Now that we’re further South, the weather is definitely warmer, however we have now encountered sprinkly rain :(. Unfortunately this meant our planned motorbike tour was in a car – I can hear the collective sigh of relief from the Grandmas from here!!!
Our first stop was in a tiny village in the middle of the rice fields. This was well off the tourist track with the guide wanting to show us the Japanese bridge. There are number of these in the region built with funds donated by a wealthy Japanese lady with no descendants. Each bridge has 7 sections, with the middle section housing a shrine to the donor (one way to make sure you’re worshipped!). Most of the other bridges have been destroyed in war, but this beautiful example somehow survived.
The village beside the bridge had a small market that opened each day. Again, fruit and vegetables were abound, along with the live fish in bowls on the ground. Alex was keen to buy a live duckling from a crate as soon as she realised they were destined for fattening up ready for the plate!
Next stop, the village of Tu Duc. Here the girls learned how they make incense and the conical hats. The ladies adored our ‘babies’ and let them have a go at rolling the incense – it’s a bit like play-doh. The incense sticks were all different colours in the village, and every shop had come up with beautifully decorative ways to store the sticks before the incense was rolled on. We’re now the proud owners of 2 conical hats, although I’m not sure a) what customs will think of the bamboo, and b) how we’re going to cart them around for the rest of the trip!!!
Just on from the village was the Tu Duc tomb. The 4th king loved this area, so had built a holiday home for relaxation, and also asked to be buried here. He enjoyed writing poetry, and used the building by the lake for writing and quiet contemplation. This King had 102 wives (no children?!?!), but for some reason also had a large garden space set aside for his concubines.
Lining the path to the Tomb were Vietnamese Mandarin statues representing teaching and the military, and stone animals – again the blend of Chinese and Vietnamese. Much of the writing is also Chinese, with the English/ Latin characters only developed in the 17th Century, and used widely from the early 1900s.
Final stop for the morning, the Thien Muc (Heavenly Lady) pagoda. Over 80% of people in Hue are Buddhist, so this is significant to many in the town. Interestingly, it’s still a functioning monastery, with Hue families sending their 8/9 year olds to the pagoda to learn about Buddhism. After this, some of the kids choose to join the monastery. I have to say, it was quite confronting to see boys Alex’s age serving lunch to the older monks, having left their family. Apparently they have holidays, and can leave and return to the monastery up to 7 times in their life… But still, it’s a big decision at such a young age.
A lazy afternoon and evening… complete with $11 massages at the hotel spa for Emma & I, fabulous dinner at the ‘Banana Mango’, and a couple of drinks at the ‘Garden Beer’ (read Beer Garden!) in the hotel. Can’t complain!
Love M & the Bunch xx
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