Home	Random Shots from Vietnam and the Philippines March 2014
	Vietnam
Walking along the street of my hotel in Saigon, I peered into the front door of a house found this big family gathering they invited me to hang around, fed me a little and I sang They Call the Wind Mariah for them
Along that street (and many streets) are lots of ad hoc food shops Thanh, a friend from two years ago, runs a popular sidewalk coffee shop
My first morning there I hung out for about 3 hours
Viet had brought his guitar, and he sang and played I contributed several songs
Next to Thanh's shop is a typical street cafe
Thanh's shop consists of very minimal apparatus
enough to make coffee, tea, smoothies, etc.
Right in front of Thanh's shop is a one-woman newstand
run by Linh (on left) seen here with Van, who also has a street shop for breakfast
After a few days in Saigon I moved on to Mui Ne, where I'd spent a month, two years ago right on the South China Sea
	Here are some photos of my hotel from two years ago)
Two years ago I met Ngyuet, who teaches English to students, after their normal school day She lives in Phan Thiet, 10 km from Mui Ne
She has set up a primitive classroom in her home
As before, I came and conversed with the students and sang songs in English for them
In response to my songs, Hang sang a couple of very lovely songs
Phan Thiet has a most colorful fleets of fishing boats
	The Philippines
Three years ago in Cambodia I met Ivar, a Norwegian man who had married Maribeth, a Philippina They live on Camiguin Island in the Philippines
I flew from Saigon to Cebu City then an overnight ferry to Camiguin Island
Dormitory style sleeping
I was amused to see this innovative use of sheets
to make a hammock
They live 7km up the mountain from the main town on Camiguin
Their son Lars is 4 years old
Anna Sofia is 7 years old
They put me up in their lovely guest house
they've developed the property lovingly and profusely
They've created quite a variety of structures on their dramatic hillside connected by concrete walkways
with a dramatic view out to sea
While there, we did a day trip to Mantique Island idyllic setting, with dazzling white sand
To get there, we waded out to one of these boats
and chugged away for 10 minutes
then enjoyed a little frolic in the pristine water
When I asked Ivar what I should see in the Philippines he suggested Vigan, on the island of Luzon north of Manila
it's a  World Heritage Site, one of the few towns in the Philippines where many Spanish colonial buildings are still intact
Ivar was interested in the lamps/lanterns on these buildings
so I hung out in Vigan for a week, shooting many photos for Ivar
and soaking up the ambiance al fresco dining every evening at Cafe Leona
including a lovely time with fellow travelers Rohan, Ferdnand, Roberto, Lolita
The Philippines has a lot of jeepneys like this
They run regular routes Base fare typically about 8 pesos (.20 usd)
Tricycles are also popular in the Philippines t's a motorbike with a sidecar
there are many variations
these, on Camiguin Island, are quite open
and can haul a half dozen passengers with relative ease
the ones found in Vigan, though, require that you first get into the fetal position, then slide into the tiny compartment
Many of Vigan's tricycles are also noted for their ornate and inventive ornamentation (this one is also roomier)
A variation on this theme is the pedal tricycle this one in Cagayan de Oro
they're also ubiquitous in parts of Manila
In Manila, waiting for the bus to Vigan, this tricycle rolled in
Padal tricycle yes, pedal haven't they heard of center of gravity?
and as you might expect, there are cargo versions also
Vigan also contributes the galesa to the transport mix an elegant way to tour the town
which I did in this one
with two Philippina ladies
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