JANUARY 23 2022
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MINH DAM / LONG HAI

Hares: Have-A-Chat, Secs, Mr.T
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Have-A-Chat
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Have-A-Chat

Hashers started to arrive at Tommy’s bar from about 1pm, then the usual ice-packing of eskies took place, with beers, waters & sodas all being loaded onto the bus for this week's adventure. Run 992 was underway as the bus pulled away from Tommy’s at 1:30PM. The destination was a mountain on the far side of Long Hai, some 40 minutes drive from Vung Tau. Lots of fun chats and jokes were exchanged as the bus powered onto our destination. 

The bus arrived at Thien Vien Truc Lam Chan Nguyen temple where the hashers were greeted by monkey’s. The group gathered at the foot of the mountain where Mr. Secs gave the route details. The trail was short this week with a distance of just 3km to be covered, but it was all up and up and then up some more. The hashers started the ascent, with Rio taking his new dog “Socola’ along for the day. Luckily for Rio, his mummy Sparkles was on hand to carry the puppy along the trail. The climb was tiring for some of the virgin hashers who were a great addition to the group.

Along the trail we roamed, following the red tape. The first viewpoint was great and some photos were snapped to remember the occasion. As we moved through the small villages we were greeted by locals saying xin chao with plenty of smiles. All the locals encountered along the trail were super friendly and polite to all. As we stood at the summit of the mountain we were able to climb up to a Buddhist altar which offered a unique vantage point to admire the views below. Then the trail cut across the mountain top where another viewpoint awaited the hashers. The views from the temple and large rock on this side were spectacular. A few of us lingered there to take in nature's beauty. However, a thirsty hasher who will remain nameless, led a small party back to the carpark below without taking in the spectacular views.

As the hashers completed the trail, they joined Mr Chom Chom and a party who had arrived back a little earlier than most. Unfortunately, Chom Chom had forgotten to take the seats and recharge the speaker but it was still a great down down. The banh mi was very welcomed by all and the beers went down a treat.  Entertainment was provided by the monkey’s as they attempted to steal our lovely banh mi. Only Mr. T lost out here, but it was all good fun. 

After the circle call, (which Surprisingly Mr Chom Chom made a good job of). Chom Chom then took the photos and videos. The trail was given a 9.5 average but we all knew it was a 10. The virgins and Hares drank to the hash songs and shortly after we all loaded up and onto the bus for our return to Tommy’s.
The night at Tommy’s was great, as we all relaxed,  drank, and sang along to the live music until the stroke of midnight when we all decided it was time for curtains on another successful day of hashing.

RUN 992 GALLERY

JANUARY 16 2022
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LONG SON ISLAND

Hares: Chippy, Have-A-Chat, Secs, Mr.T
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Have-A-Chat
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Faulty Brakes

​From time to time we compliment our Sunday Hash with tasting local delicacies. This we week we visited Long Son Island, a 30 minutes drive from Vung Tau. The emphasis was to enjoy the free range chicken that we call Ga Long Son for our Down Down in a roadside Cafe. Long Son Island is the home of the Long Son integrated Petrochemical company, a 5 billion USD investment which we observed under construction in the distance. The island is connected by Go Gan and Cha Va bridges and another local delicacy is the famed Long Son oysters.

This week we welcomed back some old hashers including the enigmatic Doyle whose name was based on the Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Down Down took place in a delightful setting where everyone enjoyed the local Chicken and cold drinks and unlike previous visits to Long Son it was nice to report that no unforeseen accidents occurred today. The trail had been marked the previous day by a team of trailfinders Secs, Mr. T, Chippy and Michael Havachat and there was also the option for those who are not so fleet of foot namely the Hash-lighters to pursue an alternative trail.

Apres Hash in Tommy’s Bar has become an integral part of Sunday’s enjoyment where further Pizza meals are served to sustain the hungry hashers. The weekly Knights of the Square Table meetings took place and the quaffing of beer continued long into the night with the entertainment being provided by Perfect Jive Duo. Michael Havachat (an 80s music child) gave a rendition of “Y.M.C.A” with impeccable moves, much to the delight of all present. The atmosphere and comradeship was evident with the pan nationalities explaining different sporting and cultural phenomenon of their countries and rounds of beer arriving at table every 5 minutes and as we say in Ireland the “Craic “was mighty (Craic being fun) nothing to do with other substances. 

What had started earlier that day at 13.00 was still swinging long into Sunday night, chicken, pizza, beer, music dancing, it was nearly better than enjoying yourself. I nearly forgot to mention that the trail again received the 10 out of 10 rating, in the circle that Chom Chom conducted we welcomed newcomers and went through the usual protocols to ensure that everyone was informed of next week's trail being a trip to Long Hai.

We will shortly be celebrating our 1000th run and we are looking into the possibility of an away weekend. There will be a limited number of seats available so we advise you to book early so wait until you receive the email. 

On-on

RUN 991 GALLERY

JANUARY 9 2022
​
NUI DINH

Hares: Chippy, Have-A-Chat, Secs, Mr.T
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Have-A-Chat
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Faulty Brakes

Having dusted off the old and trusty haversack after what seemed an eternity it was time to procure our bus for Run 990 for a pre-marked trail. The sight of those familiar red ties was welcomed by one and all. The usual suspects meeting in Tommy’s Bar were anxious to get the action under way. Quartermaster Chom Chom had iced the beer and stored the rations for the veritable feast that lay ahead at the Down Down. Registration and Bean counting was undertaken by Mr T and with all provisions on board it was time to head for today’s long awaited trail in Nui Dinh. 

Leaving Le Ngoc Han and heading through the busy streets of Vung Tau there was an air of excitement for Run 990, our first away run in 7 months. The journey of 45 minutes reminded us of just how beautiful the Vietnamese countryside is at this time of year and how sadly we missed our away runs.

The previous Friday Secs, Mr T, Chippy and Michael Havachat had  done the trailblazing to ensure the success of today’s trail, and everybody was in agreement just how brilliant it was with the over all rating of 10 out of 10 ( Tram Phan Tram) The weekly video by Chom Chom (so good they named him twice) relieves the Run Reporter of trying to describe the action of the trail and what a brilliant video again this week. 

Arriving in Nui Dinh the bus spewed it’s passengers and and hashers waited anxiously for today’s instructions, the Mantra for today and every day is follow the Red tapes, if you manage not to come across the tapes go back to the last tape you encountered and start again. Down Down location was at the side of the road similar to previous hashes and this week’s beautiful food was managed by Smiley  and the ubiquitous Chom Chom.

Weary legs continue traipsing back to our Down Down and Mr Phi’s excellent Saigon Green along with adequate supplies of Soft Drinks made the occasion memorable. The circle was conducted by, yes you guessed it,  none other than Chom Chom and we welcomed a group of virgins including Hue from Hue. The banh mi proved very successful to one and all, delicious Roast Pork in fresh crusty bread we are in debt to Smiley. 

Today as we returned homeward we witnessed huge amounts of buses, coaches and cars along the side of the road,apparently devotees had come to listen to a holy monk in the temple (source Chippy). People were reminded of the importance of not littering the mountain and we ask parents to be vigilant of their children when hashing to ensure this source of enjoyment is long term and litter free. We rolled into Tommy’s some 45 minutes later and many hands removed the eskies and equipment for storage until our next excursion.

We will shortly be planning a weekend of celebration for our 1000th run, preferential treatment will be given to regular hashers when it comes to costs etc. The perfect Jive Duo supplied the post match entertainment in Tommy’s Bar and the fun continued into late Sunday night. 

Another great Sunday and to everyone involved in the planning and work that made this possible - take a bow and we see you all again next week…on on, on on!

RUN 990 GALLERY

JANUARY 2 2022
​
BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Chippy, Have-A-Chat, Secs
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Chippy
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Secs

​Run 989 was the first run of the year and what a doozy it was! A challenging trail to mark the end of a challenging year. It all started very familiarly, Mr. T back doing registrations and collecting the run fees, Chom Chom and Smiley organising the food and beverages and Mr. Da delivering the sack of ice. Doyle, Claire and Rafa are back to join us again and Alice introduces two new junior Hashers.

On the chalk-talk Secs explains that this trail will be challenging but rewarding with some of the best views of Vung Tau and with that its on-on we go. The usual start this week, along Le Ngoc Han to Vi Ba to Hem 36. It’s a steep road that takes us just before the temple which proves to be trying for our new juniors, who sit down and gather their breath. On the right we see the brightly coloured yellow and blue staircase that leads up a quaint pagoda.

Red ribbons towards the back of the pagoda show us the way to the trail that will take us to the top of Big Mountain. It’s a pleasant trail through the jungle, a little steep in places with some rocks and fallen trees to negotiate. Eventually we emerge from the jungle and are faced with one of the first challenges of the day - some very large boulders we need to pull ourselves up on to. Our Hashers tackle it with aplomb, with Mr. T offering a helping hand to those who needed it.

It’s a worthwhile endeavour, the view is spectacular and the lovely brisk breeze cools us as we assemble for the obligatory selfies. On this particularly clear, sunny day we look out towards some of our favourite mountains - Nui Thi Vai, Nui Dinh, Minh Dam and Small Mountain can all be seen from this 180 degree vista.

Selfies done, we begin the next part of the trail - which is to head across the ridge of the mountain and find our way back down. We are afforded one more great view before we begin our descent - and OMG what a descent! To say it was steep would be an understatement - vertiginous, scarped, precipitous would all be appropriate adjectives. It wasn’t helped that underfoot the terrain was dry and slippy, and that we were surrounded by low hanging bamboo. 

We hunkered down, slipped, slid, scooched and scrambled our way down, grabbing onto trees and making makeshift ropes from green strands of bamboo until we emerged, a little battered and bruised, in to a clearing. With dusty backsides all round we are all pleased to see the familiar sight of the Thompson’s house and know it’s a short walk back to Tommy’s along a nice easy road.

Back at Tommy’s, nearly four hours after we’d set off, Chom Chom and Smiley have done us proud with delicious roast pork banh mi, fruit and the usual array of beverages. Doyle has also treated us to some toothsome New Year Millionaire’s Shortbread which our Hashers savour as we recover from the somewhat challenging trail.

Just enough time to take the team photo before most of the Hashers drift into the night and the hardy usual suspects continue to enjoy the cold Saigon beer and the entertainment at Tommy’s.

Another great Sunday - until next week when we’ll have our first away trail in 8 months.

On-On!

RUN 989 GALLERY