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Published: September 11th 2012
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Pointed Hat
Now I am in the official pointed hat clan! Well after getting up and having a brilliant breakfast in our hotel we decide to venture out and dodge the cyclo men to get to the Imperial Palace. We managed to dodge the cyclo men which was amazing and we are real proud of ourselves. Mind you it was such a hot day they probably decided no way are they going out in the heat of the day.
Hue is a citadel which is on the banks of the river and it appears it was chosen by the last emperor of Vietnam. The Imperial Palace where the emperor lived is a citadel inside a citadel. Once we entered the emperor's citadel the heat got really bad and yes I succumbed to getting a pointed hat - so I am now an official Vietnamese lady (yes lady, I said, ha ha). I just now have to learn to carry fruit in baskets on a stick or learn to row a boat. First lesson tomorrow I think!
The Imperial Palace is amazing it was mainly destroyed in the war. Just outside the Imperial Enclosure is a communist recognisable feature which is the 37metre high flag pole. It is the tallest flag
Sleeping on the job
The pagoda we found in the garden pole in Vietnam.
The Imperial Enclosure is not unlike ones we saw in China, however, the buildings are being renovated and the grounds have not been looked after. However, as there was only us and a few other people in the whole enclosure it was really nice not having loads of tourists around.
We found one of the gardens and there was a pagoda which we clapped our eyes on which had a table and two plastic chairs so we decided abit of R&R was called for and just sat there for a couple of hours in the peace and quiet away from the cyclo men.
Well today we had to catch a flight to Hanoi so up we got this morning and got a taxi to the airport and caught our plane to Hanoi. Hue airport only has one airline and guess who flies from there? Vietnam Airways, no surprise there then. Anyway forgot what travelling by air is like and decided pure luxury compared to some of the means of travel we have taken over the last few weeks.
After a quick flight we land in Hanoi and look for the taxi we arranged
There are 9 million bicycles in Hue
Sure there is a song but change Beijing to Hue, ha ha from the airport to our hotel. We had been warned that there are a lot of taxi drivers at Hanoi airport that will tell you your hotel you booked has moved and changed its name (scam or what). Anyway our taxi man was waiting with a board with our name on and yes they spelt it right - which does not happen very often in Europe so one up for the Vietnamese.
The taxi driver liked to speed and liked his brakes well he needed to as we had a few times when the ABS was needed but we get to the hotel in one piece. Again, Tripadviser you have come up trumps as the hotel is brilliant and only £19 per night including breakfast. Hotel is called Aranya - anyone coming to Hanoi you should definitely choose this hotel.
We drop the bags off and decide to go for a walk to Hoan Kiem Lake. Whilst walking around the lake we both thought this feels a bit like New York as there were loads of people running around it or power walking. We stopped for a drink in a restuarant which overlooked the lake. I am getting to love passionfruit juices - what next it used to be G&Ts.
I have just brought a little rice wine decanter and ceramic glasses - Am I ever going to learn got to carry these around for the next few months. I think I may have to send some more stuff home they way this is going.
We are researching at the moment going to Sapa which is a hill side villiage so will keep you posted.
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