firth1974

This is the end of my first days walk, where i took in de Castries command bunker, and several artillery pieces that are scattered all over the place around here. 10 Chaffee tanks were given to the french for they use in DBP, here is one of them, still left in the paddy field where it was destroyed This is just on the other side of the runway........................................... The hill in the middle of this photo with the track running up it, is what the french called " Anne-Marie" during the battle.................................. This is Muong Thanh Bridge, built bu the french in 1954 and served as a very important supply line to the soldiers on the surrounding hills.The original bridge is still in use now, albeit it is not open to 4-wheel traffic anymore. Im informed that the wooden blanks use on the bridge are the originals from '54........................ I believe this may be the seat from an AA gun, but not sure................................. And across the road, there is another Chaffee tank and propeller's and other stuff from destroyed planes............................ And just a 5 minute walk away is the command bunker of General de Castries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_de_Castries............................. There is an artillery piece tucked away in the jungle, just off the road, but i have no idea how to get to it...................................... Just a few meters up the road from the bunker,there is a display of captured artillery pieces................................ Through this gate lies the command centre of " Claudine "............................ And further on my walk this day, i come across another Chaffee tank, thats #3...................................... Towards the end of the day, i stumbled across the hills of C1 and C2 on the fortification of " Elaine".........................................

R.E.D

Dien Bien Phu is very much a one horse town kind of place. One road in and one road out, there really is not much here at all. If you have a fascination with military history, then you will love this place. Not sure if when i visited in October, if it was low season, but i flew in from Hanoi, and on that flight were 5 Australians and me, and they were the only white tourists i saw in the 3 nights i stayed here. Dien Bien Phu, sight of one of the worst battles in modern times, of one of the french's greatest ever defeat, and ultimately the sight of one of the most revered places in all of Vietnam. This is the town, where in 1953, the french parachuted into, destroyed a small battalion( i believe) of the Viet Minh army, and decided this was the place to launch the biggest trap in the world, the destruction of the Viet Minh. Well, we all know how that ended. Bad for the french, and even worst for the Americans, as this was one of the turning points that "made" the americans enter, what is known to the Vietnamese as the "American War". With so much to show, i will split my DBP photos into a couple of different threads. The view from my balcony................................. The view towards Hill D1 (Formerly called "Dominique" by the french)....................... From halfway up the stairs looking back into the town In the background of the photo, after the buildings, is the airfield. The same strip that the french used in 1954..................................... And the monument to Victory at the top of the hill. Sadly, there are no remains or reminders of battle left on Dominique at all................................. This photo gives you some idea of how big this monument is..................................... This is the view looking towards what is now known as HimLam, but was known to the french as "Beatrice". Him Lam, i believe, was the sight of the first major engagement between french forces and the Viet Minh, of which the french lost!! I never made it as far as Him Lam hill, as i stopped short by 50 meters, but im told a lot of trenches and bunkers still exist there........................ The way up Hill E1, which was known as "Dominique 1" during the battle.................................................... Now completely overgrown and covering the scars, this is the view towards the center of town, full of trees and shrubbery..............................................

No need to shout, as I think we get the message!! Lol

That's Buddha's way of saying get your fat ass on a diet!!!

Only my 2nd ever time in there, and yeah, it was busy. The rain did help to clear some of them through the complex in super-quick time!

Oh yes, cover up those legs, even if wearing 3/4 length shorts, and no vests too, t-shirts are good though. As an aside, you can rent baggy trousers when you get there,either 200 or 300 baht deposit and you do get it back!!

For anyone that hasn't been to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, its well worth the money to spend a few hours wondering around the grounds of this palace and temple. Don't let any touts outside tell you its shut, as it is open 365 days a year, unless civic or royal engagements take place. Photos taken at the tail end of September 2015

If i wasn't going to Austria in January, i would snap that up tonight.

Good review Butch. Must admit, i haven't flown on EVA for about 6 years now, but from what i have been told by others, and confirmed by you now, that it seems ever since they joined Star Alliance, their service has gone down hill! Its almost like SA have set them a bench mark to achieve, a mark lower that what they set themselves many many years ago. Such a shame.

Great photos mate, of somewhere i have no intention of visiting. It just doesn't do it for me at all!!

Just a few shots of cruising down the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok at the end of September. And yes, it was raining on and off all day long.

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URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/Firth1974/media/Vietnam%202015%20Part%201/IMG_0084_zpsmc4bchyy.jpg.html][/url] No idea what this cat is actually looking at,as there isnt anything in the tree at all!...................... New outdoor gym equipment seems to have bee added now.......................... More like Thai women over the past 3 decades............................................

Well, i've been back from Vietnam and Thailand a week now, and this is the first chance i've had to get some photos organised for you. These are photos from my walk on day 1 around Bangkok. Started off on Sukhumvit, all along Ploenchit then to the Erawan shrine, down and into Silom, then back out and through Lumpini Park, up Wireless and back through Nana and to my hotel. I believe it was along where these benches are that the bomb was set off a couple of months ago............................ Armed guards all around the shrine now.................................. Boris cycles in Bangkok.................................... When you have you have to sleep, you gotta sleep. Although i think he was shit faced or wasted on some kind of substance!!!!!................................ Now wouldnt we all like to dine at the "lady buffet".............................................

I'm very well now, thanks for asking.

+1, fully agree with you. Didn't we just have this very same conversation on Friday night?

William Shatner

Bridge over the River Kwai.

Don't worry, we will be there.

Me and Bazle are getting something to eat beforehand, so may be a chance of being 10-15 mins late, but we wil be there.

Yep, that's good with me too.

any place is good for me. Let's make it Thursday night now, a sit is currently 04.00 am on Thursday and I'm fucked!!