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Oh how I wish my iPhone had been working today for the trip to Tu Duc's Tomb in Hue so I could post this with a photo. You should google it.
The Citadel I could take or leave. More temples? I've had my fill for a long while, but the Tomb was exquisite.
In the UK we tend to celebrate nature in it's raw state, and architecture as a separate thing. The east has a third state: contrived nature, of which the bonsai tree is the most exported example. The entrance to Tu Duc's tomb is prefaced by a man-made lake, covered with lilies, overlooked by a small house in which he would sit a write poetry, and contains a beautiful island which he stocked with exotic wildlife.
You see, he had it built for himself whilst still alive so he could enjoy it. He also set aside apace for his overbearing mum to hang out with him (apparently he doted on her) and get buried with him.
It was scheduled to take 5 years to build, but he rammed it through in 3 years. He was the fourth king of Vietnam, and famously the tomb was his only accomplishment. Including having no kids, despite having over a hundred wives. Imagine a coffee morning at their house.
According to the ever loyal Chi, his lack of offspring was attributed to having had smallpox as a child.
My theory is different, bases on years of historical research.
He wrote poetry, doted on his mum, and showed considerable creativity in building himself the ultimate 'pad'?
Couldn't he simply have been gay?
Just a thought.
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