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Sunday, 25 March 2018

Im back.....

Well I'm back. Jet lagged, exhausted and frankly in need of some bed rest. Apologies to any followers who thought I was disappearing into some abyss of despair but I really dont like to say when I am not at home. Instead of misery I have just spent two and a half weeks tramping around Cambodia and Vietnam and thoroughly enjoyed every experience including an attack of the trots, insect bites and a bad bout of bronchitis. The ordinary people of these two countries make one realise just how pathetic are the gripes of certain elements of the UK. In Cambodia, where a quarter of their people were wiped out by genocide that the Western world refused to stop and in Vietnam where a series of civil wars and of course the war that framed the US consciousness for a generation have bounced back and are dragging their countries towards their dream of a better life. Yes there are many things wrong with their governments but they seem to be determined to succeed and just get on with life. God knows what they would have made of the morons who called 999 when KFC ran out of chicken. Truly the Vietnamese are the 'happy' people. Anyway this post is purely to say I am climbing back into the wargaming saddle and have framed my painting plans for this year and no its nothing to do with a South East Asian army..... Onwards and upwards..
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19 comments:

  1. Colin Ashton25 March 2018 at 12:14

    welcome back.

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  2. WSTKS-FM Worldwide25 March 2018 at 13:58

    It sounds like an amazing experience and the rip of a lifetime.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup25 March 2018 at 23:20

      As a child of the 1970's I always wanted to visit Vietnam.It was quite surreal driving through Danang and seeing the rows of abandoned armoured American vehicles lined up to photograph.

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  3. Der Alte Fritz25 March 2018 at 20:35

    Welcome home, more pix please.

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup25 March 2018 at 23:23

      Ive yet to download them Jim. Plus I had a wonderful afternoon with a Vietmanese guide whose father was a Major in the SVA and fought on for a further two years after the fall of Saigon with a group of 90 US advisors who were left behind.Sadly his father was sentenced to 8 years in a NVA 're education' camp after the final surrender. He never recovered from the experience.

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  4. marinergrim26 March 2018 at 00:31

    Good to hear you've had a great trip. Just as long as you're not planning to ditch all those horses and muskets for airborne cavalry and M16's.

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup27 March 2018 at 23:17

      Not my forte Paul, I was always confused by the use of mm's and inches.

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  5. David26 March 2018 at 00:43

    Glad you enjoyed your break! The new Pulp Figures Vietnam War figures are very nice you know...😉

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup27 March 2018 at 23:17

      I dont doubt it David, but they would be wasted on me.

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  6. william coutts26 March 2018 at 12:34

    Robbie-I'm going to Corfu in June!
    johnc

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup27 March 2018 at 23:18

      Only if they let you in John. Let me know the flight number so I can get you an internal courtesy of the Border Guards.

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    2. william coutts2 April 2018 at 12:01

      Charming!!
      johnc

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  7. Mark Strachan26 March 2018 at 16:19

    Glad you had a good time Robbie. We went to Vietnam last August and really liked the place, particularly the smaller centres like Hue and Hoi An. I found the people gracious and very passionate about prompting their country.

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup27 March 2018 at 23:19

      Hoi An was wonderful, I think I went at the right time given the amount of Chinese investment in Da Nang and Halong Bay. In twenty years the place will be a nightmare sadly.

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  8. guy27 March 2018 at 06:01

    About 5 years ago we had arguably one of the best family holidays ever to Vietnam. A fascinating country, lovely people and fab food. The girls came back laden with hooky goods and me with some v good and cheap hand made suits. Daughter No 1 was in Cambodia last year and loved it and it is definitely on our list.

    Guy

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup27 March 2018 at 23:21

      Get there soon Guy, one can see that Vietnam is being pumped full of Chinese money. Re hookey gear, Barbour, Northface and several adventure clothing companies have clearly bought into the area, so one can buy genine clothing at stupid prices. Sadly no wargaming figures though.

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  9. guy28 March 2018 at 09:01

    While you were there did you see the shops selling amazing model ships. Some were huge but others could easily be utilised for our games. When I mentioned this option to Lindsay there was an emphatic veto and sense of humour failure.

    Guy

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    1. Independentwargamesgroup28 March 2018 at 10:59

      I did see the ships, they were made famous by Top Gear in Vietnam. You would need a very large wargames table to do them proud though. I was tempted by the Bell Huey copter although I think the Viet army wouldnt have been amused.

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