Author: FONG Ten Meng

Hi S’pore SHC members !!

1- As  mentioned in my  earlier postings – this is my 5th day in Siem Reap Cambodia involved in a village Farm project – though originally was to teach – but the School had been  taken over " by many Australian volunteers helping out from A to Z aspects of the village school.

The local director was far-sighted and told me to start a self-sustained Farm etc… projects to be able to get income on their own without relying sloely on current foreign aid ($$$$) which may one day not coming in anymore … !!! I fully agree with them – so we are on our way ……. include sale of local handicrafts etc …..

2- Same time I had taken time to recee the tourists areas  …. I shall be back to S’pore for Chinese New Year … and be back again to Siem Reap on 01 March 2011;

3- Any one keen to visit Siem Reap Cambodia from 2 March 2011 – while I am here ?? Book your own flight- I will arrange all lodging + food + tours etc … in Siem Reap + beyond !!!  just let me know your days/ nights in S. Reap

Attractions : cheap nice food beer /cigarettes/oil massage/one hour Dr Fish massage @ USD$2 with free beer/drink !

see Angkor Wat + silk Farm + large wild birds sanctury + night markets etc………- travel in open air tuk – tuk

My contact tenmeng@gmail.com

till we meet again – all the best – take care

from TM Fong ( now from S/ Reap )

Good morning cycling kakis !

Due to commitements – I missed out the Penggarang cycling trip–this time I make sure I do not miss the Sept monthly group cycling- so I am submitting my name NOW even b/4 registration opens !!

Cycling had been in my blood – for 3 years of my secondary education in Malacca – I cycled daily about 4 kilometres rain / shine to school ( + of course cycled back home – no play cheat – lah by taking bus home !!!!)

Last month my son with his Deutche Bank Vietnamese collegue toured Hue / Hoi An ( Central Vietnam ) by the usual A/C van + a very unique bicycle riding tour exploring Hoi An (small town ) then was escorted cycling to a farm visit where they had some hands -on >herbal foot massage> learn simple Viet snacks cooking >then lunch in the farm with all the freshness vegees ! He had the Viet. tour agency which organises this 4D3N tour of Hoi Ann + Hue .

As I had been to North / South Viet. but not Central -I am thinking of organising the usual A/C bus tour + 3/4 day Hoi Ann town + farm visit cycling trip ! I had checked with the local Viet. tour – my calculations based on 8 persons group : with Silkair return flight 4D3N+ food + hotel stays -cost per adult is about SGD 800 . More persons go -less to pay — Silkair flight now is about SGD 460 – hope price do not go up !!!

I intend to go from 29 October ( Fri) >> return on 1 Nov ( Mon) OR 12 Nov (Fri ) to 15 Nov ( Mon) .  Silkair also flies there on Wed >> << Saturdays — I am free to go on these dates also!

Anyone interested ?? I shall go with min. 8 cyclists to bring the costs down !!! for those non -cyclist if have sufficient numbers I shall talk to the Viet. tour to provide A/C van transport all the way !

 Regards to all from Fong Fong

E : tenmeng@gmail.com

Tentative Itinerary :

DAY 1 : 7:50 AM Silkair flight arrive at 10 AM Danang
Airport – welcome by local tour guide-escorted
to Hue for lunch- then visit Hue’s Imperial
Citadel; Forbidden City; ThienMu Pagoda-after
dinner go Perfume River boat ride + enjoy Folk
songs while rocking the boat !! Night stay in Hue

DAY 2 : After Hotel B’fast-guided tour of Kings Tu Duc/Khai
Dinh to understand how geomacy philosophy worked–
Leave Hue for Hoi An-stop at Lang Co Beach (we shall
wait for gals to complete swim in bikinis!)> Hai
Van pass -stop at Marble Mountains for some leg work
up Thuy Son Mount. to see beautiful scenary > visit
Huyen Khong cave;Tam Thai/Linh Ung pagodas>visit Non
Nuoc Stone Village to see local skill sculptors make
all types marble products exported worldwide[try
making a marble bust of yourself so that you will be
forever remembered as SHC member !!!]
Tour onto Hoi An-into hotel> dinner> night free N
easy on your own( this’s the best part of the Tour – no body knows where U have been for the whole nite)
> overnight in Hoi An

DAY 3 : AM -choice of cycling(bikes+guide supplied)/walking
(bring your own legs)tour Hoi An’s old enchanting
historical port town/400 years Jap Bridge/300 years
Guan gong temple/200 years Viet merchants House/100
year old Viet lady(if she is still living by then!)
and ……..Next cycle to Tra Que Vege Village-tour
organic/herbs gardens- hands on to help the farmers
if you choose ( sorry no $$/CPF for jobs done!)-or
just look see / learn -returning from fields will
get herbal foot massage to relax our million dollar
tired feet!Next choose to learn cook tam huu spring
rolls; banh xeo…. with farm fresh ingredients or
just relax /wait for lunch to be served!
Afternoon to Kim Bong carpentry Village see ship
making yard(in case Silkair on strike-we can still
return to S’pore in the ship they built !)> cottage
industries(mats weaving;coracle boats making)-pass
thru scenic rice fields/countryside>taste local
seasonal fruits/produce.
End day’ tour with boat trip along Thu Bon river see
lovely sunset + dinner under the stars/ afloat on
River ! Good night in Hoi An’s hotel!

DAY 4 : Am – free N easy on own in Hoi An ( go shop shop!!)
check out Hotel by noon-transport pick up from Hotel
> lunch at restaurant > visit Cham Museum see 300++
2nd to 15th century terracotta sculptures!
Tour to Danang Airport for 6 PM flight home to
Singapura!
All these for SGD800++ !!!!!If want cheaper-cut
costs by cycling from S’pore to Hoi An ( can
save $460!!!- I don’t mind sitting behind as a
pillion “rider” !!! )

Hi guys and gals;

I fully agree for any meet should have a/ agendas – so that those attending knows / prepares for it – more concrete results can be seen. After the "serious agenda meeting " – then all can let their hair down to enjoy themselves as per normal !

Such first meet must – as suggested have a committee formed – a member as the main co-ordinator ( MCO )  for a particular activity. MCO will invite other members to assist him/her in planning / organising the activity.

Are we allowed as a non-registered club to have such a set-up ??? Someone needs to check on this ! Other than that I am most willing to step forward and be counted on to be one of the committee!

Cheers – have nice days ahead

Regards : Fong Fong ( tenmeng@gmail.com.sg )

Good morning with warmest greetings from me to you  guys and gals !

I was following this Club recommended by my x- collegue Catherine for sometime now – but due to my work n other matters – I did not actively took part in the activities . Now I had just been retired since 1 August – time is now on my hands – and so here I am !

Let me release some of my personal info :

Full name : Fong Ten Meng ( Mr) — my friends call me Fong Fong !! Age : 62  old yrs – but like johnny walker born in 1948 – still going strong / healthy ! – live in Tampines East

Interest : outdoor life / adventure especially out of S’pore  + watch games ( soccer/table tennis / badminton ). Like to play badminton – may join the on -going sessions

Not interested : dancing / play mahjong -cards – reason no interest to learn in depth !

My first SHC activity : look forward to meet all on sat 4/9/10 in Side Tavern from 2 pm for the East members meet

Keen to volunteer to help for the matters I am able to !

Contact: tenmeng@gmail.com

signing off for now – cheers and happy going for all !!