Hue City. February 2

Our hotel is 100 years old. Very colonial and lovely. Buffet breakfast is fair. That is comparing to the past hotels. Strange shower. There is a drain in the shower and one under the sink. All the water ran out of the shower and int the floor of the bathroom and down that drain. Also it was a hand held shower. This is a five star hotel. Just older with quirks. It is empty of people. There are a few tour groups but still empty. Duy says that touring is down in the country.
One hour cruise on sampan boat along Perfume Rive. It is an all day rain and cold. So the cruise was an activity. We could not see out the windows very well. But at the end we arrived at the Thien Mu Pagoda. A Buddhist Monastery. City's oldest and important monuments. 7 story octagonal tower. Walk through many buildings. Bonsai plants everywhere.

Tomb of Minh Mang (1840) reminds me of the in China. Walk through pavilions, reception hall lakes courtyard.s. Ming died one year after it was begun building. It is built in the design of a persons body. He is buried in the head. Gate was locked after he was buried. Helpers was killed and there is no idea where the burial sight can be. He had 140 children with many concubines. 5 probably conceived in one night. The monks would keep a record of all the Kings actives. Even the ones at night. They arranged which concubines would be available for the night.

Lunch at the very large Resturant. Few people dining. Duy says in the summer these Resturants would be filled. We were served a noodle dish that Duy said was not Vietnamese food. He was angry and told the owners. Beautiful foods.

Dessert was passion fruit which is tasteless. And a rice cake or thing which was too strange.

We were too wet and cold and did not tour the final two king tombs in the later afternoon. It was 2:00 after lunch. 18 of the 24 in the group went back to the hotel. We have had rain and cold for 7 out of the 9 days. The only places where we have heat is in our hotel room. The lobby, Resturant and touring are all in the cold.
Jack had a massage and I had a somewhat facial for $7 each. Then we gave them $3 tips.
Dinner was at a nice place that only had tourist. I had a noodle soup. Which is what I am eating mostly. Jack had an egg roll that was spicy. And pizza which was a mistake. I eat the soup and vegetarian meals. Same issues of eating meat here and in China. The meat is not good. Filled with fat and bones. The beef dish had fat and gristle and little real meat in it. They have a different idea of what is good. In the chicken. They chop it all up. Eat all parts. Consider the wings best because of the flavor. We feel,the wings are too fatty. We walked to the Resturant. I feel very safe in this country. People are quiet and not pushy. Very polite. People were eating all over the area. Looked like eating places where set up on any grassy area. Everyone sitting on low stools and smoking and talking. The motor scooters parked all over the side walks. You take your life in your hands trying to cross a street.

Location:Hotel Saigon Morin