We were in Hue for two days. For two days it drizzled - the kind of coming-from-all-four-sides drizzle that can drive you crazy. But we persevered and went to see the sights...

In the center of Hue is the old citadel and the imperial palace. This is the place where in 1945, the last Nguen emperor surrendered to the forces of Ho CHi Minh.

The flagpole at the front walls: View image

The Imeprial City: These are pictures from the various buildings that were used as residences by the emperors, their wives, etc.
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Huey recorded a sample of this beat - special Vina-beats for the next party. Re-mix by Disco-Budha-Boy: View image

Of course he had to take a picture with the imperial cannon: View image

Down the river from Hue is the Thien Mu Pagoda, considered the symbol of the city. This was one of my favorite places - it is a functioning pagoda with an incredible garden in the back. There was something incredibly serene about it: View image

The tranquility and beuty of the pagoda grounds were in such contrast with life on the river. A lot of people make their living by lifting sand from the bottom of the river and transporting it on their sand boats: View image Absolutely backbreaking work, requiring four people per boat. I have no idea how you feed four people this way. A lot of people also live on boats. We saw this in Halong Bay as well, and the poverty is incomprehensible to me.

Further down the river, and a bit inland (enough that you are subject to som moped taxi racket), are the imperial tombs. The appear out of nowhere in the middle of the otherwise completely rural countryside.

Tu Duc's tomb is the biggest one and he built it as both a tomb and for use during his lifetme. He went there, to this pavillion View image, to sit with his concubines and recite and compose poetry. Unfortunately, I messed something up and uploaded only this one picture from Tu Duc' tomb - will have to show you the others when we get back. The complex of buildings is notable for being incredibly graniose even though the residence was named the Residence of Modesty.

The most impressive one was the tomb of Khai Dinh.
The steps to the tomb and me in rain gear: View image
The honor guard of mandarins: View image
The pavillion containing the stone tablet with the emperor's achievements: View image

The actual tomb building: View image

Every inch of wallspace inside is covered with an insane mosaic:
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This was taken from the front of the tomb building: View image

I can't quite remember where this is from, but I like the picture: View image