The famed reunification express left Hanoi last night bound for Hue, a 12hr trip. There were 4 bunk berths which were not as clean as those in Thailand. Apparently the sheets don't get washed after every use... Lovely.

Just everything was dirty, mould on the bunks, roof, floor was dirty, window, any nook and cranny was caked with dirt of some description. Mum, you would have hated it....!!! All I can say is thanks Kirsty for lending me your sleep sheet!

They also had some delightful music coming through the loud speakers at random times! Great! Haha!

Despite this I slept okay although it was broken. Also had a delightful man try and get in our cabin twice. Had to tell him to get lost. Twice. Not sure what his motive was. Some people never learn!

We arrived in Hue around 11am and thankfully got to check into our hotel and shower. I felt so dirty after that train ride.....so dirty!

We then went to a tour of the sights of Hue with our guide Thanh. First we visited the citadel and forbidden purple city. This was where the past emperors have lived with their family and concubines (like a harem). Some emperors had up to a thousand ladies in waiting! What a busy emperor! Thang said they used to die young because they were having too much happy time with the concubines! This place had also been bombed many times so a lot of the buildings are no longer standing including the palace.

We then went to the monastery which was set high up over the river. A monk from this monastery drove to Hanoi and immolated himself in protest during the Vietnam war.

We then went to the mausoleum of Emperor Tuduc. The remains of his Empress and favourite concubines are here. It was thought his remains were here too but the emperors tomb is elsewhere as his psychic had a vision that his tomb would be ransacked. This happened when the French dug up the tomb during their rule in Vietnam.

The mausoleum is beautiful and you could spend hours here walking through the ruins, sitting by the lake.... Ahhhh! But we don't have that sort of time so we are off again....

It was almost dusk and we headed off on quite a long drive to reach a beautiful little bridge which was built by a childless lady in 1776, as a gift to the people. It's really quaint with a roof over the top of it and elaborate mosaic design on the entrance. Not long here as its mosquito time!

We headed into town off dinner to Oshi, a lovely little restaurant which I get a yummy curry, just the thing for my cold! Paap talks me into sharing aborted of red and somehow we end up out having more drinks, quite silly really when my nose is running like a tap! Oh well only here once...! After some fun we headed home, 5 of us in a taxi. Paap had to sit on the floor! The driver didn't even mind! And that's why we love Asia!