Vietnam | Fifty Four and Counting

TransIndus – Exceptional service that will exceed your expectations!

CambodiafiftyfourandcountingDecember 9, 2016

We first used TransIndus in October 2008 and that was a holiday of a lifetime! .. so when it came to organising a long awaited trip to the South East Asia, TransIndus was a first choice. My entire trip was personally handled by Chinmay. To travel to a distant unfamiliar land can be daunting. The…

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CambodiafiftyfourandcountingDecember 3, 2016

Asia vs the West

As the final hours in Hong Kong come to an end, this is a great time to reflect on what we’ve…

FoodfiftyfourandcountingNovember 28, 2016

To be a Vegetarian in Vietnam

Vietnamese people are generally slim with very clear skin complexions in the young and weathered faces in the older generation. Not…

Mekong DeltafiftyfourandcountingNovember 28, 2016

Funny how you bump into people

Behind our Sampan we pulled a bamboo covered rowing boat suitable for tributaries, so we took a trip along one. This…

Mekong DeltafiftyfourandcountingNovember 27, 2016

Mekong, Tai and an Elephants Ear fish

Our guide for the Mekong Delta is Tai a very happy local that speaks reasonable English. Before boarding our Sampan we…

TravelfiftyfourandcountingNovember 26, 2016

Spaghetti Junction Vietnamese style

A common site in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and other cities in Vietnam is their external wiring systems by the utility…

Ho Chi Minh CityfiftyfourandcountingNovember 25, 2016

Ho Chi Minh, a city like New York, Paris and London.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, five million inhabitants in the city and two million on the outskirts. It’s a crazy…

Hoi AnfiftyfourandcountingNovember 24, 2016

The Vietnamese secret drivers code and my fan base!

There are no rules when it comes to driving on the Vietnam roads. New lane departure warning systems would be in…

Hoi AnfiftyfourandcountingNovember 23, 2016

Hoi An, it’s people and silk worms

Welcomed by Tien our guide with her infectious personality and smile, the journey from Danang was around 40 mins to our…

AirlinesfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Vietnam Airlines – safety first!

We were given great seats on our 1 hour flight VN 185 from Hanoi to Dnang (airport for Hoi An). They…

Halong BayfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Naturally cultured pearls on our way to Hanoi Airport

Well according to the pearl factory where we stopped, a natural one is when a grain of sand enters the oyster…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Clean toilet, no paper and a shower hose!

Ok so this is an image of a clean toilet, complete with loo paper on the right and a hose on…

AttractionsfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Tai Chi from the East meets beech from the West

The morning started with Tai Chi on deck at around 7-45am Tai Chi is a very calm and controlled balance. Our…

AttractionsfiftyfourandcountingNovember 22, 2016

Halong Bay – The 7th natural wonder of the world, a hammer and a torch

To get from Hanoi to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise requires an early departure around 7am. Mondays traffic was madness…

HanoififtyfourandcountingNovember 21, 2016

Good Bye Hanoi

As we leave Hanoi for the final time we head East to Halong Bay. Hanoi certainly leaves a memorable impression on…

I decided to turn my hand to something different,

I decided to turn my hand to something different, during this lockdown.
Having completed a number of projects recently such as the Truck for Max, Medieval Village the Lisbon Tram, I came across a world of miniature model kits.
The finished marketing results looked less achievable when first opening the cardboard box that the kit comes in. #craftkits #minihouses #modelmaking #Robotime #Rolife

I have to admit that this pandemic is wearing me d

I have to admit that this pandemic is wearing me down....
I actually didn’t put this roll-on under my arms .. but what I did was memorable!
#antipersperant #deepheat #Dovemensantiperspirant #rollonantipersperant
Find out the whole story at www.fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/Wordpress/a-really-surprising-reaction-from-a-roll-on-antiperspirant

When Compensation isn’t Compensation! #deliverie

When Compensation isn’t Compensation!
#deliveries #myHermes
I recently had a need to send a parcel and so decided to use MyHermes. I've used them in the past and to be honest never had an issue with their service. On this occasion, due to the lockdown and social distancing I opted for the pickup from my home for an additional 60p rather than the drop off service I've previously used. The following day, Wednesday, I left the package on top of my dustbin as I had instructed, if out, this where the parcel could be found. We're living in very difficult times, I understand this and so was not totally surprised that no one collected by the end of the day. After all I could understand the drivers are probably overloaded. So the following morning, Thursday I again put the parcel out, but once again it was not collected. So Friday morning, I eventually tracked down a number to call MyHermes. After an hour holding on, I was answered by an assistant. "My parcel was not been collected as planned on Wednesday" I said. "Yes that's right" said the customer service agent "The drivers are not collecting from homes. We should put something on the website!" "Oh!…
Link: https://fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/when-compensation-isnt-compensation/

2020 Global Pandemic, is this really happening? Th

2020 Global Pandemic, is this really happening? Thank Goodness for the NHS!
#Coronavirus #CoVid-19 #Health #healthemergency #NHS #Politics
Panic buying, people die-ing, the army on standby, schools and shops closed, self-isolation, hardship and all because of a virus disease that we can’t see. These are unprecedented times. A period like we have never known in our lifetime. So how do we get through all of this? To start with you stay calm and follow government advice. But other than this all we can do is sit this out, keep well and accept that we are all in this together for the long haul. Whilst we’re keeping our act together, attempting to avoid the daily increasing death count, our NHS subject themselves to the dangers of a highly contagious and invisible disease. This week the people of the United Kingdom stood at their front doors and applauded the frontline Hero’s .. those who together protect us from this virus. Our NHS is part of our defence. Fighting a battle like no other. Stay safe.
Link: https://fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/2020-global-pandemic-is-this-really-happening-thank-goodness-for-the-nhs/

Lockdown! – Boris calls time!Perhaps an alternat

Lockdown! – Boris calls time!Perhaps an alternative approach?
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After a softening up of the British people and one final sunny Mothers day, the Prime Minister has finally brought down the curtain and started a very long interval. It's definitely not something we are used to. But I have a view regarding the approach the government has taken. I wonder if others would agree if this would work. What would have been so terrible if the country froze stock markets, stopped businesses from issuing invoices, prevent payment of purchase invoices. No one to receive wages or any bills, no taxes, nothing. No rent to be paid, no rates, mortgages, gas or electric bills. Instead issue every person with essential weekly food vouchers that have a total value of say £90 a week that can only be delivered. This way no one starves, no one profits, and no one is forced to pay any bills. I’m sure there is a flaw in my thinking but what do I know!
Link: https://fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/lockdown-boris-calls-timeperhaps-an-alternative-approach/

I amsterdam city card – Amazingly convenient and

I amsterdam city card – Amazingly convenient and great value!
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We planned a four day leisure weekend in Amsterdam in part because we'd not been to the Netherlands and because a friend was celebrating her 60th birthday and a group of us also planned to be there. The weather forecast left a great deal of uncertainty, apart from an assurance that it would include cold, wet and windy conditions. So we wrapped up warm and set off in our own car to once again use the efficient Meet & Greet service at Manchester Airports Terminal 1. Sadly, after boarding our EasyJet flight, we had to disembark for a later departure as our plane was 'broke' according to the Captain! (Read more about it here) With only a one hour flight we didn't waste much of the day by our delayed departure and on arriving at Schiphol Airport, our train journey to the centre was around 15 minutes using the NS Sprinter. On arrival at Central Station, we collected our 72 hours I amsterdam travel/access cards (€105 each) from a really friendly bunch of people along with maps and guides. Their shop is located within the station. They offer a whole range of travel cards and have an excellent website full…
Link: https://fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/i-amsterdam-city-card-amazingly-convenient-and-great-value/

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