Vietnam: Hue

As usual, as soon as we stepped off the bus we were attacked by people asking us where we were staying, tours they could take us on, taxi services, etc.  Our smartest move was to just walk away.  17-hours later, barely sane, we found our way to the hotel to drop our gear off.

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Imperial City, but sadly we found it was not kept up.  We slowing made our way around, admiring the remnants of buildings and temples.   It was still very interesting.

Finally out of the bus, stretching our legs in along the river in Hue

Do you want a ride? Is what we heard all day as we walked along the river.  This is what the boats look like

Preparing for the liberation festivities.  These lit up at night!

Colorful flags up and down the banks of the river, again for the national holiday

This is what we look like a lot.  Where to now Shelley??

Standing outside the Citadel in Hue.  I cannot believe we are smiling after that bus ride we got off of only a couple of hours earlier.

Really Shelley?  Get your head out of your cannon!

Erik and the pic of Ho Chi Minh waving "Hi" to everyone

Shelley gets to feed the fish, she loves it!! Just look at that smile!

Excited to see an elephant.  She can hardly contain herself, but doesn't want to get too close

GRRRRRRRRR...Erik or the golden dragon, who will win?  Oh, and find the dry spot on Erik's shirt.

Get up on the stage in the theater Shelley and sing for us.  She loves singing and has been doing so the whole trip.  Ask her to sing you one of the tunes when we get home 

Destroyed during the North Vietnames bombings of the city.

In a field and temple inside the Citadel

A section inside the Citadel where no women are allowed.  Erik took a tour for the both of us

The city was getting ready for its independence celebration by decorating the city with flags and lanterns.  It was beautiful here with a much slower pace.

Exhausted and tired, we ate some great food and slept the night away.

Vietnam: Halong Bay then to Hue

The next morning we were off to explore the seventh new wonder of the world--Surprise Cave or Cave of Awe.  This was a series of caverns found deep in the mountain with numerous rock formations.

A view of the Surprise Cave...SURPRISE!?!?!

Another surprise pic of the inside of the cave

A view from the exit of the cave

Still having an incredible time!!!

Part of the group on our boat we hung out with.  Fun times

A local market off the side of the docks.  They lift stuff up to you in a net and you place your money in it.

A picture of our boat on the bay

The boat headed back to the marina, as we had to get back to Hanoi to catch our 17-hour bus ride to Hue.  We got the last two bus tickets available due to the holidays.  There would be no more traveling for two days, so we had to catch this bus.  We happened to have the slowest driver ever.  Several times Erik went up to our tour leader and asked him to have the driver at least match the speed of traffic.  At this point, we were never going to make our bus!  We were told this is his “driving habit and cannot be broken”.  So at the next rest stop, the tour leader had us switch to a different bus and we just barely made it back to our hotel in time to get our gear and head to the next bus station.

Arriving at the questionable bus station, the bus driver stated we were the last to arrive and thus were given the seats right next to the bathroom at the rear.  Erik tried pleading for a better seat due to his size and even tried with a cash incentive to no avail.  We made our way to the back of the bus (where you don’t want to be due to road conditions or the toilet), crouched down and crawled into our “sleeper seats” obviously built for Asian size people.  We couldn’t even sit up because the ceiling was so low, but we made due and snuggled up next to each other for the experience of a lifetime. 

We stopped along the highway 20+ times (no exaggeration) and picked up locals who found a spots on the floor for the 17-hour journey.  Our first and only pit stop was disgusting to say the least.  It was THE worst bathroom I have every experienced, smelled, and seen—downright primitive and disgusting. 

Not too sure about these cramped quarters, at the back of the bus with the bathroom and a guy to my right

We can do this...but never again!!!

This bus ride was the longest, most uncomfortable, smelliest, hottest bus ride ever.  We experienced it and will train or fly it from now on.  Erik kept me calm and reminded me this is not our country and before I knew it….we made it to Hue!  

Vietnam: Halong Bay Day 1

We checked out of Charming 2 Hotel and a bus picked us up for our trip to Halong Bay.  Again we experienced the joys of riding a bus on the broken roads and streets of Vietnam.  About three or so hours later, we arrived at the bay and boarded the small transport boat out to the big boat for the night. 

We toured the bay, kayaked around the floating villages and a floating school.  The water was disgusting with trash and sewage floating everywhere.  The little kids didn’t seem to mind and swam in it, even hanging on our kayak for a ride.  Paddling and swatting bugs, we squeezed our kayak through a small opening between two huge rocks protruding from the sea.  Later we found out, this rock is on the 200,000 Dong bill. 

On a small "junk" boat to our big boat, still smiling, getting ready to have to swim at any moment

No more pics babe...still on the small junk boat

View on the railing from our big boat

A small floating fishing village near the rocks

A floating school in this community.  I would be seasick everyday!

Central area of the floating village 

Kayaking through Halong Bay in the dirty water and bugs.  Fun!!

In an inlet that locals use when typhoons hit to protect them from water surges

A typical house in the floating village

A cluster of homes on the floating village as we paddle through

Everything goes in the water and the kids still swim in it

Shelley, no more pics please.  The rocks in the background were fun to paddle around

A silouette of the rocks in Halong Bay

The communist Vietnamese flag flying on the front of our boat

One of over 500 sleeper boats in Halong Bay

Sunset view from the top of our boat...beautiful!

View from the window of our bedroom on the boat

We enjoyed a sunset party on the top of our boat with strange fruits, two buck chuck white wine and me falling down the stairs.  Erik bolted down to see if I was okay…I was although a bit shaken.

Erik and I had a blast hanging on the top deck, meeting new people, and sharing stories of travel.  After when it was time for the optional swim, I honestly questioned getting in the water after what I saw floating earlier.  Should I get in or not?  Erik didn’t hesitate one moment and jumped off the third floor rooftop deck.  With some encouragement from Erik, I jumped off as well screaming the entire way down.  Mr. Fun (aka Erik) lead the way and a few others in our group followed suit.  We stayed up late drinking and chatting under the stars.

Vietnam: Another day in Hanoi

Now back to the Shelley and Erik tour schedule of Hanoi.  We started with the Temple of Literature, which was established by the Ly Dynasty in 1070.  Think of it as the Chinese super university for higher learning based on Confucius. 

Saying how much we liked Hanoi, we see a random goat in the street!?

Tower at the War Museum, we were able to walk up it

Shelley, the new Lenin.  She would make a great leader here

Traffic is not too bad today, but we still have to scan the traffic

Shelley wanted a pic with me and this vessel...okay, I say

Taking a break in the Temple of Literature by a cool banzai tree

Yes, that is us in 'Nam 2012

Next, at the Military History Museum we were able to climb in an old US jet plane, read more communist propaganda, and climb a very tall flag tower (Erik had to squeeze and bend in some pretty interesting ways).  Unfortunately, the museum was in poor physical condition with very little facts/information. 

Continuing our tour, we reached the big and beautiful Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda.  Snack time--it was time to cool off and have a popsicle!  The woman at the cart said she wouldn’t take our slightly torn bill, so Erik told her we won’t buy any and started to walk away.  She quickly changed her mind and both of our tummies were thankful for it.

Outside the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum

Shelley doing her best to imitate the One Pillar Pagoda

Dinner was quite tasty at the Blue Butterfly that proved to be our most expensive meal yet at $10.  Our night ended with a traditional water puppet show at the Thang Long Theater which was really interesting.  I pushed Erik to go and think even he enjoyed this evening.

Water puppet theater.  The whole front in full of 2.5 feet of water

Puppets in action...Awesome

If you could only smell this market.  Yes, Shelley is holding her breath

Another pic of the creepy fully covered woman on a scooter in stifling heat.  I don't get it!

Traditional way of carrying goods here in Vietnam.  If she saw us taking a pic, she would demand money.