We are now in the south, having taken the night train to the pretty town of Hue, which has a decidedly more relaxed atmosphere than Hanoi. Sleeping on the lurching clacking train with 4 of us to a compartment reminded me of my college days. We drank beer and played cards in the dining car and ate Vietnamese junk food till the staff kicked us out.

In the morning the air was sultry with humidity and I was grumpy, tired and sweaty. My phone battery had run out, I was hungry and not in the mood to go sightseeing. But I rallied and visited the Citadel, where the last Vietnamese kings ruled.

After a refreshing shower and dip in the lovely hotel pool and taking some quiet time I felt much better.

Well, I’ve gotten some of my physical courage back, in a “who cares, I’m in Vietnam and maybe I’ll never come back“ sort of way. So this morning when we saw blue sky for the first time in 5 days, I thought, “carpe diem, where are those motorbikes?” We rode all over Hue, visited a temple, had lunch at a Buddhist monastery, went to an open air market and went to a place where they made incense. Loved how that breeze blew the stagnant humid air away to cool me off as I rode behind my driver. Life is good for me in Vietnam right now.