Hue 2

In the morning I walked over the river at the nearest bridge, with the rain threatening and this time took a right, leading me away from the Citadel and more into regular Joe Soaps Hue. Just streets of concrete boxes sandwiched together with the usual array of barber shops, eateries, internet/game places full of kids and various hardwares. I walked back towards one of the canals where there were supposed to be some temples, but othing great, just streets that acted as spillage from the markets..ancient ladies squat down, hacking various meat and fish with cleavers while chickens scurried back and forth. Back near the hotel I rented a bike from nearby. Stopped for lunch at a street place where the guy gave me some directions and warned I was going to get soaked in the afternoon. Rode off in the misty rain and found that the weather suited me perfectly. It was a nice dull ride back out to the Pagoda and not too much crazy traffic. I had to park the bike while there though, or maybe I didn't have to, you can ever tell when they're shouting at you. The pagoda wasn't that much more enthralling second time around but I got my photo of the buring monk's car this time and also stood by while some school kids had the biggest fight I'd seen in many a year. At one point I thought some 12 year old was going to get thrown over a wall. Cycled on to another ruin of a pagoda, suspicious that there would be nothing there and there wasn't really. I was out of Hue at this stage and the road passed through lots of farm houses and iron mongers. It was a nice cycle all the same and never did start lashing rain. I had dinner that evening sitting outside while a kid pedalling a popcorn machine on wheels went by as some on-board malfunctioning sound chip tried to drone out jingle bells and other Christmas faves. Things noticed in Hue: 1. There really is a domino effect to restaurants when it comes to tourists. If the place is empty (most places were) then no one goes in. If one customer is sitting there, then another passing person will think "Hey, if the food hasn't killed him the kitchen might be working" and theres a chance they'll sit in. If another person sees two people eating there they'll think "Hey, two western people in the one place, they must serve actual food here". At this stage, three or four people might be eating in the restaurant which is a green light for the posh-hotel-tour-group tourists to think they might be able to order some descent French Fries. Thus another ten people walk in and the restaurant fills up while all others remain empty. 2. Plentiful Barbers I've seen more barbers here than anywhere else, but that includes loads of setups that are really just a mirror hanging from a wall and a chair facing it in the middle of nowhere. 3. Kids and Computers. Judging from the huge number of internet and gaming places full to the brim of young kids play computer games, I'd figure there are more there than in school. 4. Cyclos as Vans and Pimps Particularly in Hue I've noticed guys using Cyclos to carry anything from fridges, computer boxes, carcasses, sacks of grain, and just about anything else. And on a different note, offers of cyclo rides here have always had a trailing offer of women if I'm interested too.