  SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR, SAN MIGUEL! Contact Mr Tien for all San Miguel products in Vung Tau: email [email protected] phone, text/sms: 0168 385 1068 Home, office, party etc deliveries a specialty! See also San Miguel Special Festive Season Offer! 29 December 2013 SMALL MOUNTAIN Our local Hash numbers received a boost this week by a family reunion of no less than 19 (16 runners) from all over the world - truly an eclectic turnout, led by Barb and Randy. The "global family" even brought their own bus so, as soon as everyone had stocked up on VTH3 t-shirts, we all climbed aboard and headed around the Front Beach area to 60 Ha Long (near the Black Pearl, as locals would know). Hare CNR briefed the troops, then up the mountainside we went - rather steep in places, with various types of vegetation and terrain to keep the pack in touch with the FRBs! We regrouped at the iconic Lighthouse, before heading down a bamboo-covered and rocky trail that eventually saw everyone emerge at ground level on Phan Chu Trinh - having traversed Small Mountain from south to north. An extended hike followed westward, through the residential area and sidewalk fish market to the Bach Dang bia hoi near the Pacific Hotel on Le Loi. Many beers later, the Circle was called - an opportunity to welcome the many Vung Tau Hash Virgins as well as the Sinners (sorry, we can't remember everyone's names - that's why we said, "Many beers later..."!). With the "formalities" completed and darkness descending, CNR, KFC and Falcon accompanied our family reunion visitors to a seafood restaurant in the fishing village for the "On On". The rest of the story remains with those involved but, to coin a well-used phrase, "A good time was had by all"! Next Sunday will be our first run for 2014 - the beginning of a whole new year for VTH3 (our 23rd!). We're hoping Hares Falcon and KFC can drag their tired bodies out to set a trail at Long Hai while CNR takes a well-deserved break - but please keep an eye on the NEXT RUN box for further details. In the meantime, we're looking for someone to take over Hash communication duties, ie looking after this website and our email account. More details at: "Positions Vacant"  Hare: CNR  Scribes: Falcon, Uncle  Hash Flash: Pekka (and yes, he took all these photos - plus others we couldn't publish!) VTH3 #609 PHOTO GALLERY >>> 
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  SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR, SAN MIGUEL! Contact Mr Tien for all San Miguel products in Vung Tau: email [email protected] phone, text/sms: 0168 385 1068 Home, office, party etc deliveries a specialty! See also San Miguel Special Festive Season Offer! Sunday, 22 December 2013 BIG MOUNTAIN "Quality not quantity" was this week's catchcry, with more than a dozen enthusiasts representing VTH3's proud boast of being a family Hash turning up for registration - despite the anticipated "Christmas Charity Run" hangover period! We were also pleased to welcome back Pekka, who became voluntary Hash Flash for the sins of enjoying himself in the land of the midnight sun for so long - and Big Mac, who had finally managed to drag himself away from Newcastle (downunder) Hash! An injured Falcon did the honours as Hash Cash (and goodness knows, we need the money!) and Beermeister - assisted by CNR to ice, load and cart the all-important eskies to "paradise beach" (see below). The taxi fleet, spearheaded by CNR (aka seasoned trailblazer Brent), conveyed everyone to the start at 610 Tran Phu. Then it was "On On" and up, up through the familiar temple grounds - which doesn't take long to say in words, but certainly takes some time when putting one foot in front of the other: vertically! A run briefing by CNR at the first rest stop after some cultural "objets d'art", then more steps! The trail eventually swung along a fairly level track leading to the road that finally reaches the top of the iconic "600 steps", having passed all kinds of local scenery including the ubiquitous shopping stalls and playful children. And then it was down the hillside to Tran Phu, and a relatively short but nonetheless exciting 500-metre walk to #83. Exciting 500-metre walk? Yes indeed, because #83 is the address of the popular downstairs "cafe on the beach" (el paradiso...) that some of the more experienced Hashers will remember fondly. The trail was rated an encouraging 9/10 by Pekka (himself an experienced Hare - of "Pekka and Irene's City and Lake run" fame). Hash Virgin Paul was welcomed, as were the returnees including "a Hash song for every occasion", Big Mac. CNR will set next week's trail on Small Mountain - so we'll meet again at Offshore Bar 1 on Sunday: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start. In the meantime, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Healthy New Year! Reporting: Falcon, Uncle.  Hash Flash and "Merry Christmas card": Pekka. VTH3 #608 PHOTO GALLERY >>>    SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR, SAN MIGUEL! Contact Mr Tien for all San Miguel products in Vung Tau: [email protected] mobile 0168 385 1068 See also San Miguel Special Festive Season Offer! 15 December 2013 CHRISTMAS CHARITY RUN & PARTY What a fantastic day! Nearly three dozen Hashers and Hash Virgins met at Offshore Bar 1 and, with most sporting Christmas hats or reindeer horns, we joined forces with 'Santa Claus'. Santa’s sleigh and reindeer were 'in for repair', so many kind volunteers with impressively large motorbikes stepped in to assist and ferry Santa and his helpers to the orphanage! It was an excellent visit indeed - the gifts bought by everyone's kind contributions over the last couple of weeks were distributed to all the needy and very grateful children. With so many happy kids obviously delighted to see 'Santa' in their home, it was absolutely our pleasure to see their smiling faces. All too soon, it was time to leave the children to enjoy their gifts while we continued our 'Christmas Charity run'. We bade our farewells to the children and orphanage staff and, turning off the Ha Long road and up the steep mountainside path, all our Hashers progressed to the iconic Lighthouse on Small Mountain where a short break was taken to enjoy the sites and vistas overlooking Vung Tau. And then it was time for something new... A 'never seen before' descent had been carved by our Hares a few days earlier through a host of prickly vegetation. The highlight was "Santa's grotto", which had been decorated with tinsel and surprised many. The trail eventually culminated in a typically VTH3 'awkward' downhill slope yet, with many helpers, everyone managed to safely reach the bottom. We then made our way back to base camp (OSB1) to stow the assets and depart to change into 'civilian' clothes for our Christmas party! It was a tremendous turn-out, with people of all ages and nationalities - Hashers, families and friends. Our Offshore Bar 1 hosts produced a fantastic dinner which we all enjoyed, and the highlight for many was the Christmas pudding with custard. In true Hash fashion, this was quickly washed down with ice-cold San Miguel beers courtesy of our generous sponsor! A huge 'Thank you' goes to all who helped make this a super day, doing various things to contribute towards its success. Yet without one man (and a very busy man at this time of year), none of this would have been possible: Our special thanks go to ‘Santa’ who, with his huge white beard, came to help us all make this day such a special one for the children! Report: RW, Uncle. Hares: Rowdy Water, CNR, Mr Son. Hash Flash: Dracula and other ‘snappers’. VTH3 607 PHOTO GALLERY>>>   SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR, SAN MIGUEL! Contact Mr Tien for all San Miguel products in Vung Tau: [email protected] mobile 0168 385 1068 (see 'San Miguel Special Offer' page under 'VTH3 Home') 08 December 2013 "MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR" Two dozen eager Hashers and Hash Virgins gathered at Offshore Bar 1 with no idea where the bus would take them - because today was a "mystery run" which had been requested by popular demand. And our Hares have said they will welcome more requests if anyone would like to repeat a favourite trail from time to time (Hares usually have very big ears, so they'll always hear you!). Before today's departure, all "Christmas Charity Run" envelopes were collected and opened, with the many generous donations openly counted and checked. One thing is certain, there will be lots of happy little children next week when Santa and his helpers (all of us!) hand out the presents! We loaded the Hashmobile and headed unerringly(!) to - you guessed it - everyone's favourite mountain: Nui Dinh (5 km west of Ba Ria). Conforming to VTH3 by-law 101, a run briefing was delivered to the assembled throng - which included returnee and founding "Re-Hash" member Calamity Jane, who was designated Hash Flash for the day as a reward for being so enthusiastic and infectiously happy! Another welcome returnee was our favourite K9, Hashputin, accompanied by popular Hare Mountain Goat to help him over the tricky bits! Leading the way by example, Hashputin wore a very stylish "jingle bell" that gave a lot of us some fresh ideas about what to wear for next Sunday's Christmas Charity Run with Santa and the Reindeers (if you still need any help, see "Hot News & Events" on this website under "VTH3 Home" drop-down menu - ed). In the meantime, today's run was through the Forest of Dinh - conjuring many a vivid image of Bilbo Baggins and The Desolation of Smaug! It was another "beautiful" run through various types of vegetation, gradient and track (see photos below) - but everyone eventually made it back to the bus, thanks at least in part to volunteer "sweeper Hash" Taffy. We soon began to make short work of the "Hash crisps" and delicious Russian bread and salted pork - washed down as usual by silver and gold nectar courtesy of our generous sponsor San Miguel. Hash Virgins Jeff and Panpan (Thailand) had been surprised to discover such a world of wonder in the Forest of Dinh, and they were now exposed to another Hash tradition - that of "Down Down'ing" their introductory drinks in the Circle! Frequent Hasher and generous representative of silver sponsor SEC (Star Engineering JS Company), Walter, has somehow escaped a 'baptism of fire' for many months now - but today was finally his 'day of reckoning'! In 'the way of the Hash' - and following the precedent set by arguably the quietest guy on the planet being named Ivan Grozny ("Ivan the Terrible") - the equally quiet and unassuming Walter will forever more be known in Hash circles as Clint Eastwood (that swashbuckling 'bad guy' of Dirty Harry fame)! Lots of Sinners today as well - thanks to many volunteer Religious Advisors for 'pointing the dreaded finger'. "Sex on the hash" was quickly followed by "No sex on the Hash", and even an entire family of "new shoes" (well they were clean shoes - and that's close enough to being new for most of us!). Sadly, the forest light eventually began to fade and it was time for the homeward journey - accompanied, as usual, by VTH3's version of mobile karaoke. We learned today that they actually have songs in New Zealand - well at least one, anyway - thanks to Hard Drive. But perhaps practising for next Sunday's Christmas Charity Run & Party, a few carols were also heard above the general hubbub - with that old favourite Jingle Bells leading the way. Thanks to all for a terrific day - and please don't forget to BOOK EARLY for next Sunday evening's Christmas Party to help with the catering. Go to "Contact VTH3" on this website, or email [email protected] - and let us know how many will be in your party (see "Hot News & Events" on this website for all the details). Report: RW, Uncle. Hares : Mr Son, RW. Hash Flash: Calamity Jane VTH3 #606 PHOTO GALLERY >>>   Now go to 'Hot News & Events' (under VTH3 Home page)
for all the details of this Sunday's CHRISTMAS CHARITY RUN & PARTY - and especially note the request for everyone to PLEASE BOOK EARLY to help with catering... |
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