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International Crossroad


International Crossroad
Photo Information
Copyright: Thanh Nguyen (ngythanh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 139 N: 2278] (8315)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-24
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L-USM, SanDisk Ultra II 2Gg
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-28 3:47
Viewed: 886
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
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There are some quick remarks about this humble picture that I would like to dedicate to my new friend Quan Vu who arranged to meet me right at a hotel by this international crossroad Bùi-Viện/Đề-Thám to pay his debt, and for me to meet the author of the short story "I Love You".

Before April-1975, Phạm Ngũ Lão Street has been nick-named “the media street” since — with the rare exceptions of a few editorial offices like Sóng Thần, Độc Lập and Trắng Đen on the nearby Võ Tánh Street — most or all other newspapers and magazines set their offices here on one side while the Saigon Railroad Station occupied the other side.

In the ‘80s as government adopted the “Đổi Mới” (Renovation) Policy with windows open to the outside world, Phạm Ngũ Lão Street has been changed into khu Tây Balô (backpacked Westerners area) and been misspelled as Pha Nga Lu Street.

Actually one side of the street has been developed into backpack traveling services while the railroad station was converted into a large park, and the two streets Bùi-Viện and Đề-Thám crossing the center of the area became international crossroad with its 24-hour life.

While the international crossroad maintains its rich and noisy activities just a few steps to the right where I shot this picture after street-lights turned off at 6:01 AM, the traditional Vietnamese life has not been changed as you can feel the humid colors, the damp darkness, the poverty and difficulty, the stink odor of urine, and the fatigue on each body of local people who stayed wide awake in the recent 24 hours to make the living.

The meeting between Quan Vu and me has nothing to do with the travel industry. I need to see him before returning home in Houston, to report to him the detailed expenditure and potential process of building a floating classroom for Vietnamese people over Tonle Sap Great Lake, and he met me to pay back to me the money he owed me when he contacted me during my last few hours prior to my trip to Cambodia, asking me to advance a few hundreds dollars to be donated to some fishing families without fishnet in Kampong Luong near Pursat. Again, Quan Vu from Seattle, Washington met me as a TrekEarth member at this crossroad so I can relay my undone tasks and poor experience before he continues his trip toward poor people.

To celebrate our friendship, I dedicate this picture to him and his accompanying wife and wish them all the best luck. God bless!

ngythanh





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TRASH, Thanhnguyen, nicol_g, stevep has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • aadilj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1559 W: 62 N: 1209] (8967)
  • [2007-03-28 4:26]
  • [2]

Thats a lovely collage of life in a historic Vietnamese city, I have only heard of the city and great man after whom its been named, This image which is full of colour and textures is indeed a beautifully taken one. I like the pov here and the perspective. Good sharp work which presents a lovely slice of Vietnam.

  •      
  • scalerman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1701 W: 62 N: 1001] (19726)
  • [2007-03-28 5:11]
  • [2]

Thanh: a busy composition with heaps of minutia but somehow I like it. The people, more like insects in your frame, work well here. Great colonial ochre too for textured BG. best, c

  • Great 
  • TRASH Gold Star Critiquer [C: 199 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-03-28 6:08]

Very helpful note about the Westerners' backpack area.

Regarding your photo, I think you have a strong way of seeing scenes that helps you determine to record what you had in mind even before you press the release button of your camera.

Thank you for letting us to "participate" your celebration of a new friendship.

Best Regards,

MQ

Hi anh Thanh,
Nhìn tấm ảnh buồn nhỉ...
Xin được trân trọng những công việc anh đã làm.
Rất mong chờ những tấm ảnh mới của anh.
Chúc khỏe luôn,
Mến thân.
Thanhnguyen

... those strong, 'humid' colours of the walls that seem to emphasize the poverty and the fatigue feel...!
An evocative daily life picture dedicated to a special & valuable new friendship. Thank you for sharing its story!
Kind regards.

ah Thanh,

You continually manage to write some of the most heart-felt notes here on TE. We are all lucky to have such a valuable member as you; both on TE and in society.

As to the photo, it illustrates perfectly the hardships you mention - a very sobering dose of reality indeed!

thanks for posting Thanh,
steve

I crossed by the DeTham/BuiVien crossroad frequently and saw this actual scene too often but never had the idea of it can be something to be published and to be shared with others.
Thank you for having it online.
Regards,

Actually, it was much easier for me to donate a few bucks than NgyThanh has done for the people in Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia, considered all of the traveling, purchasing and carrying the foods & supplies to the needy, not mentioning the risk of safety that Thanh has to carry with him a large amount of fund, he made me feel more embarrassed than proud of my contribution (except for the proud/honor that having him as a friend). I also just returned from VN and soon will post some of mine pictures, included some from De-Tham street.

QV

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