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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2010 16:54:47 GMT
HW, no matter how many times you go back and forth over the same roads, I will be just as fascinated and envious every time I see the photos. I am craving all of those mysterious vegetables, many of which are available here, of course (I see the crates with the AF057-SGN tags still on them at the supermarket.), but when you go to a restaurant, there is never such an abundance of them. That's because here they can afford as much meat or seafood that they want, so there is more of that and fewer vegetables -- which is a shame. When I have my pho near the office, there is practically half a steak sliced into it along with the gristle balls and all of the other goodies. If the pho in Vietnam had as much meat in it, the people would probably die of protein overdose.
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Post by hwinpp on Oct 2, 2010 3:23:11 GMT
Awww ~~ it's over. As always, your reports make me really want to see that part of the world .... and eat the food! How long does it usually take once you get on the ferry to get to Phnom Penh? Were the fried fish smaller versions of the ones that got put into the hot pot? I had an intense Pavlovian reaction to the sight of those sauces. Do you know how to make any of them? Right now, on a normal day it takes about 2 hours to Phnom Penh from the Mekong crossing. They're converting the road into a dual cariageway though, so expect that to be cut in half when it's done. Neak Luong, the place where the ferries cross the Mekong has had some publicity because of an incident during the Vietnam War: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neak_LeungThe fried fish were exactly the same as those used in the hotpot, they shrivel up when fried and are eaten completely, head, tail, bones and all. They're fried quite crispy so no problem with that. Re the sauces, apart from the one in the middle, all are easy to make, that's the beauty of VN cooking, easy but memorable. On the left is the salt& pepper with lime juice dip, here they[ve included some pickled and mashed chillies. Just as good without chillies though, try it when you have a BBQ. In the middle is a dip based on fermented tofu with a dash of hoisin sauce and again the pickled and mashed chillies. On the right, just sliced chillies with fish sauce. This is a very mild fish sauce because the fish are actually placed in the bowl. That is also the reason why the bowl is slightly bigger. HW, no matter how many times you go back and forth over the same roads, I will be just as fascinated and envious every time I see the photos. I am craving all of those mysterious vegetables, many of which are available here, of course (I see the crates with the AF057-SGN tags still on them at the supermarket.), but when you go to a restaurant, there is never such an abundance of them. That's because here they can afford as much meat or seafood that they want, so there is more of that and fewer vegetables -- which is a shame. When I have my pho near the office, there is practically half a steak sliced into it along with the gristle balls and all of the other goodies. If the pho in Vietnam had as much meat in it, the people would probably die of protein overdose. Very true, if you want a lot of meaty things you do have to order them as side dishes. The veggies get me again and again, the freshness and abundance and cheapness makes these soups (and even when you just order a quick individual bowl of pho in a fast food place) so worthwhile. I think it's still working, haven't seen many fatsos in VN since I started going, but in Cambodia you see quite a few now.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 2, 2010 4:01:46 GMT
So the last leg of the trip home must be pretty tedious. The new roadway will be a blessing. Gad, I remembered that incident in the news when I saw your link. It's a miracle that anything at all was left of that town. I also read the rest of the link. How did it come about that the gov't. of Cambodia turned to Japan for help with the ferries and bridges. And for that matter, why did Japan decide to give it? Thanks for the pointers on the sauces -- I am going to try all of them. I think we discussed the salt/pepper/lime juice sauce once before. I had it at a grilled meat restaurant. The mixture was put into glasses and green onions with their bases scored were put into the glasses to draw the flavored liquid up into themselves. Good! I desperately want to crunch into those freshly fried fish. This report was wonderful vicarious pleasure. I can't wait for you to go back!
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Post by hwinpp on Oct 7, 2010 3:03:32 GMT
The Japanese actually do generally good development projects. They do their research, they keep a tight hand over the financing and they pull through until the projects are finished.
Maybe this is their way of apologizing for their occupation and atrocities during WW II (which they haven't done according to the countries they invaded).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2010 18:52:28 GMT
I have been very impressed by many of the Japanese projects that I have seen in Southeast Asia. It's a shame to say this about airports and bridges and things like that, but if it had not been for Japanese financing, many of the most useful infrastructures would probably not exist.
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Post by james on Oct 23, 2010 8:12:57 GMT
wow!! simply love these pics. They bring back so many wonderful memories. And Bix, you techy you.....how did you get the circles around that pic?
Would lobve to go back to Vietnam and go further South. I got caught up in Hanoi for too long and only made it to central Vietnam and then Dalat.
I have pics but they are the old type so need to find a scanner to post. But what a nice reminder of the place.....have to and probably will definitely be going back to Vietnam.
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Post by james on Oct 23, 2010 8:15:17 GMT
I did a nice Kayak tour in halong bay that was simply awesome. I'll see if i can get pics and post.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 24, 2010 15:20:26 GMT
Oh, James ~~ that would be fabulous. I'm trying to imagine a kayak tour. How many people to a boat? Did you have to paddle? Were you already a kayaker? Hurry!
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Post by hwinpp on Jan 21, 2011 7:37:57 GMT
Just a bit of news, if you want to go the old stylee go before the bridge is finished! Recognize the ferry? Mekong bridge to break ground Prime Minister Hun Sen announced today that construction of the long-awaited Neak Leung bridge will start next month. The construction of the bridge is being funded by the Japanese government and is expected to cost US$131 million. The two-kilometre bridge will span the Mekong River between Kandal and Prey Veng provinces along National Road 1, which connects Phnom Penh with the Vietnamese border. “The Neak Leung bridge is the longest, biggest and most difficult to build,” Hun Sen said today, speaking at an inauguration ceremony for a new building at the Kampong Cham provincial hospital. Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the bridge on February 12, Hun Sen added. While China has provided billions of dollars worth of loans and investment for infrastructure projects in recent years, Japan remains the Kingdom’s largest foreign aid donor, drawing praise from Hun Sen today. “Japan is still the leading country in providing grant aid, equalling roughly US$130 million per year,” Hun Sen said. Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said in June that construction of the bridge would be completed by February 2015. Tokyo also provided funding for the construction of the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge across the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh in 1993, as well as for the Kizuna Bridge in Kampong Cham province in 1999. Earlier this month, the government announced plans to study a proposed 3,500-metre bridge – the Kingdom’s longest – and a 58-kilometre road to connect the Kampong Chhnang provincial capital to Kampong Thom province. The proposed bridge would span the Tonle Sap river, with the project costing an estimated $180 million. www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011012046237/National-news/mekong-bridge-to-break-ground.html
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Post by gertie on Jan 23, 2011 1:34:40 GMT
And now I am craving some hot pot or pho. Drat and darn. Awesome pictures, though, and keep them coming.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 26, 2017 4:42:28 GMT
I revisited this thread and can't stop drooling over the food photos.
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Post by questa on Aug 26, 2017 13:47:20 GMT
And now I am craving some hot pot or pho. Drat and darn. Awesome pictures, though, and keep them coming. Oh Dear, have we lost all hwinpp's photos as well? I am seeing just blank spaces where once there were pics.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 26, 2017 15:27:10 GMT
The photos from this post are still here because he used a flickr account most of the time. Sometimes you need to refresh your browser for them to appear.
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