VIETNAM, MAY 2010

22 May 2010
Arrived yesterday afternoon at Ho Chin Minh airport and was taken to the Hotel. This is of course our Delphe project with goats. Today we have been out on three small farms where they have got goats or recently got goats. It was so nice to see such activity by the farmers with such enthusiasm; they introduced native goats and crossed them with Boer goats. It is based on grazing under mango trees. I stimulated or tried to make them measure the yield of mangoes when goats are grazing under them. Yield will probably go up as we saw in Sri Lanka with coconut trees. So here we are. Tomorrow we go to Hanoi or Dat and I go to Hanoi to participate in the workshop on goats to be held in BAVI goat and rabbit centre.  Then on 27th I go to Hue to lecture for Thanh. On June the 1st I am off home again. I will meet up with Borin as well before I go back.

23 May 2010
Now in BAVI. Came to Hanoi with Dat and 2 colleagues. They are going to China day after meeting here on the 27th. They wanted me to come too but I have decided to go to Hue to give some lectures instead. Tonight the new boss at BAVI goat and rabbit centre invited us for a lovely dinner. We leave again very early tomorrow to have a meeting in the morning then off to Ninh Binh on the way I hope we can have a birthday party on 24th, but not sure. The hotel here is not very good but only one night. Called Thanh about the meeting in Hue but says she is ill. In Rabbit centre they are advised to teach small farmers to keep rabbit instead of ducks. I will be speaking at the meeting tomorrow. Hope it will be OK.

26 May 2010
I am sorry for not to have written much. So much has happened! Almost difficult to remember them all. For my birthday, I gave a small lecture and I was given a large flower later on. Then all group drove in a bus down to Ninh Binh province where there are mountains. We called to see farms where the goats were. We stopped in another hotel which was much better. Then we went out again to visit farmers where the goats are in the mountains. Never seen so many beautiful mountains in Vietnam. One nice event where the goats were supplemented with maize, it was given as whole maize and I was said to be responsible, since I had shown that feeding whole maize is the best. It was a busy time on May 25th as well but this time we stopped at another lake where boats were taking tourists on a trip for about 3-4 hours sailing under many caves under the mountains. There were about 9 caves which were so fantastic and on the mountains sides there were Buddhist temples. We stopped and walked up to one them; it was quite difficult but fantastic experience.

Then a long way back to Hanoi where I was installed at Lucky Hotel. It was quite expensive relative to other hotels; 70 USD when the other hotels were 10-20 USD. Ly came to see me at 10 am and we had a lovely dinner in a restaurant called Ngon where meals are delicious. Then did a little shopping and Ly was going to some with me to dinner but then somebody else prevented him from coming. So I went alone to my favourite place by the lake, about 8 mins walk. I was known as usual there and was asked to play with them and sing as well. Food is expensive there but not like UK. My dinner with two beer was 17 USD. Tomorrow at 10 somebody will collect me to go to airport to go to Hue and I am scheduled to lecture at Hue in the afternoon. Met up with many young people, also friends from Cambodia Borin etc. The other group are going to China, Nanning tomorrow. Had birthday letter on facebook.

28 May 2010
Arrived on time in Hue and was met at the airport and was taken to the hotel. Then went to a brief welcome at the University and the 2-3 hour lecture to young students. I think I started a bit too high up, they could not understand the response curves and even Thanh could not understand. Then went for a meal with the Vo family, very nice.

In the morning we took a taxi to Quangtree province with Dau Kehn where we first started up with Mongkai pig project. In Dau Kehn the pig project has been changed to a cattle project on the same bases as the new Orskov Foundation project. It was so nice to meet up with them. The cattle were in very good condition and all well. Then back with Huon Von village where we have been before and which Malcolm Bruce also visited. Then back to Hue.

29 May 2010
Today was the worst day; started off by finding that USD 700 had been taken from my bag which I left here. Normally I do not do that in hotel I know. First time this has happened to me. Will spend most of the time working with student to analyse some work. Thanh has to be present if possible but it was totally disorganised so a boring day on top of a sad memories when I found the loss of money. Tomorrow not sure what is on but hope relaxed. It is festival here, Buddha’s birthday was celebrated yesterday and next week more festivities. Hue is always good with that. Also went to massage that evening where it was done by blind people and charged less, around 2 USD for two hours. It was nice.

2 June 2010
I should not be here, I should have left last night but Air France plane was cancelled. It was a problem but it was technical reasons so stayed back in a good Hotel but a bit lonely. Came from Hue on May 31st. I also lost my good camera; somebody here must have found it in my handbag.  So very bad. Vo Kim had to go to a dentist in Ho Chi Minh so they came with me. Got my teeth cleaned as well. They almost missed the plane back to Hue.

I have told Joan I would be a day late but I do not know when I will be in Aberdeen. The trip as a whole could have been better; too much wasted time and too much of the problem with the loss of camera. Went to market yesterday. My favourite old market and found a few things I needed like excellent bracelets that I could not find last time. Also bought another camera. Hope it will be OK.