VTH3# 1113

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19 MAY 2024
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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”

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