Thao Trang Interview

I just interviewed Singer Thao Trang (Vietnam Idol finalist and featured singer for the soundtrack of the new film "De Mai Tinh" or "Angel in Me" with Vietnamese American actor Dusting Nguyen). What a sweetheart she is! Will post a link to the interview when published.

Saigon Filipino Card Scam Mafia Still Preying Upon Tourists

The photos below were taken today of three Filipinos targeting tourists in front of the new Saigon Vincom Shopping Center on Dong Khoi Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 

Details to note: as usual, this cell is composed of three (though there seemed to be other unconfirmed individuals working as lookouts around the square). The three visible individuals in any cell are always mixed, male and female.

All are wearing casual cloths. The woman always has hew own hand bag or fanny pack. One man sames to often be overly casually dressed with short pants (generally cloths no sensible middle-class Vietnamese would be caught dead in). The other man, as here in the white shirt, usually has loose-fitting jeans and a polo or other comfortable shirt. Both men also have a hat (red man has in hand) and/or sun glasses (white man hanging from collar) to obscure identity when they need to flee. The man in white shirt also wears a phone or pager in an external holster on his belt--a signature accessory of the men in these cells.

The man in white did all the talking and from the photo, you can see he is the most outgoing. The man in red was silent and obviously more shy. All smiled when they approached me. The man in white commented on my hat and insisted I tell him where I bought it. This is a common icebreaker question these cells often use. Their irrational insistence on starting a conversation even when brushed off is a dead giveaway. Note that they also kept calling me "amigo."

I alerted mall securiy to the group and photos have also been given to the local police.

Please feel tree to repost any photos specifically of these con artists, anywhere you like in an effort to warn others. Permission is not needed, though it would be nice if you could just let me know. All other photos on this site are of course copyrighted and do need permission for republication.

Filipino Card Scam Still on in Saigon

The man in this picture has just been identified by one of the victims as "Woody", the criminal featured in This Blog Post. If you see him, do not go with him. He could be dangerous. Please notify the police immediately.

I've rather maticulously documented the Filipino mafia scams in Saigon. While the police reported making an important bust weeks ago, unfortunately it looks like they are still operating. Check This Blog Post for a very detailed account of how this scam works, and how just about any backpacker can easily be sucked in.

For the backstory and lots of mug shots, visit the whole Filipino Scam Artists thread.

Bye bye Facebook... and other websites

As internet users have come to discover all over Vietnam this week, Facebook is no longer available--at least not by changing the DNS servers on your internet connection--which is what many began doing last November when ISPs around the country began complying with a government directive passed earlier in the year. The government mandated the blocking of Facebook and several other sites.

Likewise, telephone services like Vinaphone finally got into the act this week too. The Facebook iPhone app--one of the ways internet users in Vietnam thwarted the censorship--is now also effectively blocked in Vietnam.

This comes on the heals of a Hanoi mandate that internet service providers in that city must install software, which Google believes, will be used to block websites and gather user information.

Fortunately there are a few work-arounds left... Click here to connect using one of them now: www.facebook.com

Further Reading:

PC Magazine: Google Criticizes Vietnam's Net Sniffing App

AP:Google Calls Vietnam's Internet Rules Restrictive

Previous discussion of the Facebook problem on this blog

Rwanda: Random Thoughts & Photos

The posts and photos below are the highlights from my Twitter posts while in Rwanda. For chronological order, read bottom to top. The posts span 11 days (June 1-11).

 Kigali Natural History Museum doeshave a great view of nyamirambo market.  

 In short, I loved Rwanda. Absolute must go 4 all. Buy your ticket now!

2.       Rwanda, I'm gonna miss your beautiful black faces, rainforested volcanos, cuddly mountain gorilla babies & tree tomatos!

3.        Just met Clare Richardson, Ceo of Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund. Absolutely adorable lady. :-) 

4.       Serena Hotel Kigali is Breakfast Heaven.  http://twitpic.com/1vqrus

5.       bradtguides Rwanda is very good but like all guidebooks it needs a bit of updating and also map corrections. 

6.        Just had lunch @ La Sierra Restaurant, Kigali. Not bad but a step down from German Butchery in price, quality, selection & ambiance.

7.       Serena Hotel Kigali bathroom.  http://twitpic.com/1vhhjb

8.       Serena Hotel Kigali pool area.  http://twitpic.com/1vhhbp

9.       Watching a Serena Hotels Africa promo video. Chin on floor, drool down shirt. Ooh la la.

10.   Crap... Bedtime & I just realized my $30 room upgrade merely traded flatulent Russians w/ Hershy Squirts 4 a bigger bed but no mosquito net!

11.   Finally got some working wifi @ Boubon Coffee in Kigali AND I have my laptop w/ me. Only prob. is their server blocks my email server. Grrr

12.   A German cafe w/ beligerent French menu. Go figure. Either way Im stuffed full of great food. Strangest bill Ive ever seen though...

13.   Oh my goodness German Butchery rocks Kigali. Home made pistacio ice cream & donuts. Great lunches. Its a legend. 

14.   Kigali has 2B best city on planet 4 bird watching. Storks, hawks, ravens & fruit bat colonies all N city center. http://twitpic.com/1v8zgp

15.  Small, immaculate & nearly all in German, the Kigali Natural History Museum isnt quite worth the nearly $5.50 I paid. Great taxadermy though

17.   Kigali's Natural History Museum's world famous dinosaur collection. http://twitpic.com/1v8i7i

18.   Natural History Museum, Kigali, Rwanda. Looks tiny from outside.http://twitpic.com/1v8es2

19.   Nice shopping street in Kigali, Rwanda. Did you know Rwanda has pine trees?  http://twitpic.com/1v8ehm

 Kigali City Center, Rwanda. 

21.   Upgraded to the $30 room. No more flatulent Russians!

22.   On my way to Kigali Natural History museum. Guidebooks say not worth the steep entry fee. I hope I can prove them wrong.

23.   Rwanda should educate public: OK 4 tourists 2 take photos. Otherwise tourism may never thrive outside ntnl parks.

24.   My free breakfast at La Caverne Motel in Kigali, Rwanda. A lot of hardware for the amount of food. http://twitpic.com/1v7gyj

25.   Mosquito net was 2 small in my hotel room. MayB I'll B 1st 1 2 get malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis & dengue all @ once! ;-)

26.   Surface detail aesthetics of $20 Rwandan Hotel Room: or what happens 2 walls when mold & mildew R frequent guests http://twitpic.com/1v69id

27.   Open vent Btween toilets I didnt C till bedtime. 1st time I heard Russian w/ gasseous diarreah up close. Stinks 2 http://twitpic.com/1v3qo2

28.   Muslim quarter, Kigali, Rwanda. I wouldn't feel safe w/out our guide present. Locals R hostile about photos. http://twitpic.com/1v2xnx

29.   Rwandan calendar... Something's not right here... Thanks Diane for finding it.   http://twitpic.com/1v1pb6

30.   Back in Kigali & very sleepy. Got up @ 5am & drove 6hrs thru dense jungle & chimp territory then farm land. Now in city. 

31.   Jungle swimming pool at my lodge in Rwanda.  http://twitpic.com/1uspsg

Rwandan jungle behind my luxury bungalow.  

33.   My view from Lunch at Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Rwanda. http://twitpic.com/1urdmh

34.   My room @ spectacular Nyungwe Forest Lodge & National Park, Gisakura, Rwanda-has 13 primate species.  http://twitpic.com/1ur825

35.   Tea plantations near Lake Kivu, Rwanda.  http://twitpic.com/1uqn9o

36.   Im lookin at the Congo border. http://twitpic.com/1uqgh2

37.   Congolese-Rwandan dancers on an island in lake Kivu. http://twitpic.com/1uqcb2

38.   The Democratic Republic of Congo from my boat on Lake Kivu. http://twitpic.com/1upujf

39.   Boarding a boat on Lake Kivu to depart Gisenyi, Rwanda at the border with Congo. http://twitpic.com/1upikd

44.    Primus, the national beer of Rwanda, as sipped now in Gisenyi on the lake. http://twitpic.com/1ujby1

42.   I love Rwandan rice. It's so much better than the cheap broken crap we eat in Vietnam-sorry to say.

 Beautiful countryside on the eay to Gisenyi, Rwanda.  

44.   Nahh, this is the coolest iphone twitter pic ever. Rwanda Mountain gorilla. Keep in mind iphone aint got zoom. http://twitpic.com/1ugssj

45.   Coolest iphone shot ever. Mountain gorillas http://twitpic.com/1ufvp8

46.   Indiana Bray gorilla trekking http://twitpic.com/1uexle

47.   About to enter jungle.  http://twitpic.com/1uewwd

48.   This gorilla trek is killing me. :-) huff... Puff...  http://twitpic.com/1uew2b

49.   At the virungas. Ready to look for mountain gorillas.  http://twitpic.com/1udu3k

50.   Getting ready to trek the virungas and search 4 mountain gorillas & golden monkeys amid the rainforest volcanos. 

51.   Climate in the Virungas, Rwanda is just like Dalat, Vietnam. Chilly and a bit rainy. Both even have pine trees! Volcanos too but more here.

52.   Busy day 2day w/ President Kagame & Don Cheadle @ UN World Environment Day in Rwanda. 2moro I'm gettin up early 2 look 4 mountain gorillas!

Rawandan Dancers at Kwita Izina  

     

      Stood inches from Don Cheadle and President Paul Kagame today at Kwita Izina, baby mountain gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda.

54.   Cool Virungas mountain gorilla crafts i bought at the foot of a volcano in Rwanda. http://yfrog.com/5mjs3ej

55.   Just left Kwita Izina, the baby gorilla naming ceremony Rwanda. Phones were banned since president was there so will post photos shortly.

56.   Im goin 2 the baby mountain gorilla naming ceremony 2moro with Don Cheadle. Stay tuned 4 live tweets from the event.

57.  THE Hotel Rwanda: Des Mille Collines, Kigali.  http://yfrog.com/bcjytvj

59.   Rwanda's a bit expensive 4 me coming from SEAsia. $10 pizza, $20 laundry 4 a few shirts, $20 taxi across town. Inflation high.

60.   'Please do not step on mass graves.' Kigali .http://yfrog.com/5nyoeqj

61.   At Rwandan genocide museum: Ariane umutoni, Age 4, Favorite food: cake, Enjoyed singing & dancing, Cause of death: stabbed in eyes & head

62.   At the Energy Globe Award ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda. Lots of UN and internationals. http://yfrog.com/2cj1guj

Rwanda's tree tomato: 

a bit like a cross between a passion fruit and a persimmon... 

and very addicting.  

64.   MTN sim cards are great. Guys sell them on every corner and they come with internet access. 

65.   Looks like its about to rain here in Kigali. Climate has been very comfy. Also like Vietnam Central Highlands. 

66.   One of the strangest things Ive seen yet were a dozen enormous hawks (or eagles?) swarming in middle of downtown Kigali.

67.   Don't know about the countryside but in Kigali lots of English is spoken. Helps to know French too though. 

68.   A little hard 2 find food when U R walkin round Kigali. No food streets & street stalls & big fruit markets like SE Asia. 

69.   Wow, super market in Kigali Trade Union shopping center is AMAZING. Better than anything we have in Vietnam. Everything U need! 

70.   Bought bradtguides here in Rwanda - great! lonelyplanet OK 4 general but outdated specifics. Ill B writing my own unless someone hires me.

71.   Electricity Rwanda: They use round 2-prongs like Vietnam. Sometimes outlet shape is round, not square, problem 4 some adapters. 

72.  Money in Rwanda: Bring large $US (50 or 100) for better rates and exchange asap. You'll lose 10-13% if you pay in $. 

73 So far the prices in kigali are double and triple vietnam but not a surprise

74   Kigali looks like a combination between Dalat and Pleiku, vietnam.