VIETNAM - Hue - Part 2

The next morning was rough I must admit. But I didn’t want it to ruin my only day here in Hue! So after breakfast I was trying to figure out what places I must go see. But everyone kept telling me that it was hard to do this on your own and that you need a tour. I said SCREW THEM! So I rented a motorbike for myself and headed out. First stop was the Thien Mu Padoga a little ways out of town that overlooked the great big Perfume River. This was very pretty and it had a large tower. I was feeling really shitty but I wanted to continue and see the Royal tombs that were further outside the city. The further I started to drive outside the city the more the landscape turned into luscious greenery filled with bird songs, rice paddies, and misty mountains. I was so happy. I could drive like this for days. And I made a promise to myself I will return to Vietnam one day and drive from north to south. I will never forget this moment. The first tomb to see was Khai Dinh. This was so cool! I climbed up the stairs which was a pretty hard considering my condition... I eventually threw up in a bush at the top. Oops. But I fet much better! Now ready to explore I saw the famous staues of soldiers, women, and children made of blackened concrete. Up top was the tomb where it was inlaid with colorful mosaic shards. Absolutely breathtaking! I haven’t seen anything like it. I walked outside and the whole monument overlooked this huge green valley. I loved it here. Excited to get back on the bike I headed down the road a little ways to the next tomb of Minh Mang. I did end up missing the road to the tomb so I drove about 40 minutes into the wilderness. And oh my god. The most beautiful scenery ever. I didn’t want to go back! I knew I was going the wrong way but I kept going. I stopped a moment in a road that overlooked a huge rice field and it was unbelievable. I just sat on my bike in complete silence and smiled. I could only think this was only the start. I’m so young and I don’t want to rush. I wish I had more moments like these. Or at least share it with my loved ones. Not many people said Hue was fun to visit but they haven’t explored or taken chances. Sadly it was getting later in the day and I wanted to see the rest of the tombs before the closed so I headed back and actually went to Minh Mang’s tomb. This was a relitavely flat one but surrounded by many large lakes and ponds. I couldn’t enter the tomb because it’s only open one day a year interestingly. But the ponds where full on Koi fish and you could feed them. Down the road was another tomb of Thieu Tri which was the less popular one. I entered and I was the only one, well except for the two “guard” dogs. I sat with them at the edge of the tomb and relaxed in the sun for a little bit. They were cute. After that I went to the largest tomb of them all, Tu Duc. This one had militar buildings in it and had some ruins of ancient buildings which was cool. A beautiful lake and a nice bench to sit on. My favorite tomb out of them all might have been Khai Dinh. Overlooking the forest was really cool, and the mosaic tomb was amazing! So I finally headed back to the city on the lesser known road that traversed the river. It was nice but I wish I could keep driving. I went looking for lunch back in the city and found a place to get a local fish of Hue Bun Cha, only made in Hue. It was good... just your basic Asian noodle soup to be honest haha. I went back to take a nap, still not feeling great but I did a lot which I was happy and satisfied with. When I got dark I went out for one last ride and say all the night lights come on. The bridge and boats where really pretty to see. I just couldn’t get enough of the breeze blowing in my face. I had some fresh spring rolls and steamed vegetables that night for dinner, trying to cleanse my body of the toxins from the previous night... I went back to go to bed early, and to avoid the “lady’s night” downstairs at the bar in my hostel. I will not drink!