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100，000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，50，000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100，000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70，000盾。我看船上已经有一对老外，我就杀价到50，000盾。她最后答应了，我就上船。我担心我10号回来是除夕，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70，000盾。我不肯，硬硬给了她50，000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，30，000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
