Trip Start Aug 09, 2008
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Trip End Sep 10, 2008


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Friday, August 22, 2008

We are now in Hue, having come back from Sapa on the overnight train and then taken the overnight bus the next evening. We stopped off at a restaurant/lay by on the journey to Hue and it has to be one of the most horrible places I have ever been. The loos were at the back and as you walked towards them you were hit with the most awful smell, and the waitresses all had really long hair and played with it right next to where the food was being prepared. We were so glad to get back on the bus and leave! Part of the hazards of travelling I suppose.

Hue is incredibly hot - it feels like it's about 35 degrees at midday. We went on a motorbike tour of all the tombs of the old Emperors this morning which was really interesting and finished off, about 4 1/2 hours later, visiting one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam. It was great being taken around on motorbikes with two guides who knew where they were going and told us some things about the tombs.

We were walking towards a cafe earlier when we were stopped by a man on a motorbike who started off with "I am not a driver, I am a teacher!" to catch our attention and then invited us for a drink. It was fascinating sitting down with a local man who was waiting for his children so he could take them home. We chatted away for about half an hour and he asked us about England and what money we had, and as I had a couple of coins on me I gave them to him so he could show his wife what British coinage looked like. We in turn asked all about where he lived and the price of petrol (which is also very expensive for them!). He lives in the country about 30 minutes drive away and had some people from Newcastle visit him a few weeks ago; he seemed really keen to tell us all about them. He also said that he hated the city because everyone asks you for money! It was a treat getting to know a local person briefly.

Tomorrow we're going to walk around the citadel and see the Forbidden Kingdom where, other than the concubines, the only people allowed in were eunuchs who posed no threat to the Emperor's women! Then it's on to Hoi An where hopefully we'll have some things tailored for us.

It's good to be moving down Vietnam finally, having spent a bit over a week in the north.

Lots of love xxxx
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