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Archive for June, 2008

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Yakety-Yack There’s a Macaque

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

On Thursday, we left Saigon and flew to Hue.  Hue looks like a great place beauty and culture-wise, but we were headed for monkeys and we’re not looking for them in cages.  After we struck out in numerous ways for the first inning, Rod and I had our hopes up for a better experience and Phuong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.  This is a park with ten different primate species living in a limestone karst landscape that is full of jagged forest covered peaks, extensive caves and springs.  One thing I always read about Vietnam is that it is a beautiful country and this beauty is truly exceptional at Phong Nha.

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Disappearing Wildlife

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

I guess I should first explain why I am in Vietnam.  This isn’t my normal visit to see the people and the sights/sites.  I am here with my friend, Rod, from South Africa who has a bird and primate safari business.  This is different than the other trips with Rod, though, because we are on what Rod calls a “recky” which means we are in Vietnam to do some reconnaissance for possible future business for Rod involving primate safaris.  I came along because Rod offered to have me along and I like traveling with Rod and the idea of finding the unknown in Vietnam was appealing.  The deal is that I pay my costs and understand that we may not find anything other than adventure.

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It’s Just a Name

Monday, June 23rd, 2008
I am currently in Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam - a city of only 300,000 people and no real purpose for tourists.  Except for a couple of guys looking for some interesting monkeys come tomorrow at 4:30 AM.  I really do ... [Continue reading this entry]

We’re a Point-to-Point Airline

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Asia has some cheap airlines.  Cheap airlines in Asia and I am thinking about all the crashes in Indonesia.  But I could not resist the unbelievably cheap tickets using Air Asia.  Of course, once ... [Continue reading this entry]

Going to Vietnam, Remembering Greg Wilkes

Saturday, June 21st, 2008
In couple of hours I head to Kota Kinabalu's airport and I fly through Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  At the beginning of my trip I would have told you this was one of my ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Eyes Have It

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Technically, I was on a birding trip in Borneo although I was here for the primates and more.  Rod set up two trips – one for birding and the other for primates – but the primate trip was canceled and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Blood-Sucking Leeches

Saturday, June 21st, 2008
I woke up one morning in Danum Valley in the heart of Malaysia’s Sabah on the island of Borneo and noticed blood all over my sheets. I quickly yanked back the covers expecting to find a horse’s head, but, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Real-time Photography

Saturday, June 21st, 2008
Finally!  I am presenting photos while still at the source.  I worked very hard on my photography skills the past two weeks here in Borneo and I was also able to process the thousands that I took to boil it ... [Continue reading this entry]

Short Skirts and High Heels

Saturday, June 7th, 2008
I decided that I had to find what Bangkok is most famous for - sleaze - for my last night in the city.  I did some research and discovered that there are three areas, one being Patpong which I had ... [Continue reading this entry]

Bangkok

Friday, June 6th, 2008
I'm starting to think this is my favorite city to be visited or at least the favorite of the big ones.  The Thai people are wonderful.  This is the only large city I have visited where the people are so ... [Continue reading this entry]