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Deja Vu: Vietnam Part 12 (Saigon Central City)

September 2nd, 2008

We continue with Part 12 of the 16 part series Deja Vu: Vietnam. The series of videos is made using Google Earth to focus in on various parts of Saigon and surrounding areas of Vietnam. Then overlaid with video footage filmed in 2007 with ‘fade backs’ of videos and photos going back to various time points in prior years. Some all the way back to 1882 Saigon.

Now in Part 12 we’ll continue our visit around the central city area of Saigon visiting the other end of Tu Do Street, Saigon Basilica, Post Office, U. S. Embassy, Zoo and Presidential Palace. Then with each of the following parts of the series we’ll be travelling around the central city area of Saigon and Cholon. Then travel to areas outside of Saigon and back to Tan Son Nhut Airport for departure from Vietnam.

Each of us lived in Saigon at different times during the years from the mid-1950’s to 1975. Because of the span of time we lived in Saigon, different parts of the series will mean more to each of us … but, they will all trigger memories and experiences of your time in Saigon.

Enjoy …

A Born To Wander Production

Did you ever visit the Zoo?

I remember a bunch of us would sometimes go there in the afternoons and hang out.

What do you remember about the Zoo?

Do you remember the Post Office and the Pho and food stands in front of it? Did you eat at them? What was your favorite food from them?

Did you ever wonder how many cars smashed into the back or sides of the Basilica? I don’t ever recall seeing such and accident. But, cars, trucks, cyclos and other vehicles always seemed to be speeding around the Basilica … so I’ve always wonder did any of them smash into it …

Did you ever attend Mass at the Basilica? Or, view the inside of it? I never did, but now I wish I had as I’ve been told it is beautiful inside. In fact, I’ve never even seen pictures of the inside of it.

Do you remember the old Palace? Were you there when it was bombed? Which did you like best … the old Palace or the new Palace? Personally, I always thought the old Palace looked like a Palace … the new one just looks like a government building … to me anyway … lol

Interesting the old Palace was originally named after the King of Cambodia, isn’t it? Also, the compound where American Community School was located was named after the King of Cambodia. There is some interesting history about this, which I’ll write about in a future article for the Blog.

How many U. S. Embassy buildings do you remember? During my time in Saigon there were two … the Embassy building that was destroyed after 1975 had not been built while I lived in Saigon, so I never saw it … except in news clips. What do you recall most about the U. S. Embassy from your days in Saigon?

What other memories do you have of Tu Do Street?

As always, you are welcome to leave your comments below.

Bob

If you missed the previous parts of the series, you can view them here:

Deja Vu: Vietnam series Archives

Posted in DeJa Vu: Vietnam, Videos | 2 Comments »


Labor Day

September 1st, 2008

Happy Labor Day to everyone! :)

I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day celebrations.

Labor Day, in the United States and Canada, is the celebration of the value and dignity of work, and its role in the American and Canadian way of life. Find out the origins of this holiday that celebrates the successes of the labor movement.

Watch this video about the story of Labor Day.

Although Labor Day is meant as a celebration of the labor movement and its achievements, as we all know it has come to be celebrated as the last, long summer weekend before Autumn.

Wherever you are and however you are celebrating your Labor Day weekend … enjoy it and be SAFE … :)

Bob

PS: If you are in the hurricane zone … you are in my thoughts and prayers.

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Saigon Landmarks: REX HOTEL (1912 - 2008) - Photo Gallery

August 27th, 2008

Additional Rex Hotel pictures have been posted in the Photo Gallery … 23 in all. They span the time frame from when the property was the Bainier Garage and Auto Hall (1920s) through 2008. I’ll add more descriptions and historical information to each picture in the near future.

If anyone has other pictures of the Rex, please forward them to me so I can add them to the collection.

Enjoy …

Bob

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The GECKO Project - 1961 Year Book

August 27th, 2008

The Gecko Project is under way in the Photo Gallery. Class pictures for the 1961 Year Book are now posted in the Photo Gallery.

I still need copies of the 1959, 1960 and 1962 thru 1965 Year Books.

If possible I’d like to obtain ‘complete’ copies of the year books … cover to cover … so when I convert them to eBooks, each year will be a complete year book just like the original ‘print’ year books.

Once I recieve additional year’s of the Geckos I’ll post them to the Photo Gallery.

Thank you in advance to everyone who participates in this project by contributing copies of their year books. Much appreciated.

Bob

Posted in The Gecko Project | 1 Comment »


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