Im in Hue after a hell long train ride. I had a killer headache most of the way.Otherwise it was pretty good with some great scenery. Shame the windows were too dirty to get some good pics. I got here too late to go to the Citadel (the big sight here)so I will check it out tomorrow and book a bus to Laos tomorrow.
I took a xe om (motorbike taxi) from Hoi An to Danang, about 30km, to get the train to Hue. I got a few pics of the marble mountains again but a bit difficult from the back of a bike. It was great fun on the highway but a bit scary in Danang with trucks and busses and thousands of bikes coming at you from all directions. The train ticket was easy to get for the next train, I only had to wait about 1/2 hour, and cheap at 58'000d ($2.80)
The train stopped twice for no apparent reason, both times for about 1/2 hour. The first hour was all uphill and very slow going, but after that was OK. As I said I had a killer headache and I asked an old lady in front if she had some Panadol. She had no idea what I was talking about but had a small bottle of green stuff. I wasnt sure to drink it or what but she said to put on my hand and rub into my head. I have no idea what it was but it worked. just as we arrived in Hue.
I arrived too late to go to the Citadel so I found an OK hotel and just had a look around. I dont like the place much. I dont know why but it doesnt do much for me. It is a bit dirty compared to the other places I have been. Maybe spoilt at Hoi An.
This morning I went to the Citadel. It is basically a walled palace inside a walled city. It was built between 1803 and 1834 and they bombed the **** out of it in the Vietnam war (they call it the American war up here). Of the 140 odd buildings about 20 or 30 are still there and they are renovating or rebuilding some others. Everywhere you look there are bullit holes. After that I went to the markets. There were heaps of shoe shops so I looked in them all but no one sells the kind Im looking for. I bought a couple of pairs of thongs at the bargain price of $2 each.
This afternoon I went looking for some Pagoda's and Tombs that are near here. The xe om drivers wanted 200 to 300 dong so I hired a motor bike and went myself. Man what fun. In town you just gotta pick a gap and go for it. There are bikes everywhere doing the same thing. Once you get out of town it is easy you just have to dodge the trucks and busses but they are usually going slower so I was going under them. I got lost but a local named Tee showed me the way to two tombs. Without him I would never have found them. The Tomb of Khai Dinh and the tomb of Minh Mang, both very different and amazing places. He also helped with a problem with the bike and after I went to his house for tea. He lives near the river in a 1 room timber shack. What a great life, if I was home I would have to work today he didnt cos he is a farmer and nothing to do except go fishing........and he envies me????
Tomorrow I am booked on a bus to Savannakhet at 7.30am and should get there at about 6pm. The day after that I will try to get to either Tha Khaek or even better Paksan. That will be 2 long days of travel so I will probably then go to Van Vieng for a couple of days but I am pushing hard cos I want to get up north as soon as possible. I'll just see how I go and let you know as I go if I can.