this unit.

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In the last year I’ve uploaded quite a number of photos of construction workers doing crazy things in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

Today an article was posted exposing those very dangers.

http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/11/deaths-increase-at-building-sites.html

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Found this relatively dry, but pretty accurate and detailed description of life in Saigon. It’s from the LA Times, and crams a lot of daily life into three pages. My home life is not like this at all, as I’ve chosen to live away from the busiest parts of the city, however much of the article rings true for me.

Vietnam, the perfect place to ride out the recession

The cost of living is cheap, the people are extremely friendly, and the country is beautiful. It’s a great spot to ride out the recession.

By Karin Esterhammer, Reporting from Ho Chi Minh City

12:46 PM PDT, September 11, 2009

via Vietnam, the perfect place to ride out the recession – Travel – LATimes.com.

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All of Saigon gets food poisoning once a year

Well, my heading is a little misleading. The article says around 8 million Vietnamese suffer food poisoning every year from the result of poor choices and bad hygiene.
That number just happens to be approximately the population of HCMC.
I’ve had a few little stomach complaints here and there, but that’s probably more to do with too much chili (I never ask for chili, it just turns up in my bowl unannounced), or unusual foods I haven’t eaten before.
http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/09/eight-million-vietnamese-get-food-poison-annually.html

Speaking of food, I’ve been exploring all sorts lately. Abalone finally made it onto my plate – we can’t afford it in Australia. It’s really quite delicious. Kind of like calamari in texture but with a marlin steak consistency and flavour. At least, that was my reading of it. I’ve also eaten a bunch of different mushrooms, some crocodile and most of the contents of the South China Sea.

My new favourite dessert is called bò bia ngọt.


It seems to be shredded coconut, sugarcane sticks and some black stuff that lives in a shaker, inside a thin crepe. It is SCRUMPTIOUS!

850 rare turtles repatriated

http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/09/850-turtles-released-back-into-sea-in-khanh-hoa.html

This is an unbelievable situation. Have a look at the size of these turtles. Then imagine 85 of them in a cage. This guy in Nha Trang had 850 of then in 10 cages when he was finally caught. Thankfully they are all back in the ocean where they belong.  I want to know what he was doing with them!

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Watch on posterous

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Today I went to my favourite District 5 lunch venue. It’s a tiny cafe hidden amongst a bunch of other eateries, fruit stalls and three floors of clothing and accessory stalls in a very large market walking distance from my campus.

The food here is very cheap and delicious. I pay on average 35000 VND for a tasty, filling rice vermicelli noodle and meat dish with coffee or lemon soda. It’s a little more for a small lobster. Do your maths and you’ll see it’s around USD2.00 for most dishes, and about USD3.00 for the lobster dish plus drink.

I like the people here. They are always smiling and friendly, as are the denizens nearby who like to watch me eat and wave occasionally.

Today I was lucky enough to witness a typical cupping session performed on the guy who runs the cafe. It’s nothing like how I remember it back at home. There it’s careful, meticulous, and you only get about half a dozen cups I think. Here it’s manic and all-inclusive.  I didn’t get video of the next step, but once the cupping is finished she starts to pinch his face quite firmly, leaving very strong blood marks under the skin. He tells me he feels great and his headache is gone.  I believe him, but like a few other onlookers I still won’t be partaking in this activity next time.

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