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Published: April 7th 2012
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We've had a request from Grandy (my Grandma) for me to write something. So Mum and I have decided that I will write this blog, here it is.
It's day 2 in Hue (pronounced Hway) and it's an early start to the morning. Today sounded like it was going to be a very exciting day for I think all of the group.
We set off on a motorbike tour of Hue, making multiple stops in some temples and a nunnery/orphanage. When we first got to our bikes and met our drivers, a lot of us were very nervous but also excited. We drove off riding around all of Hue going over bridges, down alleys, along the country side and going through busy roads of traffic.
Our first stop was at the Tu Duc Tomb. Tu Duc was born in 1829 and died in 1883. Some thought of Tu Duc as the emperor who lost Vietnam to French domination. He was the 4th of 13 emperors.
Back on the bikes we went as we drove for a little bit to come to a small village with a beautiful bridge that was made over 100 years ago, and still
very stable. Close to the bridge was a little museum with wooden equipment that was used to do certain things around the fields or on the rice paddies. While our guide was demonstrating how it worked, this lady started screaming and running around. Everyone hadn't a clue what she was doing, but eventually we saw that she was trying to hit a dirty rat with her shoe. What a show that was!
There were lots of markets and little shops where we bought some toys for the kids that we were going to visit at the orphanage.
Our lunch for the day was a 7 course vegetarian meal provided by the nuns of the orphanage. Mum was very excited about all of the food, me, not so much. I think I'm still trying to get used to the food over here!
Mum insists I give you a description for each dish.
1. Fresh vegetarian spring rolls with a peanut dipping sauce
2. A creamy tofu and corn soup.
3. Stir fried tofu with herbs (it looked a little like fried egg)
4. Lightly curried rice noodles with mushroom, carrot and some sort of green
5. Stewed eggplant
with a tomato, onion, chilli and herb and oil sauce. (Mum's favourite)
6. Crispy rice pancakes stuffed with shredded vegetables and a light chilli dipping sauce (Mum's second favourite)
7. Fresh small bananas. The bananas are different over here, the banana is greener, firmer and sweeter. (Mum's been helping me on these food descriptions if you haven't noticed)
Up next we were visiting all the kids in the orphanage. First we went through a room full of small sleeping kids, where we put the toys we bought on some of their bunks. I was really surprised at what they were sleeping on. Their bunks were just wooden, no mattress at all, and if there was, it was very thin, kind of like a straw mat. So no mattress or pillow.
We went further into the orphanage where we saw some younger girls, and they sung for us. Next door was the babies room, all very adorable. Everyone was very excited to see all of the cute faces, but shocked when we found out that the youngest was only 4 days old. We spent a long time in there, playing with and nursing the babies.
Then we hopped
onto our bikes for a much shorter trip back to the hotel.
That's my first blog, I realise now that I have left some things out. We also went on a big hill where there were bunkers that overlooked the Perfume River and across the river, according to our guide, the border of Laos was about 30 kms away, and in amongst the jungle was the Ho Chi Minh trail. But all together, a great and busy day.
Bye for now,
Hannah
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Mum aka Grandy
non-member comment
Im-press-ive!!!
That was fantastic Han...even if it was a collaboration (I realise your Mum finds it hard not to look over your shoulder and add her 2 cents) *insert evil grin here. It sounds like an exciting time and a full day, you described it very well. I am also expecting an encore now. xox.