VTH3 #905

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1 SEPTEMBER 2019
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BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Mr. T
Hash Flasher: Zidan
Ringmaster: ​Boozer
Report: Chom Chom

Whilst most of us were still sleeping, this week’s trail gave Mr T, our Hare, the opportunity to see what life in Vung Tau is like at 7am, by getting up early and setting a rather last-minute trail on Big Mountain.

As the morning developed, our Hashers woke up one-by-one and made their presence at Café Uno for our regular 1pm gathering. This week we had 33 Hashers keen and eager to find out what had been set for the afternoon’s exploration and expedition.

Once registration had been completed, we were told to make our way to Hem 102, the Old Ladies House where we would gather once again. Motorbikes, cars and taxis transferred our Hashers to the next location. From here we took yet more taxis to our trail starting point at Hem 610 Tran Phu, home of Thích Ca Phật Đài Buddhist temple. For many Hashers, this will have been a familiar temple featuring an ornate Buddhist pagoda tower together with a large sitting Buddha.

After a quick introduction from Boozer, who seemed to know as much about the trail ahead as the rest of us, we were told to follow the red tapes. So, once again, On-On, let the trail begin. Our ascent up the picturesque and scenic mountain took us up steps initially, passing the tower, the sitting Buddha and a series of market stalls, selling the usual touristy tat. Whilst the majority of us contrived our way through the market, others stopped to examine the fine merchandise on offer and no doubt made their purchases. 

We plodded on up more and more steps with varying gradients. Happily chatting and enjoying our time as we were still, for the majority, gathered in a sole group we merrily went our way, confidently following the main path. After about a kilometre there was getting some concern as no red tapes had been seen. Hmmm, confusion had set in. Had Mr. T really been up earlier that morning? We progressed further and eventually decided things weren’t quite right. It seemed we had all gone the wrong way. We backtracked and eventually found the red tape marking a now right turn on a dry, sandy path heading up the mountain.

We followed the red tapes through the rocky sandy path and soon hit dense woodland with not much of a path to guide us. At least there was plenty of red tape to guide us over and under the trees and shrubs surrounding us. After a fair climb we met with a concrete road that would have been recognisable with most Hashers. It was the road that would eventually lead to the Ho May Park cable car station. A left turn was taken and we carried On-On our way feeling far more confident of the route in front of us.

As expected, we veered to the right, taking us to a small temple and presenting us with around 600 steps for our final downward journey back through the Hưng Thắng Tự Buddhist temple and back on to Tran Phu Street where we made our way back to Old Ladies House.

With the rock box pumping and beers and soft drinks aplenty, our Hashers slowly completed the trail and regrouped, happily chatting over the week’s news and goings-on. 

The circle was called and in the routine fashion we were introduced to our Hare, Mr. T. The trail was eventually rated a 12 so well done, particularly for the strenuous early start he had committed himself to in order to make the trail possible. Virgins this week included Jimmy from Yorkshire, UK together with Nha and Mieng Anh from Vung Tau. As mentioned earlier there were far too many sinners for going the wrong way, so they were luckily waived from being showered with beer, however poor old David was pulled into the circle for being devastated with his girlfriend. Let’s hope his week gets better.
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Next weekend, Vung Tau Hash is on an away trip to Nam Cat Tien so for those not fortunate to be accompanying us, a quiet Sunday afternoon lays ahead.

VTH3 #905 PHOTO GALLERY

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