Arriving in Hue at 6:30 am after our 15 hour journey we immediately headed for our hotel and a shower before venturing out for breakfast. Upon our return we were met by a gang of Vietnamese scooter bikers who were to be our chauffeurs for the next 8 hours. (see video) As a biker bitch I did not a envision myself mounted on the rear of my driver Vian's, 150cc Kawasaki special. $12 for the day and what a day it turned out to be. We were 15 in our group, all mounted, helmets on and ready to head out at the kamakawsi command of our tour leader. Out to visit the country side and rice paddies before coming upon our first destination which was a local farmer's market where it couldn't get more authentic. No tour busses here and let’s hope they keep it that way. Other stops of interest were a visit to a rice growing museum, hat making by a handicapped woman (Jennifer bought two) a visit to a bunker overlooking the Perfume River and an incense making demonstration.
Back on board we made our way through the town on the way to the Buddhist Temple on the Perfume River. For those old enough to remember this is where the car is housed which drove the 66 year old Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc to Saigon in 1963, where he sat down in the lotus position and fellow monks doused him with petrol and set him alight to protest against the heavy handed government of the day.
Lunch was organised at a local nunnery where vegetarian was the order of the day. Yes I ate tofu and just pretended it was curried chicken. Ah well, when in Rome. Back on the bikes and more touring the Citadel which was modelled on Beijing’s Forbidden City. The day was capped off with a trip to the local coliseum where elephants and tigers did battle to keep the elephant fighting skills up to par during times of peace. The elephants always won as they put a two to one ratio of elephants to tigers in the ring. Great day and the most fun had by all so far!!
Ian,
ReplyDeleteRe: "The day was capped off with a trip to the local coliseum where elephants and tigers did battle to keep the elephant fighting skills up to par during times of peace. The elephants always won as they put a two to one ratio of elephants to tigers in the ring. Great day and the most fun had by all so far!! "
Gawd ! Sounds like a Merl Perkins Mutual of Omaha scenario! They still do that today? Where's Tony's brave Peta people when you need them? They wouldn't have the balls to push their mantra there.
In that ninth picture, presumably the girl is preparing some kind of artifact and not lunch. Or was that a version of tofu.
'Keep 'em coming.
;-)