HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Thousands of Vietnamese are making pilgrimages to a beach in southern Vietnam to worship a dead whale.

More than a thousand people -- many from hundreds of miles distant -- have journeyed to burn incense near the whale carcass discovered on the beach Friday, said a police officer in the Thanh Phu District of Ben Tre province.

Many villagers, especially fishermen, worship the giant mammals and believe a dead whale washing ashore is a sign of good fishing to come.

The 82-foot whale has started to decompose, but it could take weeks to decay completely, said the officer, who identified himself only as Minh. The villagers plan to use the bones to build a temple to honor the whale, he said.

A smaller whale washed ashore last month in the same area, about 100 miles southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, and the villagers have since built a shrine for it, Minh said.

I think thats a beautiful ritual.

... This story sounds far fetch.

Thar she blows! Dead whale explodes
Taiwanese street, shops showered after gases built up inside


Blood and guts litter this street in Tainan, Taiwan, after decomposing organs in the sperm whale in background caused it to explode.

TAIPEI - Residents of Tainan learned a lesson in whale biology after the decomposing remains of a 60-ton sperm whale exploded on a busy street, showering nearby cars and shops with blood and organs and stopping traffic for hours.

The 56-foot-long whale had been on a truck headed for a necropsy by researchers, when gases from internal decay caused its entrails to explode in the southern city of Tainan.

Residents and shop owners wore masks while trying to clean up the spilt blood and entrails.

"What a stinking mess. This blood and other stuff that blew out on the road is disgusting, and the smell is really awful," a BBC News report quoted one Tainan resident as saying.

...

I've also been told of stories where Vietnamese boats fleeing the northern regime struck trouble in the high seas and those whales came along and helped the ship stabilise. Don't know if this is true though.

Hahaha

Can't you find a better way to express your skepticism?

How about sarcasm?

WooOOooooooOo NOOO WAY!!! That is like, sooo incredible!! :shocked:

The whale has been revered as a noble deity for Vietnamese fishermen for thousand of years.

The word Ông in Cá Ông (whale) means Superior Being.

I've also been told of stories where Vietnamese boats fleeing the northern regime struck trouble in the high seas and those whales came along and helped the ship stabilise. Don't know if this is true though.

That's great

hey kulong, what's your problem you jerk? I was saying it's a story. What part don't you get, or you just wanna start another flame war? You're old enough to understand don't you?

So you think it is cute? I think it is a mockery.

I'm not PMS, I think you need some crack to calm yourself down. You're too cocky and alway looking to start a flame war.

I dont think you can control yourself Nam Quoc Son Ha.
People say something and you anwser like you want to fight.
What a nice altitude.

Oh PUH-LEESE kulong, I know you too well. Yeah looking pass it and always start a flame war and talk crap till the end. You sound like a "big man" but you're actually a xiaoren in disguise.

For f*ck's sake, I'll stop this flame war ok?

Blah blah blah


That's right, bro. Stop what you started

You two are too funny. I am going to meditate for 2 minutes.

good god 2 u. lol

Kulong stop messing with his head lol.

.

(on another note) wouldnt it suk to have ure windows rolled down whan that whale exploded? hhahah........ im gona be sick......

Ridiculous. They should be eating this whale.

why would you eat something that can help you in a spiritual way??