Hué to go!

Yes-Hué!

Hué not?

HuéMo?

Some Hué over the rainbow…?

Hué oh Hué…

AnyHué…?

Hué are you?

HuHuHué?

Sorry to be so Hanoiing. See you there next…

After five days in HCMC, including two with Intrepid, our tour flew to Hoi An to take in Hội An Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For hundreds of years, Hoi An has been a center of Asian culture, with representatives of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese groups. First up, the home. of a wealthy old family in town and a Chinese cultural center…

More of the Chinese communal center, and the famous Japanese bridge…

Walking around the old town of Hoi An, including dinner, a taste of the colorful water activities at night, and instructions on how to pee (and not pee). Note Mark, a fellow traveler and doppelganger of my buddy Josh Crockett…

The next day was all about bikes. An early morning ride in the neighboring rice paddies, a later morning ride to the old town, and an afternoon ride, again into the ride paddies, etc. This first batch includes some of the local market and a particular shirt vendor.

More of Hoi An, including the Museum of Traditional Medicine…

Neat buildings, nice pool! The afternoon bike ride included some farm & garden explorations…

Some clips from the bike ride…

After the bike ride, we took a boat ride to dinner, then back to the old town…

Some clips from the boat ride…

After breakfast, our tour left Hoi An for Hué. Here’s a stop over at a famous pass over a mountain range, and another at place with a cultured pearl industry…

Next: which Hué…

More of HCMC. Thanks to Mai, got some laundry done! Food, the Saigon Opera House, and a walk to Book Street…

More from a walk along Book Street, including an English teacher and his class having a photo shoot, plus the paleta man…

Back of the Opera, then more Saigon at night, and the next morning’s breakfast. Family cemetery in a farm field…

Trip on the Mekong Delta…

Coconut candy packaging…!

Coconut candy factory, delicious snake juice, various tropical flowers, and local crocodile apparel…

Tuktuk ride to lunch…

Tuktuk, lunch, more Mekong River Delta & islands therein, then back to HCMC…

HCMC stroll zone from the high rise food court…

Cam Un!

Ten years ago, with my family on our world trip, we traveled the length of Vietnam from the north to the south. It was epic, as was that entire year, and was of course the reason for starting this blog. You can check out my first impression of Vietnam from there (Hanoi) to here (Ho Chi Minh City), and several posts in between through my Contents page.

Now, in 2026, I’ve returned to go from south to north in Vietnam, then continue into China on yet another Intrepid tour. As with other trips, I’ve arrived early to spend a few days in Ho Chi Minh City – Saigon before the tour starts. Hangin’ in District 1, AKA Ben Thanh, I had to check out the famous Ben Thanh Market. This batch starts with the crib just off Ham Nghi street…

Here’s a couple clips of walking through the market…

Some random shots walking around town…

When you visit HCMC, ya gotta check out the alley ways…!

Last time, I did not go the famous Independence Palace. This time I did, eheck it out…

More of Independence Palace. This batch includes the bunkers underneath…

Unfortunately, the famous Notre Dame of Saigon is under construction, but I went to the Post Office and sent a couple letters to my children. Next time, I’ll get a motorbike to go fully local. It’s really an image of much of this part of the world…

In fact, not a motorbike, nor a tuktuk, but an actual bicycle, sort of…

Here’s the man with the pedal power! The rest of the post is the rather loud and sleazy Bui Vien Walking Street. Certainly, and interesting place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there more than an hour or so…

Here ya go: get more of an idea about Bui Vien Walking Street…

Next day, had to go back to the War Remnants Museum, one of the most difficult to visit, but important. Any person interested in the military or American History needs to spend some time here…!

More random shots around Saigon, including a recommended Buddhist Temple that seemed to be closed – even tho’ it was open…

From more closed religious buildings to rooftop bars, to random stuff…

Wow, three days can go fast. More soon, as the tour starts today…

Should I call this Betwixt, the Movie? Nah, these are just videos clips depicting some of the same content in my previous post.

Here are some riding in the newly opened Cotoni-Coast Dairies…

Here’s the UC Santa Cruz production of The Magic Flute with Charlie as Sarastro (and two other exceptional performances)…!!!

One night I caught this ethereal duo at The Crepe Place, and had dinner with N&J. Then, I went to The Vessel to watch Charlie and Empire Grade – slammin’ show, quite literally!

Here’s Bruno, Dan’s doggie, enjoying some doggie entertainmentat his place in Santa Monica..

A walk along Steve & Christina’s street in Oceanside…

Next, Steve Whalen’s 60th birthday party at the annual Neil Young tribute concert with Andy, Renee, and Hard Rain…

Just a random moment in Uncle Jimmy’s Village Green apartment before going to El Cholo for a 97th birthday dinner…

ooo

One last ride on my home turf before flying off again. When I come back, the grass will be brown…

Hey friend, thanks for checkin’ it out!

Time is so precious…

Back from Australia, I’ve been spending a lot of time at Pie Ranch. As usual, this is a very random post, but just pix. I may try to post some video clips (been taking in a lot of music!) before I head off to Asia for my next adventure (Vietnam & China)…

Perhaps in an attempt to proliferate information about Pie Ranch, I’ve included a lot of their signage (zoom in and read). This batch also has some of the buildings – inside & out – as well as Nancy & Jered’s lovely home (and a new building project)…!

One evening, I first took in a cool harp, voice, and electronic duo at The Crepe Place, and had dinner with N&J. Then, I went to The Vessel to watch Charlie and Empire Grade – slammin’ show! (especially in the mosh pit)…

Some interesting art and a show at the San Gregorio Store, and some pix at Kind Peoples…

A first visit to Cotoni-Coast Dairies, this one just a walk…

A visit to my friends and former colleagues Dan & Deedee Geraci, who live on Highway 1 near Bean Hollow with fun cats & dogs, including some of Dan’s excellent art (bathroom counters, etc.). This batch also includes my next visit to Cotoni-Coast Dairies with my mountain bike…

Charlie appeared twice in the UCSC production of The Magic Flute in the role of as well as the ensemble…

Random!: Nancy went to a poetry workshop in Scotland led by Padraig O Tuama, and I dropped her off at zero dark thirty. Here’s a shot of my Chinese visa buddy, David Mei. Wild turkeys and a citizen science post, Jered’s cabin project, bike hiking above Pie Ranch (including the neighbor’s mansion), exploring around the coast just above Santa Cruz, and yes, my dash board lights are a concern…!

Then, for a number of reasons, I took a lil’ road trip down south. First up, some oil derricks on the 46, the fire damage in the Palisades, then good ol’ Santa Monica: the Georgian, the carousel at the pier, the park, the Promenade, Ocean Ave., and my buddy Dan’s house…

One night there, then two nights with Steve, Christina, & Freya in Oceanside. This batch starts with a family photo from 1934 featured in a Youtube video about Uncle Jimmy, then some surfers from the O-side pier, the view from, and their house, the Top Gun house, and another beautiful sunset…

Next, I drove up to Torrance to catch the annual Neil Young tribute show at Andy’s house (of Andy, Renee, and Hard Rain), which this year was also a 60th birthday party for my buddy Steve Whalen. A pic with Mike Morgan (a colleague from Bravo Medical Magnet) and Steve, and a few from the show…

My last event before driving back up north was to celebrate Uncle Jimmy’s 97th birthday party on the Ides of March! After waking up at a hotel in Torrance, I met Steve and the family, including Elayna, at Jim’s place in the Village Green, after which we went for dinner at the original El Cholo’s (a chili relleno disappointment, but a great time with the family!). This batch ends with a visit to the Purissima Cemetery, and some art – a couple patches I bought for the kids, etc…

Wow, you must not have anything else to do? But now, go do it until my next post…?!

Here are some shots of Sydney, flying back in from Melbourne…

South of Sydney: Stanwell, Sea Cliff Bridge, Scarborough Hotel, etc…

Art pix from a loo, and Robert & Monique Nancarrow’s home…

Robert’s 65th birthday party on Valentine’s Day (a week early)…

Last walkabout in Sydney – the main drag in Newtown, getting there, and some interesting shop displays…

More of Newtown…

Last shot of Sydney from the airport…

Let’s conclude with some video clips!

During first visit in Sydney, happened upon a demonstration about Iran. “SOS for Iran” is, I believe, in solidarity with the protests happening there at the time…

The ferry from Ettalong to Palm Beach took is some classic Australian bush…

Sing-along fun at the Murmur Piano Bar in Melbourne…

Grooving at the Victoria Pride street party: “Midsumma” in Melbourne…

And finally, a time lapse on the coast road south of Sydney, including the Sea Cliff Bridge…

Th, Th, That’s all folks…!

Had to go to Melbourne, Sydney’s rival, and a place we missed in 2016 – and it was all that, and all of this post – which is a doozy!

Some plane shots, arrival on bus, tram, and foot to the Vibe Hotel – and from the rooftop there…

First walkabout in Melbourne. Lots of great architecture, food, and street art! On the first night, went to the Murmur, a piano bar with a fun crowd and a sing-along scene (the tall bald dude in the blue shirt was hilarious!)…

Next day, toured the CBD (central business district) via their free trams! Then went to the Melbourne Museum, a vast, eclectic collection of items featuring Australia’s culture, history and natural history. Beautiful curation…

More of the Melbourne Museum, the natural history stuff…

Yet more of the Melbourne Museum. This batch has more on culture and history…

Next, a trip up funky Brunswick Street...

More of Brunswick Street...

As it happened, there was an event that day: “Midsumma” – Victoria’s Pride street party. Had to a little dancing…!

Long walk back, and a little pizza along the Yarro River before hitting the sack…

Next day, stopped into an Opal Museum, actually a shop (not this place), but informative & cool…

Next up, Melbourne’s Chinatown, down to the Arts district, and the Australian Music Vault…

Here’s another big one: The National Gallery of Victoria. A vast collection, I started at the top with the more modern stuff and worked my way down…

More of The National Gallery of Victoria…

More of The National Gallery of Victoria…

Back on the street, there were some demonstrations about Israel & Palestine having to do with a visit by the Israeli President Herzog to Australian regarding the Bondi Beach Massacre.

On the last day, since I’m a huge fan (17 tours so far!), I had to do to the offices of Intrepid. Sure enough, I ran into Kat whom I’d met on my first tour in Southern Africa with Dr. Burr in 2024. Great to catch up, see their opulent offices on the 7th floor of an awesome building, and get some swag…

Next, went to the Immigration Museum, which has both some important Australian history and some poignant exhibits about identity, race, and related cultural issues…!

Finally, before heading to the airport to go back to Sydney and points north, a visit to the Skydeck atop Eureka Tower for some majestic views of greater Melbourne…

Wow, did you make it this far? That was just three days in Melbourne. Thanks for coming with…

A trip to Newcastle on a cloudy day, first to Fort Scratchley and a long walk out to the end of the breakwater…

Majestic architecture, and views from the Memorial Walk, including some unafraid of sharks…!

More around Newcastle, including an Art Gallery, etc…

Caught up with Tim & Casey, two friends from my trip to “the Stans” in 2023. They’ve just moved from Melbourne to a lovely home in Warner Bay, and threw down a delicious dinner! (Timmy shared a shot of his once splendid moustache.)

A nice restaurant in Gosford, then a ferry ride (with some bus rides) out to Palm Beach…

More Palm Beach and a nice lunch at the Newport Arms…

The last pic above shows a map of Avoca Beach, and the batch below shows more images around the charming lil’ town…

I went to an Australian naturopath, who, among other things, does iridology. Here are two pix of my irises, the first showing my eyes’ response to my shoulder injury. The other dark bits are apparently represent other things I have going wrong in my mortal coil. Not widely respected, iridology may just be a rearview mirror into ones ailments, if not a window to your soul…?

Another trip to Bondi Beach – again packed with sun worshippers – before heading out to my next destination – Melbourne…

Stay tuned for Part 4…

Last supper in Nimbin.

Next day, drove to Gosford for one night before going to Sydney for Australia Day. There, visited the RSL Club, thus the military displays below. Tucked in a couple shots of the Nimbin Rocks at the end of this batch.

Sites around Sydney, including a visit to Bondi Beach to find signs of the Bondi Shooting. Back to business one reckons…?

Met up with my niece Laleyna (Ron & Heather’s daughter – the first of her generation) at the Coogee Pavillion – had a great chat.

View from hotel, then a walk downtown. Caught a protest march about Iran outside the cathedral. More Sydney sites on the way to the Opera House.

Lucked into watching the entire dress rehearsal of the Australia Day show on the evening before the main event! The stage at the bse of the Opera House steps was projected on big screens around Circular Quay and floating in the middle. A choir of young people adjacent on the steps did more dancing than singing, but was part of the show, as were various boats in the harbor…

Went back to the Opera House the next day to watch all the activities in Sydney Harbour for Australia Day, including a fighter jet, helicoptors, speed boats, tug boats, a ferry race, a regatta of myriad boats, and some cannon fire.

Took a nap in the afternoon, then went back for the main event, this time on the other side of Circular Quay, at The Rocks. After scoping out some restaurants and pubs, settled on watching it from the edge of the wharf…

This batch starts with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, includes a tall ship, synchronized yachts, and the sensational light and fireworks show that accompanied all the musical acts in the Australia Day Show. Like “Vivid Sydney” that I’d seen 10 years ago, a variety of images were projected on the Opera House…

After the main event – maybe the most spectacular fireworks show I’ve ever seen – went to the oldest pub in Sydney, Fortune of War. In addition to an interesting photo of vape storage, some images on the walk back to the hotel…

Next day, drove around different eastern suburb neighborhoods in Sydney. Then, met up with Red, a fellow traveler on an Intrepid trip in the Balkans last year. Nice lunch at the Alexandria Grounds…

A random batch from driving out of Sydney, bats & spiders in Wamberal, a “Thermomix,” and some professional photography by Ken Duncan. (Can we assess the art without judging the artist?)…

I could add more to this post, but I prefer important stuff at the beginning (the inverted pyramid of journalism?)

Will start again soon…