Jeers to international wifi provider Boingo.
Thankfully wifi is largely free in Vietnam. I hope we never go the way of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos or Singapore, who all charge ridiculous rates for wifi and submit to government monitoring, in many cases, of all transmissions over wifi.
I was in an international airport (Narita aka Tokyo) however, and Boingo was the only available provider. I signed up for the $6 one-day wifi access, but was surprised to find a double-charge on my credit card a few days later. The excuse? I had used a secondary device to access the internet--accusing me of allowing a second person use my account. I had indeed accessed Boingo via my laptop first and then later by my iphone. However I accessed the service myself both times--at separate times of the day--and not another person using the service concurrently.
The Boingo rep admitted that this erroneous charge was not stated in their policy, but nonetheless said Boingo would not allow her to refund the charge. I was given a credit to use the service on another day for free as a consolidation. However, since I live in a country that does not have Boingo access--because wifi is generally free in Vietnam--I can only use Boingo once I go back to the airport on a layover for a few hours.
This is yet another example why we need to do away with redundant companies like Boingo. Wifi should be a free amenity at hotels, restaurants and airports, just like air conditioning or cable tv.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
International Drug Ring with Local Ties
A rather unusual and exciting bit of action reported in Binh Thuan/Ninh Thuan Provinces:
HA NOI — Police arrested a Taiwanese man on Wednesday suspected of being a key member of an international drug trafficking chain, according to the Drug Crime Department.
The man, whose alias is A Cuong, is suspected of trying to purchase 20 packs of heroin from two Laotians, Khamseng Vichitvongsa, aged 52, and Vong Oudom Doungchanh, aged 31, in Ca Na District, Binh Thuan Province, with the intent of smuggling them into Taiwan.
The drugs were hidden in a car with a Laotian number plate (N2-3889) which was driven through VN-Lao's Nam Can border gate in central Nghe An Province.
Their plan was foiled on April 9 in Ninh Thuan Province's Phan Rang City after police received a tip off and discovered the heroin in a stop and search. Khamseng was shot dead after he opened fire at two Vietnamese policemen, severely injuring them. Oudom, however, escaped and is still at large.
In total, 6kg of heroin was seized by the police.
According to police, the three suspected drug dealers could be part of a multi-national drug trafficking syndicate, which is based in the so-called "Golden Triangle" area, which encompasses parts of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. The drugs are transported through Thailand to Laos. They are then carried by Laotian dealers to Viet Nam and finally to Taiwan for sale.
The Drug Crime Department is co-operating with Ninh Thuan Police and Interpol to investigate the group. However, they refused to give any further information about A Cuong and related suspects. —VNS
Article from HERE.
HA NOI — Police arrested a Taiwanese man on Wednesday suspected of being a key member of an international drug trafficking chain, according to the Drug Crime Department.
The man, whose alias is A Cuong, is suspected of trying to purchase 20 packs of heroin from two Laotians, Khamseng Vichitvongsa, aged 52, and Vong Oudom Doungchanh, aged 31, in Ca Na District, Binh Thuan Province, with the intent of smuggling them into Taiwan.
The drugs were hidden in a car with a Laotian number plate (N2-3889) which was driven through VN-Lao's Nam Can border gate in central Nghe An Province.
Their plan was foiled on April 9 in Ninh Thuan Province's Phan Rang City after police received a tip off and discovered the heroin in a stop and search. Khamseng was shot dead after he opened fire at two Vietnamese policemen, severely injuring them. Oudom, however, escaped and is still at large.
In total, 6kg of heroin was seized by the police.
According to police, the three suspected drug dealers could be part of a multi-national drug trafficking syndicate, which is based in the so-called "Golden Triangle" area, which encompasses parts of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. The drugs are transported through Thailand to Laos. They are then carried by Laotian dealers to Viet Nam and finally to Taiwan for sale.
The Drug Crime Department is co-operating with Ninh Thuan Police and Interpol to investigate the group. However, they refused to give any further information about A Cuong and related suspects. —VNS
Article from HERE.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mui Ne Bloodbath: Stop the Violence: Support the Grassroots Road Safety Campaign
Yet another killed by an automobile last night--our friendly street-cart corn seller. Another tourist was killed a week ago. This has been the bloodiest tourist season in Mui Ne ever, and I kinda have to wonder if it's the most foreigners killed in one city in Vietnam since the war. Folks we've had SEVERAL tourists killed or gravely injured almost EVERY WEEK since the season began last fall. Vietnamese are killed several times a week.
1. Please, please, please, do not drive yourself in Mui Ne unless you have a vietnamese license and several years of experience. Not by car and not by motorbike.
2. Please, please, please, stay on the sidewalk. MANY of the tourist deaths have been pedestrians. Stay alert when near the street!
3. As much as I hate to say it, bicycling really isn't safe in Mui Ne. Strongly consider it before you do it, and please do not let your children ride alone.
4. Though I really dislike Mai Linh and have witnessed them do hit-and-run accidents, they are much safer than going by motorbike driver.
5. If you are drinking, please do not walk long distances back to your room. Take a taxi.
6. If you think your driver is driving too fast, SPEAK UP. Make them slow down. Complain to your hotel if they arranged the driver. Refuse to pay if they don't slow down.
Many of the business owners/managers in Mui ne are banding together this week to start a grass roots road safety campaign, whether the local officials like it or not. You may see posters and brochures and other activities. Please help us support the effort.
1. Please, please, please, do not drive yourself in Mui Ne unless you have a vietnamese license and several years of experience. Not by car and not by motorbike.
2. Please, please, please, stay on the sidewalk. MANY of the tourist deaths have been pedestrians. Stay alert when near the street!
3. As much as I hate to say it, bicycling really isn't safe in Mui Ne. Strongly consider it before you do it, and please do not let your children ride alone.
4. Though I really dislike Mai Linh and have witnessed them do hit-and-run accidents, they are much safer than going by motorbike driver.
5. If you are drinking, please do not walk long distances back to your room. Take a taxi.
6. If you think your driver is driving too fast, SPEAK UP. Make them slow down. Complain to your hotel if they arranged the driver. Refuse to pay if they don't slow down.
Many of the business owners/managers in Mui ne are banding together this week to start a grass roots road safety campaign, whether the local officials like it or not. You may see posters and brochures and other activities. Please help us support the effort.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Speaking of the Mekong River Drought Thing...
My latest article for CNN showed up online today, about traveling Laos via the Mekong (and bus and Songthaew). The article was written during my long trip back from Thailand (while researching AA's upcoming Thailand guidebook) to Vietnam for Christmas. Unfortunately I've heard that the Mekong happens to be all dried up at the moment--that is, along the stretch that I traveled for this article... Read the article here,
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
"Mekong Region Drought Thing"
In response to a question about the whole drought that is supposedly going on from top to bottom in the Mekong Region of SE Asia:
Very skeptical of the "severity" of this whole "drought thing." News agencies will say anything to create a crisis and drum up readers. If they can tie it to the climate change bandwagon, all the better. Drive-by journalists fly in from another country for the first time, spend 15 minutes outside their A/C jeep on the side of the road and declare, oh yes, this is a drought, get back in their van and fly back to Hong Kong or Bangkok or London (or maybe they never left Hong Kong, Bangkok or London and simply email their cousin who just got off the plane for their 2 week vacation in Asia) and declare a climate crisis, all the wile entirely ignorant that they are at the tail end of a 6 month annual dry season. As a friend suggested, low river levels in Laos and Cambodia may have more to do with all the new dams under development.
Supposedly the N of Vietnam is effected a little but then I don't hear anyone complaining... I just went to the central highlands and yes is was pretty dry, but again, it is dry season. For that very reason--not any special drought, rice paddies in certain areas will be brown naturally anyway. As for the south here in Binh Thuan, it's the rainiest and most temperate dry season I've seen in 7 years. So much for global warming.
Speaking of which, after all the fraud that was uncovered with the Copenhagen and East Anglia fiascos last year, the US government went ahead with a joint work group/discussion panel with Vietnam in late March/Early April on global warming. What a waste of time and money. There's nothing wrong with reducing pollution and creating a cleaner environment--that's great--we all benefit. But the rest of it, well, Vietnam, you don't have to get on this silly bandwagon--this isn't in your best interest. Be a leader, not a follower.
Very skeptical of the "severity" of this whole "drought thing." News agencies will say anything to create a crisis and drum up readers. If they can tie it to the climate change bandwagon, all the better. Drive-by journalists fly in from another country for the first time, spend 15 minutes outside their A/C jeep on the side of the road and declare, oh yes, this is a drought, get back in their van and fly back to Hong Kong or Bangkok or London (or maybe they never left Hong Kong, Bangkok or London and simply email their cousin who just got off the plane for their 2 week vacation in Asia) and declare a climate crisis, all the wile entirely ignorant that they are at the tail end of a 6 month annual dry season. As a friend suggested, low river levels in Laos and Cambodia may have more to do with all the new dams under development.
Supposedly the N of Vietnam is effected a little but then I don't hear anyone complaining... I just went to the central highlands and yes is was pretty dry, but again, it is dry season. For that very reason--not any special drought, rice paddies in certain areas will be brown naturally anyway. As for the south here in Binh Thuan, it's the rainiest and most temperate dry season I've seen in 7 years. So much for global warming.
Speaking of which, after all the fraud that was uncovered with the Copenhagen and East Anglia fiascos last year, the US government went ahead with a joint work group/discussion panel with Vietnam in late March/Early April on global warming. What a waste of time and money. There's nothing wrong with reducing pollution and creating a cleaner environment--that's great--we all benefit. But the rest of it, well, Vietnam, you don't have to get on this silly bandwagon--this isn't in your best interest. Be a leader, not a follower.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Thailand Troubles
As I just finished a very thorough update and relaunch for AA's guide to Thailand (they also publish the National Geographic Guidebooks), I suppose I should comment on the current political troubles in Thailand...
First, the current protests and violence come as no surprise. Thailand, contrary to popular tourist perception, is politically very instable (much like it's neighbor Cambodia, but for different reasons). These protests, and violence were impending.
Is it safe for tourists to Visit Thailand now? Yes, for the most part. I don't believe the protesters--the "Red Shirts" have any desire to harm or involve tourists/foreigners. That being said, they certainly don't mind inconveniencing them--and will even make that a focus (ie the airport protests from previous years). It would also be wise to simply avoid the protest areas--remember 20 people have been killed already. So, stay out of downtown Bangkok--probably avoid the capital altogether. Though I haven't followed any news about Chiang Mai the last few weeks--it might be a good idea to stay away from that city too. Its Thaksin's hometown and there are a lot of supporters there that are likely to cause just as much trouble.
Another point to remember is that protests and violence is actually probably a little worse and more widespread than what we are seeing. After all, Thai media is state controlled and censored. Such was the case with previous protest crisis.
How will this end? It's anybody's guess. But if the red shirts aren't appeased, there's no doubt that protests will continue to erupt ever so often until they get what they want, or Thaksin gets thrown in jail or the King passes away--in which case all hell will break lose in Thailand and we'll see more political power plays and turmoil than we've seen there in a very long time.
First, the current protests and violence come as no surprise. Thailand, contrary to popular tourist perception, is politically very instable (much like it's neighbor Cambodia, but for different reasons). These protests, and violence were impending.
Is it safe for tourists to Visit Thailand now? Yes, for the most part. I don't believe the protesters--the "Red Shirts" have any desire to harm or involve tourists/foreigners. That being said, they certainly don't mind inconveniencing them--and will even make that a focus (ie the airport protests from previous years). It would also be wise to simply avoid the protest areas--remember 20 people have been killed already. So, stay out of downtown Bangkok--probably avoid the capital altogether. Though I haven't followed any news about Chiang Mai the last few weeks--it might be a good idea to stay away from that city too. Its Thaksin's hometown and there are a lot of supporters there that are likely to cause just as much trouble.
Another point to remember is that protests and violence is actually probably a little worse and more widespread than what we are seeing. After all, Thai media is state controlled and censored. Such was the case with previous protest crisis.
How will this end? It's anybody's guess. But if the red shirts aren't appeased, there's no doubt that protests will continue to erupt ever so often until they get what they want, or Thaksin gets thrown in jail or the King passes away--in which case all hell will break lose in Thailand and we'll see more political power plays and turmoil than we've seen there in a very long time.
Expats Fear Deportation During Increased Visa Restrictions
Well, I wish they'd used more intelligent-sounding quotes, but here's my contribution to Thanh Nien's latest story on the Vietnam Visa/Work Permit drama.
I did tell the reporter, which didn't make it in the story, that the local Phan Thiet immigration office is actually pretty friendly, helpful and they even speak English. Local paperwork and red tape is not so much a concern, but rather the regular threats from MOLISA in Hanoi, and prospects for future changes in the law and enforcement.
I did tell the reporter, which didn't make it in the story, that the local Phan Thiet immigration office is actually pretty friendly, helpful and they even speak English. Local paperwork and red tape is not so much a concern, but rather the regular threats from MOLISA in Hanoi, and prospects for future changes in the law and enforcement.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Travel Writer Cliches
A friend and I were discussing the common travel writer cliches that are used when writing about Vietnam. The one that drives me up the wall like nails on a chalkboard are the writers that go on about the “smiling, friendly, innocent, shy, gentle, child-like” hilltribes as though the jungles of Vietnam are populated by tribes of retarded gibbons with philanthropic tendencies… or all that noble savage crap as though the natives are autistic tree-huggers that would sooner have their village bulldozed by evil loggers than hurt the environment. What a load of bullcrap. I mean take a drive through the mountains for 5 minutes during dry season—anywhere Vietnam or Loas, and it rains ashes from all the burning forests that those naughty minorities (and Vietnamese) set ablaze. Don’t get me wrong—I love Vietnam’s minority groups—I just hate how “travel writers” portray them.
SyFy's Artifact Search and My Vietnam Cham Temple Audition Video
Around the holidays I was invited by the Syfy Channel (Sci Fi Channel) in the USA to audition for a new show about archaeology and supernatural artifacts. You can see the audition video that I threw together here. The video highlights an ancient Cham temple that a friend and I recently discovered in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. The find later lead to an article I wrote for CNNgo.
Syfy issued a press release recently about the show:
"Untitled Artifact Search Series
From Michael Agbadian & Dwight Smith, this fast-paced action-adventure series travels the world in search of some of history's greatest relics and artifacts, all of which are believed to hold hidden powers and mystical significance for ancient and modern cultures. Each episode will include Indiana Jones-type adventure and Da Vinci Code-style connections as the hidden truths and alternative theories of these mythical objects are explored like never before.
Untitled Artifact Search Series is a production of Mission Control. Executive Produced Michael Agbadian & Dwight Smith."
Syfy issued a press release recently about the show:
"Untitled Artifact Search Series
From Michael Agbadian & Dwight Smith, this fast-paced action-adventure series travels the world in search of some of history's greatest relics and artifacts, all of which are believed to hold hidden powers and mystical significance for ancient and modern cultures. Each episode will include Indiana Jones-type adventure and Da Vinci Code-style connections as the hidden truths and alternative theories of these mythical objects are explored like never before.
Untitled Artifact Search Series is a production of Mission Control. Executive Produced Michael Agbadian & Dwight Smith."
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