New Look

Have finally managed to move the blog to a simpler, less clumsy template. Now I can finally use labels to catagorise posts and provide easy navigation through the archives. Added the 'Link Within' widget which is a great little tool linking to similar posts after each entry.

One thing, some of my pictures linekd from Flickr don't seem to be loading properly...if anyone knows how to fix it let me know...!

Development Update Feb 2010

A few little notes from around, a few updates.

Paragon, Feb 2007:



Paragon, 2010:



Saigon Pearl, Feb 2008:



Saigon Pearl, August 2009



Pearl is a real blot on the landscape, an ugly concrete monster. Manor 2 is rising next to it, and this is the site of the first underpass in the city (that I can think of).

Riverside, Nguyen Luong Bang, August 2009:



Riverside, Feb 2010



Sunrise City, Feb 2010:





February 2008:



Now this whole area is turing into a new urban development, on the road out to Phu My Hung from District 4 (Nguyen Huu Tho):





As this article in Thanh Nien tells us:

The Novaland Real Estate Investment Joint Stock Co. has also claimed that a 400-squaremeter apartment at its Sunrise City project has been sold to popular pop singer Cam Ly at more than $1 million and a penthouse for around $5 million to singer Dam Vinh Hung.

The company advertises its apartments in District 7 as “the best constructions in HCMC.

I have yet to visit the location of 'Diamond Island', but it is one of the most talked about projects in the city. Thanh Nien says:

Around 25 percent of 700 apartments in the project are priced at more than US$1 million and around 15 of them are between $2-3 million.

Son said all the six $3 million apartments in the project on the banks of the Saigon River in District 2 have been sold, and that in fact there were more than six people wanting to buy them.

Son said his project has sold 40 percent of apartments worth $1-2 million.

Pictures from Diamond Island construction as soon as I have them, and after we move in of course.

Finally, another project in the Phu My Hung urban area, Dragon City. This one slighty south of the main area.

Flower Street 2010

Celebrating the Year of The Tiger, the flower display on Nguyen Hue was well put together once again. We left it until the 4th day of the New Year to have a wander.

Taking a break:

Terrible picture of me but the Tigers are cool...

First TET (for Lou)

As obliged, a little from this years TET. New Year's Eve was mum's house for lunch, I had thit kho trung. I took a few short videos of Lou and I enjoying the neighborhood atmosphere.

A walk round the corner.


Lou gets mugged by some neighbours.



And again:


New Year's Day and we visited grandma (or great-grandma for Lou) in County Cu Chi. I had thit kho trung.

Here's Lou bantering with a young scallywag. She gets told off and looks quite unsure what to do.


Here she is, enjoying a break in the hammock:


I think what we can confirm as her first true word beyond syllables is 'bong bong'... Vietnamese for balloon - she's close to saying 'baby' as well but prefers a anglo/vietnamese mix of ba be...


I am off to enjoy the rest of the holiday, wonderfully quiet and happy Saigon, and yes, have some more thit kho trung....