First stop on the coast

Back in Hanoi we awaited our bus to Hue, slightly late a man arrived telling us he was to take us tp the bus on a motorbike.  We both weren't keen on this idea after seeing the streets of Hanoi and tried to ask for a taxi, alas we were informed the streets were too narrow and that the motorbike was the only way and would also take just one minute.  So (sorry mums) we both got on the motorbike with our big bags.  I went first and it was fine great fun actually there was only one dodgy moment when he shimmied through some motorbikes.  I was dropped off on a dark street corner and told that was where I was to wait for the bus.  So I waited anxiously alone fighting off ofers for hotels and cyclos for Sarah, she evetually came as did other one by one.  We waited on the street corner for a bit and were then moved to another street vorner, then put in taxis and taken to the bus.  It wasn't the most comfortable of buses plus we had two annoying Germans infront of us, then it was too cold with the air con, then too hot when it went off ooh and bumpy but it was home for the 12 hour overnight journey to Hue.

Our boat

We arrived ok and found a bargain hostel, 3 pounds a night.  Alas the shower didn't work so we were given a bucket and pail to wash with.  Once refreshed we booked our bus and tour down the Perfume River.  Then I enjoyed some particurly dodgy spring rolls.  We then went in search of the Forbidden Purple City much to my excitement alas it wasn't remotely purple ;-(  We failed to find the citadel so instead went to the market which didn't sell much in the way of souviners but just about everything else with the largest hat, shoe and bicycle tyre sections I've ever seen.  After tea it was early to bed as we were both bogeyed due to virtually no sleep on the overnight bus.

Entrance to the purple city

Then it was time for another boat trip, this  time along the Perfume River.   We were taken to the boat by a young girl (who frankly should have been at school) and what a bizarre boat it was, just a big square with a few plastic chairs and 2 wooden dragon heads at the end.   Our guide annouced we would e at the fishing village in 10 minutes, 1 minute later we cruised past a load of makeshift boats - this was the fishing village.   Next stop was a traditional house garden - not much to it really.  The next stop was Hue's most beautiful Pagoda, we are experts on these now. It was quite interesting though as we saw where the monks slept, on a large wooden chest where all there belongings were also kept.  We also saw them all praying at the temple, basicaly a lot of chanting - fascinating.

Aimee and no purple city

Our next stop was for a tomb, we were told when we booked it that it would be a 1km walk infact it turned out to be a 2km motorbike ride!!!   So yes we braved them again, though I (Aimee) clung on for dear life with 2 hands as I saw Sarah go off down a dirt track ahead of me, it was a little bumpy but ok, i was soon holding on with one hand like a pro though this was more to stop me from losing my handbag.  The first stop was the incense & conical hat making village where me and Sarah scored our first motorbike injury, don't panic we didn't fall off we just burnt our leg a little while dismounting.  After a quick nosy at how they made said items, incense sticks of which were particurly interesting to watch we went to our first tomb (this time we took great care in dismounting the motorcycle).   The guide explained it all to us though she did say yeah an awful lot, then when the sun got a bit much for her she got out her bright pink brolly, at last me and Sarah had a brolly to follow and we felt like proper tourists.  Then it was back on the motorcycle for the final time back to the boat.  Next we moored for 'lunch'  this consisted of local food which turned out to be squid it what I can only describe as some sort of fatty jelly (we left this wisely according to the geezer next to me who said it was grim), there were some white flat things with crumbly orange stuff on which tasted of nothing, some shrimp taco things which were ok and beansprouts, luckily sarah had bought some Pringles ;-)  The next stop was another tomb this time of a king who had 400 wives and over a 100 children, naturally we all made jokes of what a busy man he was,how uch child maintenance he'd have to pay etc.  We were then shown a ststue of a Unicorn which looked like more of a cross between a lion and a dragon.  We also learnt that the dragons on the temple had a different number of claws for different people, 5 for the king, 4 for a manderin, 3 for a peasant and zero for a female tourust ;-)   After this we chugged back and went out for dinner though I had to wait ages for my curry thus forcing us to have a second beer, what  a damn shame ;-)

Big turtle

Hat making lady

Tour guide

Best shower in the world

Pagoda