Hello from the Pacific North-West!

**bigbamaguy** · 11-16-2010, 10:09

Cralls:
Welcome to HF from Bama..............good luck with the tarp making and congrats on the hammock. I envy you on the hike across Asia. Please keep us informed of your preperations and ask any questions you may have, nothing but good advice from the HF folks!!!!!

**Greg Dunlap** · 11-16-2010, 10:40

Originally Posted by Cralls

Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand! I'd love some advice!

Last time I was in Vietnam, the natives were not too friendly. Of course that was in 1968.

**thomas533** · 11-16-2010, 11:45

Hi Cralls,

As others have said, there are plenty of us in the PNW. In fact there is a winter hang happening in January if you can make it:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=24052

Tom

**Wa-Hangman** · 11-16-2010, 12:10

Welcome from WA hanger!

**Cralls** · 11-17-2010, 01:04

Originally Posted by Greg Dunlap

Last time I was in Vietnam, the natives were not too friendly. Of course that was in 1968.

haha I think it might be different now. And I'm going with someone from Singapore who has been to most the countries I will be visiting. But what do you mean exactly? Is there a way to get on their good side? (or keep from getting on the bad perhaps..)

**Bat** · 11-17-2010, 02:00

Hi Cralls. Another PNW guy here. I currently bounce between Tacoma and Portland.

**Can't Wait** · 11-17-2010, 02:59

Welcome Glad you found us

**Hulk** · 11-17-2010, 03:35

Oh yea...there's defiantly plenty of hangers in the PNW! May not have the biggest presence on this forum but there out there.

Last August i Volunteered some trail maintenance on the Blanca Lake trail for four days. The place was busy with backpackers...hammocks out numbered tents!

Won't see them at typical tent sites. Generally they will be hidden off the beaten path. Too much of a curiosity for ground dwellers still.

The one time i hung in an established pay for camp ground, that was last april. at the Hobuck beach resort. It rained like 4 inches in eight hours...you bet there was a steady stream of tent campers stopping by to check out my set up. Cause i was dry an they were not.

**Greg Dunlap** · 11-17-2010, 08:02

Originally Posted by Cralls

haha I think it might be different now. And I'm going with someone from Singapore who has been to most the countries I will be visiting. But what do you mean exactly? Is there a way to get on their good side? (or keep from getting on the bad perhaps..)

Well don't forget that when I was there we were either trying to bomb them back into the stone age or shoot the one's that the bombs missed. This tended to make them a little mad and they took that anger out by trying to get back at us.

Things I remember is when taking pictures of small groups of children or people, make sure that there is an even number of them in the picture. Somebody on the sidelines is keeping count and if there is an odd number, it's considered bad luck. Also show respect to the elderly. Defer a seat, assist with a load, step aside and allow them to pass, this went a long way to calming feelings.

**kc7fys** · 11-17-2010, 08:30

Cralls,
You'll like Cambodia. I recommend taking the boat trip up the Mekong from HoChiMinh City. It's like 18$ for the entire trip, including the border crossing into Cambodia, and you get to ride a cool colorful wooden long-boat with a noisy motor. That's just one of the tours you'll find available alacarte in Saigon. Yes, it's a group tour and as such--obnoxious--but it will be a short chapter in your whole trip that you couldn't have likely done on your own, unless you are an extremely experienced SE Asian traveler. Vietnam--get a motorcycle and ride it for a couple weeks and return it--you can easily rent a bike in Hanoi for a few dollars a day (for a Belurusian Minsk) and return it in Saigon. THAT trip will be great for you.

To be honest with you, I can't think of where you'd use a camping hammock on a SE Asian trip. Rooms are palatial and less than ten dollars a night--and you're going to have some security issues in a hammock. I could see it on a very limited basis, but "camping" in general is nearly unheard of on a trip like that, what with excellent lodging being so memorable and dirt cheap. Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonatha...7594282134433/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonatha...7594281991781/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonatha...7594278504515/
Have a great time, and post photos often (SE Asian countries have faster internet speeds than the US, which is 28th in the world.)
Jonathan