Huế, Vietnam - Day 1

 Good Morning,

I arrived in Huế (pronounced like "hey" if you were to add a w after the h) yesterday morning after a not too unpleasant 9 hour sleeper bus trip from Ninh Binh. 

For my departure from Ninh Binh, however, I was able to add a touch of drama. I caught an earlier shuttle bus from Tam Coc to the HK bus office in Ninh Binh. I realized I didn't have my cell phone charger or any of my cables, including the special charging adapter for my watch. After searching through all my bags 3 times I decided to check the the home stay to see if I had left it there. I still had plenty of time, over 1 1/2 until the bus was scheduled to leave. I also messaged the travel agent office in Tam Coc where I was hanging out to see if I had left my charger and cords there. The agent was very responsive. Within minutes they checked around and also reviewed the security camera to see if my stuff was there. Nothing.

The homestay was a bit different. Only after multiple messages, the last one being a little stronger saying I was really disappointed in their response. Finally they sent a picture asking if these were the things left behind. Yes.. the problem was it was only 30 minutes until my scheduled bus departure from Ninh Binh, about 20 minutes from the home stay. Time was tight, but I thought they could schedule a Grab motor bike to bring the stuff to me.  Kai, the manager at the home stay asked if I could pay 100,000 dong (less than $4 usd) for him to bring me my charger and cords. My immediate responce was yes. The clock was ticking, and I was still a bit nervous if he could make it before my bus left. Finally with 5 minutes to spare, Kai showed up on his motor bike with my left behind charger and cords. I gave him 200,000 dong. It would have cost me much more to replace everything. Kai's last request, "Give us a good review". Yes Kai, I will give you a good review.

My anxiety leveled out, I settled into my berth in the bus and off we went on our way to Huế.

I am sure you have all experienced this. When the physical sensations around you whether it be movements, or sound, these things can show up in dreams. I fell to sleep on the bus deep enough to start dreaming. The movements, bumps and noise of the ride created this dream.

I was in my bed sleeping. the house and bed similar to my last house in Hawaii, single wall, beige walls, small house. Then the movements in the bus turned into an earthquake and landslide moving my house roughly downhill (my last house in Hawaii was on the flats). The house stayed intact. I wasn't overly alarmed, I didn't even sit up in bed. I just layed there waiting for the house to come to a stop. When it did, I got up and looked out the front door to see it stopped on the front lawn of a friends house. End of dream.

The bus left off in a small non discript unpaved parking area. All the ride vultures were out trying to rope in a client to go to there lodgings. I try to avoid making any arrangements when this happens. I noticed a coffee shop across the street. I collected my way to heavy bags and made my way there.

A guy came up to take my order for coffee. As it happens he was not and employee of the coffee shop, just another ride vulture. He then revealed himself and asked where I was going. I showed him on the map and he offered to take me for 50,000 dong ($2 usd), I thanked him and settled down to enjoy my coffee. He went back to set at the ride vultures table.

I opened my Grab app and saw that his price was better than the price on grab. I signaled him back to my table and showed him my mountain of bags. He said no problem and showed my a picture of how he loaded big bags on his motor bike. I decided chance it and go with him.

When I was ready to go, he went to get his motor bike and then loaded all my bags. This was routine for him and knew exactly how to arrange the bags and get my old butt on the back of the bike before all of us ending in a big pile on the road. Off we go.

On arrive at the home stay, He got his notebook out showing testimonials from many other travelers, including travelers from Mexico. So, the 1st ride was not the goal, but selling people on tours later in the stay. I trust the guy was up and up, but having personal guide and transport is probably not in my budget.

I was way early to check in, but lucky for my they had a shower I could use to freshen up.

It was time to look for something to eat. I walked out of the homestay, turned right and only a few doors down a lady was serving pho from a small prep station with a few small / short tables and chairs. I never know when I set on these small chairs whether they will hold me and secondly, will I be able to get up.

There were a couple older Vietnamese ladies already sitting and eating, which was the main reason I wanted to try to food here. Always look for places were the locals are eating, avoid places that are all tourists.

I sat down and order pho. This turned out to be the best pho I have had so far in Vietnam. I had plenty of meat, she even came a little later and added a couple meat balls to my bowl. And this is also the first time in Vietnam that the pho came with a large side bowl full of bean sprouts, basil and lettuce to add to the pho. 30,000 dong (about $1.25 usd)

I successfuly got myself up from the chair after eating, happy and full.

I came back to the home stay to hang out in the lobby/outside tables, then do what I do, start talking to fellow travellers.

I talked to people from England, Portugal and other countries including 27 year old Jiuzhi from China. He said his name is pronounced something similar to George, so that is the name he uses while travelling. 

It had been a couple hours since I had my pho, but George wanted to go to a nearby restaurant to get something to eat and asked if I wanted to go with him. I was especially hungry yet, but decided to go.

We found the place. They had a nice menu and offered portions in 3 sizes, 25, 30 and 35,000 dong ($1 to $1.50 usd). We both ended up ordering the same thing, a fried pork dish. He order the large, I ordered the medium. When the dished arrived the only difference was that his also included a portion of egg.

After we ate, George went off walking to do more exploring around Huế. I headed back to the home stay.

Later in the afternoon, I had noticed a beer garden kind of place down the street. I decided to try it out.

When I got there, I was shown a seat on the lower terrace next to the river. The beer of choice here is Huda. I think it may be brewed here in Huế. I haven't seen it in other places.

Everytime I sit down, I wonder if I will be able to get up. The chairs are all very low either plastic childrens chairs or like childrens folding beach chairs. I sat down, I'll worry about standing up later.

I ordered a Huda. The beer does not come from the refrigerator, but comes with a glass of ice. Looking around other tables were groups of people and they had large buckets of ice and cases of beer. I wasn't offered food, but it looked like they specialized in hot pots. More appropriate for group eating.

It was pleasant sitting by the river having a beer, but when I finished my beer and with some effort I was able to stand up, make my way up the steps, pay for my beer, 20,000 dong ($.80 usd) and head back to the home stay.

I was still full from my lunch, so I didn't look for anything else to eat for the day.