Virtual-Doug

I’m Published

I’ve been published in a magazine, not just a weekly newspaper.  And – a foreign magazine at that.  I had both writings and a photo published.

The Guide is a slick publication of the Việt Nam Economic Times.  Its one of those magazines you find in airliner seat backs, fancy hotel lobbies and rooms, and in tourist bars.  Its all in English.  I was contacted a month ago by the editor asking permission to publish in the November edition, and of course I gave that permission.  I even had a nice conversation with the Managing Editor while in Saigon at the end of our last trip.  Tân was a most pleasant man, and thoroughly professional.

(As always, be sure to click on the images to see a larger version of them.)

On page 15 is a section of writings from various blogs written (mostly) by expatriates living in Việt Nam.  Mine was a posting I had written two years ago about riding a motorbike in the rain.   It was pretty cool to see my own writing in a Vietnamese magazine, even if it was in English.

On the last page of the magazine was this photo – taken in the first few weeks of our time in Huê in 2005.  We were on the way out from our room to get some dinner.  As we walked by our team mate’s room, we saw this – as typical a scene as you could find in Việt Nam.  Like most Asians, the Vietnamese take off their shoes upon entering a domicile – and all of Julie’s students who had come over for a review lesson left their shoes outside.

There’s one big problem with the photo.  Notice I was given the credit.  But, I didn’t take it.  The Mystery Guest Blogger took it with her little point & shoot camera.  Let’s just say that when she saw the photo credit, there was some disruption to our marital bliss.  It was taken from my photo web site where proper credit is given.

Now – if only the National Geographic would call.  Can fame and fortune be far away?

Back Across the Pacific

This trip was way too short.  Way too short.

We're on our way back to America - on that long, interminable 36 hours (or so) of travel time.  I had little time for photography, but we were able to do what we wanted to do - see friends and maintain relationships.

I thought I would leave you with this shot taken by my friend Cu as we took photos of the flood in Hue.  Notice I had to hang on to a chain to keep from being dragged down by the very strong current  Both Cu and I are old enough to know better than to wander around in deep flood waters, and both are grateful we are still crazy enough to do it anyway.

See you soon -

The Flood Cleanup

Huê City’s worst floods since 1999 have subsided.  The rains in the nearby mountains slacked first, and though the water continued to fall in town, the flood levels began to drop on Tuesday.  A few more vehicles appeared on the streets, but travelers remained cautious because there was some very slippery mud hiding under the water.

(Be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)

By Wednesday, the rain was replaced by a watery sunshine and cleanup began in earnest.  In the countryside the waters receded, but homes near the river and creeks remained full of water.  Residents could wade around their homes, so they were not isolated, but it will be another day or so before they will begin cleaning the mud out.  That won’t take long as there are no carpets, upholstered furniture, or dry wall to repair – families just sweep the mud from the concrete floor and put the plastic furniture back in place.

The work cleaning the streets is the same in the city or in the villages – scooping up heavy shovelfuls of mud and dumping it back into the river.  The Army’s local troops help in the city, allowing a rapid return to daily life.  In the villages, the people do the work themselves, doing the hard, back-breaking labor they are accustomed to doing.  Whereas large trucks haul the mud in the city, wheelbarrows are used in the village to carry the mud to a nearby small creek.

Like most people living in developing economies, the Vietnamese never pass up a chance to benefit from chance.  A lot of wood and bamboo was washed downriver by the flood and caught underneath bridge pilings.  Village women made sure they collected as much of the wood as possible – it will make excellent cooking fires once it has dried out.  Likewise, kids in any culture will find a way to have fun – and what could be more fun than jumping into the flooded creek underneath the village bridge?

Or maybe they were just showing off for the foreigner with the camera.

Floods in Central Việt Nam

November starts the rainy season in Central Việt Nam, and this year’s rains have been tough. The city of Huê has had five floods since the end of October.  The slow steady rain isn’t heavy, but there’s more water than the flat countryside can handle and the overflowing Perfume River runs through the middle of the city.

Streets are swift flowing rivers.  In some places, the only way to travel is by boat.  The main thoroughfare on the north side of the river is under three to five feet of water.  Pedestrians can walk across an intersection, but only at the risk of having their legs swept from under them by the current.  A xich lo driver has the weight of his pedal-driven machine to keep him from ending up in the river.

(Be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)

Many Huê residents earn their living on the river, and small boats are common place.  The enterprising Vietnamese are always looking for ways to make an extra dông, so when a walker gets to the end of the pavement, there is always a boat available – for hire, of course.   Nobody gets upset and thinks the boat owners are taking advantage of the situation – they’re just happy to be able to get home from the market.

The main marketplace is on the river’s banks and is flooded out.  However, the food vendors know people have to eat and an impromptu market place was set up on the slope of a nearby bridge.  Most Vietnamese women buy food twice each day owing to the lack of refrigeration in poor people’s homes.  The families need to eat and the vendors need to sell.  A friend who buys food for a small cafe told me the price of an egg doubled.

The Vietnamese are a coping people.  Floods are so common they are almost considered normal..  When the waters get into your business, its time to stack up furniture, keep dry, and watch the world go by.  Floods are not as disastrous in Việt Nam as they are in the west because the buildings are intended to cope with dampness and water.  There are no heavy carpets – they wouldn’t last in the high humidity – there are no thick drapes or overstuffed sofas.  Just tile (or cement) floors, plastic tables and chairs, and some nicer wood chairs that can be moved upstairs easily.  The walls are solid brick or concrete – there is no drywall in a Vietnamese home.

Not all people are so lucky.  Some have had their flimsy shacks washed away and are now homeless.  At the moment, there is no other place to go than the steps in the front of the city auditorium.  There is some shelter from the rain, and one’s bag of belongings makes a pillow.

There is no sense fighting nature – many people find a little sidewalk café, order a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with friends until the world dries out.

It’s the Vietnamese way.

Alive and Well - and Livin' in Beautiful Downtown Hanoi

Sorry for the delay.  I have been unable to post to the blog.  Even though I have been able to log on, when I click the "Save" button, I get a "Permission Denied" message.

But - we are alive and well in Ha Noi.  The Chamber of Commerce ordered perfect weather for our stay here.  We've been busy almost since we got of the plane Tuesday morning.  But, our meetings with American friends have gone very well indeed.  Now to write those reports!

Sunday it is off to Hue, and I hope I will have a little time to take some photos - and even more, hope I will be able to post them.

Until then - -

We're Off (but not before . . . )

The airplane calls – the one taking us to Việt Nam for two weeks.  After a week’s business in Hanoi, we’ll go see our old friends in Huê.  It’s rainy season right now (Huê has already had three floods this year), so it will be iffy doing any photography.  I don’t know if I will have time to blog while there – I’ll try, but no promises.

My sister has been here this week to spend some time with Mom and to begin the difficult task of cleaning out Mom’s house.  I’m glad she wanted to do it – I would have done the typical bumbling male thing and used a pitch fork.

But, Mom had a treat for her daughter – just to show there is still a spark, Mom walked over to a bed-ridden patient.  (As always, be sure to click on the photo to see the larger version.)

As you can see, the mind may be going, but the soul is strong.