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Published: August 3rd 2012
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Day 13
Up late last night doing blog, but that's ok as I was clean and comfy! We had thick stodgy looking pancakes for breakfast. I was considering passing on it, but considered anything was better than nothing! So I tucked in. To my utter delight, I found pineapple in it! This made me very happy, the stodginess w explained by the total lack of egg! Yes, they do not use egg or flour in the pancakes. Your guess is as good as mine as to what they do use, but this was also good news for Lilley. She has not eaten the pancakes due to not eating eggs; she can now have them with the rest of us.
Today was a bit of a 'bus' day. We are going to a church and a temple. The church was called Phật Điểm. ItThe Tay Ninh of the north, Phat Diem is the home of a celebrated cathedral (1891), which is remarkable for its vast dimensions and superb Sino-Vietnamese architecture – with a dash of European dressing for good measure. It is approximately 130 kilometers South of Hanoi. A priest named Tran Luc built it between 1875 and 1899. The cathedral
is surrounded by four Chapels, three artificial grottos and a stone Shrine.
A really funny thing happened today, and not for thefirst time! Britty, who has the very typical 'English rose' completion, became the centre of attraction for the Chinese. They were all standing around her, in amazement of her beautiful completion, when they started a manic photo shoot with them in the photo with her! One of those situations when you had to be there to see the funny side, but it was funny...LOL. Go Britty!
We did encounter a small problem. Apparently, you have to have permission to go. In without one of their guides; as we had our own guide, Kevin, this was seen as a security risk. Kevin hustled us out fairly quickly, which everyone seemed quite happy about really!
We then went straight off to Hao Lu which is about 110km or two hours from Hanoi; near the town of Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu is the site of a 10th-century capital of an ancient Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet. This small Kingdom reigned from the 10th century. The Kingdom was enclosed by a citadel. Not much of this ancient kingdom is
left standing. The Royal Court was built in an area in the eastern part of the capital, while the western part served as a site to educate and protect children. There are two 17th century temples, modelled after their 11th-century originals that are on most itineraries to Hoa Lu. They are the Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Hoan Temple.
After the temple We went into a local bar/restaurant. (the word restaurant being used very loosely, and with imagination). Although saying that, we all enjoyed our noodles today!
We went back to the hotel in Ninh Binh to pick up our backpacks, and straight off back to Hanoi.I met a lady in the Ninh Binh hotel who was from Leeds. Bus is now living in Vietnam. I was telling her about Coc Phuong and my bites; she very kindly gave me some white Tiger Balm which has been a great help for my legs today. Amberlee also benefitting from this. I have also brought in the big guns today as the bites are now turning septic, 500mg antibiotics. I am very hopeful that they will be much improved by tomorrow.
On reflection, we seem to have wasted
a whole day running around on a bus today, the to add insult to injury, Kevin came up with, "the driver is very tired and needs a coffee!". Hmmmmm.......just at the point where there is a big shop! Then it really got worse when he took on three Vietnemese who wanted a lift to Hanoi. This added about 45 minutes to our journey. I was so annoyed that he lied about this, when it was obviously a way of getting us into the shop, and secondly to pick the three women up! Only one word...furious!
It was great to get back to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, and we all agreed, it was really good to see Thanh again. Every went out for a 5000vnd (15p) beer or two tonight, but I had to come home early as my leg is badly swollen, and am on antibiotics!
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Donna
non-member comment
hi from Hull
Glad your back in the land of electricity and proper beds!! but it still sounds absolutely great. take care of those legs and keep bombarding them with the antibiotics. Olga and Sylvia from peter Pan was asking after you today, told them what a fab time you were having and how jealous i am. Price some houses whilst you are there for our retirement :0) Keep safe. Love D&M xxxxxxxxxxxxxx