VTH3 #873

24/1/2019

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20 JAN 2019

NUI DINH - "Seventy Five Go to Nui Dinh"

Hares: Mr. T, Faulty Brakes
Hash Flashers: Radiowave, Frenchy
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Frenchy

We were not 40, not 50, but a record of more than 70 hashers waiting for departure from UNO Coffee on Sunday Jan. 20th – a second bus had to be hired so that no one would be left behind; after the ride past Ba Ria to the foot of Nui Dinh, the bus started the climb up a good road and then stopped. After a short briefing by Mr T, the group started on on by simply following the road for a few hundred metres – a not very comfortable walk, with the hot road surface and scarce spots of shade.

But we soon left the road to go down into the forest; that was the only tricky spot in the run – it had to be tackled with precaution, as the descent between rocks was rather abrupt, but fortunately not very long. The consequence, however, due to our great number and the fact that we had to go down carefully one by one, was that there was soon a great gap between the first and the last hashers. The slope then was gentle and we soon reached a half filled stream that was easily crossed; a short flat lane followed with a small lake on the left, then we began a rather long and steep way uphill, rocky but not particularly difficult; the group I was with took between 35 and 45 minutes to get to the top, counting a few pauses for photos and/or catching our breath. Surprise: we came across a well paved lane and found ourselves in front of a wide flight of steps between enormous boulders. Then came the reward: a spectacular sweeping view over the flat lands below. More steps up took us to a statue of Quan Am wedged between high rocks, with a passage to the left, also between rocks, lined with traditional golden statues of monks.

Going down was no problem, first on a dirt lane, then on the main road where we finally caught sight of the two buses indicating the location of the Down Down. We found there another kind of relief - no surprise, but always a delight to enjoy our favourite San Miguel and sandwiches. After the traditional photo came the ceremony. Under the conduct of the ever-joking Boozer, the Hares, precious scouts for our run were presented to the cheers of the hashers who awarded a 12/10 for the run. The unusual number of virgins included a couple from Iceland, another from Australia, another from Hanoi, plus a lady from Siberia and a Vietnamese lady. They introduced themselves and the h
Hashers' song welcomed them. 7 returnees had to explain why they had missed so many runs, the pipe was awarded to a young Russian lady who made the mistake to try and drink her goblet of beer before the master’s signal – she was granted a second goblet and found herself properly drenched (what a waste of the good stuff !)

Finally we all bid a warm farewell to Damian, alias Faulty Brakes, who will soon return to his dear Ireland and stay away for about a month; we all wish him a safe journey there and back, and a pleasant stay at home.

VTH3 #873 PHOTO GALLERY

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