Back on the coast we arrived at Hue to find it raining and cold. We expected that weather in the mountains, not here! Oh well, we dug out our jeans and coats from the bottoms of our rucksacks and it almost felt worthwhile carrying them around for the last two months.
We had a chance meeting with David and Fanny (who we had met in Laos) so shared some sushi and a few beers with them before they headed off for their sleeper bus. Hue is the old Imperial city so the next day, and once the rain had stopped, we headed to see the Imperial walled citadel.
The site was heavily bombed in the American War so much of it is being painstakingly restored. But what remains is impressive and really peaceful away from the mayhem traffic of the city outside. Pete may have opted for the wrong clothing as the day heated up.
That evening we met up with a few Manxies (Paul and Helen who are on holiday visiting their sons who are backpacking).
The following day we rented city bicycles (no gears and lovely baskets) to cycle down the Perfume River to the Royal Thombs. These are huge, ornate mausoleums but sometimes the emporers where so afraid of grave robbers that they were actually buried elsewhere – and in one case the 200 slaves that helped dig the alternate grave were thought to be beheaded so they couldn’t tell anyone the location of the emporer’s body and treasures!
The thombs were very impressive and grandiose but the cycle ride was just as interesting through paddy fields, a town known for making incense sticks and a local cemetery. But flip – it was hot !!!!
We bid a farewell to Paul and Helen and packed ready to head further south to Da Nang.
