Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Back in Saigon

My wife just asked me how I feel coming back to Saigon after 3 months already living in Laos. I must admit, it's nice to come back for some days, but I do prefer to live in Laos now. Thanks to easy travelling it's convenient to travel between these countries.
Nothing really changed so far, some new shops, some missing. I am happy to see that Barcamp Saigon is going on, and I am also happy to see some good friends (and unhappy to not meet other good friends).
So, Saigon, I will not forget you, but I found a new love :-)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Friday, August 20, 2010

Treating diarrhea in Vietnam

I got the quite common of having diarrhea, it did not occour to me many times in Vietnam, but this time my stay in Bac Lieu wasn't as pleasant as before.
So it happened to me that I had to stay close to the restroom. The problem is, how to get medicine? Luckily some participants of the training offered their help and went to the pharmacy. I asked my coworkers to buy some anti-dehydration powder. What the pharmacy gave them was:
Calcium tablets
Antibiotics, used for treating a specific amoebia
Tablets for treating blatter infection

and finally: Hydrite, the stuff I needed.

Shows, that trusting a pharmacist might be risky in Vietnam. and the best way to treat diarrhea is still:
Stop eating
Drink water
Use electrolytes like Hydrite

if its a common infection it should be over in 2-3 days. If not see a doctor.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

What's your experience with climate change?

In late April 2009, thousand of people in Vi Thanh commune, Hau Giang province had to buy drinking water because sea water encroached into all rivers and canals in the area. This phenomenon had never happed so far in the region. This year a severe draught effected parts of Vietnam. In 2009 expertes were gathering at a conference in Can Tho and discussing climate change issues related to the Mekong Delta. But you dont have to be an expert, to see what's going on.

So please, tell us how you experience a change in the delta. Write a comment or upload a picture and take part of the Mekong Photocontest (you can win up to 10 million VND).