Graham Hancock's "Quest For The Lost Civilization" **FULL MOVIE**

Prithipura Communities Advent Calendar

https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=19EDF098A5F57B00!109

An Advent Calendar for the Prithipura Communities in Sri Lanka, seeing to the needs of the disabled at their various locations, Prithipura Infants Home, Anandapura, Asokapura and Cotagalla School.  Please give generously.

Viscount Melbourne-Finding the Wreck (playlist)

Viscount Melbourne-It is all About the Artefacts (playlist)

The Maritime Mysteries Explorers talk about the work being done to perserve the artefacts that they are bring up from the wreck of the Viscount Melbourne. The end result of this work will be to establish a maritime museum in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.

MME-Sunda Shelf Archaeology Project

Sunda Shelf Archaeology Project

A selection of video interviews that talks about the project, how it started, what they are searching for, who are the Maritime Mysteries Explorers and what do they hope to achieve.

Finding the Wreck

The Viscount Melbourne

MaritimeMysteries

MaritimeMysteries is a channel on YouTube that covers the work of the Maritime Mysteries Explorers.  The featured video is a sizzle reel and there is also playlists that highlights the work being done on the Viscount Melbourne and the Sunda Shelf Archaeology Project in a series of interviews. The videos posted on MaritimeMysteries channel will become part of a documentary series developed by the Berekoven's, Eric Madeja of Treasure Images Sdn Bhd and Clifford Terry.  More information is available on their blog, http://berekoven54.blogspot.com.au/.  Inquiries can be directed to editor@treasure-images.com , berekoven54@gmail.com, or cwterry5@gmail.com. 

Husband and wife team, Hans and Roze Berekoven are the Maritime Mysteries Explorers.  They are self-taught marine archaeologists and researchers.

Sunda Shelf Archaeology Project is dedicated to the search for evidence of a possible Ice-age civilisation in the waters over the Sunda Shelf in Southeast Asia at a time when that area was dry land.  This theory has gained prominence among a number of scholars such as Dr. Stephen Oppenheimer and the late Professor Ayrsio Santos, both who have written books on the subject.  In his book, Oppenheimer calls the region Sundaland and believes it is the cradle of a lost 'founder' civilisation from which all post Ice-age Asian civilisations came from.  

One of their most significant discoveries was finding the wreck of the British cargo vessel the Viscount Melbourne.  The Berekoven's narrowed down a possible site of the wreck just off a reef in the South Luconia Shoals area of the South China Sea after researching various accounts of the ship's journey from Singapore.  This lead them to conduct a survey of this area which eventually yielded evidence of the wreck and the discovery of the final resting place of the HMS Viscount Melbourne.

Maritime Mysteries Explorers

The Maritime Mysteries Explorers channel is now up on YouTube with our sizzle reel and a number of interviews about the Sunda Shelf Archaeology Project and the Viscount Melbourne wreck.

Maritime Mysteries

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: Well Known Belgium Artist is also our Archaeologis...

While in Europe, Roze visits her Belgium archaeologist friend, who help them verify the wreck of the Viscount Melbourne.

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: Well Known Belgium Artist is also our Archaeologis...: Well Known Belgium Artist is also our  Archaeologist: The other really good excuse to go to Europe was to visit " Dirk Eelen" our officia...

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: Unexpected Surpirses:Just before heading down to L...

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: Unexpected Surpirses:Just before heading down to L...: Unexpected Surpirses: Just before heading down to Luven by train, I received out of the blue a totally unexpected  call from a producer in...

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: The Loss of the "Viscount Melbourne" an English Ca...

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Maritime Mysteries Explorers: The Loss of the "Viscount Melbourne" an English Ca...: The Loss of the "Viscount Melbourne" an English Cargo Ship shipwrecked in the South China Sea in 1842: As promised, the reason why I hav...

Mystery Maritime Explorers, Miri-Day 6 & 7

After arriving back at the marina, we get an interview with their benefactor on the wreak project, local businessman and owner of the marina, Troy Yaw.  Later in the morning we head back out again to get a selection of underwater pick-up shots.  The rest of the day and the next is spent conducting interviews with everyone and getting one last group discussion.  Saturday, Eric and I are heading back to KK.  Overall, we feel we have gotten some good footage and the makings of a very interesting story. 

Mystery Maritime Explorers, South China Sea, Luconia Shoals-Day 5

Conditions hold for another two dives before some swells come up from the southwest making further dives more treacherous.  There was a unusual shape the showed up on the depth sounder on the way in, so we decide to go check it out.  We make several attempt to get a drop line on it but the current takes our line out of position and it is too deep to dive on safely.  Returning to the reef we pick up our mooring line but with the swells coming in, Hans doesn't feel it is secure and we are surrounded on three sides by reef.  So it is decided with conditions deteriorating we will head back to Miri.

Mystery Maritime Explorers, South China Sea, Luconia Shoals-Day 4

We arrive at the reef to over 2 dozen little fishing boat and their 'mother ship' off in the distance.  These are apparently Chinese fishermen flying under a Malaysian flag to fish these reefs.  They are not sure what we are about so they just go about their business like we were not even there.  We get an anchor out and later will set up on a mooring that Hans arranged the last time they were out here.  Phil, Roze and Tristan prepare for the first dive.  Eric is ready before them and goes in with his camera.  Most of the time is spent setting up the delivery system with two baskets on lines along with a floater to bring it up to the surface.  The floaters have a habit of leaking so the lines are there as a precaution.  At a depth of 40 meters the divers are limited to just 9 minutes so they have to work fast.    As per usual, the floater fails on both baskets and they are hauled up with the line.  Conditions are good so there will be two more dives during the day.  Later after dark, Eric takes Tristan down for a night dive, with the lights used for filming the wreak takes on a little more clarity than during the day and they are able to get a much clearer outline of the ship.

Mystery Maritime Explorers, Miri-Day 3

When morning arrived, things had settled down and we made our way back into the marina.  A few of the neighbours help us tie up back in the berth and we all settle down for some breakfast and to rearrange our plans.  Since we needed to wait again until the afternoon before heading out again (this is so we arrive at the reef in the early morning), we decided it was a good opportunity to film Roze's interview in the artefacts room in the flat.  From Roze we learned how they came to find the wreak of the Viscount Melbourne, a detail account from the assistant ship's navigator of what happen after the ship struck the reef and the work she is doing to preserve the artefacts that they have brought up from the ship.  After the interview, Eric and I continued to film all the artefacts that were on display and met up with the rest of the crew back on the Southern Sun.  Fortunately, our second departure out to the Luconia Shoals was without problems and we had a smooth sail through the night.

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Mystery Maritime Explorers: If you have an open mind life's wonderful surprise...

Southern Sun Archaeology is now Mystery Maritime Explorers: If you have an open mind life's wonderful surprise...: If you have an open mind life's wonderful surprises can enter and enrich your experiences: Well mine must be open right now cause I am on a...

Southern Sun Archaeology

(title unknown):

On my way to learn how to preserve Historical Wooden Ships and their Artifacts:

We, the Captain and I have found an English Cargo Ship at the bottom of the sea off Borneo. It was on its way from Singapore to Macao when it was blown off course, then becalmed, then ran onto the reef in the middle of the South China Sea on the 8th January 1842. She was carrying a cargo of Saltpeter, Rice & Cotton and had two passengers on board, a 22 year old woman Mrs Dare with her two children a 2 month old and 2 year old .........and a Colonel Campbell  who was being re-stationed from Madras to Macau a total of 72 persons on board.  We know this because the 16 year old apprentice on board at the time kept a log and that log was published in the Singapore Times one hundred years after the event and after 4 days of research in the Singapore National  Library we came across this article on microfilm.( I have since found out that the two month old Julius Dare went on to establish Rugby in Japan)

It is a remarkable story and one that will share with you at a later date ............... watch this space  :-) 

I am now on my way to the Netherlands to learn as much as I can from the "experts" about historical wooden ships and their artifacts. I have been looking after the artifacts form the Viscount Melbourne ( I am also salvaging them) and by a "chance meeting in Miri I met an Archaeologist who happened to be in Miri for ONE NIGHT!!!  As Joke waited for her beautiful 16year old daughter to have her nails painted I was having coffee at the shop near by. We acknowledged each other, then I asked her to join me, which she did. It took forever for those nails to be pained and so we girls managed to find out about each others life stories, and I was totally blown away that I should meet he on her on her one and only night Miri 

                                             Myself & Joke on our chance meeting in Miri

Believing as I do that there are no coincidences I understood that I had to whisk her off to "my" artifact room as I craved to have an "expert" guide me, and I also needed to know that I had preserved them correctly......oh by the way, our intention is to have these artifacts go into a museum, they are NOT for our own personal gain.......... So now here I am on my way to visit this very interesting woman, her co- workers and her family

   

Maritime Mysteries Explorers-Miri, Day 2

Just after breakfast, we had our Skype call from Frank Joseph Hoff, which we filmed although we were able to get a picture from Frank's end.  Still we have the audio and the reactions from the wheel house of the Southern Sun.  To add to the importance of this call, Frank was able to add Dr. Robin Harger to our conference call, who would agree to help Hans secure some needed contacts in the Indonesian government.  Dr. Harger is a noted marine biologist and author, who spent 14 years with UNESCO in its Jakarta office before he retired as a director of the International Oceanographic Commission.  He gave Hans a contact within the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, who will help him navigate through the usual bureaucracy.  After finishing what had to get done before departing, we sailed out of the Miri marina just after 3 in the afternoon.  As luck would have it, we ran right into a squall and pandemonium  ensued with sail flapping, rain pounding down on the crew as they struggled to everything back under control with Eric and I filming all the action as it happened.  This was an opportunity that was too good to pass up but I must confess, being a sailor that I did feel a bit guilty not helping out.  We got through the storm but it was far from smooth sailing and it got later in the day it look like there was another one developing on the horizon.  Captain Hans decided we would be better off returning to the marina and leaving tomorrow when things had settle down.  The blackened skies continued to follow us back to Miri and when we were in sight of the shore night had fallen with no moon or stars to light the way into the channel.  With the storm coming up fast behind us it was much to dangerous to try and make it into the marina channel so we headed up into the wind to ride out the storm in open water and wait until morning to enter the marina.  Needless to say, we had a bit of a rough night.

Southern Sun Archaeology

(title unknown):

We the Berekoven Family, set sail from Australia in 2005 on a quest to discover evidence of an Ice-aged civilisation on the Sunda Shelf right here in Southeast Asia.  

We set sail from Fremantle on the west coast of Australia to Indonesia to seek permissions from the Indonesian Government to do a Sonar Survey of the Sunda Shelf because we believed that we would find this evidence somewhere in the Java Sea. With the help of our Australian Government we received those permissions but with too many restrictions for us to proceed. However we are now not alone in believing that the Sunda Shelf was once dry land and that there was not only inhabitants, but an intelligent and quite advanced civilization. So basically we believe that History is not what we know it to be today and are keen to prove this belief.
After realizing that we could not accept the demands attached to the permissions we sailed into Borneo where we have been well supported by the community here in Miri Sarawak. The local dive community has benefited from our sonar with us finding modern wrecks for them to dive on. Also as a result of our survey and a bit of research we have come across a historic find with a captivating story the HMS Viscount Melbourne of which will unfold in our blog

Maritime Mysteries Explorers - Miri, Day 1

After a 2 hour flight delay, we were picked up a Miri Airport by Hans Berekoven, one of the subjects of our shoot.  On our way out to the marina, Hans drove us by the house they were lobbying to get for the maritime museum that would house all the artefacts they were bring up from the Viscount Melbourne wreck.  Once we arrive at the Southern Sun, the Berekoven's 19 meter Ketch we will be spending the next week on, we are introduced to the rest of the crew, Roze, Hans' wife, self-made archaeologist and resident expert on the Viscount Melbourne; Tristan, their son on holiday here to help out; and Phil, a fellow diver and marina resident.  After a quick meeting, it was decided we would be leaving around 2 or 3 in the afternoon for the overnight trip out to the reef.  The morning would be used to make arrangements for food and taking care of a few last minute items.  We were also expecting a Skype call early morning with Frank Joseph Hoff.  FJH is an author and researcher of ancient mysteries as well as editor-in-chief of Ancient American magazine.  He has worked promoting the late Professor Arysio Santos book, Atlantis, the Lost Continent Finally Found, that claims that the legendary continent was based on the Sunda Self in Southeast Asia.  The book was a major hit in Indonesia when it was translated into Bahasa Indonesia and was one of the reasons that they hosted an INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NATURE, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE OF ANCIENT SUNDA CIVILISATION.  The guest speakers at the conference included the Berekoven's, Frank Joseph Hoff and Dr. Stephen Oppenheimer, who wrote the book, Eden in the East, the Drowned Continent of Southeast Asia. 

Departure day

It is with great sadness that we leave this morning.  All of us have bonded on this project and we can expect great things.  This last week we have spent on the 19 meter yacht, Southern Sun some of it here in the Marina Bay in Miri, Sarawak and most of it cruising in the South China Sea out to the south Laconia Shoals where the 170 year old wreck, Viscount Melbourne lie on the bottom surrounded by a horsesheo shaped reef.  It has been hard and some trying times, plagued by inclement weather and not enough time to do a proper job but I have to say, I love every minute of it.  Over the next few days I will collect my thoughts and begin recounting our journey.

Airport lounge KKB

Made it to the airport with all the equipment and even got it checked in without incuring a baggage excess fee.  You got  to love this place.  Then we get the bad news...our flight to Miri is delayed for 2 hours.  Fortunately, Eric got us into the Golden Lounge and we are enjoying the comforts of a nice lunch and free WiFi while everyone else is getting free McDonalds.

Sundaland shoot day 1

I have arrived in Kota Kinabalu and met up with Eric of Treasure Images.  After a brief excursion of the local market and some breakfast, we spent most of the day organising the equipment and packing it up for the shoot in Miri and out on the water.  On the way back to Eric's we stop at a friend of his, Gary, who is a bit of a fix-it guy, for a ratcheted arm for one of the Go-Pro's.  The afternoon was spent charging batteries and checking out the equipment.  We also had sometime to strategize and plan some of the shots we will need to get for this sizzle reel and trailer.  I don't problems with the shots will we are in the marina but once we are out on the boat and sailing to the location is another story.  Shooting on the boat can at times be problematic and getting clean audio is difficult but we have both been through this before and I am sure we will work it out.  I am looking forward to finally meeting the Berekoven's and the start of this new adventure. 

Searching for the lost civilisation of Sundaland

As a result of the climate change we are experiencing, the sea levels are rising putting some coastal areas and a number of island communities under threat.  The last time there was a significant rise in sea levels was at the end of the last ice age, some 12,000 years ago.  During the ice age, the lower levels of the South China and Java Seas exposed large areas of the Sunda Self incorporating the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java into the Southeast Asian peninsula.   Since this is a time before recorded history, there is much speculation as to how advance mankind was at this stage of development.  The possibility of some lost civilization having developed in this region is what motivated Australian couple, Hans and Roze Berekoven to sell their successful merino wool business to purchase a 19 meter ketch, Southern Sun, to explore the region for evidence of this ice-aged civilization http://www.southernsun.info/index.htm.  However, this is not the source of their recent fame, operating out of Sarawak, Malaysia surveying the Laconia Shoals, they have spent much of their time searching for sunken World War II wreaks when they came upon the prize discovery of the region.  Operating on information found in James Brooke's journal, they were able to uncover the location of a 170 year old vessel, the Viscount Melbourne.  It was the story of the Viscount Melbourne that first peaked my interest and led to my contact with Eric Madeja at Treasure Images, http://www.treasure-images.com/index.html.  We soon realized that the real story was actually the Berekoven's and their quest.  As luck would have it, they were very interested in telling their story.  In the coming weeks we will be filming them to put together a sizzle reel and trailer to generate interest in four-part series about the  quest for lost civilisations and where the Berekoven's fit in with the other theories that abound on this subject.  For me I find myself returning to the search for the Ancient Nagas that I started over 15 years ago.  More to come.

Asylum seekers risk all for Australian dreamland | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

Asylum seekers risk all for Australian dreamland | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

What Isn't Working Did You Ever Wonder?

Important Questions for Right Now

This video poses a compelling set of questions: Do we educate to strengthen our democracy or to strengthen our economy? Does competition or cooperation produce better results? What will students need to know? Are they being educated with current reality in mind? Should the people support the economy or should the economy support the people?

Maybe we need to change the way we look at success, progress, wealth, competition, the future?

It is a collage of points made on the subject of sustainability, and a change of
direction that needs to be addressed within the educational system to reflect our current reality. 

Compelling images, graphics and quotes like this one tell the story:

"We have reached a point where the value we add to our economy is being outweighed by the value we are removing." Paul Hawken, author and environmentalist.

Indeed, GDP is not an indicator of a society's well being or stability. It goes up with every instance of destructive spending too: illness, war, nuclear power plants, GMO food production, incarceration.

We need to come together around a new indicator of "wealth", and prepare students for the reality of Now.

--Bibi Farber

This video was produced by Education For Well Being

 

Australia's Carbon Tax: a green incentive for change

http://www.greenerideal.com/politics/0703-australia-carbon-tax/

The other more rational side of the carbon tax that is not being presented in the media.

World Refugee Day 2012

World Refugee Day 2012:

“This report tells a human story of loss and tragedy. Despite its distance from these places of terrible suffering, Australia shares the responsibility to protect refugees. It can do this under the Refugee Convention by helping asylum-seekers who come to its shores and, also, through the generosity of its annual resettlement programme. In this way, Australia shows solidarity to those countries that bear the greater burden and responsibility of hosting millions of the world’s refugees.”

- UNHCR Regional Representative Richard Towle on the 2009 Global Trends Report

Another World Refugee Day has come and gone, so are things really changing here in Australia? The 2012 Theme for World Refugee Day was Refugees have no choice. You do. To coincide with this theme, the UNHCR has rolled out its striking new campaign Dilemmas, which aims to draw public attention to the tough choices facing refugees, and to help the public to empathise with and understand these choices and dilemmas.

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there, especially in the way the Australian media and government depict refugees and asylum seekers and the way language is used to convey the issue.  All human beings have a right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution, which makes refugee protection a universal and global responsibility. As a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and as a member of the international community, Australia shares in this responsibility. Click here for Amnesty International’s take on Refugees’ Human Rights and here to gain a deeper understanding of refugee populations across the globe.

The world’s refugee protection system was established in 1950 with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and then with the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. UNHCR is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. See the UNHCR website for definitions and statistics on refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people.

Armed conflicts and political violence have led to civilians being caught in conflict zones, leaving refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people in protracted situations. The number of people displaced by natural disasters has multiplied in recent years, exceeding the number displaced by conflict. Climate change could increase this number by many millions in decades ahead. This was a key issue discussed at the Rio+20 Summit to ensure sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and environmental protection.

The latest UNHCR report shows that one out of four refugees in the world is from Afghanistan, with 2.9 million – 96 per cent of whom are hosted in Pakistan and Iran. The other largest source countries for refugees included Iraq (1.8 million), Somalia (678,000), Democratic Republic of the Congo (456,000), and Myanmar (407,000). As in previous years, around four fifths of refugees are hosted in developing countries. Almost half (5.5 million) of the refugees under UNHCR’s care are in protracted situations, with the majority living as refugees for five years or more.

With World Refugee Day 2012 behind us, let’s hope that things are really changing here in Australia. We do have a choice. And we do have a say. For more information on the UNHCR’s role in protecting refugees rights, see the comprehensive Protecting Refugees and the UNHCR report. To find a Refugee Week event near you, see the Refugee Week website.

Written by Melissa Gillies, MPH Online Contributor.

Image sourced from the World Refugee Day website.

Of Flying Cars and the Declining Rate of Profit | David Graeber | The Baffler

Of Flying Cars and the Declining Rate of Profit | David Graeber | The Baffler

How the  bureaucratic  corporate capitalistic system the world is enmeshed in is stifling our creativity and innovation, which is preventing us from coming up with viable solutions to our most pressing problems, e.g. world hunger, the environment, water supply, housing, the debt crisis, etc.  In other words, the main reason why these solutions evade us is simply because there is no profit in it.  Eventually, saner heads will prevail and we will dismantle the existing bureaucratic structures and move toward a more egalitarian distribution of wealth and power.

Sign this urgent petition now and forward to everyone

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_rio_save_the_planet/?cGILDab

Sign the petition

urging President Dilma to save the planet!

Coral Sea - Help Protect Australia's Coral Sea - Protect Our Coral Sea

Coral Sea - Help Protect Australia's Coral Sea - Protect Our Coral Sea

Pocket’s Most-Saved Videos: Neil Gaiman’s advice to graduates, plus a boxing coach who thinks you’re terrible

Pocket’s Most-Saved Videos: Neil Gaiman’s advice to graduates, plus a boxing coach who thinks you’re terrible:

Every week: A handpicked collection of the most popular videos saved in Pocket. Enjoy!

–

1. “Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012″ (19:56)

“If you don’t know it’s impossible, it’s easier to do.” The author and graphic novelist offers graduation advice for creative spirits:

Siem Reap's West Baray

Siem Reap's West Baray:
There may be no beach in Siem Reap, but we do have a baray which, when you look into it, is arguably much cooler. The West Baray is an enormous reservoir that was most likely constructed during the 11^th century. At 8,000 metres long and 2,100 metres wide, it is equivalent in size to more than 2,000 football pitches, and was built by hand.

Low tide: dry season at the baray.

A small island sits in the centre of the baray where you’ll find the dilapidated remains of West Mebon temple. The temple is built in the same style as Baphuon, beside Bayon, hence the assumption that the Baray was built during the 11^th century. Otherwise, we know very little about why it was built. Theories have suggested that it was used for irrigation, though this has been largely discarded, or for ceremonial purposes, or for flood management.

Hope it's as tasty as it is pretty

Today though it is used mostly for leisure purposes; you can chill out in a hammock, swim in the water, enjoy a delicious picnic of barbecued chicken or fish, and take a ride across the water to the island on one of the boats.

Trying to photograph hammocks with the wrong lens.

Though less well documented than the law on gravity, the law that picnics taste better on islands is considered by experts to be equally well-established.

Not quite Rotterdam, but it gets quite busy sometimes.

The boat hire is a little pricey, at $20, but you can easily fit about eight people into one which makes it work out a little bit better if you're running in a pack. The hammocks however are a bargain at 5,000 riel.

The lake.

If you’re not into any of that, there’s a reasonably nice walk around the levee that functions as a dyke around the baray. It’s 20 kilometres all the way around, so unless you're feeling really ambitious, don’t plan on circumnavigating the whole thing. It's a good idea to bring water and sunscreen no matter how long you’re planning to walk for though.

Loads of Cambodians come here to cool off in the reservoir.

The baray is down a tarmac road that turns off just about six kilometres to the west of Siem Reap, and getting there by tuk tuk or moto is a simple matter.

Behind the lake.

It's a very popular family leisure spot with locals as well, so even if you are planning on a swim please remember to respect local customs and dress modestly.

Review: Lang Nuong Nam Bo

Review: Lang Nuong Nam Bo:
Just a short trip from the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, extremely large Lang Nuong Nam Bo sits off the main road down a long, wide alley. Set in an area that is rarely visited by tourists, you may feel like you’re in a different city when you find the restaurant even though you’re only 10 minutes' away from the tourist hub.

So, this is where the party's at.

Lang Nuong Nam Bo has hundreds of tables spanning its two floors, and it stays constantly full most nights. Being away from the tourist hotspots makes this a place to get a better experience of local, family-style dining. The restaurant caters more to groups and even though there are tables available for two, the majority of diners are large parties. You’ll find the restaurant has a great atmosphere, with people loudly conversing, laughing and constantly chanting the Vietnamese cheers of ‘mot, hai, ba, YO!’ It probably doesn’t hurt the overall happy vibe that each table has a crate of beer under the table ready to be consumed.

Sparkly lights; always a nice touch.

Even though Lang Nuong Nam Bo seats hundreds of guests, it's still open-air; a roof will protect you from the elements but walls are harder to find. The lack of walls of course means no air-con, and though they have plenty of fans in an attempt to compensate there are spots where you may not get much airflow.

The pig points the way!

If you can brave the slightly hotter conditions, you are rewarded to a menu of more than 100 Central Vietnamese countryside dishes, including beef, rabbit and more unique dishes like hot vit lon, but what the restaurant is famous for is its roasted suckling pig -- you'll walk past the pig grill on the way into the restaurant. When you order a pig for the table it's delivered and cut into a bunch of easily shareable pieces. And it is worth the praise that it receives; the meat is tender and delicious with one suckling pig providing more than two kilograms of meat, which is enough for a group of six to eight to share. The pig also comes with a plate of dumplings, half that are steamed, and half that are fried.

Even though the the place can be packed with rambunctious diners constantly demanding refills, somehow Lang Nuong Nam Bo manages to staff accordingly; at times it seems like there are three waiters for every table. Maybe it was because they don’t get quite as many foreign guests, but they seemed extra happy to help me with my order and to keep my glass full of ice, even if I was only drinking bottled water.
As Lang Nuong Nam Bo is more of a family-style joint, prices of the dishes are made to split between groups. So while you might have a bit of sticker shock when you see the suckling pig’s 800,000 VND price tag, split between a group it’s much more manageable. If you can get a group of six to eight together, expect to pay around 200,000 to 250,000 VND a head for a meal here.

That's a lot of meat!

There’s no other place in Saigon as renowned for pig as Lang Nuong Nam Bo, so if you have an overwhelming desire for a whole pig this is your spot. If this seems a little too local, head across town to Cuc Gach Quan in District 3 for similar food in a more peaceful setting. If you want to go even more local, stay in Pham Ngu Lao and get some street food from Thai Binh market at the end of the road.
Lang Nuong Nam Bo

283-285/145 CMT8, District 10

T: (08) 3863 2309
Further reading: Suckling pig in Bali

Chris Hedges on Oligarchy and the Global Collapse - Truthdig

Chris Hedges on Oligarchy and the Global Collapse - Truthdig
Why aren't more people listening to this guy?

Chris Hedges: Colonized by Corporations - Chris Hedges' Columns - Truthdig

Chris Hedges: Colonized by Corporations - Chris Hedges' Columns - Truthdig
It is time to wake up to the colonial oppression the world is living in.  We only have to look at the power wielded here by the mining industry, corporate media, financial institutions, and the insurance industry to see how most of our politicians are just puppets dancing to the corporate tune and are only interested in what keeps them in power.

'Game' Changers: The 10 Biggest Changes Between 'Game of Thrones' and the Books | Rolling Stone

'Game' Changers: The 10 Biggest Changes Between 'Game of Thrones' and the Books | Rolling Stone

GetUp! - Thanks for taking action

P6RJWPE8T7A3 GetUp! - Thanks for taking action

The Best Seat in the House « Himalayan Institute

The Best Seat in the House « Himalayan Institute

Australian mining giant pays price for video spoof defamation threat | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

Australian mining giant pays price for video spoof defamation threat | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent
I have been so sick of those mining propaganda 'This is my Story' videos that seem to be everywhere, but this is one that I really like.  It would be nice to see this run in those commercials before the movies at the theatre.

Capitalism: A Ghost Story

Arundati Roy at her most outraged best.

Ousted Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on the Coup that Ousted Him & His Climate Activism

Ousted Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on the Coup that Ousted Him & His Climate Activism

“Whenever he was en route from one place to another, he was able to look at his life with a little more objectivity than usual. It was often on trips that he thought most clearly, and made the decisions that he could not reach when he was stationary.”

The Sheltering Sky, Paul Bowles