All together now – Intimacy at the traffic lights
I’ve always thought there’s a funny intimacy to the traffic in Hanoi, and I suppose Ho Chi Minh City can’t be too different. Such the volume of motorbikes when you pull up to the traffic lights (all the rage these days), everyone is huddled together en masse, waiting, in most cases impatiently, for the lights to change. And there we all are, together, for more than a moment, less than a minute. The smell of shampooed hairdos, the whiff of a high-noon bia hoi session, a fragrantly scented businessman, or businesswoman – all these scents mingle with the fumes. You glance around. You may or may not see a hip 15-year old on his father’s bike with two friends on the pillion, a gaggle of giggly girls on bicycles, a bunch of sun-kissed labourers, young glamorous couples on fancy-pants motorbikes, delivery boys encased on their own bike by eight crates of beer, a young woman holding her bicycle loaded with Bat Trang pottery upright, as well as the off-to-works, the won’t-works and usually at least one old bespectacled man with a pith helmet who judging by his incessant beeps doesn’t quite get the concept of red lights.
At traffic lights over the years, people have reached out and shook my hand, pulled the hair on my arms, deconstructed my wardrobe, tried to sell me a loaf of bread, informed me my kickstand was down; men have grinned, chic women have played coy, children have stared, smiled, laughed and wailed at me.
While waiting for red to go green, if you’re wondering what time it is, there’s plenty of folk around to ask, you can also practice your listening skills by eavesdropping on conversations around you, or if you’re feeling chipper, why not try to get a bit of impromptu banter going on yourself? Just friends you haven’t met, right? Other bonuses of static traffic are asking for directions, blowing kisses at ravishing strangers and bumping into old friends, on the minus side, there’s all that passive smoking, which reminds me I must get around to inventing the ashtray for motorbikes, which will make me a dong-millionaire one day.
Of course, no one wants to linger, you may have broken the ice and the prospect of a friendship may have flickered in your heart, but inevitably the traffic lights go green, the body of traffic lurches forward, horns blare at the stragglers, ‘di di’, forwards, onwards, away, if you don’t drive fast enough 70 metres down the road you’ll miss the green lights, then a man will pull up beside you, reach out and pull the hair on your arm. He won’t speak, but he will smile, and his eyes will say, “Remember me?”
Monday, July 30, 2007
Well, Iraq did it... they won the ASIAN cup
Reaction on the streets from the Guardian
"In 90 minutes, 11 men on a soccer pitch thousands of miles away have made millions of Iraqis happy while 250 MPs, our government, the mullahs, imams and warlords can't provide us with a single smile. I hope this is a turning point for our country," said one fan.
Great stuff. The team comprising Kurds, Sunnis, Shias and Turkomans have overcome kidnap threats, the murder of loved ones, and disruptions to their training schedules and had to train in Syria and Jordan pre-tournament.
Hats off lads.
Reaction on the streets from the Guardian
"In 90 minutes, 11 men on a soccer pitch thousands of miles away have made millions of Iraqis happy while 250 MPs, our government, the mullahs, imams and warlords can't provide us with a single smile. I hope this is a turning point for our country," said one fan.
Great stuff. The team comprising Kurds, Sunnis, Shias and Turkomans have overcome kidnap threats, the murder of loved ones, and disruptions to their training schedules and had to train in Syria and Jordan pre-tournament.
Hats off lads.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Hanoi oi
This fellow was just getting warmed up on tourism in Hanoi, I thought, then the article just ended.
Oh well. Iraq vs Saudi tonight. The world will be at least following the score, if not watching. So the Asian Cup got it's "coming out" coverage in the end. Sadly not for the football.
This fellow was just getting warmed up on tourism in Hanoi, I thought, then the article just ended.
Oh well. Iraq vs Saudi tonight. The world will be at least following the score, if not watching. So the Asian Cup got it's "coming out" coverage in the end. Sadly not for the football.
Friday, July 27, 2007
A story circulated rapidly around Hanoi yesterday that the Saudi Arabian football team, who were here for the Asian Cup semi final, had caused a bit of a brouhaha in the Sheraton Hotel after walking in en masse to the ladies changing rooms, in the gym or sauna area I presume. A long silent stand off apparently ensued with the exception of one American lady, who screamed herself lobster red, until "Je suis le Concierge" led the naughty boys away to the gents' facilities.
Of course, here at Pittstop Works, we never start rumours, we just spread them.
Of course, here at Pittstop Works, we never start rumours, we just spread them.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Iraqi-Saudi final: The country formerly known as Iraq are into the final of the Asian Cup where they'll be taking on the Saudis, who won a cracker against Japan, 3-2, played at My Dinh stadium in Hanoi.
Let's get metaphysical: Speaking of Iraq, it "isn't Vietnam" but is Vietnam the new Spain?
Glad that's finally been sorted out but can the comparisons end now please? You're killing our google searches.
Let's get metaphysical: Speaking of Iraq, it "isn't Vietnam" but is Vietnam the new Spain?
Glad that's finally been sorted out but can the comparisons end now please? You're killing our google searches.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Completely forgot to post this last week, Vietnam are now out of the cup, the mood is gone, life goes on, and now the closing punchline doesn't really hold true, but still, anyway, here's Teddy's pitch side version of the Vietnam-Japan game last week.
The invincibles
We arrive early for the game at My Dinh Stadium and decide to join a few merry men at a nearby bia hoi. With the temperature in the mid-30s it’s thirsty work just sitting here knocking back beers.
Most of our crew is dressed in Vietnam-jerseys so we’re instantly inducted into the circle of trust, where it’s customary to clink glasses every twenty seconds and take turns shouting Viet Nam Vo Dich (Vietnam’s invincible). We slug down more beers with water chasers until it’s time to slip away with the crowd which is heading en masse towards the stadium.
There’s an intoxicating buzz in the air. The Red and Gold-clad army of Vietnam fans are pumped up. We shuffle through the gates and run for the stands. The whistle blows as I try to find my seat. A fairly laissez faire approach has been taken to where people actually sit. As it happens my seat hasn’t been taken.
I settle down then seemingly seconds later I’m standing, then jumping, then embracing Tuan Anh – though I don’t find out his name until a few minutes later – the spectator beside me. Vietnam has scored, or rather Japan has, but rather obligingly into their own net. The stadium goes bananas. The crowd is hungry for more, the team surges forward but the Japanese team soaks up the pressure. These players are seasoned pros. Big league players who’ve graced the World Cup. They don’t panic that they’re one down. They spread it around at the back. Sizing up their opponents, probing for spaces until eventually as cool as you like a fluid move from one side of the pitch to the other then back again sees Japan equalise. The crowd’s defiant cheers dissipate.
As the half goes on Japan’s dominance grows. A well taken free kick puts them in front. By half time the Vietnamese team has completely lost its mojo. The crowd, too. Tuan Anh slumps in his chair at the break and phones his father, who tells him more heartbreaking news. In the other game in Vietnam’s Group, Qatar is winning one nil against UAE. This means Vietnam, as it stands, is out of the tournament. The score comes up on the electronic board and 40,000 people cry in collective despair.
Now Vietnam has to come back. So when the team returns the crowd is back on its feet and everyone is screaming their heads off.
The Vietnamese start well but once again the Japanese side seems that bit cooler on the ball. A slick sequence of passes by Japan sees play move from one end to the other and the ball is curled into the top corner of the net. Not long afterwards, a fourth goal is scored by the Japanese team and it’s sayonara to the hosts. The Vietnamese now face immediate elimination. The team is now floundering. The fans moan about players’ lack of movement. A woman asks aloud is it going to rain as the clouds go dark and ominous. An early exit is on the cards. Her husband pulls long and hard on his cigarette and says nothing.
Then just when it seems all is lost a sudden shout from one section of the crowd sparks interest from everyone. Mobile phones are whipped out in unison. Frantic calls are made. Another section of the crowd roars. Then someone near us shouts out, “UAE have equalised!”
Everyone is embracing again. It’s not as good as a three goal comeback followed by an outrageous injury time winner would have been but it’ll do nicely. Somewhere on the pitch star striker Le Cong Vinh chases down a ball but no one is watching. The network’s jammed with nervous fans calling for constant updates. Japan comes close to adding a fifth. Vietnam’s manager Riedl throws on a few subs for tired legs but perhaps also with a potential quarter final in mind.
Again another section of the crowd bursts into rapture. Someone near us shouts out UAE is winning 2-1 and howls of delight ring out all around us. An Englishman dressed in Vietnam colours leads a chant of “U - A - E! U - A - E!” and thousands join in. Someone, somewhere is even playing a trumpet. A fiesta has begun.
A couple of minutes later Tuan Anh gets through to his father who says UAE didn’t score again. It’s still 1-1. Vietnam’s fate is still in the balance. Tuan Anh informs everyone around him and a hundred eyes screw through him. He sits down out of view. Don’t shoot the messenger.
An eternity passes over the next 10 minutes, the forgotten game in front of our eyes in Vietnam’s national stadium finally ends, the winning team gathers in the corner and bows before the applause of their fans.
But no one from Vietnam is going home quite yet. Thousands remain seated waiting for the final whistle from Ho Chi Minh City. Dark clouds rumble over head. Eventually the Vietnam players on the far side jump up in the air. The cries of “U - A - E!” start up again. No one knows what UAE stands for, no one cares, tonight they are the toast of Vietnam. A sea of screaming fans floods out to begin the celebrations on the streets of the capital. Outclassed on the pitch but still proudly in the tournament – I should have known, Vietnam’s invincible.
By Teddy de Burca Jnr
The invincibles
We arrive early for the game at My Dinh Stadium and decide to join a few merry men at a nearby bia hoi. With the temperature in the mid-30s it’s thirsty work just sitting here knocking back beers.
Most of our crew is dressed in Vietnam-jerseys so we’re instantly inducted into the circle of trust, where it’s customary to clink glasses every twenty seconds and take turns shouting Viet Nam Vo Dich (Vietnam’s invincible). We slug down more beers with water chasers until it’s time to slip away with the crowd which is heading en masse towards the stadium.
There’s an intoxicating buzz in the air. The Red and Gold-clad army of Vietnam fans are pumped up. We shuffle through the gates and run for the stands. The whistle blows as I try to find my seat. A fairly laissez faire approach has been taken to where people actually sit. As it happens my seat hasn’t been taken.
I settle down then seemingly seconds later I’m standing, then jumping, then embracing Tuan Anh – though I don’t find out his name until a few minutes later – the spectator beside me. Vietnam has scored, or rather Japan has, but rather obligingly into their own net. The stadium goes bananas. The crowd is hungry for more, the team surges forward but the Japanese team soaks up the pressure. These players are seasoned pros. Big league players who’ve graced the World Cup. They don’t panic that they’re one down. They spread it around at the back. Sizing up their opponents, probing for spaces until eventually as cool as you like a fluid move from one side of the pitch to the other then back again sees Japan equalise. The crowd’s defiant cheers dissipate.
As the half goes on Japan’s dominance grows. A well taken free kick puts them in front. By half time the Vietnamese team has completely lost its mojo. The crowd, too. Tuan Anh slumps in his chair at the break and phones his father, who tells him more heartbreaking news. In the other game in Vietnam’s Group, Qatar is winning one nil against UAE. This means Vietnam, as it stands, is out of the tournament. The score comes up on the electronic board and 40,000 people cry in collective despair.
Now Vietnam has to come back. So when the team returns the crowd is back on its feet and everyone is screaming their heads off.
The Vietnamese start well but once again the Japanese side seems that bit cooler on the ball. A slick sequence of passes by Japan sees play move from one end to the other and the ball is curled into the top corner of the net. Not long afterwards, a fourth goal is scored by the Japanese team and it’s sayonara to the hosts. The Vietnamese now face immediate elimination. The team is now floundering. The fans moan about players’ lack of movement. A woman asks aloud is it going to rain as the clouds go dark and ominous. An early exit is on the cards. Her husband pulls long and hard on his cigarette and says nothing.
Then just when it seems all is lost a sudden shout from one section of the crowd sparks interest from everyone. Mobile phones are whipped out in unison. Frantic calls are made. Another section of the crowd roars. Then someone near us shouts out, “UAE have equalised!”
Everyone is embracing again. It’s not as good as a three goal comeback followed by an outrageous injury time winner would have been but it’ll do nicely. Somewhere on the pitch star striker Le Cong Vinh chases down a ball but no one is watching. The network’s jammed with nervous fans calling for constant updates. Japan comes close to adding a fifth. Vietnam’s manager Riedl throws on a few subs for tired legs but perhaps also with a potential quarter final in mind.
Again another section of the crowd bursts into rapture. Someone near us shouts out UAE is winning 2-1 and howls of delight ring out all around us. An Englishman dressed in Vietnam colours leads a chant of “U - A - E! U - A - E!” and thousands join in. Someone, somewhere is even playing a trumpet. A fiesta has begun.
A couple of minutes later Tuan Anh gets through to his father who says UAE didn’t score again. It’s still 1-1. Vietnam’s fate is still in the balance. Tuan Anh informs everyone around him and a hundred eyes screw through him. He sits down out of view. Don’t shoot the messenger.
An eternity passes over the next 10 minutes, the forgotten game in front of our eyes in Vietnam’s national stadium finally ends, the winning team gathers in the corner and bows before the applause of their fans.
But no one from Vietnam is going home quite yet. Thousands remain seated waiting for the final whistle from Ho Chi Minh City. Dark clouds rumble over head. Eventually the Vietnam players on the far side jump up in the air. The cries of “U - A - E!” start up again. No one knows what UAE stands for, no one cares, tonight they are the toast of Vietnam. A sea of screaming fans floods out to begin the celebrations on the streets of the capital. Outclassed on the pitch but still proudly in the tournament – I should have known, Vietnam’s invincible.
By Teddy de Burca Jnr
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Japanese are bored and restless says Andrew Mitchell in Hanoi...
"I think it was Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts who said that touring was 5 percent rock 'n' roll and 95 percent waiting around. Team Japan can certainly sympathize after three weeks on the road in Vietnam.
Life is so dull for the players at their hideaway at the Sheraton Hotel that bath salts have become the be-all and end-all of entertainment for the team, according to ace midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura."
Meanwhile the poor reporter who wrote the article discovered the joys of the taxi du (parachute taxi). Not sure why its called taxi du, but it means a taxi with a dodgy meter.
"I think it was Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts who said that touring was 5 percent rock 'n' roll and 95 percent waiting around. Team Japan can certainly sympathize after three weeks on the road in Vietnam.
Life is so dull for the players at their hideaway at the Sheraton Hotel that bath salts have become the be-all and end-all of entertainment for the team, according to ace midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura."
Meanwhile the poor reporter who wrote the article discovered the joys of the taxi du (parachute taxi). Not sure why its called taxi du, but it means a taxi with a dodgy meter.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
HOLY MOLEY - IT'S A WORLD EXCLUSIVE FOR PITTSTOP WORKS
Pittstop Work's associate Mrs. Loan Symons ran into the Australian international, misser and also creator of crucial penalties, Lucas Neil at the Nutz Bar in the Sheraton Hotel where the "shockeroos" were staying and no doubt drowning their sorrows, tears in everyone's beers, after being dumped out of the Asian Cup by the Japanese.
And here a Pittstop World Exclusive is the word for word transcription of that historic meeting where Lucas discovered the joys of Vietnamese tact on touchy subjects.
Loan: Hello
Lucas: G'day
Loan: Were you one of the people who missed a penalty?
Lucas: Yes
Loan: Are you the famous one, or the other one
Lucas: I'm the other one
Loan: Oh, so where's the famous one?
Lucas: I think Harry's upset, he's staying in.
Loan: So your team is like Vietnam. You are losers.
Lucas: (Inaudible grunt)
Loan: Can you smile for the camera?
Lucas: Sure (smiles, evidence above)
Loan: Thanks...why aren't you dancing?
Good man yourself Lucas for being game for a laugh. Cheers to Johnny for the pic and dialogue. Plus check out the doctor's photos of the Asian Cup games in Hanoi.
Pittstop Work's associate Mrs. Loan Symons ran into the Australian international, misser and also creator of crucial penalties, Lucas Neil at the Nutz Bar in the Sheraton Hotel where the "shockeroos" were staying and no doubt drowning their sorrows, tears in everyone's beers, after being dumped out of the Asian Cup by the Japanese.
And here a Pittstop World Exclusive is the word for word transcription of that historic meeting where Lucas discovered the joys of Vietnamese tact on touchy subjects.
Loan: Hello
Lucas: G'day
Loan: Were you one of the people who missed a penalty?
Lucas: Yes
Loan: Are you the famous one, or the other one
Lucas: I'm the other one
Loan: Oh, so where's the famous one?
Lucas: I think Harry's upset, he's staying in.
Loan: So your team is like Vietnam. You are losers.
Lucas: (Inaudible grunt)
Loan: Can you smile for the camera?
Lucas: Sure (smiles, evidence above)
Loan: Thanks...why aren't you dancing?
Good man yourself Lucas for being game for a laugh. Cheers to Johnny for the pic and dialogue. Plus check out the doctor's photos of the Asian Cup games in Hanoi.
Size does matter boys
Well, Vietnam are out. A two goal loss to Iraq. A game they never came close to winning, though they certainly weren't taken apart, it was incredibly frustrating to watch how they played - i.e. aimlessly. Fair play mind, the Iraqis showed a fine deft touch and both goals were excellent. It's a story in the making. Now they face the Saudis or the might of Uzbekistan in the semis (not bad as they avoid the big guns, Korea and Japan). Hope they go all the way. Inshallah.
The coach Riedl says Vietnam's diminutive players just can't compete against the big boys of football: "The problem we have is we are just too small," he said, in this Reuters story). "Playing in Southeast Asia we can be successful, but we struggle in the rest of Asia because we are too small and this is a big problem.
But he always says this/ that.
Anyhoo, this ends Pittstop Works' tireless coverage of the event - till the next Asian Cup my friends! Viet Nam vo dich!
Well, Vietnam are out. A two goal loss to Iraq. A game they never came close to winning, though they certainly weren't taken apart, it was incredibly frustrating to watch how they played - i.e. aimlessly. Fair play mind, the Iraqis showed a fine deft touch and both goals were excellent. It's a story in the making. Now they face the Saudis or the might of Uzbekistan in the semis (not bad as they avoid the big guns, Korea and Japan). Hope they go all the way. Inshallah.
The coach Riedl says Vietnam's diminutive players just can't compete against the big boys of football: "The problem we have is we are just too small," he said, in this Reuters story). "Playing in Southeast Asia we can be successful, but we struggle in the rest of Asia because we are too small and this is a big problem.
But he always says this/ that.
Anyhoo, this ends Pittstop Works' tireless coverage of the event - till the next Asian Cup my friends! Viet Nam vo dich!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
'Arry on football
Well - there you have it. The Aussies down to ten men against Japan, somehow hold on for penalties then blow it immediately with Harry "history will ultimately deem me a failure" Kewell missing despite wearing white shoes and walking to the penalty spot while doing keepie-uppies.
Time to head to the Sheraton hotel and set up the honey trap for Harry & Co. as they drown their sorrows with pints of Tiger.
Mrs. Pittstop is lost to another Harry - that infernal boy-wizard. Book was available as of 8am here in sync with the world.
Vietnam now on (and immediately losing) against the country formerly known as Iraq.
Well - there you have it. The Aussies down to ten men against Japan, somehow hold on for penalties then blow it immediately with Harry "history will ultimately deem me a failure" Kewell missing despite wearing white shoes and walking to the penalty spot while doing keepie-uppies.
Time to head to the Sheraton hotel and set up the honey trap for Harry & Co. as they drown their sorrows with pints of Tiger.
Mrs. Pittstop is lost to another Harry - that infernal boy-wizard. Book was available as of 8am here in sync with the world.
Vietnam now on (and immediately losing) against the country formerly known as Iraq.
VINA-LAS VEGAS
Do people from this part of the world have a natural knack for cards?
Story on a Canuck-Vietnamese fella finishing second at the World Poker championships...
"He left Vietnam penniless, but poker made him a millionaire..." Rags to riches I tell you what.
... but funnily enough he was pipped to the post by Jerry Yang, a 39-year-old US psychologist who grew up in Laos of all places.
Do people from this part of the world have a natural knack for cards?
Story on a Canuck-Vietnamese fella finishing second at the World Poker championships...
"He left Vietnam penniless, but poker made him a millionaire..." Rags to riches I tell you what.
... but funnily enough he was pipped to the post by Jerry Yang, a 39-year-old US psychologist who grew up in Laos of all places.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Bad day for a White Wedding
The other day at My Dinh stadium for the Vietnam vs Japan game, I overheard someone say "Tai Em (he's a midfielder for Vietnam) chan roi vi sap lay vo" (he's fed up because he's getting married soon). He was playing shite and I thought the fan was blaming the prospect of marriage for getting the player so down.
Turns out he made a bit of a boo-boo on his wedding dates: "Vietnam's Phan Van Tai Em is in coach Alfred Riedl's bad books after arranging his wedding party for the same day as their Asian Cup quarter-final against Iraq." Oh dear.
Read more here.
The other day at My Dinh stadium for the Vietnam vs Japan game, I overheard someone say "Tai Em (he's a midfielder for Vietnam) chan roi vi sap lay vo" (he's fed up because he's getting married soon). He was playing shite and I thought the fan was blaming the prospect of marriage for getting the player so down.
Turns out he made a bit of a boo-boo on his wedding dates: "Vietnam's Phan Van Tai Em is in coach Alfred Riedl's bad books after arranging his wedding party for the same day as their Asian Cup quarter-final against Iraq." Oh dear.
Read more here.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Minsk FC's player profiles
Didn't realise this was up on the Highway4 site.
Good pic of Lieutenant Wharf tackling someone about a third his size here (at the Thac Da rally) as well.
Didn't realise this was up on the Highway4 site.
Good pic of Lieutenant Wharf tackling someone about a third his size here (at the Thac Da rally) as well.
Vietnam slink into the quarters
Well, if you don't know Vietnam got walloped 4-1 by Japan but still went through as UAE decided to finally turn up (despite already being eliminated) and beat QATAR 2-1 in the other game in Vietnam's group.
The celebrations were uproarious but rather bizarre. Hammered but through to the quarter finals. Outclassed but still standing. Whowouda thunk it? Even better as Australia struggled in their group, Vietnam now avoid them and now head to Bangkok to play Iraq - who knows what to expect in that one. Japan ironically get Australia who are starting to play a bit of ball after thumping the Thais 4-0 (though that score is very flattering). Also tuyet voi, Australia come here to play Japan in what could have been the final. No doubt if the Aussies get knocked out we could also see the great mercurial talents of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka hitting the tiles on Saturday night.
The Iraqis' tournament is a story in itself (they beat Australia 3-1). Basically a team of exiles, I hear, forced to train away from their homeland for obvious reasons. I have to support the Nam, but it would a bit of a fairytale if old Iraq made the final.
Anyway, Vietnam fans will be heading over to Bangkok ready to party for the weekend. A semi final place up for grabs. The UAE is currently the most popular country in the world around these parts. No one knows what it stands for, no one cares.
Well, if you don't know Vietnam got walloped 4-1 by Japan but still went through as UAE decided to finally turn up (despite already being eliminated) and beat QATAR 2-1 in the other game in Vietnam's group.
The celebrations were uproarious but rather bizarre. Hammered but through to the quarter finals. Outclassed but still standing. Whowouda thunk it? Even better as Australia struggled in their group, Vietnam now avoid them and now head to Bangkok to play Iraq - who knows what to expect in that one. Japan ironically get Australia who are starting to play a bit of ball after thumping the Thais 4-0 (though that score is very flattering). Also tuyet voi, Australia come here to play Japan in what could have been the final. No doubt if the Aussies get knocked out we could also see the great mercurial talents of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka hitting the tiles on Saturday night.
The Iraqis' tournament is a story in itself (they beat Australia 3-1). Basically a team of exiles, I hear, forced to train away from their homeland for obvious reasons. I have to support the Nam, but it would a bit of a fairytale if old Iraq made the final.
Anyway, Vietnam fans will be heading over to Bangkok ready to party for the weekend. A semi final place up for grabs. The UAE is currently the most popular country in the world around these parts. No one knows what it stands for, no one cares.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The Asian Cup rolls on, it's hot as bejesus, and the hacks are understandably thirsty but this fella from the Japan Times is a bit peeved that the Fun Police were against late night cavorting - can't say I noticed a clamp down. He ends up in "Bobby's" and doesn't sing its praises. (Friend of yours Elliott-o? If so, I heard he was Dan Dockery-ed).
More importantly it's Vietnam and Japan tomorrow and I'm lined up with a ticket. Can't wait.
The Nam and Japan are level on four points. A draw or even a loss might be enough for Vietnam to progress, if QATAR on two points, manage no more than a draw with UAE.
Also, Timeout's travel story last week: Gemma price heads off to Anlong Veng, where controversial historical sites are now appearing on an official tourist trail.
More importantly it's Vietnam and Japan tomorrow and I'm lined up with a ticket. Can't wait.
The Nam and Japan are level on four points. A draw or even a loss might be enough for Vietnam to progress, if QATAR on two points, manage no more than a draw with UAE.
Also, Timeout's travel story last week: Gemma price heads off to Anlong Veng, where controversial historical sites are now appearing on an official tourist trail.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Reuters' guide to 48 hours in Hanoi
You'll never guess where this Reuters' guide recommends or what sites to check out. No, actually you will guess, so before reading, why not see if you can...
48 hours starting at 6pm on Friday, so you have two dinners, two lunches, oddly only one breakfast and "free time" activities in between to think about.
Then read the guide to see how many you got right
The piece is put together by staff who work here, but you could fault them for not trying very hard.
A better piece and the most emailed article of last week on the "quiet sexual revolution" in Vietnam by Reuters here.
You'll never guess where this Reuters' guide recommends or what sites to check out. No, actually you will guess, so before reading, why not see if you can...
48 hours starting at 6pm on Friday, so you have two dinners, two lunches, oddly only one breakfast and "free time" activities in between to think about.
Then read the guide to see how many you got right
The piece is put together by staff who work here, but you could fault them for not trying very hard.
A better piece and the most emailed article of last week on the "quiet sexual revolution" in Vietnam by Reuters here.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Links/h'ors d'oeuvres...
1 - "The Cu Chi Tunnel complex is one of Asia's stranger holiday fantasies, with its firing range of Vietnam War weaponry, displays of booby-trap bamboo spikes, tunnels to crawl through and dioramas of waxwork GIs setting fire to villages."
"Even the smiling waitresses wear black Viet Cong-style pyjamas as they try to sell you bottles of rice wine containing a dead cobra, a suitably macho tipple for visitors who have unleashed their inner warriors with a rented AK-47." Read more.
But why do people always insist on comparing TPHCM or Hanoi ... to Paris?
"The boulevards and expensive restaurants are once more redolent of Paris, and Saigon - as everybody except northerners call it - is once again a stylish and confident place with Vietnamese energy and more than a touch of Gallic sophistication."
Eh? I thought Dalat was the 'petite' Paris, or was it Ha Dong I was thinking of?
2 - 'President Nguyen Cao Ky, fearing him as a rival, mustered the support of most of the other South Vietnamese generals and fired Gen. Thi on March 10, 1966. Ky said Gen. Thi was leaving the country for medical treatment of his nasal passages.
"The only sinus condition I have is from the stink of corruption," Gen. Thi reportedly responded.'
Good line. Wee profile on him here as he passed last week.
1 - "The Cu Chi Tunnel complex is one of Asia's stranger holiday fantasies, with its firing range of Vietnam War weaponry, displays of booby-trap bamboo spikes, tunnels to crawl through and dioramas of waxwork GIs setting fire to villages."
"Even the smiling waitresses wear black Viet Cong-style pyjamas as they try to sell you bottles of rice wine containing a dead cobra, a suitably macho tipple for visitors who have unleashed their inner warriors with a rented AK-47." Read more.
But why do people always insist on comparing TPHCM or Hanoi ... to Paris?
"The boulevards and expensive restaurants are once more redolent of Paris, and Saigon - as everybody except northerners call it - is once again a stylish and confident place with Vietnamese energy and more than a touch of Gallic sophistication."
Eh? I thought Dalat was the 'petite' Paris, or was it Ha Dong I was thinking of?
2 - 'President Nguyen Cao Ky, fearing him as a rival, mustered the support of most of the other South Vietnamese generals and fired Gen. Thi on March 10, 1966. Ky said Gen. Thi was leaving the country for medical treatment of his nasal passages.
"The only sinus condition I have is from the stink of corruption," Gen. Thi reportedly responded.'
Good line. Wee profile on him here as he passed last week.
Gia roi...
"The Guinness Book’s recent recognition of a 111-year-old Japanese man as the world’s oldest living person may be confounded following the discovery of a Vietnamese man apparently aged 113."
Read on.
"The Guinness Book’s recent recognition of a 111-year-old Japanese man as the world’s oldest living person may be confounded following the discovery of a Vietnamese man apparently aged 113."
Read on.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Amazing but true: From the Bao Linh Tinh
25-year old man admits he doesn’t know his own father’s name
Nguyen Hoang Anh didn’t realise he had never known his own father’s name until questioned by his girlfriend’s parents, when visiting their house for the first time.
“At first I though my mind had gone blank,” said the 25-year old computer engineer. “You know, when a teacher asks you a question in front of the whole class and you just freeze, even though you know that you know the answer.”
But Hoang Anh didn’t know. A man he has called ‘bo’ (father) all his life, of course, has a name, but nobody ever told their son and he never heard anyone say it out loud.
“It’s normal, you just say ‘bo oi’ when you talk to him and then his friends come around and call him ‘anh’ (brother) or the woman with the electricity bill says, ‘Chu Nha’ (man of the house) or his older sister’s kids call him ‘cau’ (young uncle),” said Anh sheepishly. “It’s not as if he’s famous, he’s just a normal man leading a simple life. He’s ‘bo thoi’ in my house. Even my mother calls him that.”
His father, who is in actual fact named Nguyen Duc Manh, reportedly took umbrage not to the fact that his son didn’t know his name but that Anh knew his mother’s.
“I guess I just saw it on her ID card one day,” said Anh of the woman who is known as ‘me’ (mother) to him and his younger sister, Bich Ngoc. “But even that seems weird. She doesn’t come across as a woman who should be called Duyen. She’s a bit of a battleaxe.”
But Hoang Anh isn’t getting too worked up about it.
“It’s meaningless anyway, to cheer my father up I started calling him Hung aound the house and he didn’t even notice me," laughed Anh. "In fact, I think he might have forgotten his own name."
More on pronouns here in the Archives
25-year old man admits he doesn’t know his own father’s name
Nguyen Hoang Anh didn’t realise he had never known his own father’s name until questioned by his girlfriend’s parents, when visiting their house for the first time.
“At first I though my mind had gone blank,” said the 25-year old computer engineer. “You know, when a teacher asks you a question in front of the whole class and you just freeze, even though you know that you know the answer.”
But Hoang Anh didn’t know. A man he has called ‘bo’ (father) all his life, of course, has a name, but nobody ever told their son and he never heard anyone say it out loud.
“It’s normal, you just say ‘bo oi’ when you talk to him and then his friends come around and call him ‘anh’ (brother) or the woman with the electricity bill says, ‘Chu Nha’ (man of the house) or his older sister’s kids call him ‘cau’ (young uncle),” said Anh sheepishly. “It’s not as if he’s famous, he’s just a normal man leading a simple life. He’s ‘bo thoi’ in my house. Even my mother calls him that.”
His father, who is in actual fact named Nguyen Duc Manh, reportedly took umbrage not to the fact that his son didn’t know his name but that Anh knew his mother’s.
“I guess I just saw it on her ID card one day,” said Anh of the woman who is known as ‘me’ (mother) to him and his younger sister, Bich Ngoc. “But even that seems weird. She doesn’t come across as a woman who should be called Duyen. She’s a bit of a battleaxe.”
But Hoang Anh isn’t getting too worked up about it.
“It’s meaningless anyway, to cheer my father up I started calling him Hung aound the house and he didn’t even notice me," laughed Anh. "In fact, I think he might have forgotten his own name."
More on pronouns here in the Archives
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Motorbikejacked in TPHCM
Here's a very good reason not to own a SH or a Dylan or an "@". This poor chap really should have just handed over his keys though.
Here's a very good reason not to own a SH or a Dylan or an "@". This poor chap really should have just handed over his keys though.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Who, what, where...
Everyone's favourite Christmas-time buddies, local Customs officials have been told to be a tad more polite.
We'll soon find out that they were just as scared of you as you were of them all along. Go on, go down and give them a hug and spread the love!
Everyone's favourite Christmas-time buddies, local Customs officials have been told to be a tad more polite.
We'll soon find out that they were just as scared of you as you were of them all along. Go on, go down and give them a hug and spread the love!
Double dose of Bird flu for you
A man keels over and snuffs it in Ha Tay. Which isn't such good news.
To cheer you up, a few months back the peerless M.I.A. (missing in Acton) put the old bird flu chestnut to music:
She's the bees knees if you ask me.
Also, I linked to a few stories on cheating in local schools around the country a while back; the education authorities and examiners promised a clamp down and perhaps this is the result: a long boring summer studying for repeat exams in August for one third of the students sitting the exams.
A man keels over and snuffs it in Ha Tay. Which isn't such good news.
To cheer you up, a few months back the peerless M.I.A. (missing in Acton) put the old bird flu chestnut to music:
She's the bees knees if you ask me.
Also, I linked to a few stories on cheating in local schools around the country a while back; the education authorities and examiners promised a clamp down and perhaps this is the result: a long boring summer studying for repeat exams in August for one third of the students sitting the exams.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Last week's photo of the week
Not sure where I saw this first, some online paper, but it's now doing the roads on the blogs and chat rooms and as that's the first link I found, here it is, last week's photo of the week with SuperCop chasing a taxi, which burned through a red light.
Check out the two vigilantes, one running on the left of the photo and another carting the cop's partner by Honda Spacy further behind. If the latter's lucky he had just be nailed for also burning through a red light and was subsequently let off the hook for services rendered: "Follow that taxi!"
Anyway good action photo and for the record my sources inform me the taxi driver was stopped and is now to be prosecuted.
Not sure where I saw this first, some online paper, but it's now doing the roads on the blogs and chat rooms and as that's the first link I found, here it is, last week's photo of the week with SuperCop chasing a taxi, which burned through a red light.
Check out the two vigilantes, one running on the left of the photo and another carting the cop's partner by Honda Spacy further behind. If the latter's lucky he had just be nailed for also burning through a red light and was subsequently let off the hook for services rendered: "Follow that taxi!"
Anyway good action photo and for the record my sources inform me the taxi driver was stopped and is now to be prosecuted.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Pittstop works' mucker EH Pollard forwarded this non-Vietnam related but hilarious Onion-esque article from the Beeb...
Beer for flooded Australian town
A flood-isolated Australian town was in danger of running out of beer this week until emergency volunteers came to their rescue.
Residents of Hinton, New South Wales, were stranded following the severe storms that hit the region on Sunday.
There was concern that their pub would run dry before a rugby league match which was due to be played between New South Wales and Queensland.
But the State Emergency Services boated in a huge beer delivery just in time.
Read on
Beer for flooded Australian town
A flood-isolated Australian town was in danger of running out of beer this week until emergency volunteers came to their rescue.
Residents of Hinton, New South Wales, were stranded following the severe storms that hit the region on Sunday.
There was concern that their pub would run dry before a rugby league match which was due to be played between New South Wales and Queensland.
But the State Emergency Services boated in a huge beer delivery just in time.
Read on
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Severed member
Ouch - "A man in southern Vietnam has had surgery to reattach his penis which was cut off by his wife following a quarrel – for the second time."
Second time?
Readallaboutit here.
Ouch - "A man in southern Vietnam has had surgery to reattach his penis which was cut off by his wife following a quarrel – for the second time."
Second time?
Readallaboutit here.
Bourdain eats half-hatched duck egg
Just spotted this (old to the world, new to me so no moaning if you've seen it before) while surfing the world wide web, Anthony Bourdain chomping down hot vit lon or trung vit lon to us northerners.
If it wasn't for the 300 ducks plummeting to earth dead as dodos (see below) sure maybe be I'd be out there, eating it too, then again... maybe not.
Some flickr photos for second helpings if you can stomach more.
Just spotted this (old to the world, new to me so no moaning if you've seen it before) while surfing the world wide web, Anthony Bourdain chomping down hot vit lon or trung vit lon to us northerners.
If it wasn't for the 300 ducks plummeting to earth dead as dodos (see below) sure maybe be I'd be out there, eating it too, then again... maybe not.
Some flickr photos for second helpings if you can stomach more.
Duck - bird flu
I say "Hmmm..." to this - 300 ducks nosedive and die in Hanoi they say.
On a brighter note Pittsop's fellow diehard Irish Rugby fan and mucker Mr. Daragh Halpin is featured in this Reuters' story for his and others' sterling work at KOTO.
An a mhaith ar fad Mr Halpin!
Meanwhile after the Snooze's Talk of the Town points out the obvious – "Vietnamese marketers have realised that most products look more appealing to consumers when attached to a pretty girl" – it goes on to discuss the life of the paid-to-flirt beer girls who are always pushing the worst beer in town - Tiger or Carlsberg usually - and the hazards or seedy associations involved: "Minh, a promoter for Carlsberg, says that she and her co-workers sometimes receive offers to go out with clients after work, but they normally refuse them." Can't help but laugh as the word 'normally' being dropped in that sentence. NOT that there's anything wrong with meeting someone after work, but these girls are vulnerable and sleazed on in lots of bars, plus many of them (in an effort to make cash as they're on commission) often act outrageously forward just to get you to change your order: "Yes, cancel the bottle of white wine and serve me Carlsberg for the rest of my life."
Anyway, of course classy Pittstop approved drinks such as Larue, bia hoi and ruou just don't need mini-skirts to sell. Carlsberg and Tiger need all the help they can get.
I say "Hmmm..." to this - 300 ducks nosedive and die in Hanoi they say.
On a brighter note Pittsop's fellow diehard Irish Rugby fan and mucker Mr. Daragh Halpin is featured in this Reuters' story for his and others' sterling work at KOTO.
An a mhaith ar fad Mr Halpin!
Meanwhile after the Snooze's Talk of the Town points out the obvious – "Vietnamese marketers have realised that most products look more appealing to consumers when attached to a pretty girl" – it goes on to discuss the life of the paid-to-flirt beer girls who are always pushing the worst beer in town - Tiger or Carlsberg usually - and the hazards or seedy associations involved: "Minh, a promoter for Carlsberg, says that she and her co-workers sometimes receive offers to go out with clients after work, but they normally refuse them." Can't help but laugh as the word 'normally' being dropped in that sentence. NOT that there's anything wrong with meeting someone after work, but these girls are vulnerable and sleazed on in lots of bars, plus many of them (in an effort to make cash as they're on commission) often act outrageously forward just to get you to change your order: "Yes, cancel the bottle of white wine and serve me Carlsberg for the rest of my life."
Anyway, of course classy Pittstop approved drinks such as Larue, bia hoi and ruou just don't need mini-skirts to sell. Carlsberg and Tiger need all the help they can get.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Get out while you can!
I told you facebook was evil... check out this anti-Facebook propaganda titled Does what happens in the Facebook stay in the Facebook?
Yes, is the quick answer, which is the problem, don't you see?
Haven't got this wound up about something since those blasted Crocs hit Hanoi. Thankfully that fad seems to have eased off despite the fact you can - so I hear – get fake ones in Sunny Saigon.
I told you facebook was evil... check out this anti-Facebook propaganda titled Does what happens in the Facebook stay in the Facebook?
Yes, is the quick answer, which is the problem, don't you see?
Haven't got this wound up about something since those blasted Crocs hit Hanoi. Thankfully that fad seems to have eased off despite the fact you can - so I hear – get fake ones in Sunny Saigon.
Young wayward lovers on the run? An online newspaper reports that the people of Luc Son, a mountainous commune in Bac Giang province, are still scratching their heads over why T. V. H., Chairman of the Communal People’s Committee, husband of one and father of two, suddenly dropped everything and disappeared with no explanation. On the same day, another official, who just happens to be a woman, in charge of cultural and information affairs in the same locality also disappeared. Now I am no Sherlock Holmes, nor was meant to be, but that can’t be a coincidence. Someone should check the Nha Nghi in the next province, says me.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Football is coming to Vietnam. And Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand too. The AFC Asian Cup 2007 is split between the four regional rivals who will be all doing well to climb out of their respective groups, despite home advantage.
This is Vietnam's group: Group B: Vietnam, Japan, Qatar, UAE
Pretty mammoth task to get out of it. But the Pittstop team will be rooting for them all the way. Check out the fixtures here, all Vietnam and other group B games are in My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
If, if, if Vietnam were to finish second they'd play the winner of Group A, which could very well be none other then the Sunny Australian Socceroos (with Viduka, Cahill, Kewell et al making the trip). That would be tres grande. Winner of group B plays second place in group A.
Group A
1 Thailand
2 Australia
3 Oman
4 Iraq
Here's the other groups:
Group C
1 Malaysia
2 IR. Iran
3 Uzbekistan
4 China PR
Seems pretty tricky for Malaysia to get out of that one, but this looks like what the pundits will be referring to as the group of CAI CHET!
Group D
1 Indonesia
2 Korea Republic
3 Saudi Arabia
4 Bahrain
Thanks to the Rastall-Man for the tip off
This is Vietnam's group: Group B: Vietnam, Japan, Qatar, UAE
Pretty mammoth task to get out of it. But the Pittstop team will be rooting for them all the way. Check out the fixtures here, all Vietnam and other group B games are in My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
If, if, if Vietnam were to finish second they'd play the winner of Group A, which could very well be none other then the Sunny Australian Socceroos (with Viduka, Cahill, Kewell et al making the trip). That would be tres grande. Winner of group B plays second place in group A.
Group A
1 Thailand
2 Australia
3 Oman
4 Iraq
Here's the other groups:
Group C
1 Malaysia
2 IR. Iran
3 Uzbekistan
4 China PR
Seems pretty tricky for Malaysia to get out of that one, but this looks like what the pundits will be referring to as the group of CAI CHET!
Group D
1 Indonesia
2 Korea Republic
3 Saudi Arabia
4 Bahrain
Thanks to the Rastall-Man for the tip off
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Peer pressured into Facebook
At first I thought this article was written by a kindred spirit but alas – et tu Davin? - the writer is sucked in, though he retains his suspicions.
"Friends were appalled, yes appalled, that I wasn't yet on Facebook. It was as if, with every day of brave resistance, I was becoming fainter to them, a less complete acquaintance, remembered only in dusty photos (printed, not digital) and an increasingly unused number in their phone's address book. For fear of becoming entirely transparent to them I relented, and went through the online hazing that is Facebook registration." writes Davin O'Dwyer in the Irish times (subscription only I'm afraid).
He also says:
"And despite the explosion of these sites, a research paper last year concluded that social isolation is on the rise in the US - the average American has fewer friends now than 20 years ago. How many people are being duped into thinking their social circle is as vibrant as ever, just because they can keep up with the latest antics of their acquaintances with ease?"
And: "China will ban Facebook and Bebo, not to restrict political dissent, but to stay economically competitive.
On the other hand, Facebook is a surveillance state's dream come true.
Intelligence agencies spend vast resources trying to spy on their citizens, only for huge numbers of people to relinquish voluntarily their own privacy online. Is it any wonder civil rights campaigners are finding it difficult to arouse broad concern over diminishing rights to privacy? These days, it seems, privacy is for when you're going to the toilet; everything else is in the public sphere."
This article is from the Guardian last month on "the Dark Side of Facebook".
He talks about the site being used by political parties in the UK - all very well though he expresses concern that "The British National party has recently developed a number of presences on the system..." though amusingly enough, as I said previously you can end up as "friends" with people you don't even like on Facebook, one user points out an even greater irony to a BNP chap: "Let me add this up. You guys hate Jews yet you're on a Jew's networking site?"
In general according to Professor Michael Geist this political use of Facebook is no bad thing: "Is there really no benefit to have government policy makers access and participate in the hundreds of groups discussing Ontario health care issues? Would it be so bad for elected officials to actually engage with their constituents in a social network environment?
The attempts to block Facebook or punish users for stating their opinions fails to appreciate that social network sites are simply the internet generation's equivalent of the town hall, the school cafeteria, or the workplace water cooler - the place where people come together to exchange both ideas and idle gossip."
And lastly on the Beeb this article by Rory Cellan-Jones offers advice on how to make friends on networking sites for the over-40s. He now has a Facebook-group named after him - Befriend Rory Cellan Jones.
You will NEVER BE LONELY AGAIN! EVER!
So everyone's writing about it and on the Hanoi-campus everyone's still talking about it but Teddy de Burca is holding out!
At first I thought this article was written by a kindred spirit but alas – et tu Davin? - the writer is sucked in, though he retains his suspicions.
"Friends were appalled, yes appalled, that I wasn't yet on Facebook. It was as if, with every day of brave resistance, I was becoming fainter to them, a less complete acquaintance, remembered only in dusty photos (printed, not digital) and an increasingly unused number in their phone's address book. For fear of becoming entirely transparent to them I relented, and went through the online hazing that is Facebook registration." writes Davin O'Dwyer in the Irish times (subscription only I'm afraid).
He also says:
"And despite the explosion of these sites, a research paper last year concluded that social isolation is on the rise in the US - the average American has fewer friends now than 20 years ago. How many people are being duped into thinking their social circle is as vibrant as ever, just because they can keep up with the latest antics of their acquaintances with ease?"
And: "China will ban Facebook and Bebo, not to restrict political dissent, but to stay economically competitive.
On the other hand, Facebook is a surveillance state's dream come true.
Intelligence agencies spend vast resources trying to spy on their citizens, only for huge numbers of people to relinquish voluntarily their own privacy online. Is it any wonder civil rights campaigners are finding it difficult to arouse broad concern over diminishing rights to privacy? These days, it seems, privacy is for when you're going to the toilet; everything else is in the public sphere."
This article is from the Guardian last month on "the Dark Side of Facebook".
He talks about the site being used by political parties in the UK - all very well though he expresses concern that "The British National party has recently developed a number of presences on the system..." though amusingly enough, as I said previously you can end up as "friends" with people you don't even like on Facebook, one user points out an even greater irony to a BNP chap: "Let me add this up. You guys hate Jews yet you're on a Jew's networking site?"
In general according to Professor Michael Geist this political use of Facebook is no bad thing: "Is there really no benefit to have government policy makers access and participate in the hundreds of groups discussing Ontario health care issues? Would it be so bad for elected officials to actually engage with their constituents in a social network environment?
The attempts to block Facebook or punish users for stating their opinions fails to appreciate that social network sites are simply the internet generation's equivalent of the town hall, the school cafeteria, or the workplace water cooler - the place where people come together to exchange both ideas and idle gossip."
And lastly on the Beeb this article by Rory Cellan-Jones offers advice on how to make friends on networking sites for the over-40s. He now has a Facebook-group named after him - Befriend Rory Cellan Jones.
You will NEVER BE LONELY AGAIN! EVER!
So everyone's writing about it and on the Hanoi-campus everyone's still talking about it but Teddy de Burca is holding out!
Friday, June 01, 2007
There goes the neighbour's house
There's a few written and unwritten rules about neighbourly conduct - you know yourself: don't covet your neighbour's wife, try not to shit on their doorstep, keep the music down after midnight and ... um... never try to demolish his house when he's at work.
This last one happened at the end of last year in Hanoi after a row over land between two neighbours. One was so pissed off he paid a gang to come round with pickaxes and hammers and start smashing up the neighbour's gaff.
The case has just been in the courts with the naughty neighbour, a female copper and a bunch of ne'er do wells all going down for playing a part in huffing-and-puffing and blowing the poor fella's house down. Well half of it.
The ex-copper got 15 months. She got paid off by the neighbour to turn a blind eye, then paid off by the gang's leader to turn the other blind eye, then by the neighbour's brother to try and get his brother cleared.
She then paid a guy to PRETEND he was the guilty party (sounds like pretty daft career move by the faking-scapegoat) to get the neighbour off the hook but he obviously didn't perform so well as the investigating cops smelled a rat (spotted the said copper's new Honda@ in the parking lot per chance?) and it all came out in the wash.
Property disputes here can kick off over a matter of inches, someone builds an annex that encroaches on the neighbour's house or even someone leaves a motorbike in front of their neighbour's house and suddenly there's a dogfight. Obviously reacting by trying to knock someone's house down is a tad extreme.
Makes coveting the neighbour's wife/ husband a petty misdemeanour in comparison.
So don't feel so bad about it, alright?
There's a few written and unwritten rules about neighbourly conduct - you know yourself: don't covet your neighbour's wife, try not to shit on their doorstep, keep the music down after midnight and ... um... never try to demolish his house when he's at work.
This last one happened at the end of last year in Hanoi after a row over land between two neighbours. One was so pissed off he paid a gang to come round with pickaxes and hammers and start smashing up the neighbour's gaff.
The case has just been in the courts with the naughty neighbour, a female copper and a bunch of ne'er do wells all going down for playing a part in huffing-and-puffing and blowing the poor fella's house down. Well half of it.
The ex-copper got 15 months. She got paid off by the neighbour to turn a blind eye, then paid off by the gang's leader to turn the other blind eye, then by the neighbour's brother to try and get his brother cleared.
She then paid a guy to PRETEND he was the guilty party (sounds like pretty daft career move by the faking-scapegoat) to get the neighbour off the hook but he obviously didn't perform so well as the investigating cops smelled a rat (spotted the said copper's new Honda@ in the parking lot per chance?) and it all came out in the wash.
Property disputes here can kick off over a matter of inches, someone builds an annex that encroaches on the neighbour's house or even someone leaves a motorbike in front of their neighbour's house and suddenly there's a dogfight. Obviously reacting by trying to knock someone's house down is a tad extreme.
Makes coveting the neighbour's wife/ husband a petty misdemeanour in comparison.
So don't feel so bad about it, alright?
Me and my minsk
The mucho-talented Julian Abram Wainwright's portraits of a bunch of Minsk-riders are up here.
The shots were taken in the woods at Thac Da where the Minsk Olympics were held - around 200 punters came this year and we had a right auld knees up. There's a few more photos courtesy of the Doctor here - of the football, party and Comrade Struggle event.
Thanks to the lads for all the hard work, in particular Dan Daiquiri of Highway4 and the CAMA Soundsystem boys and girls.
The mucho-talented Julian Abram Wainwright's portraits of a bunch of Minsk-riders are up here.
The shots were taken in the woods at Thac Da where the Minsk Olympics were held - around 200 punters came this year and we had a right auld knees up. There's a few more photos courtesy of the Doctor here - of the football, party and Comrade Struggle event.
Thanks to the lads for all the hard work, in particular Dan Daiquiri of Highway4 and the CAMA Soundsystem boys and girls.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Last month's picture of the month is up at Pittstop's Vietnamese mucker's blog Life as a Comfortable Loser.
Don't be fooled by the name, the pic is a winner.
Don't be fooled by the name, the pic is a winner.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Teddy de Burca Jnr.'s thought for the day
Just what the hell is going on with Facebook? I can answer that question for you, if you like – IT’S TAKING OVER THE WORLD.
Invented by a Harvard University drop-out (a la Bill Gates) originally as a tool to keep alumni in touch for the rest of their lives – so you can see your old class chums age, slowly but surely, year after year – it has now become the most popular new web service combining various features from email, Myspace, Friendster and Flickr into one.
All very well for catching up with old friends or hooking up with your friends' friends, if that’s your bag, but do fellow Hanoians really need to join it or invite each other to be members when we’re living in the same city, especially considering the campus-like atmosphere that already exists amongst the expat community. Most oddly, people who don’t even like each other in real life can be friends in Facebook.
After signing up and signing in I was thrown off by the rather twee business of “poking” (grabbing someone’s attention?), updates on people’s moods (Frank is having a coffee and thinking about having some toast), writing on friends walls (Teddy de Burca wuz here), online unions (Jack and Jill are now friends!), your profile (Richard likes water sports, girls with a sense of humour and getting caught in the rain) and the parade of look-at-me-ness – look at me I’m sultry, look at me I’m wacky, look at me I’m having f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-un at my birthday party, you can tell because we’re all wearing silly hats!
Terrified, I deactivated my account after five minutes. But now I’m left out of conversations in the real world as people meet up and chat about Facebook and what photos have been posted as now rather than emailing photos people just upload them to Facebook or else they talk about who just “joined the community”. One of us, one of us, one of us…
So by opting out of this creepy online social network I’ve ostracised myself. I’m not sure if I’m the fool who didn’t believe in emails and said that the art of letter writing would never die or the guy who didn’t go blind before the attack of the Triffids.
I’m banking on the latter and that everyone in Facebook is being brainwashed and will perish in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile if anyone’s up for a non-Facebook related conversation (or perhaps even forming a resistance movement) I’ll be at the bia hoi – I might even bring an old shoebox full of photos, write a few postcards or send a letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail or am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro?
See y’all round campus.
Bonus extra
The Guardian's Charlie Brooks' rant against facebook
Just what the hell is going on with Facebook? I can answer that question for you, if you like – IT’S TAKING OVER THE WORLD.
Invented by a Harvard University drop-out (a la Bill Gates) originally as a tool to keep alumni in touch for the rest of their lives – so you can see your old class chums age, slowly but surely, year after year – it has now become the most popular new web service combining various features from email, Myspace, Friendster and Flickr into one.
All very well for catching up with old friends or hooking up with your friends' friends, if that’s your bag, but do fellow Hanoians really need to join it or invite each other to be members when we’re living in the same city, especially considering the campus-like atmosphere that already exists amongst the expat community. Most oddly, people who don’t even like each other in real life can be friends in Facebook.
After signing up and signing in I was thrown off by the rather twee business of “poking” (grabbing someone’s attention?), updates on people’s moods (Frank is having a coffee and thinking about having some toast), writing on friends walls (Teddy de Burca wuz here), online unions (Jack and Jill are now friends!), your profile (Richard likes water sports, girls with a sense of humour and getting caught in the rain) and the parade of look-at-me-ness – look at me I’m sultry, look at me I’m wacky, look at me I’m having f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-un at my birthday party, you can tell because we’re all wearing silly hats!
Terrified, I deactivated my account after five minutes. But now I’m left out of conversations in the real world as people meet up and chat about Facebook and what photos have been posted as now rather than emailing photos people just upload them to Facebook or else they talk about who just “joined the community”. One of us, one of us, one of us…
So by opting out of this creepy online social network I’ve ostracised myself. I’m not sure if I’m the fool who didn’t believe in emails and said that the art of letter writing would never die or the guy who didn’t go blind before the attack of the Triffids.
I’m banking on the latter and that everyone in Facebook is being brainwashed and will perish in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile if anyone’s up for a non-Facebook related conversation (or perhaps even forming a resistance movement) I’ll be at the bia hoi – I might even bring an old shoebox full of photos, write a few postcards or send a letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail or am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro?
See y’all round campus.
Bonus extra
The Guardian's Charlie Brooks' rant against facebook
Monday, May 28, 2007
Gaelic games come to Vietnam
The Asian Gaelic Games are to be held in Singapore this year from June 23rd - 24th.
There's been a Vietnamese Gaelic football team assembled, which is currently four weeks into a gruelling eight week training (and learning the rules) programme. They haven't a chance at winning but they'll be dressed to impress and sure I personally just want to see the Sling factories where those fancy cocktails come from. Though I'm a bit concerned most of our team will be arrested for bad habits they've picked up, such as smoking anywhere you like or hurling used napkins and chicken bones onto the floor, driving the wrong down a street with no helmet while texting your friends, who you left back in the pub.
After all - Singapore is famous for scrupulously clean surroundings and a very strict administration
Hmmm, not two things which are high on my "why-I-would-travel-to-another-country" list but ...well, this is the kind of sacrifice I will make for my country and Vietnam.
Here's a press release written by Pittstop Public Relations team.
A brief history of the Viet Celts' brief history
Previously in Vietnam the word 'ga' with a falling tone might have meant chicken or with no tone at all 'station' but now the scholars will have to make room in the local dictionary for a new entry - GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) as Gaelic Football has landed in Vietnam and although not too many people know it, the very-recently formed Viet Celts are about to change sport in the land of Ho Chi Minh… possibly forever!
In what will surely be known as a hinge of history in years to come, one minute a motley bunch of Vietnam-based expats were drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and talking about – of all things – cricket, the next they, and a couple of unsuspecting local Hanoi lads, had been presented with an opportunity to join the Viet Celts Gaelic Football team. All they had to do was remember or learn how to play Gaelic football and travel to Singapore to represent Vietnam in the Asian Gaelic Games.
Bemused onlookers at the inaugural training session will no doubt never forget the day four 'Ong Tay' (foreign gents) stood in a circle punching a football to each other. Despite the meagre turnout a seed had been planted and the word started to spread. Dreams grew and eyes twinkled with thoughts of what may come to pass and the excitement manifested itself in a bunch of slightly humorous emails. The next Sunday a score of would-be players arrived and passing motorbikes that slowed down by the Thuy Loi pitch would have had the privilege of witnessing the first ever Gaelic Football game played in Vietnam, not that they necessarily would have realised what was going on when people were being congratulated for punting the ball ten feet over the crossbar.
Colm "At the end of the day, I'm the Gaffer" Ross, threw the imported-with-no-expense-spared-O'Neills' ball into the air and the Viet-Celts sprang into action. Four minutes later, slowly evaporating in the sweltering heat, cries for a break were ignored as Patrick Cooney rattled the dust off the back of the onion sack to score the first ever goal in Viet-GAA-history.
Slowly over the ensuing weeks, the lads have met up every Sunday to hone their skills or in most cases learn the rules from scratch, in preparation for the Asian Gaelic Games to be held in Singapore on June 23-24. The lads are quietly confident they can turn a few heads in the looks department, if not on the actual playing field. As for their secret weapon, as soon as they work out who or what that is, they're definitely keeping it to themselves – otherwise it wouldn't be a secret.
The Viet Celts travel to Singapore thanks to the generous sponsorship of ESB International, Terotech International Limited, Finnegan's Bar Hanoi, and Enterprise Ireland.
A few classic quotes by the inimitable commentator Micheal O' Muircheartaigh, the Voice of Gaelic Games.
"I saw a few Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner Street this morning and the omens seem to be good for them. The priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey! Forty yards out on the Hogan Stand side of the field Ciarán Whelan goes on a rampage, it's a goal. So much for religion."
"Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It's over the bar. This man shouldn't be playing football. He's made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man, but he couldn't kick points like Colin Corkery."
"Sean Og O'Hailpin... his father's from Fermanagh, his mother's from Fiji, neither a hurling stronghold."
"And Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I'll tell ye a little story. I was in Times Square in New York last week, and I was missing the Championship back home. So I approached a news stand and I said: 'I suppose ye wouldn't have The Kerryman, would ye?' To which the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said: 'Do you want the North Kerry edition or the South Kerry edition?'. He had both. So I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet."
"Teddy McCarthy to John McCarthy, no relation, John McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation."
"Teddy looks at the ball, the ball looks at Teddy."
"Pat Fox out to the forty and grabs the sliothar, I bought a dog from his father last week. Fox turns and sprints for goal, the dog ran a great race last Tuesday in Limerick. Fox to the 21 fires a shot, it goes to the left and wide... and the dog lost as well."
"Setanta Ó hAilpín....the original Setanta from the old Gaelic stories was ten foot tall, had ten fingers on each hand and ten toes on each foot but even he couldn't be playing better hurling than his namesake here today."
The Asian Gaelic Games are to be held in Singapore this year from June 23rd - 24th.
There's been a Vietnamese Gaelic football team assembled, which is currently four weeks into a gruelling eight week training (and learning the rules) programme. They haven't a chance at winning but they'll be dressed to impress and sure I personally just want to see the Sling factories where those fancy cocktails come from. Though I'm a bit concerned most of our team will be arrested for bad habits they've picked up, such as smoking anywhere you like or hurling used napkins and chicken bones onto the floor, driving the wrong down a street with no helmet while texting your friends, who you left back in the pub.
After all - Singapore is famous for scrupulously clean surroundings and a very strict administration
Hmmm, not two things which are high on my "why-I-would-travel-to-another-country" list but ...well, this is the kind of sacrifice I will make for my country and Vietnam.
Here's a press release written by Pittstop Public Relations team.
A brief history of the Viet Celts' brief history
Previously in Vietnam the word 'ga' with a falling tone might have meant chicken or with no tone at all 'station' but now the scholars will have to make room in the local dictionary for a new entry - GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) as Gaelic Football has landed in Vietnam and although not too many people know it, the very-recently formed Viet Celts are about to change sport in the land of Ho Chi Minh… possibly forever!
In what will surely be known as a hinge of history in years to come, one minute a motley bunch of Vietnam-based expats were drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and talking about – of all things – cricket, the next they, and a couple of unsuspecting local Hanoi lads, had been presented with an opportunity to join the Viet Celts Gaelic Football team. All they had to do was remember or learn how to play Gaelic football and travel to Singapore to represent Vietnam in the Asian Gaelic Games.
Bemused onlookers at the inaugural training session will no doubt never forget the day four 'Ong Tay' (foreign gents) stood in a circle punching a football to each other. Despite the meagre turnout a seed had been planted and the word started to spread. Dreams grew and eyes twinkled with thoughts of what may come to pass and the excitement manifested itself in a bunch of slightly humorous emails. The next Sunday a score of would-be players arrived and passing motorbikes that slowed down by the Thuy Loi pitch would have had the privilege of witnessing the first ever Gaelic Football game played in Vietnam, not that they necessarily would have realised what was going on when people were being congratulated for punting the ball ten feet over the crossbar.
Colm "At the end of the day, I'm the Gaffer" Ross, threw the imported-with-no-expense-spared-O'Neills' ball into the air and the Viet-Celts sprang into action. Four minutes later, slowly evaporating in the sweltering heat, cries for a break were ignored as Patrick Cooney rattled the dust off the back of the onion sack to score the first ever goal in Viet-GAA-history.
Slowly over the ensuing weeks, the lads have met up every Sunday to hone their skills or in most cases learn the rules from scratch, in preparation for the Asian Gaelic Games to be held in Singapore on June 23-24. The lads are quietly confident they can turn a few heads in the looks department, if not on the actual playing field. As for their secret weapon, as soon as they work out who or what that is, they're definitely keeping it to themselves – otherwise it wouldn't be a secret.
The Viet Celts travel to Singapore thanks to the generous sponsorship of ESB International, Terotech International Limited, Finnegan's Bar Hanoi, and Enterprise Ireland.
A few classic quotes by the inimitable commentator Micheal O' Muircheartaigh, the Voice of Gaelic Games.
"I saw a few Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner Street this morning and the omens seem to be good for them. The priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey! Forty yards out on the Hogan Stand side of the field Ciarán Whelan goes on a rampage, it's a goal. So much for religion."
"Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It's over the bar. This man shouldn't be playing football. He's made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man, but he couldn't kick points like Colin Corkery."
"Sean Og O'Hailpin... his father's from Fermanagh, his mother's from Fiji, neither a hurling stronghold."
"And Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I'll tell ye a little story. I was in Times Square in New York last week, and I was missing the Championship back home. So I approached a news stand and I said: 'I suppose ye wouldn't have The Kerryman, would ye?' To which the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said: 'Do you want the North Kerry edition or the South Kerry edition?'. He had both. So I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet."
"Teddy McCarthy to John McCarthy, no relation, John McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation."
"Teddy looks at the ball, the ball looks at Teddy."
"Pat Fox out to the forty and grabs the sliothar, I bought a dog from his father last week. Fox turns and sprints for goal, the dog ran a great race last Tuesday in Limerick. Fox to the 21 fires a shot, it goes to the left and wide... and the dog lost as well."
"Setanta Ó hAilpín....the original Setanta from the old Gaelic stories was ten foot tall, had ten fingers on each hand and ten toes on each foot but even he couldn't be playing better hurling than his namesake here today."
That day has come - the drilling, crashing, smashing, banging, Whoo-hoo-ing, Tay oi-ing, hammering, grinding, hacking and sawing begins... – the octogenarian or nonagenarian woman has passed, or sold up, and her bungalow has been demolished. The construction starts this week.
Six months of Sunday-sleepin-lessness and grumpiness starts here.
From the archives: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Teddy de Burca Jnr. ponders a rather challenging work in progress – the street he lives on
Every time I return from a trip abroad, I wonder if the construction work on my street has finished. It doesn’t matter how often I go, or even how long I stay away. It never does. The road is long. So, so long.
Read more...
I wonder how many floors the new building will be... six, seven, eight? Odds on it's slightly taller than the last one, which was of course, slightly taller than the previously built one, in what seems to be some kind of oneupmanship-domino effect.
Though perhaps people need to be a bit more careful they have the planning permission for these towering abodes these days... though these buildings (see below) are quite a bit bigger, their top floors are being being pulled down for going up too far.
Hanoi high-rises set to demolish unauthorized floors
Owners of a 17-story building in Hanoi began to remove furniture and equipment Friday from the unauthorized top three floors in preparation for their demolition.
Besides the building on Dao Duy Anh Street in Dong Da district, four others in the capital too are set to lose their unauthorized floors.
Read more...
According to this week's VIR only 70 per cent of construction sites in Hanoi have planning permission, while 34 per cent of that lot have ignored building restrictions. .
Six months of Sunday-sleepin-lessness and grumpiness starts here.
From the archives: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Teddy de Burca Jnr. ponders a rather challenging work in progress – the street he lives on
Every time I return from a trip abroad, I wonder if the construction work on my street has finished. It doesn’t matter how often I go, or even how long I stay away. It never does. The road is long. So, so long.
Read more...
I wonder how many floors the new building will be... six, seven, eight? Odds on it's slightly taller than the last one, which was of course, slightly taller than the previously built one, in what seems to be some kind of oneupmanship-domino effect.
Though perhaps people need to be a bit more careful they have the planning permission for these towering abodes these days... though these buildings (see below) are quite a bit bigger, their top floors are being being pulled down for going up too far.
Hanoi high-rises set to demolish unauthorized floors
Owners of a 17-story building in Hanoi began to remove furniture and equipment Friday from the unauthorized top three floors in preparation for their demolition.
Besides the building on Dao Duy Anh Street in Dong Da district, four others in the capital too are set to lose their unauthorized floors.
Read more...
According to this week's VIR only 70 per cent of construction sites in Hanoi have planning permission, while 34 per cent of that lot have ignored building restrictions. .
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Inspired by a recent conversation about sending a text to the wrong person, or worse, the person you were texting about (and obviously worse still if you weren't being nice), I dug up this ditty by the shaggy-haired Irish comedian David O' Doherty - a.k.a. the DOD
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Two quick things...
One - I'm watching Vietnam Idol and it is hilarious and even if your tieng viet is piss-poor it's worth it - some hilarious breakdancing singers, lots of hair gel, over the top ballad singers and moody rockers... right now I just saw these brilliant ethnic minority guys - six friends, all very cocksure - from Dak Lak province all get the golden ticket. You can see it on HTV9, the Hanoi channel or the Ho Chi Minh channels - it's not on VTV.
Two - An ex-colleague from the US writes about another ex-colleague from Hanoi and censorship here. It's a short, sharp piece which is worth a quick look especially for you sub-editors, hacks and scribes out there who've seen your prose clipped or headlines altered.
Over and out.
One - I'm watching Vietnam Idol and it is hilarious and even if your tieng viet is piss-poor it's worth it - some hilarious breakdancing singers, lots of hair gel, over the top ballad singers and moody rockers... right now I just saw these brilliant ethnic minority guys - six friends, all very cocksure - from Dak Lak province all get the golden ticket. You can see it on HTV9, the Hanoi channel or the Ho Chi Minh channels - it's not on VTV.
Two - An ex-colleague from the US writes about another ex-colleague from Hanoi and censorship here. It's a short, sharp piece which is worth a quick look especially for you sub-editors, hacks and scribes out there who've seen your prose clipped or headlines altered.
Over and out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
