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Published: August 20th 2009
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Hué - Vietnam - At the Fortress...Big Guns For Big wars
Near the Imperial Palace stands the Fortress. In a bygone era, these cannons defended the city walls. After a night bus ride with the secretive and seedy driver and his attendant to Hué, we were literally dumped off at a small hotel across from the local travel agent taking care of the Hanoi/Hué leg and arranging the transfers to Hoi An, I was so tired from lack of sleep, all I wanted to do was sleep on the sidewalk in front of the agency. There was however, a local with a motorbike who apparently had plans for me. He kept talking to me about the sights in Hué and while I did want to do things to help kill time before the next bus, there was, in my mind no better way to kill time than sleep. He reminded me of that old Bugs Bunny cartoon where there was a big, tough bulldog and his little buddy hopping around him, yapping away and running errands and such...well, he was the little buddy type. After taking out his log and showing me testimonials, some in very bad English ( from people from England ), much of which I suspect he had his little buddies write for him in the guise of foreign travelers, I bargained with him and decided
Hué - Vietnam - Entrance to the Imperial Palace
On the way into the Imperial Palace. There are many buildings and gardens to wander in...many are in good shape and others are being renovated. I would go on his motorbike to the Imperial Palace and a Pagoda that I never did catch the name of, further down the road. On the way, he kept turning his head to me, which bothered me a lot, trying to sell me on having him drive me down to Danang for $40US on his motorbike..how we would see ALL the sites...elephants, waterfalls, beaches, the seven wonders ( in his mind ) etcetera..etcetera. But..he was funny...he punctuated everything with a nasal " why not...! " And it did not come out as a question. Nevertheless...we wove through traffic and came up to the Imperial Palace and after a couple of photos he took of me, I went in and he would wait under the shady tree for me. I had no doubt he would since I had not placed a single cent into his hand yet. I went in through a large gate and in the heat, wove my way through the structure, much of it under repair, rather halfheartedly, mostly because of my lack of sleep on the bus ride from Hell. It was quite elaborate and many of the buildings were still in good shape. Some scaffolding
Hué - Vietnam - Ornate Dragon Decoration
Many decorations cover walls, walkways and doors. The whole adventure is well worth the time and money spent. and seats were being set up for a live performance of sorts later in the day but I didn't ask. I wandered around, asking other tourists to take my photo in the compound then I would take their's and we would all be happy. I spoke to a young girl from Ho Chi Minh City at length...she was doing a long holiday tour of her home country...something I haven't taken the time to do in Canada...we still exchange the odd ' how are you ..? ' emails. To me..everyone...all the way through China as well...was so friendly and helpful...more so than in Europe, although I've only found unfriendly people in some parts of Germany, Austria and Hungary...must be the common history. BUT..that said...there has not been many unfriendly people in those areas as well. I finally left the Imperial Palace and there was my ' little buddy ' waiting...I said to him...before he could say it.." let's go to the Pagoda...why not ! " He echoed the " why not ". Very funny guy...I did like him...he actually made my day by talking me into this tour. On we went to the Pagoda and all along the way he kept
Hué - Vietnam - Garden Meeting Area
Many ornate side buildings were used to greet visiting ambassadors and other dignitaries on about how far away this Pagoda was and the gas...etcetera..etcetera...and I knew it was another aprés bargaining session and I was sure I had already lost as we headed further away from where I had left my luggage for the ride to Hoi An. When we got to the Pagoda ( the scenery on the way was beautiful...Hué is on a very scenic river ) I looked at a rather nondescript tower and thought " you brought me here for this ..? " I told him I would be out in ten minutes. I walked up the steep stairs and when I got to the top, I was surprised at, not just the Pagoda but the whole complex behind it. I had no idea...there was no hint of it from the street...it was a working Buddhist Monastery...there went my ' back in ten minutes theory '. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the buildings and gardens...it was extremely meditative and really helped bring me out of my semi-stupor. I was mesmerized by a very old car and memories of it on the Evening News from my childhood rushed into my brain. It belonged to the Buddhist Monk who had doused
Hue - Vietnam - Elephant Waiting
Inside the Imperial Palace was an elephant waiting for who knows what...there was no hint of why he was chained to the tree. himself in gasoline in Hué and burned himslef to death as he meditated to protest government corruption and the Vietnam War. It was played over and over again on the news and I could hear Walter Cronkite's voice in my head. It made the hair on my arms stand up and it was all I needed to be fully awakened from my sleepless bus ride. I left the complex and my ' driver ' made a comment about ' ten minutes ' but I just said " I couldn't know how long...sorry ". He took it in stride and laughed. Unfortunately, that was all the time I had for Hué. He took me back to the travel agency and I paid him an inflated amount for which he was very grateful and told him that next time I would ride to Danang with him and see all the marvelous sights he promised along the way. Boarding the bus, I still remembered the burning monk from my early teens on the evening news. I barley managed a nap on the ride towards Danang and Hoi An. Hué had woken me out of my stupor and the beautiful, coastal scenery kept me
Hué - Vietnam - Pagoda Tower From the Road
This is all you can see of the Pagoda complex from the road. It is very interesting and is also a working monastery. looking out the window...camera in hand. After all...I was on a once in a lifetime holiday. I would sleep in Hoi An.
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Ivan Mendis
non-member comment
Bus travelling
Bus travelling is really very tiring. For that reason the total excitement for trip goes down.