The sun is out in Hue!

Train arrived 8am yesterday morning and got taken to Thai Binh Hotel to check out whether we wanted to stay there. Got a double room with tv and shower for $6 in a nice little alley. Went for a wander and stumbled upon 'Cafe with Thu wheels' where Thu (the owner)showed us some of the travellers recommendations. We were going to do a boat tour down the Perfume river to see the sights which costs about $2 for an 8 hour trip inc lunch! Sounded like it was too good to be true and turned out (according to these travellers tales) that it was. We were then recommended a similar tour but by motorbike (guide on front, Dave or I on back) which we decided to go for yesterday afternoon (despite me saying I would never go on a bike have broken it twice now). We then walked up to the citadel and old walled city for a wander and found some nice lakes with islands on that the emperors used to relax on. Had a great lunch at the above cafe consisting of squid which virtually melted in your mouth.

Boys on Japanese Bridge

Bike tour started at 13.00 and I was a bit apprehensive as we set off around Hue and beyond. Went to see various sights through the crowded streets - pagoda, temples, back and forth over the river. We then went out into the countryside a bit and saw a great Japanese bridge and went up to the Tu Doc tombs which looked similar to how I imagine Angkor Wat but is only about 100 years old. We then went to a Buddhist monastery were there were 4 monks chanting in the temple about 200 feet away from about 20 playing and watching football - was great to watch whilst hearing the chanting in the background! The best bits of the trip were seeing things off the beaten track like the incense sticks drying in the street to be sold outside the temples, the farmers in the paddy fields and my favourite bit, seeing the duck 'herders'. Was an absolutely fantastic afternoon and I loved being on the bike. I only nearly got knocked off once by what appeared to be a floating double mattress but was actually being carried by someone on a push bike! Don't think either of us will ever brave driving here on my own though.

Colourful Incense

Last night, after booking our bus ticket to Hoi An today (at 14.00) for $3 each we found a nice new restaurant where we tried some local specialities - vegetable stuffed pancake, crab soup, pork kebabs in rice paper and prawns in garlic sauce (Restaurant is part of Indochine Hotel opposite the Mandarin Cafe) all for about 4 pounds! Had a quick night cap where I had my first G & T for ages for about 60p and slept very well.

Today had a bit of a lie in but were woken up by sun streaming through our bedroom so at last we are wearing shorts (hear it is v cold and snowing at home so thought I would rub it in!) Dave had a bacon sandwich for brekkie so is on cloud 9, I'm not entirely sure whether we will still be leaving here in a couple of hours now!

Duck Farming

Have had loads of messages and recommendations from back home - thanks to everyone and keep them coming!

Fishing Nets

Hue Pagoda

Incense again

Monk Chanting

Monk Football

Riverboat

Tu Doc Tomb - Pillar

Tu Doc Tombs - Sunlight