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Sunday 31 January 2010

Tôn Thất Thiệp on a sunny afternoon

It was just one of those lovely days when the sunset filters through the pollution in a particularly pleasing manner. Ton That Thiep looked positively bucolic in places, especially the roadside dining option outside Sri Thendayutthapani Temple.

The other temple club

Motorist seemed to be in a particularly good mood and the road was quieter than usual.

Sunny Saigon afternoon on Tôn Thất Thiệp

Ton That Thiep is a busy little street now and home to three newish bars, the Temple Club, the 3T rooftop Barbeque and of course Fanny's.

Fanny Parking

I'm British so of course I took a picture of the Fanny Parking sign.


Saigon Tet decorations, the start

The city's gearing up for Tet, the biggest celebration of the year. The excesses of the Christmas decoration seem palid compared to Tetorations and it's all about tigers this year.

The tax centre at the top of Le Loi is one of the first to roll the big cats out:

Le Loi Tet decorations

The balloon sellers have inflated the tigers:
Tiger balloons

At least I think they're tigers, they could be orange and black zebras. Does Hello Kitty count as tiger?

Bonus pic!

Tourists who shouldn't leave home

Gratuitous back view of lost tourists for no particular reason except to marvel at the confidence it must take to wear such a hellishly mal-suited garment.

Monday 25 January 2010

Saigon from a distance

A visit to Conic Apartments, KDC gave me an interesting view of the city. The first picture shows the view to the left of the apartments and away from District 1.

Away from the city centre from Conic Apartments

Next a more direct view towards the city, I don't expect these fish ponds are going to be around for too much longer.

Towards District One from Conic Apartments

Finally, towards Phu My Hung and showing the plots already laid out for further developments in Conic.

Toards Phu My Hung from Conic Apartments

I tend to forget how flat HCMC is, we don't really want the sea level to rise.

Saturday 23 January 2010

Vespa Street

A trip to Vespa street to ooh and ahh at the pretty things.
Vietnam Vespas

Reconditioned Vespas are available all over town but Ly Thai To street in District 3 seems to be particularly well populated with refurbishing shops. Here's some pretty pictures:

Saigon Vespa Street

Vietnamese Vespas

Tools of the Vespa trade in Vietnam

Vespa styles available in HCMC

Vespa, Vietnam, beer optional

Beer optional. Most of the pictures here were taken at Hoa Vespa .

Sunday 17 January 2010

A sad day for footwear

Must buy new pink shoes

Alas a trip to shoe street looks necessary to replace the pink flip flops which pass as work shoes because they're not made of rubber.

Expat develops addiction to unavailable confectionary

Maltesers mannah.

The man's gone to Kuala Lumpur with the work and has promised to bring back Maltesers. I've been gorging myself on the last ones in the fridge which were donated by a very understanding friend.

I seldom touched the bloody things in the UK.

Saturday 9 January 2010

New balloons hit the streets

Who knew there were balloon fashions? At New Year I noticed that the balloon to have if you were anyone wasn't a tiger or spiderman or santa but one of these fantastic spiral creations.

New Balloons

I've already had a few of them bop me in the face but it would be churlish to complain about a balloon attack.

Saturday 2 January 2010

Helmets for sale

Helmet salesman, quiet period

A nice bit of urban decay and graffiti as a background to a pretty normal looking display of helmets. Graffiti still isn't too common but I've noticed a slow increase recently.