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CThomas
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 380
Location: HCMC, Vietnam
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 Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: new video -- arrival in Saigon |
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I think blogspot or blogger dot com might be blocked  So, here's a direct link to the youtube video. First impressions over the first couple of days. Just hanging in Q1. Have had a couple of great interviews and possibilities loom. And the food really does rock. Even the green fermented duck egg was... well, interesting.
Best wishes, fellow eslcafers in HCMC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXxuYQqUT4k |
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Tanker
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 72
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: new video -- arrival in Saigon |
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| CThomas wrote: |
I think blogspot or blogger dot com might be blocked So, here's a direct link to the youtube video. First impressions over the first couple of days. Just hanging in Q1. Have had a couple of great interviews and possibilities loom. And the food really does rock. Even the green fermented duck egg was... well, interesting.
Best wishes, fellow eslcafers in HCMC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXxuYQqUT4k |
Love your vids, Cthomas.
Hope you keep it up!
Cheers. |
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AdrianG4
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 160
Location: Harbin, China
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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| That was awesome |
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Buffalo Boy
Joined: 02 Oct 2009
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:41 am Post subject: |
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| That takes me back. Makes me want to drink a Tiger at Go2, and punch a shoeshine boy in the face. |
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inky
Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 283
Location: Hanoi
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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"...and punch a shoeshine boy in the face."
Comments like this make me sick. The only difference between you and the shoeshine boy is that you were born in the right place, lucky you. |
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just noel
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| inky wrote: |
"...and punch a shoeshine boy in the face."
Comments like this make me sick. The only difference between you and the shoeshine boy is that you were born in the right place, lucky you. |
I have wanted to deal with shoeshine boys in the same way.
They work for the mafia, and the money you give them goes to the mafia.
But while they shine your shoes - of which I used to pay 3 times the prices out of generosity - they take a shank or small screw drive and wedge a hole between your shoe and sole, and then glue it back and charge you more.
Pham Ngu Lao is not about the less fortunate or the poor: Pham Ngu Lao is about locals abusing and using locals for profit and greed.
Same goes for the fake beggars on Pham Ngu Lao - they are hired by the mafia to beg and walk a certain route, at certain times. It's all controlled. The money given to these fake beggars by soft and ignorant tourists goes to the mafia out of Cholon, and perpetuates this abuse. Abuse of locals by locals. |
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inky
Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 283
Location: Hanoi
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, yes. Sitting on your perch at GO2, spending your hard-earned cash, sloshing your Tiger 2-for-ones, you know so much about the lives of shoeshine boys. |
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bje
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| just noel wrote: |
| inky wrote: |
"...and punch a shoeshine boy in the face."
Comments like this make me sick. The only difference between you and the shoeshine boy is that you were born in the right place, lucky you. |
I have wanted to deal with shoeshine boys in the same way.
They work for the mafia, and the money you give them goes to the mafia.
But while they shine your shoes - of which I used to pay 3 times the prices out of generosity - they take a shank or small screw drive and wedge a hole between your shoe and sole, and then glue it back and charge you more.
Pham Ngu Lao is not about the less fortunate or the poor: Pham Ngu Lao is about locals abusing and using locals for profit and greed.
Same goes for the fake beggars on Pham Ngu Lao - they are hired by the mafia to beg and walk a certain route, at certain times. It's all controlled. The money given to these fake beggars by soft and ignorant tourists goes to the mafia out of Cholon, and perpetuates this abuse. Abuse of locals by locals. |
One of the most offensive posts I've read in the last five years; no wonder the locals want 'some' westerners to leave... |
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jayasia
Joined: 06 Apr 2009
Posts: 65
Location: Isaan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:51 am Post subject: |
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what's offensive?
What about when u give them your pair of shoes and they do a runner with them!
happened to a friend of mine
the next time he wanted to clean his shoes, he only handed over one as a time to be polished.
now that's absurd! |
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just noel
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| inky wrote: |
| Ah, yes. Sitting on your perch at GO2, spending your hard-earned cash, sloshing your Tiger 2-for-ones, you know so much about the lives of shoeshine boys. |
I have been been to Go2. I have never stated I drink Tiger beer, let alone beer at all. |
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just noel
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 168
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:09 am Post subject: |
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| bje wrote: |
| just noel wrote: |
| inky wrote: |
"...and punch a shoeshine boy in the face."
Comments like this make me sick. The only difference between you and the shoeshine boy is that you were born in the right place, lucky you. |
I have wanted to deal with shoeshine boys in the same way.
They work for the mafia, and the money you give them goes to the mafia.
But while they shine your shoes - of which I used to pay 3 times the prices out of generosity - they take a shank or small screw drive and wedge a hole between your shoe and sole, and then glue it back and charge you more.
Pham Ngu Lao is not about the less fortunate or the poor: Pham Ngu Lao is about locals abusing and using locals for profit and greed.
Same goes for the fake beggars on Pham Ngu Lao - they are hired by the mafia to beg and walk a certain route, at certain times. It's all controlled. The money given to these fake beggars by soft and ignorant tourists goes to the mafia out of Cholon, and perpetuates this abuse. Abuse of locals by locals. |
One of the most offensive posts I've read in the last five years; no wonder the locals want 'some' westerners to leave... |
What is offensive is that this abuse is allowed to go on.
My point is this: if you want to help, do so, in another way. Sozo is an honest and helpful organization.
If you want to help someone less fortunate - do it in another part of town. Instead of just giving some money, pay someone's tuition at a school that teaches computer skills, English or other skills. I've pitched in with some friends to do this for a couple of people. I don't expect anything in return, of course.
There are many ways to help the less fortunate. But doing so on Pham Ngu Lao by giving a dollar or two is not the best way.
As I said, where does this money given in PNL, actually go? My Vietnamese friends know, and talk about this a lot, when we sit and watch it happen. |
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CThomas
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 380
Location: HCMC, Vietnam
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:32 am Post subject: |
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I like that street corner a lot, among many other places I'm discovering. Also, I got ripped-off by one of the shoe-shine boys. I was angry at him (at the moment, wanted to punch him) but I kid him about it and help him with his pronunciation now and then -- for now mostly words like "expensive and bullshit" but all in good humor. I think a sense of humor is good to have here. That and a job 
Crazy city. Crazy, crazy city.
Glad the vid brought back some memories; I hope to share more as I branch out. Orchid festival coming up soon!
cough, cough.. |
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Zembekiko1Aegean
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| Punch a shoeshine boy in the face? Perhaps a very poor choice of words. Everyone knows how annoying the street people can be after time, but once you get to know them, and they you, they stop asking you or won't even bother with you at all. just a smile will do. I know each and every one of them down there, they are married, have children, families in the country to support. The only reason I stopped with the shoeshine guys is that they strarted argueing over my ten thousand dong. The women with babies? Give them a small amount from time to time without them asking and ask them to be quiet about it. The guy on rollers in the youtube video? Try putting yourself in his nonexistant shoes. I think that many ex-pats forget where we are. This is still a very poor country for many of the locals. As far as the Go2 and Wild Buffalo scene.....Any one who spends more than a few days there is just plain stupid; Overpriced beers, idiot tourists, painted whores and beer drinking foreign teacher asses. Go down any hem, the beer is cheaper and the locals nicer. |
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CThomas
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 380
Location: HCMC, Vietnam
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:42 am Post subject: |
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Oh, @Just Noel, I may look into Sozo. Website or contact?
Also, it's really cool: one of my potential employers has developed a pretty good charity program of it's own (actually, I can credit one man for it's development, but the company has been very supportive); part of my job would be to actually develop it some more, so I'm pretty stoked about the possibility.
. |
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Zembekiko1Aegean
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:45 am Post subject: |
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| Sozo is on Bui Vien. Good carrot cake. |
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