tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87605428307190979082024-03-13T10:02:47.854-04:00Allan Stratton: Writing, Travel, And Stuff On My MindAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-41817085616256395632010-10-12T09:17:00.004-04:002010-10-12T09:28:21.305-04:00BLISS!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJz0j7UI/AAAAAAAABGE/UU6nqKx8q38/s1600/IMG_8799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJz0j7UI/AAAAAAAABGE/UU6nqKx8q38/s400/IMG_8799.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527149463847824706" /></a><br /><br />I'm having a nap in the middle room with Soly, the Abby named after Chanda's little brother. He loves to snuggle and stick his nose in my ear. <br /><br />Oh yes. And I nap with Penster too...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJocdY0I/AAAAAAAABF8/DZFiZopcbck/s1600/IMG_8803.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJocdY0I/AAAAAAAABF8/DZFiZopcbck/s400/IMG_8803.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527149460793942850" /></a><br /><br />And Misha...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJPGOdFI/AAAAAAAABF0/j_AdVHsSDPc/s1600/IMG_8798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhJPGOdFI/AAAAAAAABF0/j_AdVHsSDPc/s400/IMG_8798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527149453989803090" /></a><br /><br />And P2...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhH1N6WMI/AAAAAAAABFk/XpoJzTVGgAc/s1600/IMG_8795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 386px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TLRhH1N6WMI/AAAAAAAABFk/XpoJzTVGgAc/s400/IMG_8795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527149429862848706" /></a><br /><br />The four of them all run downstairs to greet me when I come home. I have to pet a different one with each hand, rub a third with my chin, and either use a foot or rotate hands so the 4th doesn't feel left out. <br /><br />Who needs a psychiatrist with so much love? :)Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-42380504388221377212010-09-11T10:39:00.004-04:002010-09-14T08:20:08.842-04:00LIFE ABOVE ALL (CHANDA'S SECRETS) S.A.'S OFFICIAL OSCAR ENTRY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TI9oIIjlxKI/AAAAAAAABFc/b4pqef_bDU8/s1600/IMG_4490.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TI9oIIjlxKI/AAAAAAAABFc/b4pqef_bDU8/s400/IMG_4490.JPG" border="0" <br />alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516742557497148578" /></a><br /><br />SOUTH AFRICA HAS NAMED "LIFE ABOVE ALL", THE FILM OF MY NOVEL "CHANDA'S SECRETS" AS ITS OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR THE 2011 OSCARS!!!<br /><br />(Photo of me with the kids who play Iris and Soly. They're amazing!)<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tiff/story/2010/09/10/tiff-life-above-all-oscars-toronto.html <br /><br />http://www.toronto.com/tiff/article/658952--south-africa-picks-life-above-all-as-oscar-entryAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-72986466027070783522010-09-06T21:26:00.005-04:002010-09-06T21:38:06.491-04:00VIETNAM WAR REMAINS: CHINA BEACH AND THE HILLS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWBfIQrAI/AAAAAAAABFM/YlCv-jzmY9I/s1600/IMG_6610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWBfIQrAI/AAAAAAAABFM/YlCv-jzmY9I/s400/IMG_6610.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513978271065222146" /></a><br /><br />China Beach is where US soldiers did their R&R during the war. Across from the beach the old abandoned US airforce hangars disintegrate slowly. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWBE4ifEI/AAAAAAAABFE/uzOJaivcnNs/s1600/IMG_6609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWBE4ifEI/AAAAAAAABFE/uzOJaivcnNs/s400/IMG_6609.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513978264019958850" /></a><br /><br />Soon they'll be demolished. The old bases are being turned into waterfront condos. Oh, and tourist hotels.<br /><br />In the hills overlooking the beach, en route to Hue, we came across some old fortifications. Imagine being holed up here with the enemy watching you from anywhere and everywhere. Imagine being here at night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWAr6La4I/AAAAAAAABE8/RyLpJPBkXFk/s1600/IMG_6652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWAr6La4I/AAAAAAAABE8/RyLpJPBkXFk/s400/IMG_6652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513978257315949442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWASRZTNI/AAAAAAAABE0/7st-C0bFbv4/s1600/IMG_6656.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWWASRZTNI/AAAAAAAABE0/7st-C0bFbv4/s400/IMG_6656.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513978250434006226" /></a><br /><br />Now, instead of war, a quieter way of life...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWV_lmRbDI/AAAAAAAABEs/73xPYI23soM/s1600/IMG_6668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TIWV_lmRbDI/AAAAAAAABEs/73xPYI23soM/s400/IMG_6668.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513978238441974834" /></a>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-18811771455261623672010-09-02T10:25:00.005-04:002010-09-02T10:35:13.567-04:00LIFE ABOVE ALL (CHANDA'S SECRETS) at Toronto International Film Festival!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TH-0upATeAI/AAAAAAAABEk/is84LmOZEKA/s1600/thumbnail1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 80px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TH-0upATeAI/AAAAAAAABEk/is84LmOZEKA/s400/thumbnail1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512323182298888194" /></a><br /><br />The Toronto Film Festival is almost here! Tomorrow tickets go on sale for LIFE, ABOVE ALL, the film version of my novel CHANDA'S SECRETS. Hope to see you there. Description, times, and blah blah blah at the link:<br /><br />http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2010/lifeaboveall<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-30051241632950703052010-08-28T12:42:00.004-04:002010-08-28T16:21:16.137-04:00GOING BUGGY or SILK WORMS: YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu2LozwCI/AAAAAAAABEU/p9qHCjnkJGo/s1600/IMG_6515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu2LozwCI/AAAAAAAABEU/p9qHCjnkJGo/s400/IMG_6515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510557496180457506" /></a><br /><br />Normally I've posted scenic shots from my travels. These aren't them. They come from a silk factory in Hoi An, Vietnam, where I got to see how silk is made. First, of course, come the silk worms. A closer look:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu1uf25fI/AAAAAAAABEM/al1xZSz6jEU/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu1uf25fI/AAAAAAAABEM/al1xZSz6jEU/s400/IMG_6517.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510557488358286834" /></a><br /><br />The caterpillars spin cocoons and prepare for metamorphosis in leafy beds like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu05hTicI/AAAAAAAABEE/g6PVRdle5_k/s1600/IMG_6518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu05hTicI/AAAAAAAABEE/g6PVRdle5_k/s400/IMG_6518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510557474137278914" /></a><br /><br />Since the beetles that would emerge would break/chew through the threads, the silk makers boil the cocoons. (Note some of the almost-read-for-prime-time beetles.) Kind of grisly when you think about it. Like lobsters -- only bugs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu0JOGE3I/AAAAAAAABD8/8GkUbJpMZ6E/s1600/IMG_6521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THlu0JOGE3I/AAAAAAAABD8/8GkUbJpMZ6E/s400/IMG_6521.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510557461171802994" /></a><br /><br />And then the cocoons get processed, the clothes get made, and it's off to shops and onto people's backs.(Note the 'eyes' over the shop doors on this Hoi An business. They're to ward off evil spirits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THluzl1iFVI/AAAAAAAABD0/0pTt2n-MAfo/s1600/IMG_6504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/THluzl1iFVI/AAAAAAAABD0/0pTt2n-MAfo/s400/IMG_6504.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510557451673539922" /></a>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-32301745021136593762010-07-29T09:37:00.003-04:002010-07-29T09:44:16.920-04:00Vietnam: Hoi An Waterway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE-D0qX8I/AAAAAAAABDU/lEdZ0LInK4c/s1600/IMG_6482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE-D0qX8I/AAAAAAAABDU/lEdZ0LInK4c/s400/IMG_6482.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499322821709029314" /></a><br /><br />Another lazy post... like the lazy waterway through Hoi An, boats slipping through water like silk. These shots are from the second floor of Cargo, a fantastic restaurant with Vietnamese fusion cuisine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE_YBRHOI/AAAAAAAABDk/8qHt5AFXqDs/s1600/IMG_6545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE_YBRHOI/AAAAAAAABDk/8qHt5AFXqDs/s400/IMG_6545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499322844310478050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE-7NL8UI/AAAAAAAABDc/GOvrNr2uFoY/s1600/IMG_6530.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGE-7NL8UI/AAAAAAAABDc/GOvrNr2uFoY/s400/IMG_6530.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499322836575842626" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGFABns32I/AAAAAAAABDs/mLMdqoQURus/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TFGFABns32I/AAAAAAAABDs/mLMdqoQURus/s400/IMG_6546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499322855477534562" /></a>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-71812891126126983862010-07-18T14:52:00.005-04:002010-07-18T15:04:41.972-04:00BUDDHIST INCENSE SPIRAL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJ_d2LUI/AAAAAAAABDM/354X-blqGYs/s1600/IMG_6449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJ_d2LUI/AAAAAAAABDM/354X-blqGYs/s400/IMG_6449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495323003396173122" /></a><br /><br />Yeah I know, this looks like apiece of pop art from the sixties. What it really is is the inside of an incense spiral hanging from the ceiling. They sell these at Buddhist shrines like votive candles are sold in Catholic churches. Buy it, light it, and pray for the deceased. Here's the shrine with a ceiling full of spirals, priced according to size:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJsHF3_I/AAAAAAAABDE/HX7hh9CiWSo/s1600/IMG_6436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJsHF3_I/AAAAAAAABDE/HX7hh9CiWSo/s400/IMG_6436.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495322998200459250" /></a><br /><br />This shrine is in Hoi An, Vietnam, which has the finest food in the country -- and some of the finest lantern shows too. Last post I showed you some of the lanterns by night. Here are a few by day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJFMM1uI/AAAAAAAABC8/bHHr9DhBoyg/s1600/IMG_6493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPJFMM1uI/AAAAAAAABC8/bHHr9DhBoyg/s400/IMG_6493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495322987752904418" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPIgLjguI/AAAAAAAABC0/pEulqt0pEDA/s1600/IMG_6477.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPIgLjguI/AAAAAAAABC0/pEulqt0pEDA/s400/IMG_6477.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495322977818084066" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPH4FuzKI/AAAAAAAABCs/HazFcQOqgds/s1600/IMG_6446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/TENPH4FuzKI/AAAAAAAABCs/HazFcQOqgds/s400/IMG_6446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495322967056239778" /></a><br /><br />I'm thinking of making shorter posts through summer. Sound good? Next post will be water shots of fishermen in Hoi An's river, from the window of a seafood restaurant.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-80532080579543728352010-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:002010-06-28T18:53:12.009-04:00VIETNAM: LANTERN CELEBRATIONS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkKbHNqmI/AAAAAAAAA90/wnaH7FWdsdU/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkKbHNqmI/AAAAAAAAA90/wnaH7FWdsdU/s400/IMG_6568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469731877680949858" /></a><br /><br />Hanoi is celebrating its millennium as a capital city this year. There are festivities all over the country. This week was Hoi An's turn which accounts for the floats among the lanterns. Enjoy the night lights, and the lanterns both festive and commercial. Next post, I'll show you the city by day. It's one of the few old cities in Vietnam that didn't get obliterated and is well worth a look. also a taste! Its restaurants have the best cuisine in the entire country!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkJVIWBfI/AAAAAAAAA9s/Z6FI4u40EfQ/s1600/IMG_6571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkJVIWBfI/AAAAAAAAA9s/Z6FI4u40EfQ/s400/IMG_6571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469731858895209970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkb8YciAI/AAAAAAAAA98/045hSLOIy4c/s1600/IMG_6579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkb8YciAI/AAAAAAAAA98/045hSLOIy4c/s400/IMG_6579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469732178669373442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjTebgQ3I/AAAAAAAAA9U/MtNxlP8EGtc/s1600/IMG_6595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjTebgQ3I/AAAAAAAAA9U/MtNxlP8EGtc/s400/IMG_6595.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469730933678556018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjSan2KfI/AAAAAAAAA9M/P70j_LJCG4k/s1600/IMG_6554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjSan2KfI/AAAAAAAAA9M/P70j_LJCG4k/s400/IMG_6554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469730915476711922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjR-sB2kI/AAAAAAAAA9E/kj6gejX7TvU/s1600/IMG_6557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjR-sB2kI/AAAAAAAAA9E/kj6gejX7TvU/s400/IMG_6557.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469730907978062402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjRa5MnyI/AAAAAAAAA88/64awEm1MqmE/s1600/IMG_6558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjRa5MnyI/AAAAAAAAA88/64awEm1MqmE/s400/IMG_6558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469730898369617698" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjQEY5vRI/AAAAAAAAA80/R-kIQx6dS14/s1600/IMG_6555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hjQEY5vRI/AAAAAAAAA80/R-kIQx6dS14/s400/IMG_6555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469730875148713234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiORwqQyI/AAAAAAAAA8s/W8nEFb689SU/s1600/IMG_6592.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiORwqQyI/AAAAAAAAA8s/W8nEFb689SU/s400/IMG_6592.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469729744866657058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiN_SP_LI/AAAAAAAAA8k/EDiiqL51pMo/s1600/IMG_6581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiN_SP_LI/AAAAAAAAA8k/EDiiqL51pMo/s400/IMG_6581.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469729739907267762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkIaolrBI/AAAAAAAAA9k/IANyfmgNDzA/s1600/IMG_6604.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkIaolrBI/AAAAAAAAA9k/IANyfmgNDzA/s400/IMG_6604.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469731843192761362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkHqHjZDI/AAAAAAAAA9c/VxCcV1t3Wqs/s1600/IMG_6600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hkHqHjZDI/AAAAAAAAA9c/VxCcV1t3Wqs/s400/IMG_6600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469731830169297970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiNYqJ2II/AAAAAAAAA8c/S9ala6aB4QU/s1600/IMG_6603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiNYqJ2II/AAAAAAAAA8c/S9ala6aB4QU/s400/IMG_6603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469729729538545794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiM_swdyI/AAAAAAAAA8U/JmJGveDy04k/s1600/IMG_6606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiM_swdyI/AAAAAAAAA8U/JmJGveDy04k/s400/IMG_6606.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469729722838578978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiMGE0uYI/AAAAAAAAA8M/-tEdXBHmqTw/s1600/IMG_6577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-hiMGE0uYI/AAAAAAAAA8M/-tEdXBHmqTw/s400/IMG_6577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469729707370264962" /></a><br /><br />See ya next post,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-55431982724912940662010-06-21T08:00:00.002-04:002010-06-21T08:00:09.536-04:00VIETNAM: THE MARBLE MOUNTAINS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYQ_VGD_I/AAAAAAAAA8E/cfi-EWOrjhA/s1600/IMG_6360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYQ_VGD_I/AAAAAAAAA8E/cfi-EWOrjhA/s400/IMG_6360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648427598352370" /></a><br /><br />Like our own Niagara Falls, Vietnam has allowed a lot of crappy souvenir shops to glom onto some astonishing geological formations. The Marble Mountains are a case in point. They're known as the source for Vietnam's marble carvings, as they are literally made of marble. However, to avoid decimating a tourist mecca, the Vietnamese have halted excavations and now import all the marble that's carved here.<br /><br />Walking up the mountain you pass through as ancient entrance pocked with mortar shells from the war.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYQBBbCVI/AAAAAAAAA78/LCYdQFglzDw/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYQBBbCVI/AAAAAAAAA78/LCYdQFglzDw/s400/IMG_6324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648410872842578" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYPkGhGwI/AAAAAAAAA70/mPKDclM020w/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYPkGhGwI/AAAAAAAAA70/mPKDclM020w/s400/IMG_6329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648403109583618" /></a><br /><br />Look up. Look way up...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYOjLSaHI/AAAAAAAAA7s/HPE2cBEcWFM/s1600/IMG_6332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gYOjLSaHI/AAAAAAAAA7s/HPE2cBEcWFM/s400/IMG_6332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648385681287282" /></a><br /><br />At the peak, we descend into a cave as magestic as any cathedral. It's been a natural Buddhist shrine for centuries. The Viet Cong (National Liberation Front) used it as a fortified field hospital.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWfhK1sVI/AAAAAAAAA7k/bS4AIJ5hNfE/s1600/IMG_6339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWfhK1sVI/AAAAAAAAA7k/bS4AIJ5hNfE/s400/IMG_6339.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646478177055058" /></a><br /><br />It's filled with monuments: Some garish to Western eyes, like a lot of the art here, that go back a hundred years; others carved into the walls the better part of a millennia ago. Note the shrine INSIDE the cave...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWfOmlUII/AAAAAAAAA7c/aIB-ne5Yew0/s1600/IMG_6350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWfOmlUII/AAAAAAAAA7c/aIB-ne5Yew0/s400/IMG_6350.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646473193148546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWetlHJpI/AAAAAAAAA7U/FijCKQmrVUM/s1600/IMG_6343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWetlHJpI/AAAAAAAAA7U/FijCKQmrVUM/s400/IMG_6343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646464328607378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWeER5jtI/AAAAAAAAA7M/IOE-B4c1-pw/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWeER5jtI/AAAAAAAAA7M/IOE-B4c1-pw/s400/IMG_6335.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646453242171090" /></a><br /><br />We left the mountain and drove through the rain to Hoi An. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWdcnql1I/AAAAAAAAA7E/5jU1KkRuEwE/s1600/IMG_6374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gWdcnql1I/AAAAAAAAA7E/5jU1KkRuEwE/s400/IMG_6374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646442596046674" /></a><br /><br />Hoi An is an amazing Unesco World Heritage sight, and I'll show it to you in depth with photos from a sunnier day. But next post is going to be all about LANTERNS! Especially BRIGHTLY LIT LANTERNS!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-59224617237238139962010-06-17T08:00:00.002-04:002010-06-17T08:00:07.725-04:00VIETNAM: FISHING AND FROLIC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gSv7S2tHI/AAAAAAAAA68/sSOlDxPmXHk/s1600/IMG_6114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gSv7S2tHI/AAAAAAAAA68/sSOlDxPmXHk/s400/IMG_6114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469642362021393522" /></a><br /><br /><br />Squid. They're incredibly smart creatures, like pigs, so I always feel bad whenever I eat them. (Unlike cows, which are essentially walking carrots with a gas problem.) But sadly for squid, they don't have the "Bunny Factor" and I'm a hypocrite, and we were at a fishing village at the outskirts of Nha Trang, so...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQpeUOXyI/AAAAAAAAA6s/K6o10GiptBI/s1600/IMG_6140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQpeUOXyI/AAAAAAAAA6s/K6o10GiptBI/s400/IMG_6140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469640052140039970" /></a><br /><br />But on to sunnier matters. Today was the day we said goodbye to our first guide -- see earlier posts about the Texting King: He had more attitude than a Beverley Hills prom queen -- so needless to say it was a day of celebration. And what better way to celebrate than to walk along a gorgeous beach. Avid readers will know the photo is cribbed from two posts ago, sigh, but hey, it's from our hotel window and from this high up you don't see the garbage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQoS8EDJI/AAAAAAAAA6k/4yj5wquyubU/s1600/IMG_6037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQoS8EDJI/AAAAAAAAA6k/4yj5wquyubU/s400/IMG_6037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469640031906040978" /></a><br /><br /><br />Note this closeup of the building in the panorama shot. It's designed to look like a lotus bud.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQnqdovUI/AAAAAAAAA6c/JJXootltRjo/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gQnqdovUI/AAAAAAAAA6c/JJXootltRjo/s400/IMG_6272.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469640021041003842" /></a><br /><br />And note the palapas. Unlike those throughout the Carribean, they're designed like the traditional Vietnamese conical hats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP5WNGEKI/AAAAAAAAA6U/9HsaJleBs9k/s1600/IMG_6275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP5WNGEKI/AAAAAAAAA6U/9HsaJleBs9k/s400/IMG_6275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469639225328930978" /></a><br /><br />And of course, Edward Scissorhands has, once more, been here before us. On the second photo note the white paint at the base of the trees. It's not just for bugs. Instead it's to act as a reflector so motorbikes don't plow into them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP4_43ksI/AAAAAAAAA6M/M3SEIPtA2PQ/s1600/IMG_6277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP4_43ksI/AAAAAAAAA6M/M3SEIPtA2PQ/s400/IMG_6277.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469639219338515138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP4ZwHJ0I/AAAAAAAAA6E/5MforzWXfnU/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP4ZwHJ0I/AAAAAAAAA6E/5MforzWXfnU/s400/IMG_6279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469639209101240130" /></a><br /><br />As always, too, there are trees decorated with night lights. Which reminds me, it's time for bed. Have to be up early tomorrow to fly to Danang and the Marble Mountains then drive to Hoi An -- a city well worth seeing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP3s50LjI/AAAAAAAAA58/AHSmenZjLBo/s1600/IMG_6282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-gP3s50LjI/AAAAAAAAA58/AHSmenZjLBo/s400/IMG_6282.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469639197062344242" /></a><br /><br />Sweet dreams,<br /><br />MeAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-24325544877124945722010-06-14T08:00:00.002-04:002010-06-14T08:00:01.782-04:00VIETNAM: BUDDHA AND BURNINGS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAJsf-wuI/AAAAAAAAA50/gPK1kpvdAWw/s1600/IMG_6248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAJsf-wuI/AAAAAAAAA50/gPK1kpvdAWw/s400/IMG_6248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410807773053666" /></a><br /><br />So... we finally made it to Nha Trang.<br /><br />Nha Trang is noted for its beautiful beaches, its diving, the picturesque fishing villages surrounding it, and as the birthplace of Thich Quang Guc (English spelling inaccurate due to Vietnamese alphabet), a Buddhist monk who burned himself alivein protest of the policies of the Diem regime. A major Buddhist shrine has been erected in his memory. You call read all about the appalling Diem here -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngo_Dinh_Diem -- an American uber-ally whose family was so unspeakable that the U.S. government tacitly approved his assassination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAJAm072I/AAAAAAAAA5s/oXc58FeJXgU/s1600/IMG_6241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAJAm072I/AAAAAAAAA5s/oXc58FeJXgU/s400/IMG_6241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410795990609762" /></a><br /><br />Above is the statue on top of the hill. The plaques surrounding the base are each dedicated to a monk who burned himself in copycat suicides.<br /><br />Halfway up the hill is a reclining Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAIruuGbI/AAAAAAAAA5k/utksqDpn8uw/s1600/IMG_6237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-dAIruuGbI/AAAAAAAAA5k/utksqDpn8uw/s400/IMG_6237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410790386571698" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_iGe7fMI/AAAAAAAAA5c/eJW9EBgLvCo/s1600/IMG_6236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_iGe7fMI/AAAAAAAAA5c/eJW9EBgLvCo/s400/IMG_6236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410127553199298" /></a><br /><br />And here's a statue to the monk whose immolation focussed the anger of the international community against Diem, which in turn led to his assassination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_hNpO9fI/AAAAAAAAA5U/rcoIItA5ihM/s1600/IMG_6226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_hNpO9fI/AAAAAAAAA5U/rcoIItA5ihM/s400/IMG_6226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410112295597554" /></a><br /><br />I mentioned fishing villages. Here's the entrance to one of the tackier aquariums I've ever visited. I'm surprised it's not in Dalat. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_gord8II/AAAAAAAAA5M/F8xNaUGa8fc/s1600/IMG_6062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_gord8II/AAAAAAAAA5M/F8xNaUGa8fc/s400/IMG_6062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410102372855938" /></a><br /><br />But the sight of the fishing villages is truly glorious, as is the sight of the boats on water. I'll be taking you to floating fishing villages in in Halong Bay and Cambodia, so let's let two photos suffice for now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_fzWMFmI/AAAAAAAAA5E/ntreGfzCBmc/s1600/IMG_6103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_fzWMFmI/AAAAAAAAA5E/ntreGfzCBmc/s400/IMG_6103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410088056526434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_fdCExNI/AAAAAAAAA48/hieFa_cdAoA/s1600/IMG_6107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-c_fdCExNI/AAAAAAAAA48/hieFa_cdAoA/s400/IMG_6107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469410082066580690" /></a><br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-67031174568824535472010-06-10T08:00:00.002-04:002010-06-10T08:00:00.618-04:00VIETNAM: THE ROAD TO NHA TRANG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCCc632nI/AAAAAAAAA40/I5aCBP_hXgM/s1600/IMG_5967.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCCc632nI/AAAAAAAAA40/I5aCBP_hXgM/s400/IMG_5967.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469272144866695794" /></a><br /><br />Well... cast your mind back a couple of weeks -- before the Cannes and Venice excitement -- and wake up in Dalat, Vietnam's Niagara Falls without the falls. We've just been to a Buddhist monastery -- where fortunately we were able to escape our idiot guide who strolled around in his preppy scarf, texting all and sundry. And now we're headed to Nha Trang and have stopped at a Buddhist cemetery on account of road construction. Driving on, I asked the snoozing guide if Vietnam had any problems with soil erosion. "No," he said. And one minute later...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCBoLYB6I/AAAAAAAAA4s/OH3NsLWhEDg/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCBoLYB6I/AAAAAAAAA4s/OH3NsLWhEDg/s400/IMG_5969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469272130708834210" /></a><br /><br /><br />The non-erosion continued for the next half-hour through miles of timber cutting and deforestation. And then we encountered the homes below. They belong to the Ethic Minority People, as the Vietnamese put it. They've lived here for centuries and are being squeezed. Note that the homes are built on stilts. The stilts are to protect against snakes and lizards, flooding, and are a place to store things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCBK797kI/AAAAAAAAA4k/7sEI9cG1jLw/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCBK797kI/AAAAAAAAA4k/7sEI9cG1jLw/s400/IMG_5981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469272122859580994" /></a><br /><br />Just when things were getting boring we drove up into the Cloudy Mountain range and found ourselves flying by turns into and out of, well, clouds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2h6hl6fI/AAAAAAAAA4U/l9Uqoeyr-zM/s1600/IMG_5995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2h6hl6fI/AAAAAAAAA4U/l9Uqoeyr-zM/s400/IMG_5995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469259491250137586" /></a><br /><br />Then down and on through rice and tea plantations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2hMHnWyI/AAAAAAAAA4M/FGeqMjKhltI/s1600/IMG_6007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2hMHnWyI/AAAAAAAAA4M/FGeqMjKhltI/s400/IMG_6007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469259478793149218" /></a><br /><br />Finally we enter Nha Trang. I remembered massive walls in Xian and other cities in China, so as we approached this smallish underpass I asked if it might be the walls of the old city. Our guide roused from his slumber in ther back seat, rolled his eyes, and said, "Of course." Then rubbed his eyes and texted somebody.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2gyYh_0I/AAAAAAAAA4E/fbrw19BuT40/s1600/IMG_6009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2gyYh_0I/AAAAAAAAA4E/fbrw19BuT40/s400/IMG_6009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469259471884779330" /></a><br /><br />At last we got to our hotel across the road from the beach. Have to say, it was EXTREMELY nice. Although we had to keep the lights on because of the sunken living area beside the bed with no railing. (Also a sunken tub by the toilet; nearly cracked my head open on a midnight trip. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2gKOaYbI/AAAAAAAAA38/gt-J67KBI3k/s1600/IMG_6018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2gKOaYbI/AAAAAAAAA38/gt-J67KBI3k/s400/IMG_6018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469259461104918962" /></a><br /><br />But what a view! What a sunset!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCAv5SxuI/AAAAAAAAA4c/YDnTyywDbeE/s1600/IMG_6035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-bCAv5SxuI/AAAAAAAAA4c/YDnTyywDbeE/s400/IMG_6035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469272115600606946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2fo74pFI/AAAAAAAAA30/DeHkuR_9GAc/s1600/IMG_6033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-a2fo74pFI/AAAAAAAAA30/DeHkuR_9GAc/s400/IMG_6033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469259452168840274" /></a><br /><br />Ahhhhh..... :)<br /><br />MeAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-57926091318607619672010-06-07T08:00:00.004-04:002010-06-10T15:46:40.074-04:00VIETNAM: LOTUS BLOSSOMS AND OTHER FLOWERS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aymgdyPzI/AAAAAAAAA3s/9bInRuKo34s/s1600/IMG_6201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aymgdyPzI/AAAAAAAAA3s/9bInRuKo34s/s400/IMG_6201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469255172107681586" /></a><br /><br />Another lazy blog. Just photos. But hey, they're of lotus (loti?) in Vietnam, plus gorgeous red peppers and other amazingly beautiful flowers. I only have an old Cannon and haven't figured out how to work PhotoShop so try and imagine what these would look like if I actually had a camera and weren't a techno nerd. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aylzFrD0I/AAAAAAAAA3k/u9aOdGVKKaI/s1600/IMG_6214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aylzFrD0I/AAAAAAAAA3k/u9aOdGVKKaI/s400/IMG_6214.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469255159926951746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aylQu9gxI/AAAAAAAAA3c/I145L8iINNM/s1600/IMG_6177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-aylQu9gxI/AAAAAAAAA3c/I145L8iINNM/s400/IMG_6177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469255150704886546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axupgMX9I/AAAAAAAAA3U/YAZeoXFFHNI/s1600/IMG_6184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axupgMX9I/AAAAAAAAA3U/YAZeoXFFHNI/s400/IMG_6184.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469254212461027282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axuDioDVI/AAAAAAAAA3M/DZ93SXeJ4TU/s1600/IMG_6196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axuDioDVI/AAAAAAAAA3M/DZ93SXeJ4TU/s400/IMG_6196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469254202270682450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axtazQXoI/AAAAAAAAA3E/ayN0Vfm4B5o/s1600/IMG_6219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axtazQXoI/AAAAAAAAA3E/ayN0Vfm4B5o/s400/IMG_6219.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469254191334579842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axs2CTVtI/AAAAAAAAA28/Lr7ThMrPFf0/s1600/IMG_6218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-axs2CTVtI/AAAAAAAAA28/Lr7ThMrPFf0/s400/IMG_6218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469254181465577170" /></a><br /><br />Next post, I promise I'll return to our interrupted tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. You gotta see Angor Watt!<br /><br />Now, must sleep, must sleep. Zzzzzzzz......Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-1574602694624795642010-06-03T16:00:00.001-04:002010-06-03T16:27:05.864-04:00VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA: SNEAK PEEKS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1SycP-DI/AAAAAAAAA20/GMpbcDVRSkU/s1600/IMG_7699.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1SycP-DI/AAAAAAAAA20/GMpbcDVRSkU/s400/IMG_7699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468202600707913778" /></a><br /><br />I've been over my head getting back to work after Cannes, Nice and Venice, so forgive today's lazy post. Here are random sneak peeks of upcoming places and people to get us back into the swing of the travelogue of Vietnam and Cambodia . (You can see Saigon and Dalat in previous posts. :))<br /><br />Below, variously, are sample shots from Nha Trang, Hoi An, Halong Bay and Siem Reep -- with much much more to follow in future posts. (Hanoi, Hue, Elephant Mountain, Cloudy Mountain and Danang are absent from the mix. They'll be coming, not to worry, but not just yet.:))<br /><br />Enjoy! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1SnUORxI/AAAAAAAAA2s/oSdquUHMEgc/s1600/IMG_7551.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1SnUORxI/AAAAAAAAA2s/oSdquUHMEgc/s400/IMG_7551.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468202597721458450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1R_E-g3I/AAAAAAAAA2k/jO8xABAutDk/s1600/IMG_6062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1R_E-g3I/AAAAAAAAA2k/jO8xABAutDk/s400/IMG_6062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468202586920092530" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1RQO2i3I/AAAAAAAAA2c/mCzPZomLcQ8/s1600/IMG_6249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1RQO2i3I/AAAAAAAAA2c/mCzPZomLcQ8/s400/IMG_6249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468202574345046898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1Q5MBKII/AAAAAAAAA2U/sWR4uprdYuY/s1600/IMG_6037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-L1Q5MBKII/AAAAAAAAA2U/sWR4uprdYuY/s400/IMG_6037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468202568159144066" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyyFt5jUI/AAAAAAAAA2M/d6_JpyXumkM/s1600/IMG_6103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyyFt5jUI/AAAAAAAAA2M/d6_JpyXumkM/s400/IMG_6103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468199839923277122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyxhY3oMI/AAAAAAAAA2E/mqIzQa8OQ80/s1600/IMG_7212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyxhY3oMI/AAAAAAAAA2E/mqIzQa8OQ80/s400/IMG_7212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468199830171394242" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyxBiEafI/AAAAAAAAA18/bx4D70Iqacc/s1600/IMG_7166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LyxBiEafI/AAAAAAAAA18/bx4D70Iqacc/s400/IMG_7166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468199821620046322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LywrHfRsI/AAAAAAAAA10/wY5nRWtuXos/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LywrHfRsI/AAAAAAAAA10/wY5nRWtuXos/s400/IMG_6568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468199815602980546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LywOU_qQI/AAAAAAAAA1s/lp8i3WwNbDo/s1600/IMG_7303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-LywOU_qQI/AAAAAAAAA1s/lp8i3WwNbDo/s400/IMG_7303.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468199807875000578" /></a><br /><br />Hope these have tempted you to come back. :)Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-87223526614869949502010-05-31T08:00:00.004-04:002010-05-31T08:00:07.513-04:00LIFE ABOVE ALL (CHANDA'S SECRETS): OFFICIAL PRODUCTION STILLS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nwUm8QuI/AAAAAAAABCk/9AOH7PM-aBs/s1600/01_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nwUm8QuI/AAAAAAAABCk/9AOH7PM-aBs/s400/01_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475576433071637218" /></a><br /><br />Well, a lazy post today. Here are official production stills from LIFE ABOVE ALL, based on my novel CHANDA'S SECRETS. If you're interested in seeing the reviews or trailer, or shots from Cannes, just scroll back a few posts! :)<br /><br />Tomorrow I promise to return to our tour of Vietnam and Cambodia which got interrupted what with all the excitement of last week. After that, a tour of Nice and Venice! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nwOltKpI/AAAAAAAABCc/g1w8OPT2SBc/s1600/02_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nwOltKpI/AAAAAAAABCc/g1w8OPT2SBc/s400/02_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475576431455840914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nLsuOeUI/AAAAAAAABCU/GjLKCDDu62Y/s1600/03_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nLsuOeUI/AAAAAAAABCU/GjLKCDDu62Y/s400/03_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475575803889482050" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nLH9yfFI/AAAAAAAABCM/ZnZcZyvfhxo/s1600/05_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nLH9yfFI/AAAAAAAABCM/ZnZcZyvfhxo/s400/05_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475575794022644818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nKsvIVXI/AAAAAAAABCE/iSEMKO84NYI/s1600/06_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nKsvIVXI/AAAAAAAABCE/iSEMKO84NYI/s400/06_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475575786713404786" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nKIsDw8I/AAAAAAAABB8/oywzX1_y9Yg/s1600/07_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nKIsDw8I/AAAAAAAABB8/oywzX1_y9Yg/s400/07_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475575777036846018" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nJorFsGI/AAAAAAAABB0/IC-eJ9juNHk/s1600/04_Life_Above_All.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0nJorFsGI/AAAAAAAABB0/IC-eJ9juNHk/s400/04_Life_Above_All.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475575768442843234" /></a>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-13834438974547605582010-05-27T08:00:00.000-04:002010-05-27T08:00:07.426-04:00PIX FROM CANNES!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0idT6GGVI/AAAAAAAABBk/Ikr3E97s8bk/s1600/IMG_7992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0idT6GGVI/AAAAAAAABBk/Ikr3E97s8bk/s400/IMG_7992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475570608907884882" /></a><br /><br />Well I'm back from Cannes via Nice and Venice and am still on a cloud. Here's some pix of my time there, including the red carpet, the onstage bow, the standing ovation, pandemonium outside, meeting Roger Ebert, and our young star putting everything in perspective! (For newcomers, this is about the premiere of LIFE, ABOVE ALL, the film adaptation of my nobel CHANDA'S SECRETS published by Annick Press.)<br /><br />First I gotta say that Cannes is pretty chic. (Although these shots don't quite capture how frenetic it is around the Palais where Official Selections are screened.) The pix are from balconies inside the Palais that I accessed thanks to my magic badge which opened the most amazing doors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e-fgXywI/AAAAAAAABBM/uob5bBHZZ8c/s1600/IMG_7997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e-fgXywI/AAAAAAAABBM/uob5bBHZZ8c/s400/IMG_7997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475566780910390018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0iczpSiUI/AAAAAAAABBc/68920_NlcUU/s1600/IMG_8013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0iczpSiUI/AAAAAAAABBc/68920_NlcUU/s400/IMG_8013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475570600247462210" /></a><br /><br />First we were taken for official photographs. Left to right, the women: Harriet Manamela (Mrs. Tafa), our star Khomotso Manyake (Chanda) and Lerato Mvelase (Mama). the men: Greg Buckle (S.A. producer), Oliver Stoltz (German producer) me, Dennis Foon (good friend and screenwriter) and Oliver Schmitz (director)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e97PiYaI/AAAAAAAABBE/yV-6DxcArnE/s1600/GetAttachment-1.aspx.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e97PiYaI/AAAAAAAABBE/yV-6DxcArnE/s400/GetAttachment-1.aspx.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475566771176104354" /></a><br /><br />Then up the red carpet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e9ib7WtI/AAAAAAAABA8/xFQJiBpG1Cw/s1600/GetAttachment-2.aspx.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e9ib7WtI/AAAAAAAABA8/xFQJiBpG1Cw/s400/GetAttachment-2.aspx.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475566764517186258" /></a><br /><br />Then paraded on stage for a pre-screening bow...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eCdX0nII/AAAAAAAABAk/U3rWVXsRERY/s1600/IMG_8023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eCdX0nII/AAAAAAAABAk/U3rWVXsRERY/s400/IMG_8023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475565749545507970" /></a><br /><br />After the film, pandemonium. A standing ovation...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e9L0p8CI/AAAAAAAABAs/kytqnLnFADw/s1600/IMG_1462%5B1%5D-thumb-350x262-20813.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0e9L0p8CI/AAAAAAAABAs/kytqnLnFADw/s400/IMG_1462%5B1%5D-thumb-350x262-20813.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475566758446886946" /></a><br /><br />Things got a little teary at the ten minute mark...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eA9bW2cI/AAAAAAAABAE/gBZwNmlejR8/s1600/IMG_1466%5B1%5D-thumb-350x262-20819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eA9bW2cI/AAAAAAAABAE/gBZwNmlejR8/s400/IMG_1466%5B1%5D-thumb-350x262-20819.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475565723790531010" /></a><br /><br />Outside, more pandemonium...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eCFbwZKI/AAAAAAAABAc/saJ4DkAhN3c/s1600/IMG_8029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eCFbwZKI/AAAAAAAABAc/saJ4DkAhN3c/s400/IMG_8029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475565743119557794" /></a><br /><br />Meeting Roger Ebert, a major fan. Wow!...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eBpgm9pI/AAAAAAAABAU/a7GQPmDrTz0/s1600/IMG_8040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eBpgm9pI/AAAAAAAABAU/a7GQPmDrTz0/s400/IMG_8040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475565735623718546" /></a><br /><br />At a chi-chi lunch with the team...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0j9wDer9I/AAAAAAAABBs/orTpRVz75Ic/s1600/IMG_8047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0j9wDer9I/AAAAAAAABBs/orTpRVz75Ic/s400/IMG_8047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475572265730879442" /></a><br /><br />Dennis and I catch a breather by the Cannes poster...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eBdyhQMI/AAAAAAAABAM/0T1G7euNUc0/s1600/IMG_8057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0eBdyhQMI/AAAAAAAABAM/0T1G7euNUc0/s400/IMG_8057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475565732477616322" /></a><br /><br />At the team dinner dinner that night, thirteen-year-old Khomotso put everything in perspective...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0icFMqlnI/AAAAAAAABBU/f5SKu1hNR0g/s1600/IMG_8073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_0icFMqlnI/AAAAAAAABBU/f5SKu1hNR0g/s400/IMG_8073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475570587779372658" /></a>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-8014555040725937502010-05-24T01:55:00.008-04:002010-05-24T02:08:49.018-04:00LIFE, ABOVE ALL WINS THE PRESTIGIOUS PRIX FRANCOIS CHALAIS!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_oXwZIFdtI/AAAAAAAAA_8/PuDCSZOEEFA/s1600/02lifeaboveall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_oXwZIFdtI/AAAAAAAAA_8/PuDCSZOEEFA/s400/02lifeaboveall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474714417168217810" /></a><br /><strong>SA movie scoops coveted Cannes award</strong><br />Nadia Neophytou<br /><br />"The local movie Life Above All scooped a prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday night.<br /><br />"The film created a buzz at the event earlier this week when it received a 10 minute standing ovation following its premiere.<br />The buzz around the film is still growing. The film was awarded with the esteemed Prix Francois Chalais Award.<br /><br />"Producer Greig Buckle said: “[The award is] about the film that reflects the world we live in at the moment. So for me that’s quite an achievement. Our film has been recognised as reflecting the real world we live in.”<br />Gerdard Carreyrou was part of the panel that decides who wins the award. The panel said the film showed humanity and was inspirational."Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-16440141299027913312010-05-20T21:00:00.005-04:002010-05-20T21:18:20.118-04:00WATCH THE TRAILER FOR 'LIFE ABOVE ALL'<p>Watch the trailer for LIFE ABOVE ALL on the Cannes Film Festival's official website<a href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/mediaPlayer/10599.html" target="_blank"> HERE</a>!</p>Allan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-24298701993631805002010-05-20T14:17:00.011-04:002010-05-20T21:30:09.376-04:00TEN MINUTE STANDING OVATION FOLLOWING 'LIFE ABOVE ALL' SCREENING AT CANNES!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_WGrasnUWI/AAAAAAAAA_s/vC5uDLEjJGE/s1600/lifeaboveallsm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S_WGrasnUWI/AAAAAAAAA_s/vC5uDLEjJGE/s400/lifeaboveallsm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473429002597650786" /></a><br />LIFE ABOVE ALL, the film adaptation of my novel CHANDA'S SECRETS, has received a ten minute standing ovation and a rave from Roger Ebert! <br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/05/cannes_6_of_emotion_and_its_ab.html">Roger Ebert's Blog: Of emotion and its absence</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/article/2010-05-20-63rd-cannes-applause-emotion-and-life-above-all">The Daily Maverick: Applause, emotion and Life Above All</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/05/19/f-cannes-canadians-dolan-egoyan-pink.html">From CBC News: Canadian filmmakers bask in the warm glow of Cannes</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/this-could-have-been-a-big-canadian-film-at-cannes/article1569179/">The Globe & Mail: 'This could have been a big Canadian film at Cannes'</a><br /><br /><a href="http://missntertainment.blogspot.com/2010/05/life-above-all-in-cannes.html">Miss N-tertainment: Life Above All in Cannes</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=3003161&p=2">National Post: How a Canadian's book on HIV made it to the Cannes filmfest</a><br /><br />So much more to say but will blog at length later. Gotta run or I'll miss my plane to Venice!<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-20751031825820577272010-05-17T20:00:00.009-04:002010-05-17T20:00:10.645-04:00CHICAGO: MAYOR DALEY'S BOOK CLUB<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_86izGu2I/AAAAAAAAA_k/shz6rl7SBNs/s1600/IMG_7984.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_86izGu2I/AAAAAAAAA_k/shz6rl7SBNs/s400/IMG_7984.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471870154982210402" /></a><br /><br />Sorry to take time away from the Vietnam/Cambodia tour, but hey, I've had kind of a busy weekend I thought you'd like to know about -- namely a trip to Chicago and then off to Cannes!<br /><br />First off, I flew down to Chicago, Friday -- like you couldn't tell from the photo of The Bean -- where I was put up at the Marriott Hotel to be keynote speaker to 1,500 fans of my novel CHANDA'S WARS. It was on Mayor Daley's Book Club that goes all across the Chicago school board -- the third largest in America. An honour and a thrill.<br /><br />I love Chicago -- especially Millennium Park. More Bean please...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_69lZza-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/JkIVgcm3i3A/s1600/IMG_7978.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_69lZza-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/JkIVgcm3i3A/s400/IMG_7978.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471868008197745634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_69PXm13I/AAAAAAAAA_E/idKih4Dkb_w/s1600/IMG_7979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_69PXm13I/AAAAAAAAA_E/idKih4Dkb_w/s400/IMG_7979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471868002282952562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_68k04p3I/AAAAAAAAA-8/x0ywSm8rxrI/s1600/IMG_7980.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_68k04p3I/AAAAAAAAA-8/x0ywSm8rxrI/s400/IMG_7980.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471867990863030130" /></a><br /><br />...the Gehry amphitheater... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_86C3dGYI/AAAAAAAAA_c/JSoumzpfzoo/s1600/IMG_7986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_86C3dGYI/AAAAAAAAA_c/JSoumzpfzoo/s400/IMG_7986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471870146410518914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_85jYG5rI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ZaY6sAd7pn0/s1600/IMG_7972.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_85jYG5rI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ZaY6sAd7pn0/s400/IMG_7972.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471870137957541554" /></a><br /><br />... and that totally cool glass block statue with the changing faces of locals who spit jets of water out of their mouths. (In the heat of the summer, kids run through the water jets squealing with laughter.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_68W23GBI/AAAAAAAAA-0/aa0SxUt18gc/s1600/IMG_7956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_68W23GBI/AAAAAAAAA-0/aa0SxUt18gc/s400/IMG_7956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471867987113220114" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_67zEChZI/AAAAAAAAA-s/sZxsYbZgGeE/s1600/IMG_7960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_67zEChZI/AAAAAAAAA-s/sZxsYbZgGeE/s400/IMG_7960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471867977504818578" /></a><br /><br /><br />But more than anything, I love public speaking. I'm great with people if either (a) they're a small group of friends, or (b) if I'm on a stage in front of a crowd. I mean what's the big deal in talking to a few hundred fans? It's fun. But put me in a cocktail party and in five seconds I want to bolt. Honestly, who invented cocktail parties? -- "Minglers" where total strangers breathe cheap wine and brie in each others faces and talk about the weather. CHEQUE PLEASE! Getting through one of those suckers sober is a total drag!<br /><br />BUT ANYWAY, MAYOR DALEY'S BOOK CLUB WAS FANTASTIC!. 1,500 STUDENTS WHO HAD READ MY BOOK AND WERE DEVOTING A SATURDAY MORNING TO THE BOOK CLUB EVENT. AUTHOR HEAVEN! And meeting Mayor Daley was terrific too. what he's done to beautify Chicago is truly amazing.<br /><br />I also love Chicago's architecture, the cityscapes, street life...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5cKzVj7I/AAAAAAAAA-k/MtH_lFUKX_A/s1600/IMG_7962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5cKzVj7I/AAAAAAAAA-k/MtH_lFUKX_A/s400/IMG_7962.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471866334609772466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5bs9Q6QI/AAAAAAAAA-c/Ih1lgIGLUm0/s1600/IMG_7955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5bs9Q6QI/AAAAAAAAA-c/Ih1lgIGLUm0/s400/IMG_7955.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471866326598347010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5bWfOosI/AAAAAAAAA-U/2R14MHH2W6E/s1600/IMG_7988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5bWfOosI/AAAAAAAAA-U/2R14MHH2W6E/s400/IMG_7988.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471866320566788802" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5aw36oPI/AAAAAAAAA-M/kXila-ymjw4/s1600/IMG_7990.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5aw36oPI/AAAAAAAAA-M/kXila-ymjw4/s400/IMG_7990.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471866310469787890" /></a><br /><br />And the cool public art. "Me see buildings. Yum."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5aoMZsDI/AAAAAAAAA-E/MQ6Wjx7fdSc/s1600/IMG_7970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S-_5aoMZsDI/AAAAAAAAA-E/MQ6Wjx7fdSc/s400/IMG_7970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471866308139790386" /></a><br /><br />After the event -- Saturday --I flew back to Toronto and packed for Cannes where LIFE, ABOVE ALL, the film adaptation of my novel CHANDA'S SECRETS, is premiering on the 18th. Daniel and I flew out yesterday -- Sunday -- so today we're either arrived or en route, heading from Rome to Nice and then a shuttle to the film festival. Then after that a few days in Venice to research my next book, and then home where I'll tell you all about it!<br /><br />If you want to see some cool photos before I get back, I've pre-scheduled a post for May 20 of random shots of new stuff from Vietnam and Cambodia, to give you a taste of where I'll be taking you after Cannes and Venice. I think you'll especially like a preview of Angor Watt... :)<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-68021858179257368242010-05-13T08:00:00.016-04:002010-05-13T08:00:08.297-04:00VIETNAM: THE CRAZY HOUSE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDWbnQLdI/AAAAAAAAA1k/4XtP2MB2XGg/s1600/IMG_5914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDWbnQLdI/AAAAAAAAA1k/4XtP2MB2XGg/s400/IMG_5914.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464840356741787090" /></a><br /><br />Welcome to a Tim Burton movie set in real life! Dalat's Crazy House may not follow socialist architectural principles, but luckily it was designed by a daughter of a local Communist head honcho so it's Wacadoo Wackadoo all the way to the land of multi-coloured birds. The architect is a Paris trained PhD, actually, and certainly one of a kind -- even in the circus that is Dalat her building stands out. and yes, people can actually stay here -- it's not just a ride.<br /><br />This is a dining area a.k.a. shrine to her dad and the Party.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDWPJSIWI/AAAAAAAAA1c/w9F3QTgAxl0/s1600/IMG_5938.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDWPJSIWI/AAAAAAAAA1c/w9F3QTgAxl0/s400/IMG_5938.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464840353394860386" /></a><br /><br />May I take you to your room?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDVvPJk4I/AAAAAAAAA1U/-bIaiqdNW4o/s1600/IMG_5942.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDVvPJk4I/AAAAAAAAA1U/-bIaiqdNW4o/s400/IMG_5942.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464840344829531010" /></a><br /><br />Careful on the stairs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDVOza0QI/AAAAAAAAA1M/0xU0BrtYm18/s1600/IMG_5906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cDVOza0QI/AAAAAAAAA1M/0xU0BrtYm18/s400/IMG_5906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464840336123285762" /></a><br /><br />And don't fall off a corridor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cACg7gamI/AAAAAAAAA1E/oXdi2fwWH40/s1600/IMG_5912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cACg7gamI/AAAAAAAAA1E/oXdi2fwWH40/s400/IMG_5912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836716036647522" /></a><br /><br /><br />Enjoy the skylight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cACGf2iTI/AAAAAAAAA08/yAHUNKK6DqY/s1600/IMG_5902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cACGf2iTI/AAAAAAAAA08/yAHUNKK6DqY/s400/IMG_5902.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836708941334834" /></a><br /><br />Look out from a corridor at the west wing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cABoV7d1I/AAAAAAAAA00/SFjLF2pQUIk/s1600/IMG_5919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9cABoV7d1I/AAAAAAAAA00/SFjLF2pQUIk/s400/IMG_5919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836700846651218" /></a><br /><br />And here we are. A tad cozy, but a fab mirror, don't you think?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_dYtU_UI/AAAAAAAAA0s/OdYf0zDHX44/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_dYtU_UI/AAAAAAAAA0s/OdYf0zDHX44/s400/IMG_5931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836078174534978" /></a><br /><br />Want something a bit bigger? O.K.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_cmtnMNI/AAAAAAAAA0k/MWYNdKhxZ6E/s1600/IMG_5944.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_cmtnMNI/AAAAAAAAA0k/MWYNdKhxZ6E/s400/IMG_5944.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836064753955026" /></a><br /><br />And say hello to the security guard. Mr. G. Raffe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_bzEXWQI/AAAAAAAAA0c/cw1FveNAVuI/s1600/IMG_5916.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b_bzEXWQI/AAAAAAAAA0c/cw1FveNAVuI/s400/IMG_5916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464836050890742018" /></a><br /><br />All in all a really fun place, and a great spot to interrupt our tour of Vietnam. Over the next few posts I'm going to try blogging from a couple of current trips. May 15th I'm addressing 1,500 students in Chicago from Mayor Daley's Book Club. CHANDA'S WARS was a selection across the board. Then on the 16th, Daniel and I head to France to the Cannes International Film Festival where CHANDA'S SECRETS is premiering as an Official Selection. We'll be there May 17, 18 and 19, then on to Nice and Venice where I'm researching my next novel. So.... if I get a chance to blog on the road that'd be fun. (Otherwise -- like if my days are just too packed, which may well be the case -- I'll show you some more of Vietnam and fill you in on Cannes when I get back.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-8441884225767972572010-05-10T09:30:00.001-04:002010-05-10T11:01:44.614-04:00VIETNAM: MONASTERY RETREAT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b01vmwVeI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Rb3YYybiEQQ/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b01vmwVeI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Rb3YYybiEQQ/s400/IMG_5832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464824402009937378" /></a><br /><br />After the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, a trip to the Buddhist monastery/teaching complex in the hills surrounding Dalat was just what the doctor ordered. What a joy to wander/wonder the grounds, free of our "guide" who happily texted his way through our visit.<br /><br />The complex was sooooooo tranquil. There were larger shrines for prayer...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b01InsaWI/AAAAAAAAAz0/OQg7Yu8dHLk/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b01InsaWI/AAAAAAAAAz0/OQg7Yu8dHLk/s400/IMG_5823.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464824391544891746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b009o6CaI/AAAAAAAAAzs/NHdVyU-6yKk/s1600/IMG_5826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b009o6CaI/AAAAAAAAAzs/NHdVyU-6yKk/s400/IMG_5826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464824388597189026" /></a><br /><br />And smaller. All filled with incense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by91CjGyI/AAAAAAAAAzc/zjjKRhUnf4I/s1600/IMG_5841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by91CjGyI/AAAAAAAAAzc/zjjKRhUnf4I/s400/IMG_5841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464822341884386082" /></a><br /><br /><br />And a place for the monks to sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b00IkPiPI/AAAAAAAAAzk/jgxgwpS2O3U/s1600/IMG_5837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9b00IkPiPI/AAAAAAAAAzk/jgxgwpS2O3U/s400/IMG_5837.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464824374350547186" /></a><br /><br />We loved the wander down to the lake...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by9WLiIlI/AAAAAAAAAzU/VfvJMnHTySE/s1600/IMG_5856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by9WLiIlI/AAAAAAAAAzU/VfvJMnHTySE/s400/IMG_5856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464822333600571986" /></a><br /><br />In the morning haze, the lake was ethereal as a silk embroidered painting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by885kDnI/AAAAAAAAAzM/kk9LZ9_u3TY/s1600/IMG_5854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by885kDnI/AAAAAAAAAzM/kk9LZ9_u3TY/s400/IMG_5854.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464822326814314098" /></a><br /><br />And being Buddhist and Vietnamese, the complex gardens were filled with whimsy and joy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by8eeKyDI/AAAAAAAAAzE/co88fpRqEz0/s1600/IMG_5833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by8eeKyDI/AAAAAAAAAzE/co88fpRqEz0/s400/IMG_5833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464822318646347826" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by75IEHgI/AAAAAAAAAy8/8gdDHeuGJuQ/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S9by75IEHgI/AAAAAAAAAy8/8gdDHeuGJuQ/s400/IMG_5835.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464822308621524482" /></a><br /><br />Ahhhhh....<br /><br />*********<br /><br />Hey -- any questions you have, feel free to ask. If I don't see them immediately because of travel, I'll be sure to answer immediately on my return.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-41286536687685647342010-05-06T08:00:00.002-04:002010-05-06T10:18:28.275-04:00DALAT: VIETNAM'S NIAGARA FALLS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSB3OOneI/AAAAAAAAAxU/XeszAYzbais/s1600/IMG_5801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSB3OOneI/AAAAAAAAAxU/XeszAYzbais/s400/IMG_5801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461478796329655778" /></a><br /><br />Dalat is Vietnam's Niagara Falls. There isn't a falls but there is a beautiful lake for honeymooners to paddle around in. Apparently. When we were there it was being drained for sludge. Aside from that, the town is pretty and has a bunch of neat stuff like tacky advertising (see above), the summer palace of ex-Emperor (a.k.a. French flunky) Bao Dai, the Crazy House which is truly a fun time inside the head of a gonzo architect (female head of the local party boss with a PhD in architecture from Paris), and a beautifully tranquil Buddhist retreat in the mountains by a lake.<br /><br />True fact: During the war it was one of the few places that didn't get bombed because the generals on BOTH sides liked to holiday here. They had their R&R is villas almost spitting distance from each other.<br /><br />Anyway, before you wander Dalat, you have to get there. And clouds like this aren't promising...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSBmc6ZaI/AAAAAAAAAxM/MlHQu7o3eeM/s1600/IMG_5782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSBmc6ZaI/AAAAAAAAAxM/MlHQu7o3eeM/s400/IMG_5782.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461478791827842466" /></a><br /><br />Because you have to travel over mountains alongside cars, trucks and mopeds that maybe haven't had their last oil check.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSBEqIhhI/AAAAAAAAAxE/Dis4NWw47pQ/s1600/IMG_5747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sSBEqIhhI/AAAAAAAAAxE/Dis4NWw47pQ/s400/IMG_5747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461478782756488722" /></a><br /><br />Whoopsee!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQ0xKEg7I/AAAAAAAAAw8/cO2PkKk65hw/s1600/IMG_5748.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQ0xKEg7I/AAAAAAAAAw8/cO2PkKk65hw/s400/IMG_5748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461477471851676594" /></a><br /><br />There are also, it must be said, glorious tea plantations en route. (This shot from the car window -- our guide too wrapped up in a text message to ask the driver to stop.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQ0YyhXKI/AAAAAAAAAw0/UDKLPfAeLk8/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQ0YyhXKI/AAAAAAAAAw0/UDKLPfAeLk8/s400/IMG_5776.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461477465310452898" /></a><br /><br />And then you arrive in Paris...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQz1qfIOI/AAAAAAAAAws/WBuBnceZEc8/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQz1qfIOI/AAAAAAAAAws/WBuBnceZEc8/s400/IMG_5793.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461477455881511138" /></a><br /><br />I mean Dalat. The Eiffel Tower is a bit of public art we saw outside out hotel window. The bee, teapot and cup and saucer (below) were across the street. We actually got to see these the following morning because our driver and guide were so hopelessly lost it was dark by the time we found our hotel. (BTW, check out the beautiful lake behind Daniel and you'll see why it was being drained.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQzQ9yDZI/AAAAAAAAAwk/vH0wzj5Xdrc/s1600/IMG_5798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQzQ9yDZI/AAAAAAAAAwk/vH0wzj5Xdrc/s400/IMG_5798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461477446030331282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQyxhOCnI/AAAAAAAAAwc/0xav-cUolIA/s1600/IMG_5799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8sQyxhOCnI/AAAAAAAAAwc/0xav-cUolIA/s400/IMG_5799.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461477437589031538" /></a><br /><br />Next post some truly wonderful things -- the Buddhist retreat/school/complex, the Emperor's Palace and the (truly) Crazy House.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-3405048736484013482010-05-03T10:54:00.014-04:002010-05-03T15:25:53.854-04:00VIETNAM: FROM DICTATORS TO DALAT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3pilof8I/AAAAAAAAAwE/9JgGnRK3bgo/s1600/IMG_5707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3pilof8I/AAAAAAAAAwE/9JgGnRK3bgo/s400/IMG_5707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461309053683138498" /></a><br /><br />So last post I said we'd be in Dalat today, the Niagara Falls of Vietnam -- minus the falls. But I thought I'd be remiss if I didn't show you ANY public buildings in Saigon. (Or Ho Chi Minh City as they say in the North, or if they work for the Vietnamese government.) So okay. This is the entrance to Vietnam's answer to Disneyworld. We didn't go inside, but I thought the dragon might catch your attention.<br /><br />Below is the building everyone my age remembers -- Reunification Palace, known as the Presidential Palace during the American War In Vietnam. In Vietnam, you have to specify WHICH war, because the Vietnamese were ruled by the Chinese for a full millennium, then battled the Japanese, the Khmer, several doses of the French, then Uncle Sam, and more crap from Pol Pot and China. Which explains why in Vietnam most everything old and man-made that's worth looking at got blown up, or if it was a statue got its head chopped off -- which is kind of disconcerting coming from a civilization that was flourishing at a time when most of us WASPs were still running around in kilts, living in caves on some godforsaken bog and eating haggis.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3pM4FxMI/AAAAAAAAAv8/u_yvLBFhKWY/s1600/IMG_5661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3pM4FxMI/AAAAAAAAAv8/u_yvLBFhKWY/s400/IMG_5661.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461309047854974146" /></a><br /><br /><br />And this is the view from upstairs -- what you'd see if you were the puppet despot General Thieu finishing your morning pho and wondering what fresh disasters were in store for the day. (Like the day one of his helicopter pilots bombed the palace and split to Cambodia; apparently the guy's now the head of Vietnamese Airlines.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3o0piA5I/AAAAAAAAAv0/knjsw299wmM/s1600/IMG_5682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3o0piA5I/AAAAAAAAAv0/knjsw299wmM/s400/IMG_5682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461309041351459730" /></a><br /><br />I won't bore you with the official rooms which all look more or less as stiff and uncomfortable the one below. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8qCuMTpseI/AAAAAAAAAwU/EL-DaqNCyQk/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8qCuMTpseI/AAAAAAAAAwU/EL-DaqNCyQk/s400/IMG_5672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461321228229390818" /></a><br /><br />As in Argentina, Daniel and I traveled solo or with just us, a driver and guide. It saves being stuck on a bus for weeks with a group of forty souvenir hunters who can't wait to stop at the next rug and pottery outlet. Or having to wait till EVERYONE has had their time in the Happy Room -- which is what toilets are called here.<br /><br />Our guide throughout the southern part of our trip was totally unlike the fantastic Pablo Sancho Perez in Argentina. (see posts in January/February.) I mean he was so totally useless I can't even be bothered to think up a good simile to describe his incompetence. Basically, he spent his whole time texting and talking on his cell, like we were a major drag on his way to a party. So I spent my time at the palace imagining what might be going through the mind of a nineteen-sixties/seventies despot.<br /><br />Hmmm, I thought. If I was stuck wearing a bunch of heavy braid and military medals, and a hat three times the size of my head, what would I want on the buffet in my office? Why, a dead animal, of course. And sure enough -- <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1qLnTGDI/AAAAAAAAAvk/af9LWx-5udk/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1qLnTGDI/AAAAAAAAAvk/af9LWx-5udk/s400/IMG_5666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461306865672722482" /></a><br /><br />And what self-respecting dictator in the sixties would be caught dead without a conversation nook?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3ocnPL3I/AAAAAAAAAvs/kInOJd2rS0A/s1600/IMG_5681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p3ocnPL3I/AAAAAAAAAvs/kInOJd2rS0A/s400/IMG_5681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461309034899386226" /></a><br /><br />And a little art.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p-u6g9VhI/AAAAAAAAAwM/oxnwlyYQRdE/s1600/IMG_5679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p-u6g9VhI/AAAAAAAAAwM/oxnwlyYQRdE/s400/IMG_5679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461316842586723858" /></a><br /><br />If youth is wasted on the young, power is wasted on the powerful. I mean, honestly, the taste of tyrants is almost universally banal: see Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Attila the Hun. The powerful. That's who I blame those Renaissance cherubs on -- powerful popes and cardinals. I picture Michaelangelo focused on God touching Adam's finger, and il Papa bursting into the Sistine chapel to say, "Ciao y buen giorno. You don't suppose you could put a couple of chubby-legged cherubs in the corner, do you? It would mean so much to the priests."<br /><br />Anyway, to prove the point about banal, lets head to General Thieu's bedroom. Not to be a snob, but check out the books by his night table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1p53fwpI/AAAAAAAAAvc/WW71X_Dkb1M/s1600/IMG_5676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1p53fwpI/AAAAAAAAAvc/WW71X_Dkb1M/s400/IMG_5676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461306860908823186" /></a><br /><br />Yup. Airport and Topaz. Oh sure, there's two volumes of Henry James, too -- but that was just to get to sleep.<br /><br />So anyway, now we're off to Dalat. Note the lotus bauble on the driver's dashboard. and the suburban sprawl that cuts the view of the countryside from the road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1pGU0C8I/AAAAAAAAAvU/6zFUsv41gGk/s1600/IMG_5710.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1pGU0C8I/AAAAAAAAAvU/6zFUsv41gGk/s400/IMG_5710.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461306847073143746" /></a><br /><br />At last, however, we start passing rubber plantations, which as far as I can see is about the only lasting legacy of the French colonists. Our guide had no intention of stopping -- and we were his only tourists -- so we staged a revolt and said we had to do our Happy Business and it could either be behind a tree or in the back seat, his choice.<br /><br /> Anyway, here's Daniel amongst the rubber trees.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1oivemHI/AAAAAAAAAvM/PCGXu6dmKLA/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1oivemHI/AAAAAAAAAvM/PCGXu6dmKLA/s400/IMG_5720.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461306837521307762" /></a><br /><br />And here I am by a pan where the rubber sap's being drained. It's a bit like what happens when they make maple syrup, only don't put it on your pancakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1oLCV1VI/AAAAAAAAAvE/6VqmESJzWvQ/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8p1oLCV1VI/AAAAAAAAAvE/6VqmESJzWvQ/s400/IMG_5727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461306831157974354" /></a><br /><br />Okay, next post we're in Dalat, a place I really liked.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />MeAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760542830719097908.post-21496715768687774582010-04-29T16:02:00.001-04:002010-04-29T19:32:21.448-04:00INSIDE THE VIET CONG TUNNELS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8ospUz9N7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/Eh-w8ol7Dw0/s1600/IMG_5598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8ospUz9N7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/Eh-w8ol7Dw0/s400/IMG_5598.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461226586613036978" /></a><br /><br />So here I am in Cu Chi one of the 163 miles of tunnels north of Saigon that let the Viet Cong appear and vanish as if by magic and led to some of the fiercest bombing and defoliation in the war. It's weird down here. So come along for the tour. I guarantee you'll see more than the inside of my nose.<br /><br />First of all note the tiny opening into the tunnel. You enter arms over your head and close the trap. As you can imagine, when it's properly in place it's impossible to see where it is. Poof! you've vanished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8ospE2n4kI/AAAAAAAAAu0/SN_eV1qe6_s/s1600/IMG_5580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8ospE2n4kI/AAAAAAAAAu0/SN_eV1qe6_s/s400/IMG_5580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461226582329254466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8osoiFgWJI/AAAAAAAAAus/-7pRrUDMIFE/s1600/IMG_5582.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8osoiFgWJI/AAAAAAAAAus/-7pRrUDMIFE/s400/IMG_5582.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461226572996434066" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or9bGmfSI/AAAAAAAAAuk/ptQxppMJKiE/s1600/IMG_5583.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or9bGmfSI/AAAAAAAAAuk/ptQxppMJKiE/s400/IMG_5583.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461225832387607842" /></a><br /><br />The tunnels are very tight. Especially for Westerners. American forces going into the tunnels were known as the rat brigade -- Australian allies mostly as they were a bit smaller. You think this looks tight? Imagine what it feels like in the pitch black. I got a light only when the Vietnamese soldier in front of me turned to take my picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or80KzhvI/AAAAAAAAAuc/rT884NyiqZk/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or80KzhvI/AAAAAAAAAuc/rT884NyiqZk/s400/IMG_5634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461225821936256754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or8WaOR5I/AAAAAAAAAuU/4njgPy9WIPI/s1600/IMG_5633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or8WaOR5I/AAAAAAAAAuU/4njgPy9WIPI/s400/IMG_5633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461225813947860882" /></a><br /><br />Breathing holes were masked by nature. This one is in a termite mound where such holes are perfectly normal. The mounds are everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or71VD-mI/AAAAAAAAAuM/CvH0eoCCmJo/s1600/IMG_5601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or71VD-mI/AAAAAAAAAuM/CvH0eoCCmJo/s400/IMG_5601.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461225805067844194" /></a><br /><br />And here I am standing in a B 52 bomb crater forty years after the bomb. Imagine how deep it would have been then. And picture the surroundings, wiped out by napalm and Agent Orange. What hell is war.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or7U-47SI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oYKcpZM4LLo/s1600/IMG_5618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4vUuaTk-Fgs/S8or7U-47SI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oYKcpZM4LLo/s400/IMG_5618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461225796384910626" /></a><br /><br />Next post, a total change of pace. We're off to Dalat, the Niagara Falls of Vietnam.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AllanAllan Strattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096177635546409486noreply@blogger.com0