I was in Nha Trang when the news of the Tsunami hit the TV and as has happened many times in the past I was proud to be an Australian. Very early into the tragedy we saw fairly extensive coverage of Foerign Affairs Minister Downer offering millions in aid with video of RAAF Hercules aircraft [...]

While I’m busy in Vietnam paying respects to the valour of our troops at Long Tan, Evil Pundit points out that the story of the battle is soon to become a major film with first-time producer Martin Walsh intending to approach the likes of Russell Crowe, Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown and Sam Neill, [...]

We caught the Saigon-Vung Tau Hydrofoil. A futuristic looking fast ferry that is Russian built. Like all things Russian, (in my experience) it looks magnificent at 100 metres and tragic close up. The Vietnamese don’t help as repair and maintenance doesn’t feature beyond keeping the engines working. Screws and rivets rusting out, few light globes [...]

‘To Saigon. At last I’m in Saigon. The city of 8 million people, 4 million small motor bikes and absolutely no trafic rules that I can ascertain.Yesterday I flew Brisbane through Bangkok arriving late and tired. I had a good seat courtesy of my youngest daughter’s boyfriend who told me to phone the day before [...]

At last I’m in Saigon. The city of 8 million people, 4 million small motor bikes and absolutely no trafic rules that I can ascertain. Yesterday I flew Brisbane through Bangkok arriving late and tired. I had a good seat courtesy of my youngest daughter’s boyfriend who told me to phone the day before and [...]

This afternoon at 16:30 I depart Brisbane for Saigon. Blogging will be minimal over the duration of my sojourn in a Third World country however I will try. The biggest problem that I can forseee, will be my Third World standard knowledge of mobile blogging. Best of the season to you all and thanks for [...]

Koel Bird – bludger and user! Its storm season in Brisbane and every afternoon the noisy Keol can be heard coo-eeing around the suburbs. Locals call the Koel, or Eudynamys scolopacea, the Storm Bird as his call generally precedes a storm. Actually, it also follows a storm and if the storm wasn’t so noisy you [...]

Some comic relief from politics. From old Army mate Paul.

The Vietnamese Socialists are still getting up my ribs. The Australian Government/Customs are happy that I have 6 months left on my passport on return to Australia but not the bloody Vietnamese. They want 12 months. This socialist bullshit costs me another $230 for a quick new passport and not a little inconvenience. $230 isn’t [...]

Saturday afternoon and evening at the famous Breakfast Creek Pub with out-of-towner Tim Blair in attendance along with The Chief Bastard, Murph and Todd from A special kind of sauce, Paul from Paul and Carls daily diatribe and Matt Marty from The Rat Pack. Also very pleased at last to meet Arthur Chrenkoff who stayed [...]