Hue

After arriving in Hue on the sleeper bus we were greeted with people trying to get us into their hotels. Not knowing how far we were from anything, or how big Hue was we wanted to have a look around oursevles. The only problem was that we had showed some interest and they therefore wouldn't leave us alone. As soon as Kris told them they were being too pushy it was like we'd said the magic word and they were gone. We managed to negotiate a really nice room (see photo) for 150,000 Dong (about 5GBP) a night! Bargain!

After a breakfast of beans on toast (a welcome change to eggs!!) we went for a general look around. We got chatting to a German couple and a Swiuss couple down my the river who were trying to negiate a cheap boat ride to take us to the temples. They asked us to join them at a cost of only 100,000 Dong (3.50GBP) per couple. The Vietnamese women took us out on her dragon boat to two temples and the Citadel. It was much nicer than a coach ride, and always interesting to see locals cleaning their hair and washing their clothes in the murky water!!

The second temple was a little bit set back from the river. I have no idea why we believed the guys on mopeds, but they told us it was 4km, so offered us a cheap lift. As this was one mode of transport we hadn't tried yet we gave it a go. Don't worry parents they drove very carefully! The second temple and surroundings were huge compared to the first, but it was nice just wondering round.

When we returned to the boat the lady had been to the market and prepared some food for us (we had looked through a menu and requested a few things). The prawn springs rolls were really good!!!

They dropped us off that the citadel, but as it was due to close in an hour and we felt a bit templed out we decided not to pay to go in.

I think our first days experience on the back of a moped had given us a taster for it, as on day two we agreed to go with a local guy to see the Vietnamese countryside. We agreed a price (150,000 Dong) for 2-3 hours. It was such a great experince!!! I was on Lac's moped, Kris was with his mate, lets call him Dave. They took us to a village where they made Vietnamese hats and incents. I attempted to make my own, I thought I'd done a good job, but the locals around us just laughed...so maybe not!! He then took us off road to an American bunker in the hills, and through farm land to show us rice paddies and fishing villages. It was so good to see things that most other tourists miss out on! The strangest expereince had to be when he took us to small village with 'farming museum' (more of a room full of farming equipment). The old lady there was very keen to show us how the equipment was used. At one point she was dressed in a rain coat made of bamboo leaves whipping Lac who was pretending to be a bull...all very strange. This lady (who looked in her 90's) was wearing a purple dress and for some reason had maching purple teeeth!!! I'm not sure if she has a false set to go with every outfit or if she'd been drinking something extremely purple!! It all got a bit to surreal when she started to sing a 'lullaby' to demontrate rocking a baby (accomaped by baby 'wah' noises!) in the wicker cot...it was the strangest whaling sound we ever heard come from another human being!!!

We were goign to stop at the beach to get some lunch, but when we arrived all the restarant had been swepted away by the typhoon and they were only just starting to rebuild. It was really sad to see! The beach was beautiful but there was debris everywhere, including a kids piggy bank and shoes. Everyone from the area survived but a lot of their belongings were distroyed.

So Lac took us back to Hue to get lunch. It was definately the most amazing food we have had so far!!! The nicest was call Banh Beo for those of you that have been to Vietnam or plan to go!

However, after lunch Lac offered to take us to Hoi An the following day. We had had a great day and the trip looked great, bt we had already booked our bus and it would be so difficult with our bags. So when he finally took no for an answer he tried to get more money out of us. We had been longer than the 2-3 hours but we had been everywhere he said he'd take us and we weren't to know how long it would all take! In the end we had to left the amount that we initailly agreed on the table and walk away (we were only 5 minites from our hostel). Emma left her hat on the bike which they reminded us of so we had to go back (doh) It didn't get nasty or anything, he was just trying to push his luck and gave the hat to us. It's a shame as we had such a great day!

Early start on day three as we took a day bus this time to Hoi An.

- If anyone is wondering why we have been flashing the friendly V's in photos its because everyone from this area does it for a photo. They put on a poker face and flash the friendly V's for all pictures! Then they seem to smile or laugh afterwards! Wierd.