A LIFE IN HANOI VIETNAM

Special Way To See a Movie in Hanoi

2009-07-07T11:29:00.001+07:00

Movie in Hanoi Vietnam @ Yahoo! Video

It's Snowing in Miami !!

2008-12-06T08:52:00.002+07:00

india People

2008-12-05T05:08:00.004+07:00

GOOD TRIP KMAN

2008-06-30T01:41:00.002+07:00

Monk Dances and Prays in Vietnam

2008-03-09T10:02:00.000+07:00

Camel Chews and Sings in India

2008-02-19T22:57:00.000+07:00

By Popular Demand ..here is the Camel Video

Wild Time In Small Town Vietnam

2008-02-19T22:17:00.001+07:00

Traditional Tune in Hanoi Vietnam

2008-02-19T21:05:00.000+07:00

Singing on the Lake

2008-01-27T10:43:00.001+07:00

A FEW OF MY PHOTOS OF PEOPLE

2007-10-28T23:57:00.003+07:00

Eating Dog in Hanoi

2007-10-19T16:06:00.000+07:00

Food Explorer Steve Rinella came to Hanoi last Tet
to dine on dog Hanoi Style.
My wife and I,and our friend Hong,
had the opportunity to take him to the
restaurants and markets that sell dog.
Here is a link to the story Steve wrote for
Outside Magazine about his visit to Hanoi.
EATING DOG IN HANOI

Eating Rats in Hanoi Video

2007-09-17T13:30:00.000+07:00

Here is the video of our eating
Some Rats from the Country -Side.
We took them to a Beer Restaurant
and chowed down.

Inside Hanoi Vietnam 2

2007-09-05T08:33:00.000+07:00

This is a look at another living area at
26 Hang Bo , Hanoi

Two Rare Original Posters from Vietnam (1957)

2007-05-29T12:23:00.000+07:00

I have just bought two posters that were painted in 1957. Their style is very atypical for posters in Vietnam. They are inviting young people and students in Vietnam
to go to Mat Sco Va (Moscow) for the sixth annual World Peace Conference.
FOR MORE INFO ON POSTERS CLICK HERE
To see these Posters on T-Shirts,Bags and Note Cards click here!!!

Owning a Great Painting in Hanoi Vietnam

2007-05-24T09:28:00.000+07:00

Click on Picture to see it LARGER

Yesterday I went ,with my friend Anh, down narrow alleys in an old section of Hanoi,
to view a collection of paintings and propaganda posters in a dingy bedroom . The walls were filled with great paintings by some of the most famous painters who worked during the renaissance period of painting,1935-68. Most of the artists are dead now ,or very old ,and examples of their work hang in the Museum of Fine Arts here in Hanoi.
One picture , by Nugyen Si Tot, I loved because it shows the love between a parent and his child in a countryside setting. It was painted in 1958 and is in very good condition.
I asked if he would sell it (it has been in his bedroom since Si Tot gave it to his father many years ago) and he said Yes !! He took it off the wall and gave it to me. This painting has never been seen in public . I think of Si Tot as the " Norman Rockwell " of Vietnam,but better.Let me know what you think...
here is a self portrait of Si Tot...

Born into a farming family in 1920, Tot was one of the first students of the Indochina Fine Arts College (now the Viet Nam Fine Arts College), and his passion for the craft proved contagious among villagers.
There is a small museum featuring his family’s collection of his paintings.It is the first private collection in Viet Nam to preserve the works of art and belongings of a famous artist.
The museum was built in Si Tot’s native village of Co Do, located in the northern Ha Tay Province’s Ba Vi District, where Si Tot is widely honoured as the father of village painting.
If you are in the area it is worth a look.
If you would like a t-shirt,bag ,greeting card or mug with this iconic painting click on this link : Father and Daughter.

3D Stereo Anaglyphs in Hanoi,Vietnam

2007-05-08T12:00:00.000+07:00

My friend Bobo has sent to me a 3d Nimslo Camera !!
Maybe the only one in Hanoi.
Here are a few "cross eye (X) shots..
Click on them to see bigger..

Now get your red/blue glasses out and take a look at
the pictures below.
I will be posting Anaglyphs whenever
I think I have some good pictures to look at.
This first group is just practice..most were taken
at a Bia Hoi Restaurant we go to after Badminton
at the Botanical Garden. Just move your mouse curser
over the pictures below:

BALL BUG (PILL MILLIPEDES) VIDEO

2007-05-03T01:05:00.000+07:00

MY WIFE WENT TO A PAGODA IN THE COUNTRY
AND CAME BACK WITH SOME GOODIES FOR MY SON AND I.
AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE THREE BALLS WERE SEEDS ,
TURNED OUT THEY HAD LEGS..
I NEVER CAME ACROSS THESE CRITTERS IN MIAMI .
THEY ARE PILL MILLIPEDES , HAVE 17 - 19 PAIRS OF
LEGS AND EAT DECAYING LEAVES...

INSIDE HANOI VIETNAM

2007-04-12T09:50:00.000+07:00

This is the first video post of a series that will show a little of the Hanoi
that most visitors to the city have little chance to see
except from a bus window going from one tourist site to another.
This first video is a look down the alley at 57 Hang Bo,
in the old part of town.
From the street there is just a narrow opening ,
but inside there is a neighborhood.

International Womans Day : Hanoi Vietnam

2007-03-08T23:19:00.000+07:00

To all the people out there of the female persuasion :
HAPPY WOMANS DAY
To Celebrate I took by wife Mai to a fancy, popular restaurant
that had great fish soup and banana flower salad, and for hanoi,
a very pricey place ..but what the hey..for women after all..
The place was gigantic , I would guess they could seat 500 or 600
people and still seem half full.
It was filled with women with bouques
of roses and men wearing suits and ties..
I probably was the only one there
with sandals on..always the funky one in the crowd..
So everything seemed
"like doing the Ritz" until I strolled into the mens' room
and was confronted with this bin :

and then I had second thoughts....

Eating Exotic Food in Hanoi

2007-03-07T09:46:00.000+07:00

The uncle of a friend of mine lives in a village around 15 Km from the center of Hanoi.
He said they have a special dish he wanted to share with me.
Yesterday he showed up with a bottle of medicine wine , some chili peppers , and a bag with 4 skinned and cooked plump rats..
So off we went to one of the oldest fresh beer places near the Army College to chow down.
I have been living in Hanoi for five years and have had the opportunity to taste many different foods that I was not used to eating in the States . My Vietnamese family and friends take special pleasure in exposing me to dishes and drinks that that they know will challenge my mind and stomach, they love to sit back and watch me drink and eat foods they themselves rarely ,or never , partake in.

There are the still warm Blood wines ; cobra ,turtle, porcupine and goat, and all the medicine wines such as gecko , bee, bear paw ,goat testicle, snake ,seahorse ,starfish , pig brain and wild bear bile wine(with the bodies or body parts floating in the wine) just to name a few. Here in Hanoi there is a beer place that has a large fish tank, with a spicket, and inside is an entire bear cub floating in rice wine and ginseng.

I am not by nature a food explorer but I like the idea of saving face around my friends and family , and to disprove the common expectation that all foreigners are wimps who only can eat hamburgers, pizza , KFC and Coca-Cola, I will go out of my food comfort zone to prove a point ,with a smile on my face, be it eating stuffed dog intestines , fried pigeon heads , various brains, scorpions, liquefied cockroaches, fried worms or …boiled rats.

I kept reassuring myself “ If it won’t kill you ,you can eat it” and if
other people eat it then it can’t be too bad, even if it is an acquired taste.
So when Dung decided to bring some rats ,I had been down the food challenge path before and said “sure , bring them on”.
The rats from the village of Hung Yen and are caught in the wild. They are called “ Chuot Dong “ roughly translated as “rats that grow in the country”. Unlike their city cousins the “Chuot Cong” or “dirty water rats”, the diet of Chuot Dong is mainly the rice plant ..they will eat the roots and and the time of season the rice is harvested is when there are the most rats to be found. Their fur is yellowish brown and they are about10 inches from tip to tail. For the people of Hung Yen the rats are special and delicious and play an important part at wedding parties. If the marriage is to be a successful ,and the party to be complete then rats must be served.
After two or three cups of “medicine” wine I had my first taste of the rat..
As usual, everyone at the table was watching for my reaction ,especially my host ,Dung, so I chewed very slowly and said “This is the best rat meat I have ever had” and the thought came “this rat gave it’s life so I could eat it
and now it is a part of me..”
What did it taste like ? Chicken.

(this post is also on the BBC web site in Vietnamese..take a look)

Rat Snack

2007-03-03T01:11:00.000+07:00

Stereo 3D picture : Playing Chess in Vietnam

2007-02-26T01:00:00.000+07:00

Vietnamese Dan Tranh Music

2007-01-06T14:25:00.000+07:00

Here is another beautiful performance by
Nguyen Thanh Thuy
preceded by a small clip of an interview.
I have included the interview so you can get
an idea of Thuys' wonderful personality...Enjoy

Thuy Plays Traditional Vietnamese Music

2007-01-03T11:56:00.000+07:00

I have recently met Nguyen Thanh Thuy,
a fantastic musician and a very beautiful Woman.
Thuy plays traditional Vietnamese Classical Music
on an instrument called a "Dan Tranh" or an "Picture Guitar".
She is one of the most highly regarded players
of this instrument in Vietnam.
Here is a short video of her playing for a Hanoi TV show.

Hanoi Main Train Station_Buying Tickets

2006-12-29T13:37:00.000+07:00

Buying train tickets at the train station in Hanoi
is pretty easy if you give yourself enough time.
For overnight you should know
if you want a soft or hard sleeper.
IT IS IMPORTANT
TO BUY YOUR TICKETS A FEW DAYS
BEFORE YOU WANT TO LEAVE !!!
It is sometimes possible to get tickets even if you are told
the train is sold out but it will cost you $$.

This is the Main Train Station for Hanoi..
to buy tickets to Lao Cai (Sapa) or China door # 6 is on the right.
Walk into the main entrance for tickets south (Hue, Saigon ).
A meter taxi to or from the old Quarter ( Hoan Kiem Lake)
should cost around 20,000 dong ($1.50 US)
and take 15 minuets.

To buy tickets to Lao Cai (Sapa), China or Hai Phong
go into entrance # 6 and
then to window # 15 .. for foreigners only..
they speak English at this window

Here is the Information Booth (they speak English)
And the ATM machine....
it does NOT seem to take credit cards.

VIETNAMESE SNOW WHITE CHICKEN SALAD VIDEO

2006-12-13T09:40:00.000+07:00

We have been doing a lot of traditional Vietnamese cooking at our home at Hang Bo recently.
Yen,a n English student of mine is a chef on Vietnamese television and wanted to learn food and kitchen English. He cooks the food most Vietnamese enjoy ,especially during Tet,with fresh ingredients that can be bought at most markets in the cities and the small country-side markets.This is the first of a series of cooking videos we are presenting. After Yen has cooked we all sit down and have had some delicious food for lunch! I have made a "cooking with Yen" blog and will post all the video recipes on it..here is the link:

VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL COOKING WITH YEN

and here is the video:

COOKING WITH WORMS VIETNAMESE RECIPE VIDEO

2006-11-29T15:24:00.000+07:00

Mai cooks a worm dish for our
Thankgiving meal here in Hanoi.
Washed down with some white wine from Dalat
and Hanoi Bia Hoi (beer),
those worms were pretty tasty.
Here is the recipe and reactions from our guests

Old Water Puppets in Hanoi, Vietnam:Slideshow

2006-11-26T18:29:00.001+07:00

These old water puppets are on display at the
Ethnology Museum in Hanoi Vietnam.
They are made from old Ficus trees that have
a light , strong , fine grained wood
that floats easily.
The wood is cut to size,the bark removed and then it is dried.
After being carved the puppet is painted seven times
which not only gives it color and detail
but it is also waterproofed and durable.
Hong Phong puppets usually feature
black,green,pink and yellow colors.

Slice of Life : Thanksgiving in Hanoi Vietnam

2006-11-24T00:54:00.000+07:00

Small slice of life in Hanoi Vietnam
with friends arriving for a thanksgiving
meal of Fried Worms.

Turtle For Lunch in Hanoi

2006-11-21T14:53:00.000+07:00

The Family came over for a Lunch of
A Large Softshell Turtle. We cooked it with
a variety of fresh mushrooms and fungus
and washed it down with
glasses of bile wine and blood wine.
Here is a video..

Smart Car Hits Hanoi

2006-11-21T06:27:00.000+07:00

My Brother -in-Law , Son, Zipped by Hang Bo to show
his new Smart Car with a Mercedes-Benz engine.

** It is Eye Candy **

It seems a perfect
fit for the congested ,narrow streets of Hanoi.

Tourist in Hanoi During The Tet Holiday

2006-11-13T12:37:00.001+07:00

I have recived this email from Karen , Who wants to know about visiting Hanoi and Vietnam during the Tet, or New Year Holiday, and what to expect:

Dear Mr. Kastan,

I stumbled upon your blog in trying to get information for my holiday in Hanoi which is planned for Feb 12 to March 7 2007. I have enjoyed your photos and commentary tremendously and I am more excited about my trip than ever.

If you have a moment to respond, I would really appreciate if you could tell me whether or not it is a mistake for a solo traveler to be visiting Hanoi during Tet which I believe falls on Feb 17 in 2007? I want to walk every steet of the city, see some of the museums and bicycle to some of the clsoe in outlying areas. I also plan to hike in the Sapa region for a few days and see Halong Bay towards the end of my stay. I do not shop - but I do eat!

Also, I want to travel as light as possible. What can I expect from the weather at this time of the year in Hanoi? Do I need very warm clothing?

I have lived and traveled throughout the US, in Central America and in Europe but I have never been to Asia.

I look forward to your reply,

Karen

And here is my reply..if you have anything to suggest or correct please do:

Hi Karen ..
First, thanks for your nice words about the blog.

Walking around Hanoi will be great fun .
There is always something or someone interesting to do and see.
A couple of years ago visiting Hanoi during Tet was discouraged by the government.
There are so many people traveling to their home towns that buses and trains and planes
were fully booked and most hotels were either closed or packed with Vietnamese that tourists
had a hard time getting around.
Also for the first three days of the new year (Feb17,18,19) most the shops and restaurants
will be locked tight.
So while the town is full ..the streets are empty though
Tourist sites like the temple of literature
and Ho Chi Minh mausoleum are open (except Mondays and Fridays).
This year people think more and more shops will be open,in the afternoon, because
the first day of the lunar year is considered a very lucky day and
businesses need all the luck they can get.
The week before Tet is a very good time to visit Hanoi.
It is a little like visiting New York City
the week before Xmas.
The markets are full with special produce,the flower markets take over the streets and many families
stroll in the parks and have big meals in the restaurants.
It is also a time to visit friends and go to pagodas and temples all over town to ask for a happy and successful ($$) next year.
So if you decide to visit during Tet these are my thoughts..

* Plan on being in Hanoi for the week before Feb 17 th,
Hanoi is flat and a great city to see by bike
once you get into the flow of traffic

* Leave for Sapa the night of Tet , by over night train ,
and spend three days in the mountains..
there are many flowers in bloom at that time
and the markets you can visit are quite colorful.

* Come back to Hanoi and go to Ha Long and plan the rest of your visit

* MOST IMPORTANT *

Normally I would say don't make any reservations or get any tickets
until you get here but during Tet it is different !!
Most travel and tours agencies urge you to reserve (with a deposit) a hotel room , in Hanoi and Sapa,
and get any train or plane tickets ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE.
Sometimes they are too cautious ,
but for the two weeks around Tet it is a very good idea.
Sapa will be full of visiting Vietnamese families on holiday from Hanoi
and Hanoi will be full of Vietnamese visiting families and the city.
So if you take care of Hotel and Travel tickets (Just around Tet) and do Sapa on the first day of the new year) you should have a great time..

(by the way it will be cool in Hanoi and cold in Sapa,
you may want to pick up a sweater or jacket here .
there are many markets and shops with nice cheap clothes).

Most Hotels basic nice rooms in town go for $20-$25 a night,
but some raise the price during Tet.

Peter
Hanoi,Vn

Drinking Beer at the Brewery in Hanoi Vietnam

2006-11-10T13:42:00.000+07:00

Went last Saturday to the Canteen at the
Bier Hoi Hanoi Brewery.
It is a loud ,big room ,full of mostly men,drinking
Fresh Beer (accent on fresh),in large quantities and having a very good
time..
Here is a Short Video shot at 11 in the Morning.
I added the Jazz..

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF HANG BO STREET

2006-10-26T13:48:00.000+07:00

MOVE YOUR MOUSE CURSOR IN PICTURE TO
LOOK AROUND HANG BO
USE CONTROL AND SHIFT TO ZOOM IN AND OUT..
MAY TAKE A FEW MINUETS TO LOAD...

HANG BO PANORAMA

Here is a link to an essay about
the history and life
of the street which I live : Hang Bo

A Day In The Life of Hang Bo Street

Hands of Chicken Photo

2006-10-24T20:31:00.000+07:00

When we had our meal to remember the one hundredth day of mai's father dyeing there was a bowl of boiled chicken feet in front of me..
With my brother-in -law eyeing them .. I grabbed them to take a few pictures to commemorate the chickens' passing.. and then they were eaten

Buddhist Hand Prayer at Burial in Hanoi

2006-09-30T15:57:00.000+07:00

The Final Prayer Before covering the casket is a Hand Prayer

Ana Buys Hanoi T Shirt from This Blog !!!

2006-09-19T21:28:00.000+07:00

First T - Shirt sold to the States..So to honor the
buyer and because I love her singing here is a Video
of Ana singing on my Balcony at Ocean Drive a couple
of years ago...Enjoy

Family Altar in Hanoi

2006-09-18T15:48:00.000+07:00

Upstairs, at Hang Bo, we have a little room for
making offerings to our ancestors .
Here is a video
of Mai lighting incense.....

Breakfast in Hanoi Vietnam : Pho

2006-09-13T14:41:00.000+07:00

There are many PHO places in Hanoi.
This is a popular
one near my home on Hang bo,
in the center of town.
Pho is noodle soup and the most traditional kind
is Pho Bo (Beef soup).

Vietnamese Badminton Championships

2006-09-12T09:37:00.000+07:00

Last weekend we went to the Vietnam National championships
here in Hanoi .
Watched the women's finals with Kim Anh ..
who had won the championship two years in a row.
The crowd was
very enthusiastic..
Here is a video clip ...

Getting ready for school

2006-09-04T09:10:00.000+07:00

Bao is starting school tomorrow
so His father gives him tips about
understanding the quantum electron particle
wave interference pattern conundrum.

Vietnamese Tongue Twister

2006-08-31T17:30:00.000+07:00

Hong,my student, saying a tongue twister in Vietnamese..
does anyone know what she is saying in English?

Slapping Each Other to Start the Day

2006-08-31T12:18:00.000+07:00

Older Women Exercise at Hoan Kiem Lake
in the morning by slapping each other..
gets the circulation going

Trees on Hoan Kiem Lake

2006-08-29T12:30:00.000+07:00

The Beauty of Hoan Kiem Lake ,in the heart of Hanoi , is largly due to the big weathered trees that surround the lake.
People sit under the trees and sleep on them ,exersise and eat in the shade.
Yesterday ,my family was taking a walk around the lake,our eyes open for the giant turtle,and a large tree crashed down under its' own weight.
No one was hurt ,but it was a lesson of life and death for my son..when he got close to the fallen tree he looked for a seed to plant so a new tree will grow in its' place.

Cafe Lam Hanoi Vietnam

2006-08-09T10:29:00.000+07:00


An old cafe in Hanoi,with well worn atmosphere and good paintings on the walls. To find out more about this interesting cafe and how these great works ended up on the walls read this article by Sara Tilton: "Cafe Lam "

Playing with balls

2006-08-09T08:09:00.000+07:00

Psychedelic Birthday

Bao got some balls for his
two year Birthday..

Brain Train -Lau Resturant in Hanoi Vietnam

2006-07-31T21:33:00.000+07:00

Last night went to Lau Trung Resturant.

One of many on Phung Hung street.

Lau is a soup (hot pot) that has bamboo,tofu,a variety
of greens and herbs and then you add various meats...
beef,shrimp,pig liver,pig brains,frog legs and fish
filays..as you can see on the plate.
I pour half a bottle of "Beer Hanoi" into the pot which adds
a little flavor and is cause for conversation.
The pig brains have the texture of pudding
or flan and are quite tasty !

This Restaurant is special in
that the main train rails are a few feet from the tables,
and three or four times a night a train swooshes by.
Check out the Video...

Death In Hanoi _ Tran Le Mao

2006-07-24T12:34:00.000+07:00

Early Morning Walk Around Hoan Kiem Lake

2006-07-24T09:15:00.000+07:00

A Few pictures from my walk
around Hoan Kiem Lake this morning.
Took my camera instead of my badminton Racket.

streching before a game of badminton..

contemplating the day

Jazzersize on the side of the road

getting the latest news ...

For some two rackets are better than one

And there is always early
morning prayer and a talk
with a tiger

Kite Man

2006-07-03T14:21:00.000+07:00

Went to the beach , Do Son , a couple hours from Hanoi for the weekend.. Bao liked the Batman Kite.

A Lunch of Bun Cha in Hanoi Video

2006-06-13T15:36:00.000+07:00

Had some Bun Cha at a popular lunch
in the old section of Hanoi.
This is not my favorite restaurant for bun cha
but if you ask locals they will say
it is one of the best.

Eating Scorpions For Lunch

2006-06-12T13:08:00.000+07:00

I took my Friends ,Bobo and Kris,to a Bia Hoi Resturant for a
fresh beer and snack of crispy scorpions when they visited
in Hanoi,Vietnam. Bobo when asked how they tasted said.."They tatse like
Scorpions" Here is the video:

Vietnamese House Stone Carving

2006-06-12T12:56:00.000+07:00

A Stone Carving Studio and Shop in Hanoi Vietnam.
This is a very old craft in Vietnam that has been given
new life with modern designs. All work is done by hand..
Carving,painting,and egg shell shaping.
Longish Video used for showing how the work is done.
the gallery is at 92 Hang Bac, Hanoi

Electric Bikes in Hanoi

2006-05-09T23:57:00.000+07:00

I have been riding around Hanoi on an Electric Bike
for the last 3 years.
I love it.

It is a perfect fit for the flat roads
and short distances I travel everyday.
Also I can keep up with my friends
on their motorbikes in that the normal speed
of traffic is 10 to 20 Km in the city.
When Bobo visited we went to a shop
that sells electric bikes
and did this little preview.

Badminton at Botanical Garden Hanoi Vietnam

2006-04-10T13:15:00.000+07:00

A visiting Cameraman from America
caught me Bounding around the court like
a bulbous frog ,moving like the foreigner I am..
Everyone is polite and refrain
from laughing at me,to my face,too often.

Bamboo Ratain Bicycle Made in Hanoi Vietnam

2006-04-04T10:58:00.000+07:00

Here are photos of a Bamboo Ratain Bicycle
made in Hanoi
by the Thong Nhat Bike company..
They also make the electric bike
I tool around town on.
The bike has a steel frame and finely woven seat.
It sells for about5 Million Dong or about $300 US.

Prayer and Dance in a Pagoda near Hanoi Vietnam

2006-03-27T12:35:00.000+07:00

Here is a Video Clip Shot This Weekend
(by my wife)
At the end Large Colorful Paper Horses
are set on Fire by my sister-in -Law , Houng

Train In Inner City : Hanoi , Vietnam

2006-03-24T12:17:00.000+07:00

This is down the block from my home.
The trains come very close to the
Front doors of homes and restaurants.
Looks surreal and dangerous
because the train is so big.
when people open their doors or look out
their windows or walk down the lane
the train is just
inches away..one wrong step..trouble..
I have also seen young kids
playing all around the tracks!

Train on Long Bien Bridge Video

2006-03-20T14:35:00.000+07:00

Train To Hanoi over Red River on Long Bien Bridge.
The river is very high.
Parts of the city were under water.
People could only get to their homes by boat!

designed by Gustave Eiffel,the bridge
is a massive iron structure built by the French .
It has suffered at the hands of war and neglect over the years.
It was once known as Doumer Bridge,
after the French Governor General Paul Doumer,
who was responsible for setting up the French administration,
and implementing public works projects.
Long Bien Bridge is still used, but only for trains, pedestrians, bicycles and some motorcycles.
In the mornings and afternoons people from the outlying areas queue up to cross the bridge,
carrying their produce to and from the markets.
It is easy to walk across and the views down onto passing boat-traffic and the view of Hanoi's riverfront stretch are very pleasing.
Here is a link with more info on bridge
and here is another bridge history link

Hanoi Botanical Garden

2006-03-20T08:46:00.000+07:00

A Panorama of the Sculpture Area..
(may take a long time to load..
move your cursor around the picture to see all..
also you can zoom in and out)

Prayer For The Dead : Hanoi Vietnam

2006-03-15T14:08:00.000+07:00

This Is an offering prayer for a recently dead man..
His family sends many things to him
by burning them and wishes him well.
The ceremony lasted over 12 hours.

Len Dong Dance in Temple; Sapa, Vietnam

2006-03-06T23:15:00.000+07:00

Special Monks Pray For Private Patrons
at a Temple in Sa pa..
For Success and Happiness..

Women At Bac Ha Market

2006-03-06T14:13:00.000+07:00

Here is a little slide show of
some women at the Sunday Market
at Bac Ha ..Northern Vietnam...near the Chinese Border

Women Sing on Hoan Kiem Lake

2006-02-21T12:13:00.000+07:00

Women Singing a traditional song
from a boat on Hoan Kiem Lake...

Sports in Hanoi : Da Cau

2006-02-20T19:54:00.000+07:00

A popular Sport in Hanoi. Similar to Badminton but one kicks the shuttle
over the net..no hands allowed ! Shot at the Hanoi Botanical garden.

Giarai Tomb Sculptures

2006-02-19T21:08:00.000+07:00

At the Ethnology Museum, Hanoi (shot Feb.17,2006)
Carved by five Giarai Arap villagers in 1998 from tree trunks using adzes, cutlasses and knives. Carvings are of sexually-explicit men and women and pregnant women to symbolize fertility and birth..after the tomb is completed and a ceremony preformed it is abandoned to “fall to pieces” Here are a few close-up pictures that seem to have an inner life to me.

Giant Turtle Sighting in Hoan Kiem Lake Video

2006-02-17T14:44:00.000+07:00

A Little About Hoan Kiem Lake and It's Turtles..

Located in the centre of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake ('Lake of the Returned Sword) is regarded as the heart of the city. It owes its name and its fame to a powerful legend, a close parallel to an episode in the UK's Arthurian mythology.

When Vietnam was occupied by forces of the Chinese Ming in the 15th century, Le Loi, a resistance leader, netted a magnificent sword while fishing on the Lake.
The power of the sword led Le Loi to victory and the expulsion of the Chinese.
Later, as Emperor Le Thai To, he rowed out on the lake once more to return the sword from whence it came in gratitude for his success.
A sudden clap of thunder rent the air, whereupon a golden 'tortoise' emerged from water to take the sword from his hand and return it to the depths.
The legend says that the turtles will be on hand to assist in times of national peril.

The tortoise is one of the four sacred creatures in the animist traditions of Vietnam. Its spiritual 'job description' is to promote wisdom and learning and to preserve the stability of the realm (hence, its common use to support stelae -stone tablets carrying inscriptions concerning proclamations, achievements and similar information worthy of preservation).

The 'tortoises' of Hoan Kiem Lake are actually rare Asian soft-shelled freshwater giant turtles (the word 'rua' in Vietnamese covers both species).
An unknown number still inhabit the murky water -occasionally a head pops up, a powerful omen of good luck for anyone fortunate to witness the event.

Guess I was Lucky to see one and have my camera with me..shot early morning.

(Here is a link with more info)

Snake and Lizard Wine Preparation; Vietnam

2006-02-17T12:48:00.000+07:00

Hang Bo Street Panorama

2006-02-15T15:32:00.000+07:00

WHERE THE KASTAN FAMILY LIVES...
MOVE YOUR MOUSE CURSOR IN PICTURE TO SEE ALL
USE CONTROL AND SHIFT TO ZOOM IN AND OUT..
MAY TAKE A FEW MINUETS TO OPEN..
SO LOOK AROUND BLOG AND COME BACK..

Just the Sreet on which i live

Sleeping at Hoi An Market

2006-02-10T20:41:00.000+07:00

After a hard Morning of selling ...

2006-02-08T15:40:00.000+07:00

An afternoon in a small village near Vinh Phuc ,about 30 Km. from Hanoi..after visiting with some local hosts saw a ceremony to help bring wealth,good luck and fertility ..
Also see video below "Wild Time in a Small Town"

2006-02-05T22:56:00.000+07:00

Wild Time In Small Town Vietnam

This is a yearly celebration
in a small village
near Vinh Phoc in Northern Vietnam .
Shot in the Rain..

NEW !! "YES" "NO" T SHIRT FOR SALE

2006-02-05T07:02:00.000+07:00

( click on picture to see larger )
Our New " YES " " NO "Tshirt is Ready and for Sale..
Be the first on your block to own one !!
Created and Hand Printed in Hanoi !!!
Front has great grining picture and the
words for "yes" and "no " in Vietnamese.
On the back is "Xin Chao" which means "hello" and "goodbye".
Save yourself shipping and pick up the shirt at Vietnamese House
when you are in Hanoi.
$15 each + Shipping
We have Kid sizes

Bao Laughs Video (click picture)

2006-02-01T15:11:00.001+07:00

Tet Dinner Video

2006-01-31T13:26:00.000+07:00

2006-01-28T22:40:00.000+07:00

Bao's New Year portrait , Last day of 2005

I visited Bach Ma temple on the last day of 2005 , This is a beautiful place.

Bao and I say

"HAPPY NEW YEAR"
to our ancestors.......
and give them a little food... including Chicken ..
hope they don't get the flu in the "Other" World !!

Lots of Good Grub Here ..Mai and her Mother spent all day shopping

and preparing

2006-01-25T15:18:00.000+07:00

LOTS OF FLOWERS BEING SOLD FOR TET ON HANG LUOC STREET,HA NOI

2006-01-21T20:00:00.000+07:00

MY FIRST T-SHIRTS HAVE BEEN SILK SCREENED!!
HAVE A HUNDERED OF THESE BABYS
WAITING TO FIND
NEW HOMES AND
BODYS TO ADORN.
SPECIAL THANKS TO MAT IN NORTHWEST
AMERICA
FOR GOOD ADVICE
AND SUPPORT

2006-01-16T09:55:00.000+07:00

Tet is coming up soon so everyone is preparing to usher "Ong Tao",the Kitchen God, back to the "Other" world. Which means lots of food and wine ,cleaning the house,paying all debts ..to everyone and giving gifts to the needy and to your elders (also teachers and bosses). Also , there are tons of women ,on rickty bikecycles, circleing the city with trees on the back of the bikes ,big pink flowers floating by..(pic).. Also special holiday fruit.. will be taking pictures soon.. so happy new year to everyone from the kastan family

2006-01-07T18:10:00.000+07:00

HOT OUT OF THE OVEN !!
HONG AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY
LAST NIGHT

2006-01-05T17:14:00.000+07:00

See the movies !!!
here is a link for the
NEW
FLASH PLAYER 8
I installed it in less than
a minuet
WORKS PERFECTLY !!!

2006-01-04T11:12:00.000+07:00

Here are my new students Nhật and Hạnh,
15 year old twins...They do everything together..
I ask one a question and the other answers..one starts to talk and the other finishes....

2006-01-04T08:29:00.000+07:00

NEW HANOI T SHIRT
In my never ending quest to make a buck
I will toss some money towards making a T shirt..
here is the design. Any suggestions or comments will be great...

2006-01-04T07:09:00.000+07:00

Daven said...

Well, I guess if Bao is going to watch TV, the Simpsons is a good place to start!

2006-01-04T06:48:00.000+07:00

Thanks for the response!
If you want to post a note and some pictures instead of just commenting;
you have to become a member...just email me and I will invite you
with a link for you to follow..Give it a try.

2006-01-03T17:11:00.000+07:00

WE HAVE A MAJOR MILESTONE WITH BAO SITTING THROUGH AN ENTIRE EPISODE OF THE SIMPSONS FOR THE FIRST TIME !!
HE LIKED HOMER AND THE GANG VERY MUCH AND THOUGHT MOMMY LOOKED LIKE MARGE.

Sapa Buddy

2006-01-03T16:47:00.000+07:00

Sapa Buddy
Originally uploaded by pkastan.

HI EVERYONE ..
WELCOME TO PETER'S BLOG !!

HOPE YOU WILL JOIN IN WITH
WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR
NECK OF THE WORLD.