25 MAY 2024
NUI DINH- HELIPAD
Hares: Secs (live), Chippy
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmaster: Chom Chom Circle video: Blue Report: Uncle
Weather: 34C, broken high cloud, shady trail.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Secs, Chom Chom @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Total Hashers: 32 Trail: Crowded Hashmobile became more crowded at Seaview pick-up (please always register to join, but then also cancel if unable to attend on the day!). Disembarked at roadside camping ground and refreshment stall between bridge and lake turn-off. Walked several hundred metres along sealed monastery access for Chalk Talk by Secs (edited): “~4.5 km, not too tough, turn left where marked then circular route to top and enjoy the views, then down again to start point”. We followed old and new marker tapes on circular duff-covered ascent (long but not too difficult climb except for awkward boulders near the top). Clambered onto lookout rocks with marked compass bearings (from wartime “dust off” evacuations) for many ‘selfie’ and ‘wefie’ photos, then followed descending trail through often dense bamboo jungle with duff, scree and a nearly-dry river bed to sealed mountain access road and Down Down site. Highlights: Great views, stunning scenery from lookout rocks. Amazing bamboo jungle on often steep descent. Special interest: A welcome rest point at summit with young entrepreneur providing drinks (20k vnd) and shady seating. Down Down: Roadside campsite between bridge and lake turn-off, opposite monastery asphalt road. Refreshments: Bún thịt nướng (vermicelli noodles with lemongrass pork and beef, nuoc cham sauce). Water melon, pineapple, guava. Saigon Chill, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 10, 10, 9/10. “Exciting”, “Very nice”, “Very exciting”. Hares Chippy, Secs thanked. Hash Virgins Su Ha, Rev, Pe Lam (all VN), Thuy, Gi, Le Hoang (all VT), Hoa, Tuyet, Tin Ha, Quang (all VT City), Andreas (Ger), Claudi (Belg) welcomed. Baptismal sprinkles by Bishop. Returnees Moonlight (“heart problems”), Oliver (“exam prep”) and three “caring for husband”, “busy” and “very busy” welcomed back; sprinkles by Bishop and Chippy. On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy pub, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân. Next week: Watch this space, Zalo, facebook page @VungTauHHH and direct emails for details of next week’s run. PLEASE REMEMBER: We can all help to keep run fees as low as possible by cancelling registration if suddenly unable to attend (the committee can then order a smaller/cheaper bus and fewer meals if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1114 GALLERY
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19 MAY 2024
SMALL MOUNTAIN - HAI DANG
Hares: Chippy, Secs
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmaster: Chom Chom Circle video: Huy Report: Uncle
Weather: Hot, high cloud.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Secs, Bull Ant @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Total Hashers: 28 Trail: New entry restrictions to Christ the King’s statue saw this week’s Hashers boarding eco-carts to Đường Hải Đăng (Lighthouse Road) on the opposite (west) side of Small Mountain for a necessary ‘11th hour’ change of trail. Chalk talk by Secs, then we walked behind Highlands Coffee, Bayview, Lucy’s, etc and parallel with Ha Long until the red marker tapes signalled left turn up some steep steps to a small pagoda. We continued alternately on and off-road beyond the pagoda via several different ‘shortcuts’ including roadside caves with interesting shrines, former battlements and gun emplacements, etc – and a long, steep climb through dried undergrowth (‘duff’) until we reached the ever popular yoghurt shop owned and run for many years by Ms Tien, hence ‘Yaourt co Tien’. “What goes up must come down”, as the saying goes – and the downhill leg of the Hai Dang (Lighthouse) trail offered awesome views of the city and Vung Tau Bay (aka Ganh Rai Bay) as we passed rows of flowering white kapok trees and local fixtures including the Army camp, former Worldwide Arms Museum (now aptly named The View Hotel), and the picturesque buddhist monastery Tịnh Xá Ngọc Hương Vihara at 17 Hải Đăng. We finally left the mountain and returned to Nắng Vũng Tàu for the Down Down after circumventing *Sea and Island Festival preparations along Front Beach. Total distance ~7km. *’Vietnam Sea and Island Festival - Vung Tau City 2024’, Quang Trung Square, Front Beach 23-26 May. Traffic diversions until 10 pm 27 May. Highlights: Fresh sea air on the mountain. Panoramic views over Vung Tau city, Cầu Đá port (old ferry terminal) and Vịnh Gành Rái (Ganh Rai Bay). Special interest: The legend of Thao Phung Mountain. According to early Vung Tau folklore, the Ocean King’s daughter transformed herself from a fairy into a goldfish for an adventure and was caught by a young fisherman. One day, the fisherman returned from the sea to find the goldfish had turned into a beautiful woman. They married, but a stranger transformed the fairy back into a goldfish and locked her into a gem box. Despite the husband’s pleas, his wife was only allowed to meet him at the smaller of two mountains in Vung Tau every five years. The mountain was officially named ‘Tao Phung’ as a tribute to their sad tale. More recently, it became known colloquially as ‘Small Mountain’ to help tourists differentiate from Big Mountain on the western side of the city. Down Down: Nắng Vũng Tàu. Refreshments: Banh mi with pork, veg. Water melon, pineapple chunks. Saigon Chill, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 8, 9, 11/10. “Not too bad”. “Amazing, so beautiful”. Hares Secs, Chippy thanked. Hash Virgins Lisa, Hau, Carrot (2.5 yrs old), Ton (12yo) welcomed with baptismal sprinkles by Bishop. On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy pub, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân. Next week: Watch this space, Zalo, facebook page @VungTauHHH and direct emails for details of next week’s run. PLEASE REMEMBER: We can all help to keep run fees as low as possible by cancelling registration if suddenly unable to attend (the committee can then order a smaller/cheaper bus and fewer meals if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1113 GALLERY
12 MAY 2024
BIG MOUNTAIN - HEAVEN'S GATE
Hares: Chippy, Secs
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmaster: Chom Chom Circle videographer: David Report: Uncle
Weather: 33C. Hot, occasional shade.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Secs, Chom Chom @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Total Hashers: 28 Trail: Carry truck and eco-cart to Ngoc Dung restaurant, 77 Tran Phu. Offload eskies then Chalk Talk by Secs (edited): “Walk 100m to Chinese-style temple (Hưng Thắng Tự pagoda), up 622 steps, left at top and follow red ribbons about 600 metres along Hem 444 then back into jungle to the large ‘cross of Jesus’ just below summit of third mountain peak behind the ‘Church of Bai Dau’ and 32m statue of Đức Mẹ Bãi Dâu (‘Our lady of Bai Dau’ aka ‘Mother Mary and child’). Descend ~1,200 steps past ‘stations of the cross’ to Tran Phu then across road and down Ngoc Dung restaurant steps to beach level for Down Down. Total distance ~3 km.” Highlights: Fishing fleet and shipyard views from Hem 444. High tide at Down Down for enjoyable swimming with locals. Special interest: The address on Hưng Thắng Tự pagoda gateway is ‘Bãi dâu, Vũng Tàu’. Online searching translates the area as ‘Mulberry beach’, but local folklore calls it, “Clouds on the mountain”, aka ‘Heaven’s Gate’. Down Down: Beach level, Ngoc Dung restaurant, 77 Tran Phu. Refreshments: Doner Kebabs, pineapple chunks, water melon. Saigon Chill, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 6.9, 8/10: “Medium difficulty”, “Good way to celebrate Mothers Day”, “Nice variety of scenery”. Hares Chippy, Secs thanked. Hash Virgin Hue (Germany), and Visitors Nancy, Selena, Sementrader, Non-stop co*k, My Khe (all SH3) welcomed. On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy pub, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân. Next week: Watch this space, Zalo, facebook page @VungTauHHH and direct emails for details of next week’s run. PLEASE REMEMBER: We can all help to keep run fees as low as possible by cancelling registration if suddenly unable to attend (the committee can then order a smaller/cheaper bus and fewer meals if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1112 GALLERY
5 MAY 2024
MT BO TAM - HO TRAM BEACH
Hares: Chippy, Secs (live trail marking assisted by Daku and David).
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmaster: N/A Report: Uncle
Weather: Overcast, somewhat humid.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Secs, Chom Chom @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Total Hashers: 33 Trail: Dismounted from Hashmobile outside camping ground on busy coastal road beyond Ho Tram for Chalk Talk by Secs. We walked carefully back towards Ho Tram for several hundred metres then turned right into the trees to follow red marker tapes along a flat, winding sandy path towards higher ground where the trail transmogrified(!) into soil and thick duff (dead leaves and twigs). The higher we climbed, the more rocks and boulders we encountered, as well as a steeper aspect. Finally, one last scramble over several much bigger boulders and we’d reached the highest accessible point of Xuyen Moc’s Núi Tầm Bồ (Mt Tam Bo), ~100m AGL with panoramic views over the local area and out to sea. Many photos ensued, and everyone enjoyed the scenery before returning to Down Down camping ground for refreshments and a swim in the ocean! Total distance ~3 km. Highlights: Views from Mt Tam Bo. Swimming and relaxing on the beach. Special interest: Bishop’s home-made chocolate brownies (buy 1 slab, get one free): With walnuts 140k vnd, plain 120k vnd. Order on Zalo. Down Down: Camping ground along the coastal road beyond Ho Tram. Refreshments: Bún thịt nướng (vermicelli noodles with lemongrass pork and beef, nuoc cham sauce). Water melon, jack fruit. Saigon Chill, softies, mineral water. Circle: N/A (Late start, much swimming). On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy pub, 3A Lê Ngọc Hân. Next week: Watch this space, Zalo, facebook page @VungTauHHH and direct emails for details of next week’s run. PLEASE REMEMBER: We can all help to keep run fees as low as possible by cancelling registration if suddenly unable to attend (the committee can then order a smaller/cheaper bus and fewer meals if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1111 GALLERY
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