Tagged With "Ho Chi Minh City"
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Re: Notes and Noticings from the road
Actually, I think the banks have a fairly minimal (as small as I can make it) impact on my currency transactions, in part because I never deal with exchanges; I use bank ATMs. That way, the exchange takes place not on my account, but as an interbank transaction at the base rate banks use with each other. I used to use my ATM card from Citibank, but eventually they began charging a 3% foreign exchange fee even on withdrawals. At that point, I opened an account with Charles Schwab, a brokerage...
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Your piece will serve inspiration for many future trips,I'm sure of that.I had no clue as the extent of Eiffel's work but I now want to see several of them in person. This serves as an example of why TravelGumbo is so different and needed
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
PHeymont, Your post reminded me that I had seen a pre-fabricated church designed by Eiffel in Baja, Mexico. It is in the small town of Santa Rosalia and still in use. There is more info here .
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Absolutely fascinating, thank you. And I thought that UK's Isambard Kingdom Brunel was prolific!
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Brunel has fascinated me since reading a book on the Great Eastern, an unlucky ship he designed. Perhaps someday I can find time to post about his work...unless I hear a volunteer? Thanks!
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
I'm personally acquainted with one of Brunel's railway bridges, the Gatehampton Bridge over the Thames in Berkshire, England. I was advised by my Thames Path guidebook that I was approaching it. There was a strategically placed bench in a meadow where I sat, had a snack and looked at it from a distance for a bit before walking under it. Not at all knowledgeable, or even much interested, in bridges I tried to get at least a glimpse of what the guide meant when it said "one of Brunel's Great...
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
T&N, you make an interesting point about the air circulation and coolness of Eiffel's building. These days we are constantly reading about advances in "green design," intended to reduce excess energy use. Ironic how well some of those principles of making life bearable were known so long ago by those who didn't have the option of mechanical air-conditioning! Another example is in today's blog about Gaudi's Casa Battlo in Barcelona, which uses an open well through the center of the...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 3, 2014: Metropole Hotel, Hanoi
My daughter was in Vietnam a year ago on her honeymoon DrF. She would visit the local Churches - as these were often pieces of exquisite architecture. On occasions outside Christian Churches she would recognise the tune of a Hymn - and while staying outside - she would sing along ! Yes - I know - a little crazy and religious too ! Communist countries don't outlaw religion, its just tolerated. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo by my daughter) She has a list of good and...
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Re: Beating Jet Lag
I always change my watch as soon as I get on the plane. I do this even with a short change (like 1 hour NY-CHI). I try to adjust my sleep to the destination - so when it is bed time (around midnight) I will take a "PM" pill to help on a long flight. When I get to my destination I will immediately get on that day's schedule, do as much as possible and and get to sleep at as close to my regular time ( again, with the help of a sleep aid if needed).
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Re: San Diego Model Railroad Museum: Where Gumbo Was #39
So nice, i love trains And i love to travel by train too, i don't know why but traveling by train makes me more relaxed!
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Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
For some of us, credit cards are more than a convenient way to pay—they are the lifeline to free travel through loyalty programs. Between points for purchases and bonuses for opening or upgrading credit card accounts, it's possible to get quite...
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Britian's Famous Attractions Get Literal Chinese Names
VisitBritian announced the winners in their 'Great names for Great Britain ' campaign The campaign used the existing trend of the Chinese to give literal names to favorite celebrities, places and foods. Over 2 million Chinese visited the...
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Back to Oaxaca: Xochimilco
PortMoresby finds her ideal neighborhood for a return visit to colonial Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Ketchikan: Salmon, Souvenirs and Sex
Ketchikan relies on maximum return from its summer cruise visitors, and it knows what can get their attention.
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Mar. 21, 2017: Cyclo Tour, Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City up close and personal: Marilyn Jones tours the city on a 3-wheel bike.
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Missing links: the routes that aren't
New super-long routes seem to pop up every day, but the OAG has a list of possibles that haven't got an airline's attention yet.
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Some Street Art from Ljubljana
DrFumblefinger share a few images of some of the street art he encountered in Ljubljana
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Dec. 20, 2019: Tai Chi on Parliament Hill, Ottawa
DrFumblefinger shares images of a group of adults enjoying the space of Parliament Hill's front lawn in Ottawa.
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Amsterdam: Glimpses of the Jordaan
Join PHeymont for a look at one of Amsterdam's trendiest neighborhoods and its not-so-trendy history.
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Cruising solo just got more affordable
Being single means sometimes I travel alone. Generally speaking this means I have no one to share costs with—hotels, car rental and gas. But otherwise expenses such as airfare and restaurants are the same. One standout where...
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Bergen: Norway's Not-So-Second City
Approaching Bergen by Air Bergen is a city of paradoxes. It's Norway's second-largest city, but it feels in many ways like a small town. It's the second-oldest city, but only in a few places does it seem older than 150 years or so. It's...
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San Diego Model Railroad Museum: Where Gumbo Was #39
Actually, this is a tale of Where Gumbo is Going, because in fact he hasn't yet made it to this largest of all U.S. model railroad museums. Of course, there are conflicting claims, but... I'm going to Los Angeles for a while in July, and...
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The Temple of Heaven, Beijing China (Where Gumbo was #180)
Gumbo spent the past week visiting Tian Tian Park and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China
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World's busiest air routes: All in Asia and Pacific
The world's busiest air routes are all in Asia and Pacific areas, according to 2016 stats from IATA.
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A Comprehensive Guide of traveling in Ha Giang by Motorbike
Happy Zip Motorbikes offers a dynamite motorcycle driving trip in Vietnam. If you love bikes, this is one not to miss (sponsored content).
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When Debit and Credit Cards aren't your best traveling choices
Recently PHeymont wrote a nice article on how to pay for things while traveling abroad which I'd recommend you familiarize yourself with (click here ) before reading the rest of this blog post. I largely agree with what he posted, but...
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Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
Up, up and away—quickly! That’s the goal for many frequent fliers, and a current round of cards for various airlines is offering some big bonuses to meet that goal…some of them enough for a round-trip to Europe in one shot. Right...
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Huge Airfare Sale; Grab Tickets to GO FAR on QATAR
Qatar Airlines is offering a truly vast sale from flights originating in Philadelphia to celebrate its launch there April 2. Book by Feb 7th. Make it sooner for the incredible prices. Travel dates start April 2nd and end at...
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A Frank Lloyd Wright treasure, open for the first time (CORRECTED LINK)
SC Johnson Company has opened its Frank Lloyd Wright Research Tower for visitors for the first time. The building, where Glade, Off, Pledge and Raid were developed, was built for Johnson in 1950 at its Racine WI campus. Wright also designed the...
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Emirates Black Friday Companion Fare Sale Ends Sunday
Emirates is having a Black Friday sale from their 10 US hubs for two people. The sale ends at 11:59 pm (EST) on November 29, 2015. Outbound travel must be from Jan. 9th through May 6 and the return must be by May 10th. ...
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Balboa Island's Banana War
Two frozen confections, and too many claims to have been first!
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Ho Chi Minh City: a glimpse of Vietnam’s past
Barry shows us some of the interesting and historic sites of the city formerly known as Saigon.
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Re: Ho Chi Minh City: a glimpse of Vietnam’s past
Interesting how where one travels depends on geography to a large degree. Southern and southeastern Asia are about far from North America as it is possible to travel (perhaps with the exception of your homeland), and it generally takes a full day of air travel to get there. Not that it's not worth it, it just a hard journey. Another great travel story, thanks.
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Re: Ho Chi Minh City: a glimpse of Vietnam’s past
Indeed, I feel the same way about travelling back to the UK. Used to do it without a stopover. Not any more!
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Re: Ho Chi Minh City: a glimpse of Vietnam’s past
That won't be welcome news for Alan Joyce and his Sunrise project!
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Re: Ho Chi Minh City: a glimpse of Vietnam’s past
Might just be able to cope with direct to New York - for the novelty - but not London!
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Shanghai Makes a Big Impression
Shanghai is China's most populous city and, as Barry Barford discovered, it is surprisingly cosmopolitan.
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Saint-Denis: Market with a Difference
Saint-Denis's lively market, almost on the doorstep of its cathedral, reflects the town's heavily-immigrant population.
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Hanoi, Vietnam
Judy Barford risks life and limb to capture shots of the traffic chaos that is Hanoi.
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Re: Hanoi, Vietnam
I agree that Hanoi has done a far better job of preserving its best than Ho Chi Minh City. Great place to visit.
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The Floating Markets of Vietnam
Barry Barford takes to the water to experience Vietnam’s unique floating markets.
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The Merchant's House Museum, New York
A 19th-century home, lived in by one family, with few changes, for nearly a hundred years, gives us a view into upper middle-class life in New York City.
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Hanoi’s Stately Buildings
Barry Barford looks at some architectural gems in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
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Hui Tz Tao Temple, Suwanee, Georgia
George G visits a Tao temple during a trip to Georgia.
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Soaking Up the Culture in Hanoi
Barry Barford concludes his tour of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.
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Signs of Fun with Food, Edinburgh
PHeymont's eye was caught by a variety of pubs, restaurants and other food joints with cheeky signs
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Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Barry Barford visits an island of contrasts in a lesser-known part of Vietnam.
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Temple of Heaven - Beijing China
One of the places that I felt most comfortable during my trip to Beijing was at the Temple Of Heaven and its surrounding park. The Park sits just north of the 2nd Ring Road and the city canal and is about 4.5 km south of Tiananmen Square.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 25, 2014: Thu Bon River, Vietnam
Very near where the Thu Bon River flows into the South China Sea, it passes through the delightful town of Hoi An, about halfway down the length of the country between Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
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Airbus logs #9000, an A321 for VietJetAir
Airbus is celebrating this week; it delivered its 9000th plane since being formed from British, French, German companies in 1968 to compete with the Big 3 U.S. makers. The new plane, an A321, went to a fairly new Asian airline, VietJetAir.