Cycling around Hue

7 April 2016
We woke to a breakfast of baguettes, eggs, fruits, yogurts and tea. (This is AWESOME for a hostel breakfast). The owner of the hostel recommended we rent bicycles from his neighbor so that we could explore the Imperial City and enjoy the Perfume River (I was obviously skeptical because anyone who knows me knows that cycling is not one of my stronger skill sets, however Tash insisted so I agreed).
We rode on the street alongside cars, motos and buses. The traffic in Vietnam, much like the traffic in Cambodia, is accented with consistent beeping. A "right of way" really doesn't exist because motos turning from a side street onto the main road merely beep (alerting those around them of their presence) and then turn, instead of waiting for a break in the traffic. Tash and I were expected to do the same however we were missing one very important element: the beeping mechanism. Needless to say I was a bit flustered while cycling on the main road, but once we found a path near the Perfume River I enjoyed the cycling very much.
We cycled around the citadel of the Hue Imperial City (the former imperial capital of Vietnam). Many of the buildings within the citadel are in ruins because of the bombing during the Vietnam War. US military tanks surrounding the citadel are still on display.
After returning from our bike tour, we checked out of our hostel and boarded a bus headed for Hoi An, Vietnam. The cost of one night's accomodation, breakfast, rented bicycles and a 4 hour bus journey cost less than 10 US dollars! And what a bus it was! Upon entrance, each person was given a plastic bag to put their shoes into. You then crawled up with your shoe bag into your elevated sleeper pod. Each sleeper pod contained a mat that sat upright, reclined or laid flat. Vietnam definitely has it going on in terms of travel. Or so I thought...
There is one small disclaimer regarding the bus ride from Hue to Hoi An. Because Tash and I had been cycling all morning and I did not want to dehydrate myself, I drank 4 liters of water. About a half hour into the bus ride I got up to use the bathroom. The door was duct taped shut. "Ok" I told myself. "I just need to make another three and a half hours." About another half hour in and I was in a dire spot, so dire that I attempted to ask the Vietnamese bus driver if we were going to be stopping for a toilet. He didn't understand me and waved me back to my sleeper pod. Luckily, a Vietnamese nun dressed in full habit took pity on me and convinced the bus driver to stop for a toilet break about 25 km from our current location. As soon as the bus stopped, I jumped out with my shoe bag, slipped my shoes on, and ran to the building. A Vietnamese man informed me that I must purchase something before using the toilet. I absolutely could not purchase anything before using the toilet or I would be using the toilet all over his shoes, so I ran to the back of the building and ducked in the bathroom. It was not the cleanest of facilities by any means, but I didn't care. Slowly but surely I could hear the rest of the passengers entering the facility. I opened the stall door to find that I had run into the men's bathroom (in my defense it was not clearly labeled). Oops. I exited to find the Vietnamese owner waiting for me. I did not want to order an entire meal, so what did I order you ask? A bottle of water. How ironic. Don't worry-- I didn't consume even a sip until we had arrived safely at our final destination.