24th July. More reading

Just finished Harry Potter. Very enjoyable.

Also read 'White Limbo' by Lincoln Hall. The story of the first Australian ascent of Everest in 1984.
Two of them, Greg Mortimer & Tim McCartney-Snape, got to the top without oxygen and by climbing straight up the North Face and the Norton Couloir. Quite amazing!

Only 6 weeks to go until the Tibet jaunt.

20th & 21st July. A Rock Wall for Chartwell

Before & after pictures of the rock wall lining the drive-way at the Maleny house called 'Chartwell'. It took 4 truck-loads of rocks from Toowoomba and 2 days to build it.
Next step is to get the tarmac down within the next year before the weeds take over.

Recent Reading 2

I re-read the Phillip Pullman Trilogy - 'His Dark Materials' in the last week. I'd forgotten how good it was but was prompted to re-read when I heard that the 1st movie is on the way. It's being done by the same people who produced 'Lord of the Rings' and stars Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter (very evil character) and Eva Green as Serafina Pekkala, the glamorous witch queen.
The book has strong anti-Christian church undertones so I can't wait to see how the American Bible Belt inhabitants kick up a fuss, given their reaction to the Harry Potter movies.
These books are a recommended 'good read' and have possibly the saddest ending of any story I've ever read.

Recent Reading 1.

I was in Maleny last week and dropped in to my friend at the second-hand bookshop. What a find! I bought 5 books - all in pristine condition. They are;
Mountaineer. 30 years of climbing. Chris Bonington
The Boardman Tasker Omnibus. A hardback comprising Savage Arena, The Shining Mountain, Sacred Summits & Everest the Cruel Way.
Everest. Walt Unsworth. 3rd Edition. In hardback for only $25, about £10.
My Father Sandy. A biography of Wollaston by his son who was only 4 when his father was shot dead in Cambridge by a student!
Finally, Mountaineering by C.T.Dent. Published in 1892! It contains everything we need to know on getting fit, ice techniques, health in the mountains etc. albeit from 115 years ago.

Work

I don't want to put too much medical stuff on the blog, but this case was exceptional as a photo opportunity!
I was on-call last night. This poor guy works in a saw-mill. He was by himself when this stick was driven through his arm. It was so long he had to saw it off with his left arm then get help. Luckily it was a 'low velocity injury' so the wood bounced off the bone without breaking it and also pushed it's way between muscles, nerves and arteries without tearing them. He will make a full recovery. Lucky guy.

GOLF!

It has always astounded me how popular golf is. I could never work out if it's meant to be a sport, a hobby, a pastime, an excuse, a wank or what!
Almost every aspect of it irritates me - the gear, the expense, the fake exclusivety, the frank snobbery, the time consumption, the fact it is on television. The fact that it is often a major item on the News for gods sake!
I thought I was alone in this world.
I am aware that it was that great American, Mark Twain, who said 'Golf is a good walk spoiled'.
Now another American has driven a great stake through the ugly heart of that most monstrous and perverted of human occupations - golf!
I would recommend that anyone with even a hint of antipathy to those who like to stroke small white balls with a stick view the blog of my fellow blogger, Mr. Dirtbagger on my 'Friends Blogs' link to the right.
He gives these poseurs in baggy pants a little something to think about AND THEN SOME MORE.

GO GET THOSE STROKERS!

TIBET in 2 months!

So the holiday is over. Nearly time for the next one. Only 8 weeks to get even fitter and to GROW THE BEARD again.
Last time the beard was invaluable. My co-trekker Michael's face just about shrivelled and fell off but the beard was protection.
Currently sporting a mean 3 day growth!

3rd July. Vietnam. 12th & Final day

Our last day in Vietnam and time to stock up on a little art work. There is a talented bunch of artists who copy anything - old masters, new stuff, photographs. All done in oil on canvas. Paula & I added to our Gustav Klimt collection.


- BUT I NEVER GOT ROUND TO TRYING THE FANNY ICE CREAM!!

2nd July. Vietnam. Day 11

A morning trip to the 'War Remnants Museum'. This was known until quite recently as the 'Museum of American War Atrocities'.

It is a most sobering place. It is accused of being propoganda but it is clear that it simply serves to show that both sides do seriously bad things in any conflict, the vietnam war being especially unpleasant. The really spooky thing is the undeclared but obvious similarity to Iraq. You leave the place asking 'why are the Americans doing this to themselves all over again?' Nearly 4000 Americans and a much larger number of Iraqis will never learn the outcome of this one, but the outcome for Vietnam seems to have at last become good for this generation of young Vietnamese.

1st July. Vietnam. Day 10

A walk to the Reunification Palace. On 30th april 1975 a tank crashed through these gates signifying the end of the Vietnam war.


In the evening, a meal at 'Lemongrass' - another great restaurant. Looks a lot like a Margarita to wash the meal down.

30th June. Vietnam. Day 9.

A rainy day this one.
It is the monsoon season so it's about 33 degrees.
A day for shopping & drinking.

29th June. Vietnam. Day 8.

To see the Water Puppet show at the History Museum. Very clever & very entertaining.

After a meal at one of our other favourite restaurants, 'Restaurant 13', we stopped off in one of the many new bars in Saigon for yet another Margarita (See. It wasn't all Pina Colada).

28th June. Vietnam. Day 7.

The City Hall, formerly 'Hotel de Ville', next door to the Rex.
Ho Chi Minh's statue in the city square, simply marked 'Bac Ho' - Uncle Ho
Outside 'The Vietnam House' - one of our haunts.
A serious shopping day this. We stocked up on shirts, jeans, shoes, bags,..then we had to buy extra luggage to bring it all back in!

27th June. Vietnam. Day 6.

A 2 hour morning flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) found us very much relaxed in our old haunt - The Rooftop Bar at the Rex Hotel. Probably my favourite place in the whole of south-east asia.

26th June. Vietnam. Day 5.

The day began by a trip through a limestone cave into totally enclosed lagoon - very beautiful.
Then began the sail back to Ha Long city through more of the archipelago.

The day ended back in Hanoi with a game of darts and a beer.

25th June. Vietnam. Day 4.

A 3 hour drive to Ha Long city found us having a fabulous fresh seafood lunch on a large & comfortable Junk.

We set off among the 3000 rocky islets spread over 500 sq. km. that make up Halong Bay.

We explored caves and climbed up one of the islands.

In the late afternoon we anchored and were able to have a swim before our night in a beautiful lagoon.

24th June. Vietnam. Day 3.

First stop of the day was Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. After waiting in line for a while we were able to pass by his preserved body in it's glass case. I discovered that Ho wanted to be cremated and his ashes stored in 3 places in North, Central & South Vietnam. As he died in 1969 and the war was in full swing, it was decided to preserve him so that once the war was won the people of the South could come and see their saviour.
The girls, ever keen on shopping, got themselves some hats then hopped in a 'cyclo' back to the hotel. That evening after a meal at 'Club Opera', a restaurant recently visited by Jaques Chirac & Mr. Koizumo of Japan, it was cocktail time.
Madeleine's first Pina Colada. By God! We've created a monster!

23rd June. Vietnam. Day 2.

The 'Opera Hanoi Hilton', not easily confused with the prison of similar nomenclature.






We set off exploring Hanoi. The team in front of the lake in the centre of town, the Hoan Kiem. The Tortoise Tower behind.










At the top end of the lake is the Temple of the Jade Mound reached by this 'bridge of the Rising Sun'.

22nd June. Vietnam. Day 1.

The Croziers 4th Tour of 'Nam
- The SPRING ROLLS & PINA COLADA TOUR!


The usual dreary trudge to the airport, long delays, no fluids more than a spoonful and endless body cavity searches (Thanks Osama!!).
As usual we spend ages heading in the wrong direction - down to Sydney. Then on to Ho Chi Minh City and after a couple of hours the final leg into Hanoi.
How magnificent and welcome was the Hanoi Opera Hilton.
At least we were able to drink to total excess on the flight.