Comments for owee58.com http://owee58.com Life and Travel in Vietnam Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:48:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on by Owee http://owee58.com/2012/01/29/3608/comment-page-1/#comment-12981 Owee Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:48:11 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=3608#comment-12981 HI Jim, V'Explore is whi i recommend. I will email you HI Jim,
V’Explore is whi i recommend. I will email you

]]> Comment on Frustration by bob johnston http://owee58.com/2012/01/09/frustration/comment-page-1/#comment-12929 bob johnston Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:49:00 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=3599#comment-12929 Yep, ha ha!! Then there's the one about the moron who decided to open a western style cafe in Tuy Hoa (WHERE?!) . Had a local come in the other day with friends and ordered spaghetti. When it hit the table she asked Phuong what she should put on it...my wife said 'nothing, the sauce is very good, don't add anything'. She then watched as the girl proceeded to drown it in mayonaise, ketsup and chili sauce. After the first bite she announced 'it's not very good'... 'Texan' can always go to 'Wally-World' I can truely feel your pain!! On the other hand...and on the brighter side... The new pizza oven burned out the 'Playschool' plug and the receptacle it was plugged into. Nothing fit so it was arcing and just melted both after a few days. We called a guy who has done some work before and gave him a little list of some electrical things we wanted done. His suggestion (I'd thought about it but could see an argument coming) hard wire it through a heavy switch!!!!! I just stood there in total amazement and awe!!! Bob Yep, ha ha!! Then there’s the one about the moron who decided to open a western style cafe in Tuy Hoa (WHERE?!) .

Had a local come in the other day with friends and ordered spaghetti. When it hit the table she asked Phuong what she should put on it…my wife said ‘nothing, the sauce is very good, don’t add anything’. She then watched as the girl proceeded to drown it in mayonaise, ketsup and chili sauce. After the first bite she announced ‘it’s not very good’…

‘Texan’ can always go to ‘Wally-World’ I can truely feel your pain!!

On the other hand…and on the brighter side…

The new pizza oven burned out the ‘Playschool’ plug and the receptacle it was plugged into. Nothing fit so it was arcing and just melted both after a few days. We called a guy who has done some work before and gave him a little list of some electrical things we wanted done. His suggestion (I’d thought about it but could see an argument coming) hard wire it through a heavy switch!!!!!

I just stood there in total amazement and awe!!!

Bob

]]> Comment on Taxi scams and how to deal with them. by Warren Johnson http://owee58.com/2010/08/22/taxi-scams-and-how-to-deal-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-12882 Warren Johnson Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:32:04 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=2538#comment-12882 My first trip from the airport to my hotel in HCMC I paid 700,000 VND. A total rip-off and uncharacteristic of me since I'm really skeptical of taxis. My second trip out, I paid 150,000 VND for the ride from airport to District 1. In my time there, I have found VinaSun to be the most reliable and have gotten good fares. If you pay more than 150-200k for a fare from the airport to District 1, you overpaid. It's OK, we all take a beating once in a while. Remember that these people don't make a lot of money. That doesn't justify the price gauging but it explains why they view you as a walking ATM. You know what, sometimes you pay a little bit extra to a guy who makes $80 a month and that's not really a bad thing. You can afford it. My first trip from the airport to my hotel in HCMC I paid 700,000 VND. A total rip-off and uncharacteristic of me since I’m really skeptical of taxis. My second trip out, I paid 150,000 VND for the ride from airport to District 1. In my time there, I have found VinaSun to be the most reliable and have gotten good fares. If you pay more than 150-200k for a fare from the airport to District 1, you overpaid. It’s OK, we all take a beating once in a while.

Remember that these people don’t make a lot of money. That doesn’t justify the price gauging but it explains why they view you as a walking ATM. You know what, sometimes you pay a little bit extra to a guy who makes $80 a month and that’s not really a bad thing. You can afford it.

]]> Comment on by Jim http://owee58.com/2012/01/29/3608/comment-page-1/#comment-12849 Jim Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:26:09 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=3608#comment-12849 Can I get a recommendation on a reputable Vietnam-based tour company? Am considering a 3-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia for two persons in February 2013. Spent 10 months in the Meking Delta courtesy of the US Army in 1971 (advisor in Choung Thien province -- Kien Hung). Budget is not a big factor. Thanks in advance for your help. Jim Can I get a recommendation on a reputable Vietnam-based tour company? Am considering a 3-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia for two persons in February 2013. Spent 10 months in the Meking Delta courtesy of the US Army in 1971 (advisor in Choung Thien province — Kien Hung). Budget is not a big factor. Thanks in advance for your help. Jim

]]> Comment on Owee’s non tourist tour Part 1 by Owee http://owee58.com/2010/10/25/owees-non-tourist-tour-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-12783 Owee Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:16:26 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=2801#comment-12783 Yes iy is very possible. Please direct your questions to me directly. I have forwarded you my email. Yes iy is very possible. Please direct your questions to me directly. I have forwarded you my email.

]]> Comment on by Ray http://owee58.com/2012/01/29/3608/comment-page-1/#comment-12775 Ray Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:38:56 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=3608#comment-12775 This sounded like a great adventure. Take care. Ray This sounded like a great adventure. Take care. Ray

]]> Comment on Owee’s non tourist tour Part 1 by Noelene http://owee58.com/2010/10/25/owees-non-tourist-tour-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-12774 Noelene Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:25:13 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=2801#comment-12774 Hi Owee, is it possible to do some of the more 'off the beaten track' places you mentioned without using a motorcycle......we're heading for 70 at a fast rate and I don't fancy riding a motorbike. We have four days before we need to head down to HCM. Hi Owee, is it possible to do some of the more ‘off the beaten track’ places you mentioned without using a motorcycle……we’re heading for 70 at a fast rate and I don’t fancy riding a motorbike. We have four days before we need to head down to HCM.

]]> Comment on Vietnam… A retirement destination? by Owee http://owee58.com/2010/05/02/vietnam-a-retirement-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-12680 Owee Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:45:53 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=1815#comment-12680 Rut... There are many American expats that choose Vietnam as a retirement destination. As far as economic outlook, your guess is as good as mine. There are those that beleive that there will be a real-estate collapse, but I disagree. There are luxury homes,condos, and major hotel developement... I am sure the corporations building these places are not stupid and know what they are doing. Freedom of religion is a non issue and there are Christians,Muslims, asnd everything else here including a Cau Dai which incorporates the ideas of many religions. The government is almiost a non presence in day to day life and taxes are non existent for a foreignwer living here. Housing at the moment is inexpensive and besides the frustration with some cultural differences, there is no where else where I would rather be. I will send you my email if you have further questions Rut… There are many American expats that choose Vietnam as a retirement destination. As far as economic outlook, your guess is as good as mine. There are those that beleive that there will be a real-estate collapse, but I disagree. There are luxury homes,condos, and major hotel developement… I am sure the corporations building these places are not stupid and know what they are doing.
Freedom of religion is a non issue and there are Christians,Muslims, asnd everything else here including a Cau Dai which incorporates the ideas of many religions. The government is almiost a non presence in day to day life and taxes are non existent for a foreignwer living here. Housing at the moment is inexpensive and besides the frustration with some cultural differences, there is no where else where I would rather be. I will send you my email if you have further questions

]]> Comment on Vietnam… A retirement destination? by Rut Herford http://owee58.com/2010/05/02/vietnam-a-retirement-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-12678 Rut Herford Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:20:10 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=1815#comment-12678 I see the last posting here was dated in October of 2011. That isn't so long ago - but considering the frenetic pace with which the world is now moving, how are things in the second month of 2012? What is the economic/political oulook there? I'm retired from the U.S. military and also from state service, and now I make a living as a "work-when-I-want-to" science fiction novelist. It appears that any one of my retirements, and/or the money from writing, (I have a large "following" in Hong Kong and Indonesia, as well as in South Korea) would provide an excellent standard of living there for my wife and me; I love giving money to worthwhile purposes. And what about freedom of religion? Are Christians and Jews, and Muslims, and others, welcome there? Do they get along with one another, for the most part? So - I'm looking to find the "snake in the garden," so to speak. In other words, what's the catch? The weather and the apparent kindliness of the people are the biggest draws for me, frankly, as I grow older. Also- how much do the federal and localized governments, and various agencies and commissions, take via the various taxes and fees, such as on income, housing, etc? I hope you, or someone very familiar with that area, will reply. Thanks! Rut I see the last posting here was dated in October of 2011. That isn’t so long ago – but considering the frenetic pace with which the world is now moving, how are things in the second month of 2012? What is the economic/political oulook there?
I’m retired from the U.S. military and also from state service, and now I make a living as a “work-when-I-want-to” science fiction novelist. It appears that any one of my retirements, and/or the money from writing, (I have a large “following” in Hong Kong and Indonesia, as well as in South Korea) would provide an excellent standard of living there for my wife and me; I love giving money to worthwhile purposes. And what about freedom of religion? Are Christians and Jews, and Muslims, and others, welcome there? Do they get along with one another, for the most part?
So – I’m looking to find the “snake in the garden,” so to speak. In other words, what’s the catch? The weather and the apparent kindliness of the people are the biggest draws for me, frankly, as I grow older.
Also- how much do the federal and localized governments, and various agencies and commissions, take via the various taxes and fees, such as on income, housing, etc?

I hope you, or someone very familiar with that area, will reply. Thanks!

Rut

]]> Comment on V’EXPLORE, my choice in tour companies by christine http://owee58.com/2010/10/22/vexplore-my-choice-in-tour-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-12673 christine Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:34:01 +0000 http://owee58.com/?p=2783#comment-12673 I read in one of your comments (about buying pearls in Halong Bay) that you used a midrange tour boat. would you mind telling me the the name as I am trying to choose a 2 night/ not all about the food/ safe/ reasonably active/ staying on the baot at night/ somewhat off the beaten track cruise !! grateful for your help Christine I read in one of your comments (about buying pearls in Halong Bay) that you used a midrange tour boat. would you mind telling me the the name as I am trying to choose a 2 night/ not all about the food/ safe/ reasonably active/ staying on the baot at night/ somewhat off the beaten track cruise !!
grateful for your help
Christine

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