Sunday 29 March 2009
English Conversation Course
Today is the first day of my conversation course at the SYC. Like any good teacher, I conscientiously prepared my lesson plan in advance - put in on my wiki, with YouTube links and all. I checked out the new comp lab (was told I could teach there) a few days ago - no speakers. So nice and early this morning, went to my school to pick up a pair. Then made my way to SYC - and BLACKOUT!!! Murphy strikes again. No choice, had to sweat it out literally and figuratively. The lesson wasn't too bad - now I have to figure out how to make 21 participants converse as much as possible, and to help the quiet ones speak up. Let's see how it works out next week.
Saturday 28 March 2009
Moving out
Moving out of Sky Garden and moving into Hoang Anh 1 today. Question : How on earth did we accumulate so much "rubbish" in one year? I've been packing the last few nights and it never seemed to end. 2 movers helped with the shift - total bill : 600,000VND for a morning's work. Washing, taking down and hanging up the curtains for the whole apartment cost 480k (32kg!). Cleaning the sofa was 240k. Cleaning the aircon (4 units x @50k) and top up gas cost 280k.
Leaving the Sky Garden unit as pristine as when we shifted in
30% of the "rubbish" left to unpack
First night at Hoang Anh 1
Sunday 22 March 2009
The Alpha-SYC International Kindergarten
Our 2nd kindergarten is confirmed and is located at the Southern Youth Centre (SYC) in Binh Tan District. It is a collaborative project between The SYC and The Alpha Schools. We will occupy one floor for a start (12 rooms). Renovation started symbolically today as Mr Nhan, Director of SYC (and my good friend) advised that it is an auspicious day. An altar was set up, and I scattered rice grains and salt, and poured water and wine at the entrance of the school for good fortune.
We plan to open in June 09. What's so cool about this place (at least to a Singaporean) is that there are cows grazing just outside the school - it feels really close to nature and the air is fresh and clean here, unlike in the city centre. The Alpha-SYC will have access to all of SYC's facilities which include an indoor sports hall with 4 badminton courts, 2 football fields, 2 tennis courts, a volleyball court, music room, dance studio, computer labs and a huge canteen.
Cows grazing
A closer look ... at the cow
We will occupy the ground floor
The altar set up for the day
We plan to open in June 09. What's so cool about this place (at least to a Singaporean) is that there are cows grazing just outside the school - it feels really close to nature and the air is fresh and clean here, unlike in the city centre. The Alpha-SYC will have access to all of SYC's facilities which include an indoor sports hall with 4 badminton courts, 2 football fields, 2 tennis courts, a volleyball court, music room, dance studio, computer labs and a huge canteen.
Cows grazing
A closer look ... at the cow
We will occupy the ground floor
The altar set up for the day
Saturday 21 March 2009
Russian Market moving again
The Russian Market will be moving again (1 Apr 2009) - its 4th location if I'm not mistaken - and this time, away from the town centre. So it's unlikely that tourists will be visiting the place unless you know where it is : 225 Ben Chuong Duong St. It's still in District 1 but at a remote place - somewhere near Cho Dan Sinh. Will recce the place when they shift in April and update here.
Monday 16 March 2009
Saigon Cali Resort (Mui Ne)
Update on Saigon Cali Resort (13 Jan 2011)
See this great satellite map which maps Saigon Cali's location as well as the whole stretch of Mui Ne Resorts. Now you can find out exactly where each resort is in Mui Ne.
http://wikimapia.org/15314588/New-resort-in-Mui-Ne-Saigon-Cali
The stream on the left of Saigon Cali is the Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien). Scroll upwards and you can see the whole of the Fairy Stream all the way to where it hits right smack onto the new highway. Fantastic!! And if you're game for a hike, you can actually walk right to the Red Sand Dunes (Doi Cat Vang Mui Ne) by following the highway. Take note it'll be a hot walk so make sure you bring lots of water.
See Saigon Cali's contact page :
http://saigoncali-resort.synthasite.com/contact-us.php
2 other reviews :
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nas.latif/2/1257775371/tpod.html
http://www.travbuddy.com/Saigon-Cali-Resort-v314796
If all else fails, I was given this mobile number - the lady speaks English :
0933942938
You can call or sms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People - throw away Hai Au and other let-you&me-down resorts in Mui Ne and allow me to introduce you to the spanking new Saigon Cali Resort, opened a month ago. Brand new, and understandably spotless, this will definitely be my next resort stay in Mui Ne. It's located right next, and I mean really right next, to the Fairy Stream which flows by its walls. Price range US$35-45 (no breakfast included - a pity). However, it's near Kim Loan Restaurant so that is indeed a real comfort.
See this great satellite map which maps Saigon Cali's location as well as the whole stretch of Mui Ne Resorts. Now you can find out exactly where each resort is in Mui Ne.
http://wikimapia.org/15314588/New-resort-in-Mui-Ne-Saigon-Cali
The stream on the left of Saigon Cali is the Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien). Scroll upwards and you can see the whole of the Fairy Stream all the way to where it hits right smack onto the new highway. Fantastic!! And if you're game for a hike, you can actually walk right to the Red Sand Dunes (Doi Cat Vang Mui Ne) by following the highway. Take note it'll be a hot walk so make sure you bring lots of water.
See Saigon Cali's contact page :
http://saigoncali-resort.
2 other reviews :
http://www.travelpod.com/
http://www.travbuddy.com/
Email: saigoncali_resort@yahoo.com
saigoncali.resort@gmail.comIf all else fails, I was given this mobile number - the lady speaks English :
0933942938
You can call or sms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People - throw away Hai Au and other let-you&me-down resorts in Mui Ne and allow me to introduce you to the spanking new Saigon Cali Resort, opened a month ago. Brand new, and understandably spotless, this will definitely be my next resort stay in Mui Ne. It's located right next, and I mean really right next, to the Fairy Stream which flows by its walls. Price range US$35-45 (no breakfast included - a pity). However, it's near Kim Loan Restaurant so that is indeed a real comfort.Address :
42A Huynh Thuc Khang - Ham Tien - Mui Ne
(after the 18km mark if I'm not mistaken)
Tel : (062) 374 3505/06/07
Email : saigoncali_resort@yahoo.com / saigoncali.resort@gmail.com
Have a look at the pix I took.
Resort is long and narrow.
Friday 13 March 2009
Skewers Mediterranean Restaurant
Brought the family to Skewers for dinner as Bryan likes the clam chowder (after Noel brought us there for dinner). More of an "angmoh" place - lots of them there - and if you like wine, this is one good place.
Address : 9A Thai Van Lung St., District 1
http://www.skewers-restaurant.com
Food was good. Servings were big enough to share except for the dessert - serving was small but the quality was good. Brownie was very rich.
Bill was US$56.60 - which puts it on the expensive side where our family is concerned. For the tourist, this is ok but we can't be eating like tourists when we're living here. Breakdown of bill :
Address : 9A Thai Van Lung St., District 1
http://www.skewers-restaurant.com
Food was good. Servings were big enough to share except for the dessert - serving was small but the quality was good. Brownie was very rich.
Bill was US$56.60 - which puts it on the expensive side where our family is concerned. For the tourist, this is ok but we can't be eating like tourists when we're living here. Breakdown of bill :
Monday 9 March 2009
Mui Ne 2009
We're back to work after a 3D2N stay at the 3-star Sea Gull (Hai Au) Resort. I was mistaken - it's not a 4-star. Here's a breakdown of the trip to help first-timers plan a trip there. And here's a map from Kim Loan Restaurant to orientate you. BTW, this location is around the 18km mark.
COACH
We took the PuTa Travel open-tour coach. Booked @ :
COACH
We took the PuTa Travel open-tour coach. Booked @ :
259-261 De Tham St in Pham Ngu Lau, Dist 1
Tel 0838 379 879.
http://putatravel.com.vn
Email : info@putatravel.com.vn
Coach was clean and spacious, driver drove safely, departed on time.
Time taken to get there : 7.30am to 1.15 pm - 5hr 45min (30 min stop)
Time taken to get back : 2.02pm to 7.50pm - 5hr 50min (30 min stop)
Bus @ rest-point
PuTa coaches stop at their Mui Ne office and passengers are transported to their resorts by car from there. If you take Sinh Cafe coach, you'll be dropped at your resort directly; no transfer. For 80,000VND one-way, I cannot complain. If you have booked a 2-way trip like we did, remember to confirm your return trip a day before. Puta's Mui Ne Office tel is 0623 743 113.
SEA GULL (HAI AU) RESORT (3-STAR)
Rooms. The room we had was antiquated as were the furniture. It's not our kind so we didn't quite like it. The room was rather shabby but quite spacious as we had 3 double beds and a living room in it. We get the feeling that this isn't one of their regular rooms as the sheets, blankets and bed were not even of 2-star standard (even Sinh Cafe's 2 star resort looked so much better - I stayed there once). The other rooms that we saw in the resort looked much better. Mosquitoes were a nuisance in the room though - a problem a 3-star resort shouldn't have.
Not even 2-star, ya? But must admit it's big
The living room
Surroundings. The resort is big, the pool is big - overall, it looked good - nicely manicured and clean. There are karaoke rooms, a new spa (opened in Dec 08) that was not staffed for whatever reason, a tennis court, billiard room (free till 5pm; old tables though), a big pool and a restaurant/bar.
Nice pool
Well manicured
Presumably some of the nicer smaller rooms
Food. The chef cooked quite well but the menu was pricey. See my comments on alternatives below. Nicole and I went for a drink during their "proclaimed" Happy Hour (1 for 1) but was told that our order of "Blue Lagoon" had finished - when there was no customer in sight!!
Service. Service was poor. We asked whether we could get 2 rooms (seeing the condition of our current room) and the reception staff said that we had to pay US$30 more per day!!! That was on Friday when there was less than 10 occupants at the resort. They were not very helpful at all. When asked to extend our checkout by an hour (to 1pm as our bus pick-up was at 1.30pm), they were unwilling to give even though there were just a few guests left on Sunday. Finally, they grudgingly gave an extra half-hour to 12.30pm. On top of that, they had a lecherous male stuff who decided that he should hang around my two girls.
Local tour. The price for a jeep tour at the resort was quoted at US$24 per head. When asked, the reception gave us a "discount" - US$15 per head - US$75 for the 5 of us!! We decided to go out of the resort to see if we could get a quote from a local travel agent. Came across this very friendly young man, Dung at Kim Loan Restaurant (KLR) who said that he could arrange a jeep tour for the 5 of us at a flat fee of US$25!!! Later, I found out that the resort staff, on learning that we're booking the jeep tour with Dung, told Dung to charge us more. So much for service. The jeep turned out to be fantastic - in a much better condition than I expected. The bars were even padded. More about Kim Loan later.
(Afternote : It was recently reported in the local news that the market rate for a 4-hour jeep tour was US$25. Remember that!)
Best fish sauce in town
There are a few more places to eat but we only tried one other - "Before & Now" - price is on the high side and quality on the low, you're better off with Kim Loan or Cay Cau - the latter's menu prices look very reasonable although we didn't eat there.
The following are all within walking distance of Hai Au.
For fantastic and cheap seafood - value for $$$ - go to Popular Restaurant. It's about 5km from Hai Au. Took a cab down - cost 50,000VND one way. Had dinner there for 2 nights.
Address :
Lam Tong Popular Restaurant
92, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet
ACCOMMODATION AROUND FAIRY STREAM
We found out that KLR had 3 rooms for rent - at an unbelievable US$4 PER ROOM (2 beds and a fan) and on top of that, it comes with an attached toilet. Now that is certainly value for money. Coupled with this great family running it, you can't ask for anything more. Bryan is now planning his next trip there with his friends.
KLR has earned itself many admirers and fans from all over the world. Have a look at the comments :
PLACES OF INTEREST
Red Sand Dunes
Mui Ne Fishing Village
Family portrait at White Sand Dunes
The Lotus Lake White Sand Dunes is recommended over its Red cousin because it's bigger and less trampled. Of course it's also further - about 25km from KLR. But you won't regret it. The Red Sand Dunes have too many footprints - can hardly see any wind patterns in the sand.
Time taken to get back : 2.02pm to 7.50pm - 5hr 50min (30 min stop)
Bus @ rest-point
PuTa coaches stop at their Mui Ne office and passengers are transported to their resorts by car from there. If you take Sinh Cafe coach, you'll be dropped at your resort directly; no transfer. For 80,000VND one-way, I cannot complain. If you have booked a 2-way trip like we did, remember to confirm your return trip a day before. Puta's Mui Ne Office tel is 0623 743 113.
SEA GULL (HAI AU) RESORT (3-STAR)
Rooms. The room we had was antiquated as were the furniture. It's not our kind so we didn't quite like it. The room was rather shabby but quite spacious as we had 3 double beds and a living room in it. We get the feeling that this isn't one of their regular rooms as the sheets, blankets and bed were not even of 2-star standard (even Sinh Cafe's 2 star resort looked so much better - I stayed there once). The other rooms that we saw in the resort looked much better. Mosquitoes were a nuisance in the room though - a problem a 3-star resort shouldn't have.
Not even 2-star, ya? But must admit it's big
The living room
Surroundings. The resort is big, the pool is big - overall, it looked good - nicely manicured and clean. There are karaoke rooms, a new spa (opened in Dec 08) that was not staffed for whatever reason, a tennis court, billiard room (free till 5pm; old tables though), a big pool and a restaurant/bar.
Nice pool
Well manicured
Presumably some of the nicer smaller rooms
Food. The chef cooked quite well but the menu was pricey. See my comments on alternatives below. Nicole and I went for a drink during their "proclaimed" Happy Hour (1 for 1) but was told that our order of "Blue Lagoon" had finished - when there was no customer in sight!!
Service. Service was poor. We asked whether we could get 2 rooms (seeing the condition of our current room) and the reception staff said that we had to pay US$30 more per day!!! That was on Friday when there was less than 10 occupants at the resort. They were not very helpful at all. When asked to extend our checkout by an hour (to 1pm as our bus pick-up was at 1.30pm), they were unwilling to give even though there were just a few guests left on Sunday. Finally, they grudgingly gave an extra half-hour to 12.30pm. On top of that, they had a lecherous male stuff who decided that he should hang around my two girls.
Local tour. The price for a jeep tour at the resort was quoted at US$24 per head. When asked, the reception gave us a "discount" - US$15 per head - US$75 for the 5 of us!! We decided to go out of the resort to see if we could get a quote from a local travel agent. Came across this very friendly young man, Dung at Kim Loan Restaurant (KLR) who said that he could arrange a jeep tour for the 5 of us at a flat fee of US$25!!! Later, I found out that the resort staff, on learning that we're booking the jeep tour with Dung, told Dung to charge us more. So much for service. The jeep turned out to be fantastic - in a much better condition than I expected. The bars were even padded. More about Kim Loan later.
(Afternote : It was recently reported in the local news that the market rate for a 4-hour jeep tour was US$25. Remember that!)
Read it here.
Dung & Papa
Our jeep
FAIRY STREAM
The Fairy Stream is located about 50m from Hai Au Resort - I didn't know until Dung told us about it. The resort staff did not bother to tell us, of course. The Fairy Stream was nice - strolling along the little stream that flowed from the water fall (about 500m in). The scenery was nice as you can see below. We did not reach the waterfall though. Turned back about 3/4 way.
Bryan liked the FS so much that we headed out for it again the next day. This time, we took a different route and decided to explore the hilly terrain (behind KLR) and cut down to the stream. It was a great trek - we got to see many things that the normal tourist will never. Just take the path next to KLR, walk up the sandy slope, past a few tombstones near the top (that's your landmark so that you won't get lost) and then the place is yours to explore. We came across a new road which I believe will lead to the Red Sand Dunes. The waterfall was nothing to talk about though. (You need to turn right after about 400-500m to get to the waterfall. There is an old signboard to show the way, which leads to a small house selling drinks and coconuts, and surprise - there's a padi field there too.) Just ask for directions if you're lost. We had 2 self-declared tour guides (2 kids) who led the way. Gave them a tip of 20k to make their day. They're nice kids.
Up on the hill
Couldn't resist climbing this dune on top of the hill. Warning : Sand is HOT!
Found our way up but not down...yet
Down at last ...
then up again to the waterfall...
The new road that I think leads to Red Sand Dunes
FOOD
The nearest food place outside Hai Au Resort is Kim Loan Restaurant (KLR). The food is okay and the price reasonable . However, it was Dung made a world of difference when it came to service. Actually, you can't call it service as he was just being himself. Dung was always smiling, ever cheerful and jovial, and offered help without us having to ask. He walked us to the Fairy Stream, showed us a short cut and even helped us order the best fish sauce in Mui Ne. What a chap!
Dung & Papa
Our jeep
FAIRY STREAM
The Fairy Stream is located about 50m from Hai Au Resort - I didn't know until Dung told us about it. The resort staff did not bother to tell us, of course. The Fairy Stream was nice - strolling along the little stream that flowed from the water fall (about 500m in). The scenery was nice as you can see below. We did not reach the waterfall though. Turned back about 3/4 way.
Bryan liked the FS so much that we headed out for it again the next day. This time, we took a different route and decided to explore the hilly terrain (behind KLR) and cut down to the stream. It was a great trek - we got to see many things that the normal tourist will never. Just take the path next to KLR, walk up the sandy slope, past a few tombstones near the top (that's your landmark so that you won't get lost) and then the place is yours to explore. We came across a new road which I believe will lead to the Red Sand Dunes. The waterfall was nothing to talk about though. (You need to turn right after about 400-500m to get to the waterfall. There is an old signboard to show the way, which leads to a small house selling drinks and coconuts, and surprise - there's a padi field there too.) Just ask for directions if you're lost. We had 2 self-declared tour guides (2 kids) who led the way. Gave them a tip of 20k to make their day. They're nice kids.
Up on the hill
Couldn't resist climbing this dune on top of the hill. Warning : Sand is HOT!
Found our way up but not down...yet
Down at last ...
then up again to the waterfall...
The new road that I think leads to Red Sand Dunes
FOOD
The nearest food place outside Hai Au Resort is Kim Loan Restaurant (KLR). The food is okay and the price reasonable . However, it was Dung made a world of difference when it came to service. Actually, you can't call it service as he was just being himself. Dung was always smiling, ever cheerful and jovial, and offered help without us having to ask. He walked us to the Fairy Stream, showed us a short cut and even helped us order the best fish sauce in Mui Ne. What a chap!
Best fish sauce in town
There are a few more places to eat but we only tried one other - "Before & Now" - price is on the high side and quality on the low, you're better off with Kim Loan or Cay Cau - the latter's menu prices look very reasonable although we didn't eat there.
The following are all within walking distance of Hai Au.
For fantastic and cheap seafood - value for $$$ - go to Popular Restaurant. It's about 5km from Hai Au. Took a cab down - cost 50,000VND one way. Had dinner there for 2 nights.
Address :
Lam Tong Popular Restaurant
92, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet
ACCOMMODATION AROUND FAIRY STREAM
We found out that KLR had 3 rooms for rent - at an unbelievable US$4 PER ROOM (2 beds and a fan) and on top of that, it comes with an attached toilet. Now that is certainly value for money. Coupled with this great family running it, you can't ask for anything more. Bryan is now planning his next trip there with his friends.
KLR has earned itself many admirers and fans from all over the world. Have a look at the comments :
PLACES OF INTEREST
Red Sand Dunes
Mui Ne Fishing Village
Family portrait at White Sand Dunes
The Lotus Lake White Sand Dunes is recommended over its Red cousin because it's bigger and less trampled. Of course it's also further - about 25km from KLR. But you won't regret it. The Red Sand Dunes have too many footprints - can hardly see any wind patterns in the sand.
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