Back in Vietnam

It is great to be back in Vietnam again despite missing Anne, the family and friends. I keep check of the weather in NZ, and it is good to be in a warm tropical country, even if the temperature nearly kills you at times... But there is the early mornings and evening that are generally moderate and pleasant..

Work is going fine, many challenges to deal with, but working with the Vietnamese is really great. I have caught up with a few, but other still to be seen. It is spring here now and we are heading towards summer of heavy rains, hot weather and extreme humidity. Great to have a chance to get some aclimatization under way.

Myself and Greg did a little tour the other day on the back of our 100cc motorbikes. It is great fun and once you get used that in Vietnam the give way rule does not apply, use are just fine. The rule is, watch out for me and everyone watchs for everyone....

We visit a small town, with it many Catholic churches, a relique from the French I guess. It was Sunday and in on church there were lots of children attending what looked like a sunday activity day for kids..

We headed off through some rice fields (I will post more pictures from the stage the plants are now to hervest). It never ceases to amaze me that every single plant in pushed into the muddy ground, in perfect straight lines, by hand and almost all by women..

We heade to Tai Hoa, a relatively large town where Greg did stay during his historical first foray in Vietnam and TH. On the way i stopped on the road side where a few man were polishing great slabs (some a few tons) of beatiful local rocks. I went in and saw some nice specimens and being fond of mineral and rocks, had i being carrying decent amount of cash, i would have bought one or two pieces.... But i will be back..

Today, Saturday the 11th of May, i went of a walk around the project, adjacent to the village compound where we have accomodation, our meals etc...

I took a dirty track that took me to some small holders, peasnat blocks. Lots of crops in, sugar cane, maize, beens, tomotoes, you name it. The land seems very good, and some limitations to groth i am sure it is related to low soil pH and likely phosporus depletion. Some houses are really basic, the people ever so friendly..

sugar cane waiting for collection. All cut by hand and women seem to be the ones to do it

Sugar cane sprouting after harvest

Well it is about Vietnam but i have got some photos of Aotearoa, in fact from the top of the ranges on number one line. I did take the photos a few days before heading over here..

We will keep you posted