Sunday 28 April 2013

The Perfume Pagoda, Hanoi 河内香水塔:The Pilgrimage朝圣





朝圣

河流是美女的长发
红桥是发上的梳子
排山倒海的铁船只
朝向神圣的香水塔
手握祭拜的金片花
嘴嚐绵软的白春糕
悠哉闲哉地把船划
心情开怀地乐融融
送走了旧年盼春风
祈望这春风带运来

The Pilgrimage

The river,
 is liken to the soft long hair ,
The bridge is the comb
 grooming the shiny streaming silk.
Hordes of pilgrims cruising along,
golden leaves in hand offered as sacrifice,
munching the scent of soft spring cake,
leisurely rowing along,
in delighted mood,
seeing off the year of the past, 
welcoming the new breeze of spring,
awaiting the impending  prosperity and happiness.





                                                    
春糕 Spring Cake










Destination : The Perfume Pagoda, Hanoi
Date: 13.2.2013
Transport : Boat
Comment: To mingle with the locals, join the pilgrimage to The Perfume Pagoda in a boat cruise during the Chinese New Year festival. It is a sight to behold, witnessing hordes of rowing boats cruising along. It almost put me in tears. I was told  by a local that the river is the beautiful long hair whereas the bridge is the comb on the hair. I was also invited to savour the local spring cake sold by the river bank. It was delicious! But , alas, you have to endure the long queue and crowds, especially waiting for the cable car to the mountain top. It was an ordeal though, but rubbing shoulders with the locals could be a delight.

旅游景点:河内香水塔
旅游日期: 13.2.2013
交通:小船
评语:在农历新年,跟随当地人去香水塔朝圣是一大乐趣。眼看排山倒海的船只,令我感动到泪盈满眶。真是动人!对当地人来说,河流是女人的长发,桥是发上的梳子。好个美妙的比喻!有机会品尝当地的春糕真是幸运,好吃极了!但是因为人潮太多,搭缆车上山得排好长的长龙,苦也!



Saturday 27 April 2013

Halong Bay, Vietnam 越南下龙湾:The Hidden Dragon 群山流水的蛟龙


群山流水的蛟龙

重重的岩石掀开我的心房
片片的木舟划开我的心锁
我陶醉在巍巍的群山怀抱
我沉迷在淙淙的流水情怀
寻觅卧伏群山流水的蛟龙


The Hidden Dragon

The series of mountain rocks open my heart
The rowing boats unlock my deep- hidden dark
I was mesmerised  amidst the beauty of running waters
in search of the hidden dragon, indifferent to the crouching tiger 










Destination: Halong Bay, Vietnam
Date: 11.2.2013
Transport: Boat Cruise 
Comment: The Beauty of Halong is beyond words. A picture tells a thousand words. So,see it yourself.


旅游景点:越南下龙湾
日期:11.2.2013
交通: 游船
评语:下龙湾的美是公认的,不需我多加描述。 来亲自体验,那会是一个难忘的旅程。

My Son, Vietnam 越南美山:The Imprints Of Sorrow 悲伤的烙印


悲伤的烙印

青葱的蔓草遮不住你的悲痛
粗壮的树木护不了你的身躯
经年的战乱只留下千穿百孔
岁月的流失只得悲伤的烙印

The Imprints Of Sorrow

The green grass couldn't conceal your grief
The stout trees couldn't protect the feeble bodies
Years of war brought you myriads of  traumas
The flow of time uncovered the imprints of sorrow










Destination: Hoi An  My Son
Date: 8.2.2013
Transport: A day tour with the local tour agent, going by bus and returning by boat ( USD 9 )
Comments: My Son ( pronounced as 'me  sun' ) is a deserted spot which not only uncovers the relics of the ancient era but also reveals the remnants of the Vietnam war. To me it not only depicts its serenity but also the imprints of  its traumas . Come and experience it yourself and don't forget to take the river cruise back. It is a scenic route back to Hoi An. You will see Hoi An old town in a different perspective.

旅游景点:会安美山
旅游日期:8.2.2013
交通:当地的旅社承办的一日游,乘搭巴士前往,乘船回会安古镇 ( 9 美元 )
评语: 美山坐落在会安附近的偏僻一角。它不仅显示美丽的古代遗址,也让你目睹越战的悲歌苦难。这战争带来的悲情,你能在这里感受到。回程的游河景色不错,让你看到不一样的会安古镇。


Hoi An,Vietnam 越南会安:The Fishing Melody 渔歌




渔歌

 渔郎木舟划,
风吹雨又打,
能有柴米盐,
只望笼中鱼。

   The Fishing Melody

He toils as he rows,
indifferent  to the rain  in tow,
longing for the bread and rice,
bestowed by the willing fish in lines.








        



    

   


Destination: Hoi An Fishing Village
Date: 8.2.2013
Mode of transport : shuttle bus of Pacific Hotel ( free )
Comment: Pacific Hotel provides free shuttle bus for its guests to the beach. I am not much of a beach or swimming freak but decided to take a trip there just to kill the afternoon. But upon reaching the beach, I was much attracted by the fishing village there instead. The scenery was breathtaking. Don't miss it if you like fishing village.

旅游景点:越南会安
旅游日期:8. 2.2013
交通: Pacific Hotel 的旅店接驳车免费接送到沙滩
评语:为了消磨下午的时间,决定乘旅店的免费接驳车去会安的沙滩走走,却给我意外地发现沙滩附近的美丽渔村。一向喜欢渔村的我雀跃万分,那里景色迷人,千万别错过。
会安老街的确美丽,但这个渔村更加魅力无法挡。

Thursday 4 April 2013

Hue, Vietnam 越南顺化:The Hut By The River 幽幽河边屋




幽幽河边屋

幽幽河边屋宅门,
嬉戏孩童屋檐下,
衣衫村姑河边洗,
夕阳西下盼晚霞。

The Hut By The River

The hut by the river bank,
 seamed with streams of running water.
Children merrily play,
casting animated shadows on white-washed wall.
Women diligently work,
cleaning chores of daily tasks,
throwing reflections of delights,
awaiting the evening, rejoicing the dusk.




















6.2.2013

第三天 顺化


越南航空的飞机一小时后准时到达顺化的机场。拿了行李,走出关口就看见旅店派来接我的司机。感觉顺化非常的热,像在马来西亚一样。但是顺化的道路旷阔,也很少车辆,不像河内的那么乱七八糟。半小时过后到达旅店。旅店名叫胡姬花旅店(Orchid Hotel)。这里的旅店很受欢迎,我到的时候就有游客在登记,后面又陆续有人来。旅游书上给它很好的评语。柜台人员办事很有规律和富有效力。她先请我去餐厅,旅店准备了饮料,是一杯橙汁,一条香蕉和一包饼干。饼干很好吃。过后,柜台小姐亲自过来餐厅把锁匙交给我们,然后介绍一日游给我们。我叫她代办去会安来回的巴士票。柜台小姐叫我先回房,等她联络了巴士公司再打电话给我。

旅店的男职员带我去房间。他笑着告诉我,我的房间很特别。我问他有什么也别。他说因为没有房间了,我又只住一天,所以他们给我情侣套房,没有加价,35美元。一进去房间,不得了,一张大床,一套心形的沙发,内有鱼缸养着金鱼。还有吧台,更有按摩浴缸(jacuzzi)哩!放下行李就下去。我问柜台小姐我的车票订到了吗?她告诉我回来的已经订了,不过须多付一美元,那就是11美元,原因是那天是除夕,而且那是最后一张票了。我告诉她没关系,最要紧是有票回来。但是去的票那公司已经爆满了。她还在联络别家公司。最后联络上了,有票,10美元,明天早上8点,巴士会来旅店载我。

Day 3 Hue


Vietnam Airlines took an hour to fly from Hanoi to Hue. The hotel airport pick-up took me to the hotel,Orchid Hotel after half an hour. The weather in Hue was very hot but surprisingly the traffic was not heavy and was unexpectedly orderly. Orchid Hotel is a popular hotel and there were many guests when I checked in. But the receptionist was very efficient.I was ushered to the restaurant where I was given delicious drinks and snacks. Within minutes, the receptionist came with my room key and day tours recommendation.I asked her to help arrange bus transport for me to Hoi An the next day and return on 9 February. 

What surprised me was that I was given a couple suite without extra charge (USD36) as it was fully booked that day.The room was big and beautiful. There was even a jacuzzi. By the time I went down to the reception again, she had already got a return ticket for me from Hoi An on 9 February,for USD11. She was then arranging the ticket for the bus to Hoi An the next day as most buses were fully-booked. Finally she had successfully got a ticket for me for USD10.


   胡姬花旅店 Orchid Hotel


从旅店走出大路,直走就来到大桥。 过了桥就是古城区。去紫禁城要经过城门。城门好漂亮。可是我不懂紫禁城的入口在哪里。看见有老外,问他们,原来不是直走,而是要拐左,再拐右。那里有个广场, 有人在踢球。找到了入口处就买票。票价是100000盾。紫禁城很漂亮。很喜欢这里。
离开了紫禁城,走回去大街,经过一个卖冰水的摊位。点了一杯50000盾。蛮贵的,但是有很多料,有芋头,番薯,红豆,红萝卜,还有好多不知名的料,好喝。过了桥,那里的河边很美,也有个公园。在河边,一位妇女问我要坐船游香水河吗?价钱是100000盾一小时。我告诉她等我9号回来这里时再找她。她还给我名片呢!

 Delicious iced- drinks 美味的冰水
我再继续走,又有人问我要搭船吗?这次是70000盾。我看船上已经有一对老外,我就杀价到50000盾。她最后答应了,我就上船。我担心我10回来是除夕,可能没有船。船是个龙舟,船开始向左走。那里没有什么风景,只是那个美丽的铁桥。不久船转回头,向右走,直到一个渔村。那里的风景美丽。太阳快要下山啦,夕阳也出现了。当船开始回头时,那妇人做起生意来,又卖饮料,也卖画和书签。
船到了终点,我要付钱时,那妇人竟然要收我70000盾。我不肯,硬硬给了她50000盾就上岸。上了岸在公园拍照,那里的雕塑很美。拍完了照,向旅店走去,在旅店附近看到卖河粉的摊位。买了一碗,有猪肉和牛肉,30000盾。河粉好吃。



 越南河粉 Vietnamese Noodle Soup


From the hotel,I walked to the main street and then walked straight to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, I came to a gate which led me to the old city. After asking for direction from a tourist, I came to the Forbidden City. The entrance ticket was 100,000 VND. The city was beautiful.
After leaving the Forbidden City, I saw a roadside stall selling iced-drinks. It cost me 50,000 VND but the drink was very nice and special.After crossing the bridge , I came to the riverside. A woman persuaded me to take a river cruise for 100,000 VND for an hour ride.I told her I would come back on 9 February after my trip to Hoi An. 
I continued my stroll along the river bank. Then a woman offered me 70,000VND for an hour river cruise. I bargained with her and she agreed on 50,000VND. There was already a couple on the boat. The cruise took us to a fishing village which was interesting and pretty. As the boat returned to the jetty, the woman started selling drinks and paintings. Upon reaching the jetty, she asked for 70,000VND instead of  50,000VND.But finally I insisted on the agreed price ,that is, 50,000VND and left.  Then I strolled at the nearby park. It was full of beautifully-crafted sculptures. I was very much attracted by them. Upon returning to the hotel, I came across a stall selling Vietnamese noodle soup. It was delicious and cheap, only 300,000VND.


9.2.2013
第六天顺化
乘卧铺车从会安回去顺化。车12.30到达顺化。放下行李在旅店后,我就向桥走去。在炎热的阳光下,我走得好辛苦。这次我游古城区,寻找那里的塔。但我只找到一座塔。过后走回去香水河边的市场看看。那里卖的都是和新年有关的东西,有假花,鲜花,年画,鸟和鱼。鱼最受欢迎,年年有余嘛,好彩头。市场后面是河边公园。那里的花和竹制作的建筑模型都很美。花卉美极了,还有栩栩如生的12生肖修剪叶,显现这里人的艺术天分。公园内的盆栽也美得很,个个像迷你大树般,还有瓷器人偶,可爱极了。
Day 6 Hue
The bus from Hoi An arrived at Hue at 12.30 pm. After checking in the hotel, I walked to the bridge. exploring the old city, in search of the pagodas there. Unfortunately the weather was terribly hot and I could only find one pagoda there. But I was thrilled to see the things sold there for the Chinese New Year Festival. I went to the riverside park and was fascinated by the flowers, bonsai and miniature models of buildings built of bamboo.



  Things sold for the festival 年货

 Bonsai 盆栽

 Riverside Park 河边公园