Day 11 Exploring Hue and getting Repairs

A Day 11 Exploring Hue
I had my best nights sleep on the best mattress I've seen in Vietnam- most are rock hard! My included breakfast was a buffet and had many interesting Chinese foods as well as Western style foods and juice and coffee so I figured I would chow down now and have a light lunch.
After breakfast and cleaning up I decided to pick the bike up from the Honda Dealer, work before play after all...when I got there the bike was on the sidewalk out front and the right side battery cover was gone! The people there said it wasn't on when they got it but I'm sure it was and we went round and round for a bit. Another man about my age pulled up on his motorbike and he spoke English better and helped plead my case and translate and when it was clear Honda was not going to give an inch, he told me he could take me to a mechanic who would have the part for under 5 bucks. His name is Mr. Tigh and he was a guide. I hired him on the spot to help me get the bike sorted and to show me around Hue and the tourist sights.
I followed him on my bike to an area over the Perfume river where there were parts stores and mechanics and the first two places couldn't help me, but the third one was an expert on my type of bike. He had the part and test rode and inspected the bike and recommended some parts replacement and quoted me a price including labor to fix the oil leak and do the repairs which seemed very fair. I left him the bike and Mr. Tigh and I toured.
First we went to a Buddihist monastery with a 300 year old Pagoda then to an Emperors tomb complex. Everything is made of stone and wood with tile floors and roofs. There is a manmade lake the Emperor designed as well as temples and tombs for wives and consorts so very much a family affair.
Next we went to the Hue Ancient Coloseum, 300-400 years old it is a 30 foot high walled circle about 300 feet across with seating on top of the walls. There are two gates to enter, but I couldn't get in as it is blocked off as a archeological research site. My guide says the Emperor staged animal fights here including declawed.tigers fighting elephants. You can easily imagine the royalty in their colorful silks and their attendants on these ancient walls cheering the fighters on and the roars and bellows of the animals fighting for their lives.
One more stop down very narrow roads and alleys at a battlefield where American GI`s fought off attacking VC during the Tet Offensive in 1968. You can still see bullet holes in some places. It is on a beautiful hill covered with young pine trees and a view of a bend in the Perfume River. The Perfume runs thru Hue and was named by the French during their colonial era for the lovely scent of the flowers, herbs and trees that grow along it. Very cool.
After this it was time for a light lunch. I asked Mr. Tigh to take me somewhere he liked and we drove about 25 minutes to a neighborhood outdoor cafe where you sat under shade trees with the river close below you. Not fancy. We had Bun Bo which is noodle soup with a light chicken broth and some pork chop in it. No way to get vegetables around here. We also had two beers each of the local brew called 'hadu' and made from the water of the Perfume River. Their beer here is pretty hoppy and refreshing. We had a relaxing lunch and spoke of family. He has two sons, 25 and 30 and the eldest is a master wood carver like Mr Tigh's Father was.
Nice to chat about.
After finishing lunch we set out for me to do some shopping and then to The Citidel which was the official home for all of the Vietnamese Emperors and included their version of the Forbidden City, like China's, the personal residence area for the Emperor and family. Unfortunately much of it was destroyed during the war so most everything is restorations which made me really glad I went to the other sites which were all original. Without Mr Tigh I would've missed them.
After an hour or so wandering the many acres of the Citadel I met up with Mr Tigh to go see if the bike was done. It was and Mr Thien showed me the parts he replaced:
Internal oil seal that was leaking oil into the piston
Rear brake pad
Rear bearing
Rear Sprocket and new chain
New left rear turn signal
Cost me 700,000 VND, under 40 bucks. He gave me his card to call if I needed more help or for referrals and it was a pleasure to do business with a pro. Back to the hotel and thanked and settled up with Mr Tigh and back to my room to clean up for cocktails and dinner at the rooftop bar- retired life is really tough!!!!
Tomorrow I am riding 176 k to Doan Hoi on the beach. See you then, Gearheads.

written by

Mike_Veine on June 19, 2013 from Hue, Vietnam

from the travel blog: Top Gear Adventure 2- Vietnam Boogaloo!

Send a Compliment

comment on this...