Wednesday, April 21
We train from Hoi An, at. 06:30. It's been some wonderful days. We visited Marble Mountain. It was a little tough ride up, but a wonderful view. Yes it is right before we can see Hoi An. Pagoda which is here at Marble Mountain was built by Emperor Ming Mang. His mausuleum we see the 22 quarters in Hue. There was ample opportunity to buy beer, water and sodas. These mountains are of marble. The big production that takes place at the bottom, where we came up.
Marble Mountain Danang
Marble Mountain Danang
Now the cap. We drove over havane passport and was in Hue at. 11:30.
Oanh at Avanpasset
We were billeted at Hoa Hong. After obtaining the rooms I cycled down and ordered the boat to the next day. I have ordered from Hoi An, an Imperial Dinner. We took a light lunch at the restaurant Le Than deaf, as recommended by Lonely Planet. The afternoon was devoted to the Royal Palace or Imperial Palace Dai Noi.
The deaf restaurant
Oanh and Henning
Imperial Palace in Hue
When we were delayed on arrival at Da Nang we jumped marble hill over the 15 quarters, so we instead marble hill today. there were many stairs and we got a little tough ride up. It was fortunate that it was early morning, so it was not so hot, but still plenty warm 28 degrees. Kl. 13:00 we drove to the Royal Palace and had lunch at the restaurant Le Thanh deaf. At the Royal Palace had done so much since last year. Many new restorations. After a good quick review of the Royal Palace, we were back at the hotel at. 16:30. All relaxed. We need to dinner at Royal Park with many dishes total of 12 paragraph, but small meals. Hoa and I were Emperor and Queen, We are now back at the hotel where we get coffee at the end of a successful day.
Food on festive dinner
Gerda and Benno
Jette and Steen
The total group
Thursday, April 22
There must be much, why we start early. Kl. 6:30 we ate breakfast. and all the suitcases came into my hotel room. We biked from the hotel at. 7.00. We were out sailing on "the Perfume River." I've used the same ship 14 times in the past. We had cyklrne aboard. All took a plastic chair and enjoyed the view and the activity on the River. There was a lady on board who sold silk and other things. Silk clothes are very popular and cheap. It is one of the good shopping places. The first place we stopped at was the Thien Mu Pagoda, a peaceful place.
Tien Mu Pagoda
If we had time we could sit here and philosophize. Everything breathes peace and idyllic. If you've read Carsten Jensen's novel about Vietnam, one can well understand his philosophical thoughts. It is also a historical place. There was a monk who drove to Saigon from here and drove up in front of the presidential palace and went out on site and poured gasoline over himself and lit fire to himself. The international press took pictures of it and they went around the globe. It was in 1963. The war was a turning point. It was President Diem fall.
The burning monk in Saigon
Public opinion turned against the war in both the U.S. and in Europe. At that time there were approx. 750,000 Allied soldiers in Vietnam. Now everything breathes peace and idyllic. Next stop is Ming Mang mausulæet. It is a very fine mauoleum in a beautiful park, which many take to the excursion. Emperor Ming Mang was one of the last powerful emperors, although he lived while the French had occupied the country.
Ming Mang mausuleet
It is said that he had over 100 children and so many wives. We sailed across the river and took the bikes out and rode 3 km up to Khai Dinh mausulæet. It is a completely different mausuleum. Ming Mang lived in 1800 And Khai Dinh in 1900. Khai Dinh son was the last emperor and he died in France in the 1950s. This mausuleum is built on a hill with great views. It is a large stone colossus. There are so many stairs. When you come up awaits one a beautiful sight. There are many mosaics, and a beautiful bronze statue of Khai Dinh.
Khai Dinh mausoleum
Khai Dihn mausulæet
Back to the boat. The bikes were on land. We go aboard and have a nice lunch. Now to bike back to Hue. We all have bath before heading to Hanoi by train. 6 biked and drove in four motorcycle. All managed to get bad. The train was one hour and 15 minutes late, which immediately gave stressful feelings or maybe it was just the heat. On the warmest time there were over 40 degrees. It is warmest I have experienced in Vietnam. But now we sit on the train and have aircindition. This time our trunks thicker than usual so that they can not go under the bed. It is not the beds that have been lower. We can not blame the vietnameske railways. Now we relax until we are in Hanoi. For the first time is great dissatisfaction with travel mode "train". It was surprising, because we tend to comfort us. We were still enjoyable. Some thought that people of our vintage can not travel by train. It is only for backpackers and primitive people. Now I have had 150 people earlier and all of the same age group and all have been very excited about the train. All agree that the toilets are bad, but it is nevertheless a good way being shaken together on a train and we have succeeded in the past.
On the way to the station