The train was a pleasant surprise

Friday, April 03, 2015
Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Wedesday we rode 55 klms in the morning arriving in Hoa Lu all shattered, young and old, but revived soon with cold liquids and lots of delicious food, think goat featured today !
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th century .
We had a free afternoon so took the luxurious option and was taxied to the hotels sister hotel to swim in a cool pool and treat our battered bods to a very energetic but therapeutic massage. Just what the doctor ordered.
We ate a simple meal on the street alone that night, the only interruption being a scooter out of control sort of landing on Dave's back, no damage done thankfully but there goes his amazement with the lack of visible accidents in amid this traffic madness.
We all met at the train station readied for the overnight train trip, and God bless our guide Long, he turned up with a bottle of gin, ice and tonic.....so we had another sweet happy hour sharing travel stories and mellowing out for the journey ahead.
And whether it was the gin and tonic, exhaustion or just good luck, the train trip wasn't too bad. My memory of it ten years ago was a little rougher, but perhaps I was in cattle class then? We were segregated, the girls had one carriage, the boys in another but both Dave and I slept well.
We awoke near to Hue and climbed off about 9 am into about 30 degrees ! We knew this was coming, so this days easy 25 klm ride was all we could cope with, we visited the Imperial City where the Emperor and his many concubine resided while this city was the capital in the 1800's and we explored the Buddist Temple beside the Fragrant River . But the nicest stop was going to Long's home and being served lunch by his wife and six year old daughter.
Took it easy into the evening, trying to prepare for the next morning. This day featured the mighty Hai Van Pass, rising up to 496 mtres, we all rode 50 kls in the morning so Dave and I had no intention of tackling the pass. We cheered the others in at the top and all slid down the coast and into Hoi An.
A strange thing is happening in this country, the dead are buried in rather large graves, on ones own land you can plonk them down anywhere, in public cemetries they are a little more organised but the wealthy go for really big ones, tomb cities no less, the country is filling up with tombstones, a tradition they don't want to break. It is quite a strange sight.
We are now close to the sea, have ridden near it today and ate oysters and mussels for lunch.
Rest day in Hoi An tomorrow, and we need it.  
Intrepid is beginning to make perfect sense as a name for this company we are with!
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Comments

Sim
2015-04-03

Hi Rossie and Dave! I'm enjoying the blog with its tidbits of history, and news of your daily adventures! Great photos too!

2025-02-11

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