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Published: January 31st 2013
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Saigon Morin
Where we ate breakfast Much is said about breakfast at the Saigon Morin, there's an article which said 'one thing you must do before you die is have breakfast here.' Well the ambience is fine and there is a fountain and music and its all outside but the breakfast at Sunway was better as far as we were concerned. We don't particularly like cake at breakfast just muesli and fruit, well there is lots of the latter.
We had a late start this morning, 9.30 the coach collected us and took us to the tomb of Tu Duc a King from the 1860's . The special thing about this place is its tranquility, Tu Duc was a scholar and a poet and this place is full of trees and gardens and a lake. He wanted the whole place built in seven years and 300 people were employed to complete the task. The Mandarins encouraged the workers to complete it in three years and the workers revolted and were all killed. Just after Tu Duc took charge the French invaded and took control making a peace treaty with Tu Duc but in reality the French were in control until Tu Duc died in 1879 and he
Mausoleum of King Tu Duc
This is where he would sit and write poems was buried in the grounds. Paintings on glass were made of his poems and are displayed around the palace. It's amazing how old everything looked and not at all preserved, we have older in the UK and they are in much better condition. However they have extreme weather here and this was the explanation given, also the palace is not inhabited so difficult and costly to maintain. There is a beautiful theatre there and a special throne the king sits on. We were told that apart from his Queen he had over 300 wives and yet he never had a child. This is not the record however some kings had over a 1000 wives I think that's amazing wouldn't happen today there's too much TV!
From here we travelled to the tomb of Khai Dinh from the 1920's. we stopped on the way there at a place that makes incense and conical hats, the finest in Hue but no way was Steve going to buy one.
The Khai Dinh tomb is approached by many steps, the higher you go the closer to heaven being the theory. Having walked to the top we could see the 'female Buddha' who
Statues in Tu Duc Mausoleum
These are original size, Steve would have been a Giant! is a white statue in the distance that can see all and has the ability to be what 'she' wants to be and in that way help others.
The tomb here is very elaborate with mosaics but is built of concrete, modelled in an ornate style and looking like a western palace. There is a shrine which you were not allowed to take photos of and pictures everywhere of this young small King. The setting is perfect with views all around of hills and vegetation.
Scientists had been sent everywhere to find the right place to build this Mausoleum and it had to be just right; surrounded by hills and a river which is winding not straight, so it took some time to find the exact spot, but they did and it is in a beautiful location.
We then visited the Heart Foundation for Deaf and Dumb children. Here the children are given somewhere to work and taught skills. They are paid for their work and given somewhere to live. The work is then sold to tourists. When we arrived there, they made us a ring out of bamboo, and of course we bought something from them,
there was a lot to choose from and it was all made so well.
Lunch was at a small local restaurant; Amanda knows some lovely places to eat at, all the food we have had has been very inexpensive and delicious.
We then took the Dragon riverboat for a trip on the perfumed river. We didn't notice much of a perfume and it was not as relaxing as you might think as we were being sold various items on board the boat. It was done in a friendly way but I would have preferred not to have the hassle. It's such a warm afternoon and it is lovely to be on the river but you see some sights, one guy washing dishes and a little further on another peeing in the river, who on seeing us take a picture of him gives us a wave (With his hand!)
We came back to the hotel to go for a swim in the pool as it is very warm by now, however as we have to leave early tomorrow we changed our minds and went for a walk in to the town. With just the two of us crossing
Female Buddha
So white she blends in the road it became more precarious but we managed and arrived at a riverside hotel and ordered a well deserved drink. It was so still and quiet here and we watched the birds flying around an unusual site for Hue as like Hanoi most wildlife has been eaten. Itlooked as if there would be a thunderstorm so we decided to move on back to the hotelhowever it didnt rain. We changed and got ready to venture out for a meal and walked with the group to Bloom, a training restaurant that Amanda had recommended. Again the food was good although Steve and I dipped out and had pizza. A short walk back avoiding the traffic and we arrived in time to see the end of the staff party with Karoke in full swing at our hotel. They were also having fun playing games, must tell Maureen about them for next Christmas, lady has a piggy back on the blindfolded man and she has to bite bananas off a bunch attached to a gantry, you can imagine what fun they had, there was so much laughter and one couple fell off the stage, no injuries too much rice wine!
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