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Published: November 10th 2007
Xin Chao everyone from Hue Vietnam.
I am currently in the old imperial capital and it hasn't stopped raining! Apparently the rain season is over in most parts of Vietnam, but Hue is the exception to the rule. This morning we took a dragon boat which really looks like a house on a barge down the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Today is supposedly the Full Moon so we listened and watched as the monks chanted in the temple. There are 7 levels to this pagoda which follows the Buddhist belief that 7 is a lucky number. We then carried on to see the tomb of the Second Emperor which was very beautiful.
I have to say that coming to Hue after a fantastic time in Hoi An has been a little bit disappointing! I think part of this is because most of the land and buildings in Hue were destroyed as part of the Tet Offensive in January 1968. It has been raining since we got here yesterday which has been dampening our spirits a little bit because all the things we might visit aren't too close to here. Fortunately my poncho is coming in handy.
Let me tell you about Hoi An though because thoughts of that part of the trip make me happy! We stayed at a beautiful hotel called the Van Loi that was on a little island across the river from Hoi An. The hotel had a swimming pool and balconies and we were very close to the bridge to cross the river. We arrived in Hoi An after flying from Saigon to Danang on China Airlines which is affiliated with Vietnam Airlines. What a great plane! A short bus ride took us to Hoi An. After we settled ourselves in we headed to the tailor shops to look at fabrics and choose patterns to get outfits made. The tailors are so good that they can copy any piece of clothing or you can get measured up for whatever you want. I got 3 skirts made. They are beautiful! I won't describe them... you'll have to wait and see. The cool thing is that they are ready in 24 hours...and while we are contributing to the local economy people are working long hours to prepare our clothes. We also did some great shopping for bags and embroidered goods and jewelry. I love all the old buildings in this town that is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. All of us on this tour have said how they wished we could stay here for a long time. There is so much to look at... shops with bags, lanterns, silk scarves and ties and over 500 tailor shops. There are very few cars and lots of motos, cyclos and bicycles... A must see if you are ever in Vietnam.
In the evening we dined on the river at a local vietnamese restaurant. I had pumpkin soup and chicken with lemongrass and chilies. Yummy food Gladys! We even went back the next day, myself and my three Aussie friends to do a cooking class. We made spring rolls with rice paper, fish in banana leaf, fried wonton with sweet and sour sauce and squid with lemongrass and chilies. It was so fun to do all the work ourselves and then enjoy the fruits of our labour.
One of the big highlights for me was renting a bicycle and going on a 10km ride with my friend Steven. We biked about 15 minutes out of town and found a vietnamese market. All of the women were wearing the infamous conical poem hats and selling morning glory which is a bit like spinach, mangoes and lots of other great organic vegetables. Steven and I cycled through town and then biked out to the beach on the China Sea. The waves were really high so we didn't swim but it was a nice ride. I haven't been on a bike for so long but it was very liberating and a cool way to see the city.
In the evening Phil, Brian, Freya, Lindsey, Emma, Nuddy, Steven and I went for dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant that overlooks the river. We had a lovely dinner under the lantern lights all facing out on the water. A great end to a great day.
I hope this post finds you dry and happy wherever you are.
Remember to pause on Remembrance Day on the 11th. I wish I were home for this, because it is so important to me but I am grateful to be here in Vietnam having this incredible experience with great people, good food, interesting sights and good times.
Good luck with the Craft Show Mom!
Happy Birthday to Steve L-S and to Beth and Uncle Marty on the 13th.
love always,
Katy
xoxoxoxoxox
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Jennifer
non-member comment
sounds like fun
Katy, it sounds like you are having a wonderful time, and all of the experiences sound great. It is rainy seson here too, so I understand how that can put a damper on things. My mom is visiting, and we have not done many tourist things because of the rain, and my lack of time. Rememberance day is funny in countries that don't remember. It can come and go without a moments thought if you are not careful. But my mom and I observed a moment of silence together, and I mentioned it in church today, and we prayed for world peace as a church. Glad you are enjoying the food! You will have to teach people when you get back what you learned in cooking class!