Well it finally happened! I went to bed last night and once I settled down I started getting cramps, not unbearable but cramps. I had quite a good night but definitely not a happy tummy when I woke up. I got to breakfast and got a cure from just about everyone, I settled on a pro-biotic and some drops from Anna. After I drank the drops I read the bottle and the leaflet - it is chloroform, I though that was poisonous. Well, I was extremely cautious all day and it settled down quite nicely.
Our guide was not joking when he said busy day today. We started off to Hue early, on our way we stopped at a marble factory, they cut the most beautiful marble out of the mountain and create such stunning pieces. I took quite a lot of pics here, couldn't buy anything - too heavy but they are very quick to tell you that they will ship to anywhere in the world.
In Vietnamese they seem to use only one syllable words, so they use very short words, I haven't seen any word longer than 5 letters. As a result they use the same word for many things they just put thingies (~?'^) on different letters for different meanings. The funniest one I have seen to date was the name on the toilet-paper is Dong Tam and their currency is also Dong, maybe they should teach this to uncle Bob! Their currency is also in 100,000's (165,000 Dong = $1). A couple of other funny things I saw today "Fresh Ice" what would stale ice be like? Above a Hotel "Comfo Table Beds".
After the marble factory we went to see a Hindu Temple, I think it was Cham Temple. Interesting but not really what I came to see in Vietnam. It was also very hot by then and no air-conditionlng in the temple. We then traveled over a mountain through a long and winding pass to get to Hue, this was really beautiful - reminded me of the Wild coast coastline and the Transkei.
In Hue we went straight to a really magnificent lunch in a beautiful wooden restaurant, I had 2 cokes and just tasted the food, still a bit nervous although my stomach had settled down quite well. I can't think what upset my stomach, I ate everything the others ate. Except Pam introduced me to glazed ginger, we bought it on the streets of Hoi An and I ate quite a bit of it, but Pam insists that it is impossible and that the ginger will have had a healing and settling effect on my stomach.
After lunch we went to a Buddhist temple, I found this much more interesting because it was not just a museum. I also saw my first Lotus flower from up close. I find the Buddhists fascinating and enjoyed it.
Next was a trip on the Perfume River, called the Perfume River because when it was discovered it had plants with highly fragranced flowers growing on its banks. Today there was no evidence of these plants but there were many boat people on the river. Although the river did not have a perfume smell it really had no smell, not like the river in Hoi An which was also a fish market and really was quite smelly. We were all very pleased for the opportunity to just chill out on the boat and for the breeze. It is extremely humid in Vietnam. According to our guide, there are only two seasons, dry and wet, because they are so close to the equator they don't have summer or winter seasons. So the only thing that changes is the humidity levels not the temperature.
Next was the Imperial palace/grounds or what's left of it after the French and Americans shot, bombed and broke it. This again was very long and drawn out and involved a lot of walking. It looks like they are rebuilding the whole thing again because there is quite a lot of workers in the museum building and tinkering. We couldn't wait to get out of here and into the hotel, everyone was really tired.
For dinner they had arranged a royal meal for us but in the end it was only Sue, Alex and myself that went. The others were too tired and not hungry. It was really an experience, a bit like Greensleeves restaurant in Jo'burg. When we got there they took us to the cloak room and we each got an outfit and hat to wear. Alex was king, I was queen and Sue was the princess. I think it could have been such fun if we all went!
So here I am back at the hotel everyone gone to bed already. I must repack my case tonight it really is a huge mess. Tomorrow we leave the hotel at 7 for the airport and will fly to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon and a new guide. I am really looking forward to this, everyone has spoken so much about it. After that we will leave for Cambodia.
I am really so pleased I came, it has been such a great experience. Everything and more than I expected! Thanks to all of you for encouraging me to come when I had so many doubts. All I now need is a travel companion for my next trip, I plan to do this at least once a year until I die!
Please can someone at home arrange to fetch me from the airport on Wednesday 24 September at 6:00 am, I think it should be Charles seeing that he has still not sent me a message! It is a public holiday so he can't use Varsity as an excuse!
I am off to bed now, all of you please write back, Damn it!
Lots of Love to everyone, I am starting to miss you all.
Bron, I hope you are giving Susan Lee my kisses everyday, I hate to think how much she has changed since I left, please email my a latest picture please.
Caroline
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