SEPTEMBER 20 2020
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NUI DINH / SUOI DA

Hares: Anagram, Secs, Mr. Vinh
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Mr.T, Secs, Snowball
Ringmaster: Zidane
Report: Secs

This week’s trail took us to one of our favourite mountains, Nui Dinh. After the eskies were filled with beer, soft drinks and ice, packed with an array of culinary delights and registration procedures complete, the Hashmobile was boarded and soon we were hurtling towards Ba Ria. As we turned off the main road our trusty driver skillfully wound the bus up the steep road where we disembarked at the picturesque Suối Tiên. 

In a single file we made our way down the moss carpeted green steps until passing the abundant rock pools either side of us, the river flowing with mountain water from the recent rain. On the other side of the river we gather around co-Hare, Secs, who explains the trail. Follow the obligatory red ribbons until we come to a large temple grounds, then wait for our other hares (Anagram, Mr.T) to show us the way through the temple grounds and through a gate at the back of the temple. After the gate, pick up the trail marked with red ribbons which will lead to a temple with a spectacular view just beyond. Then come back the same way, until you come to the same temple gate but this time follow the trail down to the rock pools of Suoi Da.

And so it's on-on we go. The trail takes us in to the jungle and we tentatively make our way down a slippy jungle trail. We can hear the adjacent river burbling away, and soon we emerge at a quant shrine with colourful Buddha statues and a beautiful rock pool, where the Sisters of Selfie take copious pics perched upon the rocky riverbank. Proceeding on a few hundred meters we emerge at the aforementioned stadium-esque Phat Quang Pagoda where our faithful Hares are waiting to ensure we find our way back out after exploring the temple grounds.

A gigantic white serene Buddha sits cross legged gleaming under the sun  greets us as we enter the temple grounds. After enjoying the hospitality of the local monks and nuns and their legendary milk tea we follow our Hares to the back of the temple and out the gate and are pointed in the up direction. The next section of the trail is a steep ascent through the jungle - but well worth it when we poke our heads out and find ourselves on flat rocky ledge with magnificent views of Vung Tau in the distance and the surrounding countryside. The Sisters of Selfie are in their element, and many pics are posed for and our solitary yogini exhibits some jaw dropping flexibility. About turn, we retrace our steps and make our way back until we pick up the final section of the trail that will take us past the five rock pools that make up Suoi Da.

After admiring the overflowing rock pools, some even stopping to take a dip, we arrive back at the carpark where the eskies have already been unloaded enabling us to quench our thirst with ice-cold beers and soft drinks. Our foodies have done us proud this week with delicious roast pork and luscious fruit. The usual joviality ensues and just as we are getting ready to take the team photo - the sky darkens and the first rain of the day starts to drop. We scurry for shelter and luckily it soon subsides enough for Chom Chom to pull us together for the photo. Next, the circle called!

With Zidane front and center as Ringmaster, our Hares, Secs, Anagram and Mr. Vinh are called and their trail is rated - a respectable 12 points is finally agreed by Zidane. Next up we have a line of Virgins, Returnees and a visitor. The newbies from Vung Tau introduce themselves, we welcome back Bus Stop who has been away for several months and finally we welcome a visitor and returnee from Saigon Hash - Sh**house. With the circle over and darkness encroaching it's time to pack up and mount the Hashmobile and soon we are back at our Hash Home Tommy’s. Another great day out in the countryside - until next Sunday - On On

RUN 951 GALLERY

SEPTEMBER 6 2020
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RUN 950 PARTY! / BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Anagram, Bull Ant, Chippy, Secs
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Mr.T, Secs, Chippy
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Faulty Brakes

​Last weekend Vung Tau Hash celebrated its 950 Run with a party on Saturday night and the Sunday Run on Big Mountain. The Hash is the longest running club in Vung Tau beginning in 1992 and popular with expats and locals alike and with the provenance to back up its 28 years existence. The preparations for the party had commenced earlier on that  morning with the delivery of vital supplies of beer and soft drinks to 112 Tran Phu.

The evening began with hashers arriving at 6.00 pm and soon the banquet of delicious food arrived at the tables where 60 people enjoyed the feast. The entertainment started when Chom Chom was our host for the evening, Karaoke, Dancing was the order of day. Spot prizes were distributed to lucky hashers and a fantastic night was had by all.

Docker had prepared earlier some Fruit Punch and shots of Jameson Irish whisky was distributed among happy partygoers to celebrate the momentous occasion and  along with people from many parts of the planet including Norway, The Netherlands, Scotland, England, Ireland, Australia and our host nation Vietnam enjoyed a great evening.

Roll on the clock 16 hours and people started arriving at Tommy’s 3 for Sunday’s Hash on Nui Lon, and heading back to the previous night’s venue arriving on motorcycles and cars.

Taxis took over 40 hashers to Hem 444 to start today’s climb, past the battery of old guns and up to the mountain path, down 600 steps and back to base to finish off the perfect 950 weekend. The Down Down was highlighted with some very flexible Vietnamese ladies displaying yoga techniques that this writer could not even contemplate nowadays. Banh mi washed down with cold beer and soft drinks finished the day off.

The beer truck arrived later to return all the eskies to our home base at Tommy’s 3. Some continued there until the late hours of the evening sipping more beer and some continued in another establishment later.

The MMC pleads with everyone to register for all runs, home and away, otherwise we cannot plan for the catering on the day.

The old adage comes into play “a picture paints a thousand words” -  enjoy the pictures and Chom Choms video of last weekend. Again we remind you to sign up  for Sunday’s Run and finally a special ”thank you” to all who helped to make this evening special.

RUN 950 GALLERY

RUN 950

PARTY PICS

SEPTEMBER 6 2020
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MINH DAM / LONG HAI

Hares: Anagram, Bull Ant, Chippy, Secs, Mr. T
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Mr.T, Snowball, Secs
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Secs

This week is our first away trail in several weeks after the easing of restrictions due to Covid-19. An excited herd of Hashers bundled on to the Hashmobile and soon we are hurtling towards our destination, Minh Dam mountain near Long Hai. We disembark under a blistering hot sun and follow co-Hare Secs along a dusty path and enter the forest. We stop in a shady glade and once we are all assembled Secs delivers the Chalk Talk. He tells us that this trail is about 4.5km, will take us up the mountain through two temples with awesome views and back to the Minh Dam Base car park. An obligatory reminder to follow the red ribbons and it’s On-On.

We leave the forest and find ourselves on a rocky path, surrounded by long, lush green grass. The path ascends gently and we hobble over rocks with the daunting view of the majestic mountain ahead of us. The relentless sun beating down on us we stop regularly to rehydrate looking back at the silhouetted views of Vung Tau that emerge behind us.

Thankfully we soon leave the grassy exposed plain and are now under the shade of a jungle canopy where we find a dilapidated set of stone steps that will take us to the temple. Step by step we push ourselves up along the verdant path until we emerge at the first temple.

Cheerful locals greet us with beaming smiles and offer us icy cold spring water to replenish our supplies. We take a break and then head up to the viewpoint where cool breezes cool and dry us as we look out at the spectacular view of the vast glistening ocean below us. Refreshed, we leave by another path at the back of the temple that leads us back in to the jungle.

After a few wrong turns the meandering path takes us to temple number two where we clamber on to the massive boulders that offer a dramatic setting for our shutterbugs. Many, many selfies later we are on our way again following the relatively easy path back to carpark.

Back at the base our ‘beer monitors’ have been busy and we wolf down ice-cold beverages, roast chicken, banh mi and fruit. Beer and conversation flows, the rock box rocks and our Hash House Hoofers are Cha Cha Cha-ing and Rumba-ing. With the sun setting there is just enough time to take the group photo before we board the Hashmobile. After ringmaster Chom Chom delivers a ‘bus circle’ thanking the Hares and reminding everyone about the party on 12 September, the frivolity continues with singing and dancing all the way back to Vung Tau.

Satisfactorily tired after another enjoyable Sunday in the fresh air and countryside most of us drift off in to the night while the usual suspect continue to indulge in some more liquid refreshment at our favourite bar and Hash Home Tommy’s Restaurant and Bar

RUN 949 GALLERY

AUGUST 30 2020
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BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Anagram, Bull Ant, Secs
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Mr.T, Snowball, Secs
Ringmaster: Chom Chom
Report: Secs

This week took us to the magnificent Cambodian temple on Big Mountain. After registration at Tommy’s we headed to one of our favourite down-down spots - the swimming pool at Hem 112 Tran Phu. From there we bundled into a convoy of taxis that would take us to the starting point on the other side of the mountain near 750 Tran Phu. Once everyone had assembled our Hare, Secs, gave us an overview of the trail. We’ll go up a narrow Hem climbing the steps past the many temples until we reach nearly the top where red ribbons will indicate a right turn in the bush. Follow the ribbons until we see the steps up to the Cambodian temple. Once at the temple look for more ribbons that will guide us out of the temple through the bush until we get to Ho May Park Road - from there simply cross the road and follow the ribbons to familiar 600 steps that lead down to the Chinese temple and then its a right turn into Hem 112 and back to the swimming pool.

So on-on we go up the picturesque Hem flanked by ornate temples, under the hot sun stopping only to look back at the amazing views of Vung Tau. By the time we reached the turn off into the bush many of us were sweating and out of breath. We trudged forward until out of nowhere we were confronted with the imposing and elaborate Khymer style staircase decorated with intricate Buddhist statues and Hindu iconography. We climbed the many steps until we were in the serene grounds of the temple itself. There our Hash House Yoginis treated us to an Apsara like performance to everyone’s amazement. After the show we followed the red ribbons through the back of the temple in to the lush green jungle where a well trodden path led to Ho May Park road and on to the steps down the other side of the mountain. With legs trembling we finally made it down and then finally pushed up the steep hill back to the resort.

Back at the swimming pool ice cold soft drinks and delicious beer were waiting for us to slake our thirst. Soon our Hash Helpers were preparing succulent roast pork, Banh Mi, salad and fruit. After some convivial conversation with our companions we are treated to yet another yogic performance of synchronised superhuman feats of flexibility by the Yoginis. 

We took the group photo and then taking the reins for the first time as Ringmaster, our very own Mr. Affable, Chummy Chom Chom called us together for his inaugural Circle. He introduced our Hares, Anagram, Bull And and Secs who received full marks from our happy Hashers. Next up was the Virgins, this week we had several newbies hailing from Vung Tau, Ba Ria, HCM and China - and, after a false start, we welcomed them with the ‘We are Vung Tau Hashers” song. Then it was time for our returnees to give us their excuses as to why they’d been away. Pinkie and her husband had been busy with the children and travelling and two of the Yoginis had simply been ‘busy’. It was a great first time Circle - thanks Chom Chom we look forward to many more to come!

We ended the circle with a reminder to all Hasher that they need to register on the website before coming on the Hash so that we know how much supplies we need to buy and transportation to arrange. 

And so endeth yet another great Hash - until next week…...on-on

RUN 948 GALLERY