Oxalis Staff SRT Training

Saturday 30th May

View of the river from the roof of Oxalis

Another hot day, and what better way to spend the morning than training some of the Oxalis guides in basic SRT (Single Rope Techniques).

Dzung, SRT barefoot style

A rope was rigged from the top of the Oxalis hotel and the guides, just three of them (plus one for abseil training only), assembled at the bottom of the building.

Bamboo, on his way down

First up was Bamboo, ok up to the top but struggled a bit with passing the knot. To be fair to him, we hadn't left quite enough slack rope above.

Binh, going up

Next up was Binh, and with the rope adjusted things went more smoothly.

Nearly there, how do I get off?

After Binh, Watto arrived to add his two-penny worth! Too many cooks?

Do it like this, no, like that, no, my way, no, MY way!

Finally, it was Dzung's turn and despite suffering from an overdose of instruction, he was as competent as the others.

Dzung, still smiling after all that instruction.

After all the prussiking practice, there was just time for Hanetta to have a practice abseil.

Hanetta, going down.

There is going to be another session tomorrow morning, but I won't be there as I'm off on another Tu Lan four day tour.

As a footnote to this entry, it's still unseasonably warm here with temperatures above 40°C (or so we're told), you know it's ridiculously hot when you have to cool your fridge with a fan.

Cool fridge

Phong Nha in May

It's been a busy month so far, we've been doing lots of work (partly due to the Good Morning America filming) and also just the way the rota has worked out. Still, it's all money in the bank!

Sunset from the Phong Nha Farmstay

But we've also had some time off, a few days together but also some on our own when just one of us has been on a tour. Even then, we're not completely on our own (unless we want to be!) as there are always some other cavers about.

Flame Trees in bloom

During the day (at the moment) it's very hot here in Phong Nha, with temperatures of about 34°C, although in the jungle and caves it's not quite so bad. At least our air conditioning seems to be working (being on the ground floor helps as well) so our room is cool at night, some of the others are not so fortunate as their air conditioning does not work so well.

Rice drying at our neighbours

When not working, or cleaning gear, there isn't a great deal to do, especially as it's so hot (even at night). At least, that is the case for us, the locals are still busy with the rice harvest as well as corn and peanuts.

Sunset over rice fields

There are a number of limited options. For lunch we can go to Oxalis to spend our food allowance or we can go further afield to The Pepper House or the Phong Nha Farmstay, both of which have swimming pools, I prefer The Pepper House as it's quieter and you can cycle to it in under an hour on pleasant back roads.

The View from Ho Khanh's Homestay

Swimming in the river from Ho Khanh's is always popular and helps to keep you cool, not as nice as a swimming pool but only five minutes away.

Just bobbing along

There is also a short scenic cycle loop on quiet roads and tracks which we do, it takes about an hour and loops round the back of Phong Nha.

Hay drying on the road behind Phong Nha

Then passes through rice fields with an area of tombs with good views of the surrounding hills.

This tomb is being renovated

Before joining a road beside the river and so back to Phong Nha. On our last ride we saw the barge below, it's so low in the water that it looks like it is sinking, not the case as it seems designed that way! It's basically how the locals get their building sand, the barge dredges it up from the river, then moors near the land where the sand is to be delivered. The sand is mixed with water and pumped ashore, the water drains away, leaving just the sand.

Jump for it, the boat's sinking!

Just got back from a Tu Lan four day tour, and the weather is even hotter, 36°C and feels like 40°C. Not much to note from the tour, but I did see the most unusual spider in the toilet. It's the web that's odd, it has an X in the middle of it. According to Wikipedia, the X reflects UV light and may help to attract prey, it is also thought possible that the X may stop larger animals from accidentally destroying the web.

X marks the spot

Rice Harvest Time

Friday 15th May

Rice field or difficult jigsaw?

The rice crop which was being planted when we arrived in January is now ready for harvesting, so everyone (well, the locals at least) are hard at work.

This is it, looks like grass

The rice is still mostly harvested by hand, although where there are many fields close together it seems to be worthwhile for the locals to hire a (sort of) mini combine harvester.

I got a brand new combine harvester

Even with a combine harvester, it is still a very labour intensive process.

Come on, get back to work

After the rice has been cut and bagged the 'grass' is still left in the field and has to be bundled up by hand.

Does each worker have a supervisor?

Once bundled, the grass has to be transported away from the fields for drying.

Old style transportation

Cows or buffalos can be used, but today a lot of the work is done by motorbike.

Don't think you can get more on this bike

It is quite amazing the amount that can be transported by one motorbike.

You can carry more if you try

Having harvested the rice and cut the hay, both need to be dried, apparently, inside the rice husk the rice is liquid and needs to be left in the sun until it dries to the grain we would recognise.

Local rice drying facility

Where else would you dry your rice, other than on the local road. The general rule seems to be that as long as you leave at least half of the road, it's ok, even if you create a bit of a chicane.

Good Morning America

After a couple of Months of planning, the ABC News show "Good Morning America" has finally aired a section about Hang Son Doong.

The Eagle has landed?

Our (mine and Ruth's) involvement was limited but we were on a Son Doong tour while they were filming for the show so we can tell you what we saw.

Loading the beast

This meant we shared our Hang En campsite with them for the two nights at the start and end of the tour (good thing Hang En is so large), as well as bumping into the film crew at Doline One.

Gaffa Tape? Is this safe to fly?

Because of all the equipment they had to carry, the crew had a helicopter flown down from Hanoi so they could fly from Phong Nha to near the Hang En entrance. Even though there were three helicopter flights to carry equipment and people into the cave, there was much that was carried in by hand and all the Son Doong porters were used, at one time I believe there were one hundred and twenty porters employed.

Exited crowds gather to watch

We were in Phong Nha on the day when the first helicopter landed (after that we were in Son Doong) so we cycled down to Oxalis so we could be told when it had taken off from Dong Hoi. When the message came through, we jumped on the back of a motorbike (both of us on the same bike, Vietnamese style) for a lift down to the local football pitch to watch the show.

President Watto waves to an adoring crowd?

By the time we got to the field the helicopter had landed and there were already a crowd of curious locals, porters and policemen.

First night in Hang En

It took some time but eventually all the equipment was loaded and the passengers could board. The two local police then somehow managed to get the crowd far enough back, still very close by UK standards, so that the thing could take off.

The next day we were on a Son Doong tour so we saw no more helicopters but met most of the film crew at Hang En. There were a number of advantages to having the film crew with us, firstly, they had a supply of ice cold beer which they shared with us and later in the evening they lit up part of the entrance with powerful lights, a spectacular sight.

Generator on, get ready

Our tour passed without incident, except we had to turn one person around on the next day. A difficult decision but one we both agreed on as the person was very unstable on their feet. When we got back to Hang En, it was the night before the live show, we were given cold beers on arrival, more beers with our evening meal and red wine afterwards. All bribery so that no one complained about the restrictions during the broadcast, but no one had any complaints!

Lights, Camera, Action!

The restrictions were minimal and so we were able to take photo's of some of the action, including the "talent", Ginger Zee, being filmed.

The star of the show

Note the man standing behind the cameraman ready to catch him should he fall. This was Anh, who is normally one of the assistant guides. He did such a good job at this, and carrying the camera that he wasn't allowed out for a rest day as the cameraman said he couldn't do without him.

Anh, the real star!

We walked out the next day so we don't know how the broadcast went, but I believe everything ran smoothly and the ABC team left the cave the next day. Last night (Thursday) we all went for a meal and drinks at the Phong Nha Farmstay on the ABC account.

After show party

Critters 2

Wednesday 6th May

Big Spider in Hang Son Doong

We've just got back from Son Doong Tour Number 22, a good tour with a good group but the weather is now very hot. So far, today has been spent washing kit (it dries in an hour) and swimming in the river with a little bit of shopping thrown in. It's a hard life.

Big Nosed Moth

Having collected more pictures of the local wildlife I thought it was time to do "Critters 2" (The Sequel).

Monkey spotted at Camp Two of Son Doong

After the first Critters post I received a request for more cute and furry animals, so I've done my best.

Puppy in the Minority Village, ahh. Wonder what's for dinner?

There is a section of Son Doong which is named "Watch Out for Dinosaurs", but who would have thought we would actually see one!

Any one know what sort of Dinosaur this is?

These animals have been photographed at various locations, some in caves but many more on our way to the caves, or even living in our house.

Spot the Difference

The Praying Mantis turned up at our house one night, it stayed for a meal and photographs but then it turned violent (attacked Dick) so we asked it to leave, it didn't so we chucked it out. Other nasty things we sometimes see in the caves are "Hairy Scary Mary's" (this is not their real name) which are a type of centipede. They have a nasty bite, or so we are told.

Run Away!

Also found in many caves are Cave Crickets, these are harmless, at least to humans.

Anyone for Cricket?

In the Tu Lan area are many different types of Stick Insect.

No Bat, will this do? Otherwise we're stumped!

Back to cute and furry things, seen in the Doong Village.

Out for a Duck

I managed to get a bit closer to the Monkey that was spotted at Camp Two.

Stop Monkeying around.

At the moment there are lots of butterflies about, mostly crowds besides the edges of pools but sometimes they land on you for a drink.

Butterfly Boot Camp

Sometimes it seems they drink too much, whatever species the effect is the same.