Live it up on the Bonsai river boat

Well in the case of the "Bonsai I"


dragon boat, you get an extraordinary dining and entertainment experience on the Sai Gon River. (The original American Country&Western song title was, You Load 16 Tonnes and What Do You Get?) The reason for the title is that this ship, skillfully constructed using sao wood (Hopea Odorata) from Khanh Hoa Province, weighs over 340 tonnes. It is the largest existing dragon boat in Viet Nam and is a replica of a royal Vietnamese-style dragon boat, once only used for the emperors.

We were curious as to who conceived the idea and carried out the formidable task of constructing such a unique vessel and thus tracked down the father - daughter team behind its creation.

Believe it or not, it all began in a small Austrian village of 800 people. Stefan Ernest and his daughter Madlen Ernest worked together to bring Stefan’s dream to reality. Madlen wished to move out of her small town and decided to study hospitality management. Her special field of study was river cruises. She began by working on river cruises between Amsterdam and the Black Sea. She had always wanted to see Asia and ended up in Viet Nam. Stefan became interested in cruise lines because of Madlen’s chosen profession and in November 2003 he arrived in Viet Nam on holiday. He had previously considered India or Thailand, but chose HCM City as he felt that Viet Nam presented the greatest opportunity and with so much potential that he decided to build his dream boat here. He had been a master woodworker in Austria and with his skills in carpentry and wooden construction, he tackled the task of re-creating a beautiful replica of Viet Nam’s past history. The exterior design and artistry remain faithful to the ships of the 19th century, but the interior is a state-of-the art plan, carefully constructed to provide the utmost in tasteful decor and safety.

The 40m long boat can carry up to 170 passengers in stately comfort. The interior design allows for individual seating at formal tables or can be converted into a "conference cruise" mode. Due to the size and weight of the ship, it cruises steadily and smoothly. Upon inspection, we were impressed with the many safety features and "Austrian" thoroughness – even to the point of having international insurance coverage. The crew’s numbers often reach as many as 50 persons, including music performers, waiters, kitchen staff and the captain’s mates – and we almost forgot – the magician!

He began as a security guard and, upon seeing the original magician perform, was mesmerized – he studied, practiced and became a better magician than he ever was as a security guard.

The European management details extend to special details of decor and service. Candles on the tables and staff queries as to whether one is a smoker or not (removing the ashtray if the answer is "no") present an altogether truly unique experience in HCM City; originating from Bach Dang pier, opposite to Ham Nghi Street. Check their website for booking availability and details – http://www.bonsaicruise.com.vn/ VNS

$1/2M AWARD

JUST OVER HALF- MILLION DOLLARS.



That's the money fisherman Harold Greenidge will get as compensation to replace his rotting fishing boat and for loss of earnings.

Justice Randall Worrell, who handed down the decision in the No. 3 Supreme Court yesterday, ordered Government to shell out $275 000 for the cost of a replacement vessel and to pay Greenidge $249 405 in loss of earnings for a five-year period.

Greenidge will also get the $350 cost of the report from master marine surveyor Anthony Hinds and the fees of two attorneys.

Justice Worrell, who stated that liability was not an issue since the Crown had accepted liability from inception, said it was simply a matter of assessment.

"It is quite clear from the evidence, and it is not disputed, that Mr Greenidge used that vehicle for his occupation," said the judge.

"It is also quite clear that Mr Greenidge's vessel was not a new vessel. It is quite clear the vessel was of some age."

He said the court had accepted Hinds' evidence that the vessel was now worthless and that $275 000 would meet the cost of a fully outfitted replacement vessel.

In addition, the judge said the court had accepted $79 881 as the income that Greenidge earned in any given year from fishing.

However, he said there was a four-year period – July 2002 to December 2006 – when Greenidge made no effort to work or to "mitigate his losses".

"And that has to be taken into consideration," the judge said, adding the money for loss of income would be taxed for income tax and National Insurance.

However, the judge said he would not be awarding exemplary damages since he did not think the Crown intended any malice.

The fisherman's boat, X134 Blue Lightning, was intercepted off St Vincent on July 21, 2002, and British naval officers removed three men – two Barbadians and a Vincentian – who they said were spotted throwing ten bales of marijuana overboard.

The charges were dropped but the confiscated boat was never returned.

Greenidge sued the Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Police for an abuse of their discretion and asked for an order of certiorari quashing the decision to impound the boat; the money to replace it; loss of earnings calculated at $80 000 a year; exemplary damages and interest.

He was represented by Hal Gollop, Steve Gollop, and Hilford Murrell, while Senior Crown Counsel Wayne Clarke and now former Principal Crown Counsel Dennis Hanomansingh represented the Crown.

Justice Worrell, however, stayed his decision for six weeks.

Oceanic Whitsunday Boat Show

Next weekend, Abel Point Marina and its carpark are the scene of the Whitsunday Boat Show, now in its seventh year and sponsored by Oceanic Insurance Brokers and Meridien Marinas Abel Point.

An Airlie Beach Rotary community project, designed to attract visitors to the town during a quiet dip in the calendar, the boat show now attracts more than 8,500 people and has secured over 100 exhibitors for this year’s event.

Among them are Bavaria Yachts Qld, Mustang Marine, Club Marine, Furuno, Malibu Boats, R Marine, Sailfish Catamarans, Sealegs, Sunrunner, Sunsail and many more.

There is also a marine-themed art show with a $12,000 prize, plenty for the kids, the Yamaha Fishing Tank and the Customs vessel.

'It’s just got a great atmosphere and plenty of genuine buyers,' says boat show organizer, Dalwyn McErlane, adding that Airlie Beach and its surrounds have built a reputation over the past decade as a marine hub for boaties and industry alike.

More at www.whitsundayboatshow.com