Song Huong Hue

We awoke at 6:45am, with a mere 15 minutes to get ready for our bus to Hue, in zombie-like state we boarded the bus, my brain was in a vegitated state and my body was drained. I slept nearly the whole bus journey (only being woken up once or twice at some ungodly hour in the morning to the sounds of Boney M!) and awoke as we arrived at the bus station in Hue in the afternoon, Anna and Irena stayed on the ...

... we sat on our beds drinking beer with them while watching Vietnam pass by through the window.

Arriving at about 8am in Hue (pronounced Whey - like curds and..) we checked into Orchid Hotel - lovely hotel, very central, friendly staff and a computer in the room! So lots of time to download pics and write this blog!
We showered and went straight out for breakfast. Fighting our way through the hordes of hawkers (to ...

... imperialists". The trail had a few branches, including one that went into Laos and one over the Bien Sea, so that if one gets discovered and destroyed, another one could be used. It took 6 months to go from the north to the south and 30% of the VC troops died en route due to malaria. Still they persisted for years and years and there are today 300,000 soldiers whose bodies still have not been found.

Ok, enough war history, onto some things we ...

... the way & slower when you pull over for passing vehicles. As usual when the bus pulls up touts approach you asking if you have accomodation. If not they will take you for free on their motorbike to a hotel where they get commission. On 2 bikes we jumped with all our luggage - love the way in Vietnam bikes carry a spare helmet for you ( they don't do this in Cambodia ...

... was no moon, but the fishing boats shone lights that reached the beach and made my white ass visible. I searched for my underwear to cover myself up on the way back to get my goggles and couldn’t find them. I was spending valuable time kicking around in the sand when I decided just to make a run for it. I was almost there when a flashlight beam hit me from about 20 yards away.

It was the security guard and he had come over to see what all of the commotion was about. I ...

Hue (26/7)
Hue

We arrived in Hue in the mid morning totally exhausted from yet another sleepless overnight bus. We took the first cheap hotel we could find and rushed around making plans for leaving the next day and booking the DMZ tour. We didn't get to spend too much time getting to know Hue but I would have liked to have stayed there a few more days.

There seems to be a lot of park space and areas for kite flying and soccer playing ...

... pushing your way through whilst praying to god that no-one crashes into you. We did make it, and got off the mopeds covered in fear sweat, and slightly wondering if this was the worst idea ever. We found the train we needed to get to Hanoi, and fortunately found that some soft seats were still available (much relief having slept on a board on the last night train up to Hoi An), but unfortunately they were all in seperate carriages, so hopefully we might be able to swap once ...

... br>


después contratamos una excursión en moto en el Café On Thu Weels para ver las tumbas y la pagoda de Thien Mu por 300.000 VND los dos.Es un sitio encatador, muy mochilero y con las paredes llena de dedicatorias y firmas de la gente que ha pasado por allí.










Hue, Vietnam perez_r

... br>Hue was beautiful. We hired push bikes and cycled around to our heats content, taking in a Tomb, the Citadel and a Pagoda. At the Pagoda we found that Tommy's key didn't actually unlock his now locked bike lock - luckily my key would... No time to reflect though! Sleeper bus to Hanoi where I would actually have my own "bed" near the front next to the window... which would then shatter part way through the journey. I hate sleeper buses.

... arm or leg and having a bit of an 'English takeaway' or maybe a case of 'bit and run'. Nurse, my sides...

However, in the grand scheme of things the insect bites are just what they are, only very minor irritations which don't really detract from a really fantastic part of the world.

Right, we're up early tomorrow for the river tour, so night night and catch you tomorrow.


lots of love,


Al & Katie xx