27 OCTOBER 2024
NÚI DINH - HELIPAD TRAIL
Hares: Secs, Chippy (live trail)
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmasters: Chom Chom Report: Uncle
Weather: Cloudy, overcast. Thundery downpour during trail.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Bull Ant & Secs @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1 (on Lam Son side of the building near parking area and new storage shed). Total Hashers: 34 Trail: Disembarked at roadside camping ground opposite entry to monastery access road. Walked several hundred metres along sealed access road for Chalk Talk by Secs (edited): “~4 km, not too tough, pass monastery on left-hand side. It’s a live trail so follow red tapes marked by Secs and Chippy to top and enjoy the views (if any), then continue following tapes to finish where we started: A-A.” We followed old and new marker tapes on soggy, rock-strewn, duff-covered ascent (long climb but not too difficult), then gathered on lookout rocks with marked compass bearings from wartime “dust off” evacuations. Many photos despite usual panoramic views completely obscured by rain mist. Then slippery, rock-strewn ‘mushy’ descent through often dense bamboo jungle with duff, scree and lots of post-downpour water to partially sheltered Down Down rest area on corner of sealed mountain access road. Highlights: Dense canopy above and amazing bamboo jungle below on sometimes very steep descent. Special interest: Lookout rest area temporarily closed (young entrepreneur usually provides 20k vnd drinks and shady seating next to helipad rock in prime hiking season). Down Down: Sugar cane seller’s roadside rest area at entry to sealed monastery access road between bridge and lake. Refreshments: Pâté Chaud (Bánh Patê Sô – savoury VN meat pastry). Water melon slices, pineapple chunks. Bia Saigon, Revive, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 8,27,9/10. “Beautiful”. Hares Chippy and Secs applauded. Hash Virgins Mick (Uncle’s mate) and Suu (bus driver) welcomed. Returnees Soggy Bottom (teaching), Chipmunk and mum Vicky (both homework) welcomed back. 7 new Hash names bestowed: Hash Hans, Jungle Cat, China, Cherry Quach, Heineken, Highland Farm, Chill Chill – welcome one and all! On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy. 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 (mismanagement can then adjust transport and/or refreshments if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1136 GALLERY
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20 OCTOBER 2024
MINH DAM MOUNTAIN / VIETNAM WOMEN'S DAY
Hares: Chippy, Bull Ant, Flowerpot
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmasters: Chom Chom Report: Uncle
Weather: Hot. Broken cloud. Some thunder but no rain.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Bull Ant, Chippy, Secs @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1 (now collected on Lam Son side of the building near new shared storage shed). Total Hashers: 40 Trail: Hashmobile passed several coastal resorts then turned onto Minh Dam Base access road and dropped Hash Liters near main entrance, then on to parking area. Chalk talk by Bull Ant, Chippy. Took left-hand trail onto Minh Dam mountain and followed red tapes clockwise along muddy stone track to visit four different mountain dwellings with many spectacular buddhist artefacts, friendly residents and different views over surrounding areas. Total distance ~5 km. Highlights: 4 different lookout points, many friendly mountain dwellers and some sensational wartime cave systems in between! Vietnam Women’s Day cake at Down Down. My Le’s birthday celebrations on return bus trip. Lowlights: Aggressive monkeys in parking area. Special interest: Increasing tourism evidenced by lots of signage including directions to ‘Fairyland’ (Bồng lai tiên cảnh); ‘No hunting, drinking, gambling, etc’; ‘Please remove shoes’ (in shrines and altars); and warning signs against lighting fires during ‘sunny’ (dry) season. Down Down: Minh Dam Base parking area. Refreshments: Banh mi w/minced beef, pate, veg, dips. Water melon slices, pineapple chunks. Bia Saigon, Revive, softies, mineral water. VN Women’s Day cake courtesy Chippy. Circle: Trail rated 9,10,12/10. “Wonderful”, “Liked it a lot”, “Magnificent”. Hares Chippy, Bull Ant, Flowerpot applauded. Hash Virgins Paul (Aus), Thinh, Binh, Hai Au (all VT) welcomed. Returnees Chook (absent 6-7 months working pre-retirement), Chom Chom (2 months family holiday) welcomed back. Thanks to Circle barman/videographer David. On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy. 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 (mismanagement can then adjust transport and/or food and drinks if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1135 GALLERY
13 OCTOBER 2024
NÚI DÌNH – TEMPLES TO FAIRY STREAM
Hares: Chippy, Alan, Phuong
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Chom Chom Ringmasters: Chom Chom Baptisms: Bishop Report: Uncle
Weather: Hot, humid. Circle rained out.
Hash Cash: 1 pm run fees Secs, Bull Ant @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1 (now moved to Lam Son side of the building to share new storage shed). Total Hashers: 48 Trail: Hashmobile to Núi Bồng Lai (Bong Lai mountain) on west side of Nui Dinh; dismounted at Tịnh xá Ngọc Sơn Dinh (Ngoc Son Dinh pagoda) after long row of religious dwellings nicknamed ‘Temple Boulevard’. Chalk talks by Chippy (VN) and Secs (EN). Climbed initial 193 stone steps through pagoda grounds and onto Dinh mountain, then followed red tapes up more steps and onto jungle trail. Up and across the mountain past small streams, several temples and two burial grounds with ornamental sarcophagi to finally emerge onto Nui Dinh sealed access road. Down to Suối tiên (Fairy stream) rest area, across bridge and onto rocks for Down Down. Total distance ~4.8 km. Highlights: Relaxing on rocks and swimming/paddling in Fairy stream. Lowlights: Unable to recover one Harriette’s lost smartphone in Suối tiên rocks despite best efforts of several locals and Hashers with crowbars! (EDIT: She went back next day and recovered the phone!) Special interest: Hiking Nui Dinh (Dinh Mountain) - A Fun Day Hike Near Ho Chi Minh & Vung Tau, Vietnam (lifeofdoing.com) Down Down: Rocks at Suối tiên (Fairy stream). Refreshments: Chicken drumsticks, sticky rice. Water melon slices, pineapple chunks. Bia Saigon, Revive, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 10,9,11/10. “Challenging”, “Visually interesting”. Hare Chippy applauded. (Co-hares Alan and Phuong trekking Mt Everest so both qualified for Hash names on return: “6 Hash runs or 1 trail set”.) Hash Virgin Dennis welcomed (husband of Nancy Kieu, father of Selena and Carrot); Bishop’s baptismal sprinkles by Mother Nature (rain). Rain also ‘stopped play’ midway through Circle so Ringmaster Chom Chom unable to welcome himself back after holiday in UK(!). On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy. 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 (mismanagement can then adjust transport and/or food and drinks if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1134 GALLERY
6 OCTOBER 2024
NÚI TÓC TIÊN (TOC TIEN MOUNTAIN)
Hares: Chippy, Ragnar Shaggypants
Hash Flashers: Chippy, Secs Ringmasters: Uncle Report: Uncle
Weather: Hot, high cloud. Rain on return trip.
Hash Cash: 11 am run fees Secs, Bull Ant @ Nắng Vũng Tàu, 5 Lê Ngọc Hân, Ward 1. Total Hashers: 34 Trail: Departed nearly 2 hours early for longer than usual Hashmobile ride to Phu My via Ba Ria and Highway 51, then ~3 km north towards Toc Tien village and Hamlets 3 and 4. Followed narrow road through tapioca fields to dismount at Ms Tham’s house about 1 km from base of Nui Toc Tien. Chalk talk by Ragnar Shaggypants, then followed red marker tapes along sand and grit lane onto and up the mountain. Two Buddhist temples, a huge Banyan tree, friendly monk’s house and much sweat later and we reached the summit! Most Hashers managed to squirm up tree branches onto the huge lookout rock with elevation plaque for photos. Then reverse route back to very pleasant Down Down venue at Ms Tham’s house and garden. Total distance ~4.8 km. Highlights: Tapioca fields as far as the eye can see! Giant banyan tree (popular with Harry Potter fans for photos!). Sharing a glass of hot tea with a friendly monk at his mountainside house. Panoramic views over surrounding area from summit. Elevation marker on lookout rock for photo ‘proof’ of the climb. Special interest: Landmarks on/near Núi Tóc Tiên (elevation 433 metres) include adjacent mountain Núi Thị Vải (457 metres), Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền Tự and Chùa Trúc Lâm Bảo Sơn (Buddhist temples), Phu My (District-level town earmarked for city status in 2025), Phu My Town Cemetery, and TTVH-HTCĐ xã Tóc Tiên (Toc Tien Community centre). Down Down: Ms Tham’s house and garden about 1 km walk along mostly flat sandy lane with occasional puddles and barking dogs to Nui Toc Tien. Refreshments: Pork noodles with veg and dips. Water melon slices, pineapple chunks; also steamed peanuts courtesy Down Down house owner Ms Tham. Bia Saigon, Revive, softies, mineral water. Circle: Trail rated 11/10. “Bit difficult but very interesting”. Hares Chippy and Ragnar Shaggypants applauded. Hash Virgin Alice welcomed (just graduated uni with English degree). Returnees welcomed back: Ben (“Been busy”) and Alan (“Preparing for Mt Everest climb with partner Phuong). On on on: Mr C’s Speakeasy in the rain. 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 (mismanagement can then adjust transport and/or food and drinks if necessary). “On On”
RUN 1133 GALLERY
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