DAILY LIFE IN VIETNAM DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC 2020-2021

goodolboy wrote:

Got a question & observation to ask if others have the same experience...........why do the other Vietnamese shoppers always want to look in your basket to see what you have bought, like not a sly look to see,  but like let me see what the foreigner has bought! or is it just my imagination?

It's not just the Vietnamese; or your imagination. It's an Asian 'thing'. In my experience Koreans do it, Chinese do it - they're curious because you're different. 

RIP Peter Green, comes to us all in the end   fond memories of early Fleetwood Mac.......ahhhhhhhh them were the days.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ_wA_EvOoohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRu7Pt42x6Y

Back to temp checks, hand spray & masks as you enter my apartment block today. About 4 days ago I was going to post that round where I live it was like corona had never happened, social distancing....forget it, no large groups hanging out together......forget it, mask wearing, well I would conservatively estimate 20% wearing masks 80% not. It was like the people who would quite normally wear masks had been watching TV & what was happening in the West & decided they did not want to wear masks either.

Off to the visa agent today with passport in hand hoping for another 3 months extension. Better here in Vietnam even with this new outbreak than heading back to UK who's covid response can only be described as a circus led by a clown if it was not so serious.
235usd now for 3 months extension from my agent anyways.

Could you ib your agent contact info?  Thanks.

Would have been nice if government here had taken into account those here long term with good background could be given exemption from visa renewal..

Just feels like a way for agents to keep lining their pockets at the expense of those that have no other option.

As for masks.. back to photographing those selfish individuals that think they above the rules.

Building here reinstating 2 MTR exclusion zone for security staff.. not sure why because they are the worst offenders for breaking the rules.

I am worried, can anyone tell me if the Corona virus can be transmitted human to human by flatulence & someone letting one go in a confined space like an apartment elevator/lift.

goodolboy wrote:

I am worried, can anyone tell me if the Corona virus can be transmitted human to human by flatulence & someone letting one go in a confined space like an apartment elevator/lift.

Yes it can, please head to the local hospital for emergency treatment. Have the releasor of the flatulence go with you and receive govt funded frontal lobotomies to help forget about things.

colinoscapee wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

I am worried, can anyone tell me if the Corona virus can be transmitted human to human by flatulence & someone letting one go in a confined space like an apartment elevator/lift.

Yes it can, please head to the local hospital for emergency treatment. Have the releasor of the flatulence go with you and receive govt funded frontal lobotomies to help forget about things.

I have to "come clean" here, I was the one with the flatulence & tried to re assure in broken Vietnamese  the 3 ladies in the lift as they screamed "corona" at me & frantically pressed the next level down button & jumped out when the lift stopped that they were not in danger of contracting Corona because they were all wearing masks & all they had to do was hold their breath till we got to the ground floor.

goodolboy wrote:

colinoscapee wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

I am worried, can anyone tell me if the Corona virus can be transmitted human to human by flatulence & someone letting one go in a confined space like an apartment elevator/lift.

Yes it can, please head to the local hospital for emergency treatment. Have the releasor of the flatulence go with you and receive govt funded frontal lobotomies to help forget about things.

I have to "come clean" here, I was the one with the flatulence & tried to re assure in broken Vietnamese  the 3 ladies in the lift as they screamed "corona" at me & frantically pressed the next level down button & jumped out when the lift stopped that they were not in danger of contracting Corona because they were all wearing masks & all they had to do was hold their breath till we got to the ground floor.

WHO will be after you for that sort of behaviour 😋

On a serious note if someone has Corona who is to say that the virus cannot be passed on by flatulence? If it can survive in the air we breathe....

A birds eye view of the apartment block now in lock down HCMC Q12 taken from my apartment roof this morning, hope the wind keeps blowing West to East Park below my apartment completely empty this morning so the local Vietnamese must be worried. Or it might just be cos its raining!!



Back to self imposed quarantine for me, might just get the painting by numbers finished this time.

Back to the lock down days round here.......well sort of, can still have a walk in the park, not restricted to staying in apartment.

Happy BD to me!!......well not really my BD but its coming soon! so early gift to myself I think I deserve it .

Happy Birthday, or soon-to-be birthday.  Very cool bike.  May I ask how much you paid for it?

Very cool!  Is it vintage or repro?  I have no idea.

Ciambella wrote:

Happy Birthday, or soon-to-be birthday.  Very cool bike.  May I ask how much you paid for it?

40 mil

goodolboy wrote:

Ciambella wrote:

Happy Birthday, or soon-to-be birthday.  Very cool bike.  May I ask how much you paid for it?

40 mil

Still worth it.  Is it new construction? I assumed so with the derailluer but I just did some poking around on Google and it looks like 50's vintage.  Epically cool.

SteinNebraska wrote:

Very cool!  Is it vintage or repro?  I have no idea.

Circa 1954 fully restored & works a treat, just needs a bit of pedal power at fly overs if you dont get a run at it!!

goodolboy wrote:

SteinNebraska wrote:

Very cool!  Is it vintage or repro?  I have no idea.

Circa 1954 fully restored & works a treat, just needs a bit of pedal power at fly overs if you dont get a run at it!!


https://i.postimg.cc/TyxTTtBF/2-goodolb … y-work.png



https://i.postimg.cc/qhZhFfg2/bike-shops.png

LOL I had just updated my previous post after googling and guessed 50's.  Did they retrofit the derailluer?

I also like the black one in your second pic but yours is better.

goodolboy wrote:

Circa 1954 fully restored & works a treat, just needs a bit of pedal power at fly overs if you dont get a run at it!!

It would make it if you were VN-sized!

Now to be referred to as "The Flying Scotsman".

SteinNebraska wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

SteinNebraska wrote:

Very cool!  Is it vintage or repro?  I have no idea.

Circa 1954 fully restored & works a treat, just needs a bit of pedal power at fly overs if you dont get a run at it!!


https://i.postimg.cc/TyxTTtBF/2-goodolb … y-work.png



https://i.postimg.cc/qhZhFfg2/bike-shops.png

LOL I had just updated my previous post after googling and guessed 50's.  Did they retrofit the derailluer?

They have a heck of a shop full!  Is the shop in HCMC?  or do they have a website or Facebook page?  I'd love to go there.

SteinNebraska wrote:

They have a heck of a shop full!  Is the shop in HCMC?  or do they have a website or Facebook page?  I'd love to go there.

Its an Aladdins Cave of vintage bikes & bits of bikes, as for web site of FB I doubt the old guy that owns the place even has a computer I have some great videos of the shop etc, but cant download them on the forum, its about 500 mtrs from where I live & I have had a coffee a couple of times with the owner. I will send you a google map to the shop OK.


Borrowed this one for the weekend from the same shop but the engine mounted over the front wheel was not the easiest to ride in traffic.





By the way the old Lambretta & the Goebel are at a different place I was at last night getting Ms My's bike a new wrap job.

goodolboy wrote:

Ciambella wrote:

Happy Birthday, or soon-to-be birthday.  Very cool bike.  May I ask how much you paid for it?

40 mil

Sorry I made a mistake my GF just reminded me it was 35 mil I paid, not 40 mil , its an age thing........I think

That's a super looking bike, happy birthday? 😀

The factories round here must be going flat out these days, that cloud is not rain, dont fancy breathing that air! brings back memories living in UK 60 years ago. I really need to move to Da Lat to see the rest of my days out.

Am I losing it completely or have I missed something. Just saw an advert on Discovery Channel by Vietjet...........................'protect our planet' by flying with Vietjet. WTF is that about? Have I missed something can someone tell me please, have they converted all their planes to Hydrogen or battery power? Never seen anything on the news, or maybe I slept through it.

goodolboy wrote:

Just saw an advert on Discovery Channel by Vietjet...........................'protect our planet' by flying with Vietjet. WTF is that about? Have I missed something can someone tell me please, have they converted all their planes to Hydrogen or battery power?

Battery power!  I almost fell off the chair.   

Here's the explanation:  " 'Protect our planet - Fly with Vietjet' welcomes all passengers to experience green, eco-friendly flights on new, modern and fuel-efficient planes, and inspire others to protect the green future, repel natural disasters and epidemics, and bring good value for the community today and in the future."

Ciambella wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

Just saw an advert on Discovery Channel by Vietjet...........................'protect our planet' by flying with Vietjet. WTF is that about? Have I missed something can someone tell me please, have they converted all their planes to Hydrogen or battery power?

Battery power!  I almost fell off the chair.   

Here's the explanation:  " 'Protect our planet - Fly with Vietjet' welcomes all passengers to experience green, eco-friendly flights on new, modern and fuel-efficient planes, and inspire others to protect the green future, repel natural disasters and epidemics, and bring good value for the community today and in the future."

thanks for the explanation, sounds like they got the planet well  covered then! & hey, they mostly do their bookings on line & dont serv up free food on plastic containers & cups so I suppose compared to some they are doing their bit. Also I have heard many people say after flying Vietjet.........well thats the last time I will fly with them, I would rather walk. So thats doing their bit too.   Saying that I am joking & actually quite like flying with them & if you dont mind the check in's & the late take off's they are just fine by me. Just fond memories though, not boarded a plane since February.

Even the companies strip mining coal have gone 'green' these days.

Ciambella wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

Just saw an advert on Discovery Channel by Vietjet...........................'protect our planet' by flying with Vietjet. WTF is that about? Have I missed something can someone tell me please, have they converted all their planes to Hydrogen or battery power?

Battery power!  I almost fell off the chair.   

Here's the explanation:  " 'Protect our planet - Fly with Vietjet' welcomes all passengers to experience green, eco-friendly flights on new, modern and fuel-efficient planes, and inspire others to protect the green future, repel natural disasters and epidemics, and bring good value for the community today and in the future."

Battery power!  I almost fell off the chair.    ............................oh, I forgot to mention the 3rd option....passenger pedal power

So I have been coming to Vietnam for 14 years & actually lived here since 2008 & there is something that has really intrigued me all these years ................why do Vietnamese shout at each other when carrying out a normal conversation? Is it because they have been exposed to loud karaoke since they were kids & their ear drums have been adversely effected. This is a serious question & if someone can enlighten me I would really appreciate it, thanks in anticipation.

goodolboy wrote:

So I have been coming to Vietnam for 14 years & actually lived here since 2008 & there is something that has really intrigued me all these years ................why do Vietnamese shout at each other when carrying out a normal conversation? Is it because they have been exposed to loud karaoke since they were kids & their ear drums have been adversely effected.

Karaoke became a trend in VN less than 20 years ago when people started seeing financial improvement in their lives.  When I was here in 2006, no one owned a machine at home so karaoke is not the blame for the speaking volume.

Why they speak so loud, I have no idea.  The longer I live here, the more I see the many differences between VN pre '75 and VN now.  I fear that I sound like a broken record when I keep saying, "That's not how it was when I grew up."  It doesn't endear me to 80% of the population who know nothing of the gentle and culture life existed in this country once upon a time.

goodolboy wrote:

So I have been coming to Vietnam for 14 years & actually lived here since 2008 & there is something that has really intrigued me all these years ................why do Vietnamese shout at each other when carrying out a normal conversation? Is it because they have been exposed to loud karaoke since they were kids & their ear drums have been adversely effected. This is a serious question & if someone can enlighten me I would really appreciate it, thanks in anticipation.

I've noticed this as well, but I think it is just a modern trend not just in Vietnam. Before I discovered Vietnam I used to spend a lot of time in the Lanzarote, and Spanish people seem to be fighting all the time the way they shout at each other.

goodolboy wrote:

So I have been coming to Vietnam for 14 years & actually lived here since 2008 & there is something that has really intrigued me all these years ................why do Vietnamese shout at each other when carrying out a normal conversation? Is it because they have been exposed to loud karaoke since they were kids & their ear drums have been adversely effected. This is a serious question & if someone can enlighten me I would really appreciate it, thanks in anticipation.

I hear ya!
My neighbour talks so loud we have to close the doors. It's not an isolated thing, that's for sure.

I don't do it any more as I'm accustomed to it but I used to always ask my wife why she is so angry or ask what she is arguing about when she is talking to other Vietnamese - be it on the phone, in person, with family or with daughter.  I took the loud, forceful talking as anger.  She said just talking.  It's definitely not beautiful.

She used to get pissy when I would comment on a girl with a nice quiet, almost high whisper voice.  She referred to it as "Ha Noi voice"  and would mimic it breathlessly, batting eyelids, teasingly like it was not acceptable or fake.

Halloween been & gone, looks like Christmas is just round the corner.....well Big C Pandora thinks so anyway.