Hue, Central Vietnam. The temperature is not as high as we thought it was going to be but its picking up. Our bus ride was not as bad as we thought it was going to be. We met some people on the bus who we are now in a dorm with. Donna, Hannah, Chris and Emily.
We got into Hue at 9:00 and went with a hostel rep straight to the Backpackers Hostel. We had breakfast for free and dumped our stuff in the room.
We headed straight out to the Citadel in the centre of Hue. We walked past a collection of American tanks and heavy Artillery. Garath clambered all over them and got into a couple. We went into the Citadel and walked around the many oriental style building that are being restored, The remaining parts of the Citadel are 210 years old. Many of them were destroyed over the years by war and natural dissasters. They are now being re-built with financial aid from Korea! We walked past a garden area that was hidden away, Inside were 2 Elephants on small chains with no water source, swaying from side to side like they'd finally lost it.
In the evening we went with our new friends to a restaurant run by deaf people. The food was lovely but the conversation with the staff was limited. We bought some silk paintings, the money goes to homeless children in Hue, we're giving one to Phil and Lou as a wedding present.
Yesterday we went to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). We were on the coach for quite a long time the round trip was 400Km. We visited the Bamboo Bridge (rebuilt now in solid concrete by the Cubans), Which in the war was submerged in the river to stop the Americans following the Ho Chi Min trail. We visited a series of tunnels used by the Vietnamese for 6 years during the war. 300 People were forced to live in cramped conditions in the tunnels. There was a undergound hospital including maternity unit. The sea just by the tunnels was lovely, unfortunately we didnt have time on the trip for swimming. We all fell asleep on the bus on the way back to Hue. We had food just across the road at Missy Roo's in the evening.
Today we went around the city on bicycles. It was nice weather but we were sweating our arses off. We went to the Thien Mu Pagoda and cycled around the inner Citadel wall, the outer Citadell wall is 11Km long. We visited some markets but they were a bit too hot and smelly for us today. We had dinner tonight in Little Italy. We had loaded potato skins, spaghetti and meatballs, braised Basa fish and chocolate moose! Fatties!
Were all packed up and ready to move on tomorow. Were getting our bags sent on ahead of us and are taking the Top Gear Tour. Chris and Emily on one bike Hannah and Donna on another and Me and Garath on the Third. Should be nice as we can stop wherever we want.