Perfume Pagoda
Trip Start
Dec 31, 2006
1
8
11
Trip End
Jan 17, 2007
Perfume Pagoda (Ha Tay Province), Vietnam
Monday, January 15, 2007
Our last full day here we took a tour to the Perfume Pagoda in the Ha Tay Province outside of Hanoi.
Ha Tay Province is the poorest in the country and is primarily driven by agriculture. People still do things by hand (which was similar to what all the country looked like 9 yrs ago). The Perfume Pagoda is a 2hr drive, and 1hr long row down the Yen Vi River, and a 4 kilometer hike up a mountain. Teale and I were exhausted by the time we got to the top of the stairs to the entrance of the cable car which helped us bypass the 5km hike! Ha! We also took the cable car down. What can I say, we didn't feel like sweating that much. The (Huong) Perfume Pagoda is actually several pagodas but we only went to one temple and visited the coolest part of the tour which is the Huong Thich Grotto, a cave where two monks reside. Couples come here to pray for children, lucky marriage, etc.
The Perfume Pagoda gets flooded by domestic tourists during Tet so we hit the calm before the storm---very nice and tranquil. This was a quite lovely break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Stand by for my final entry for this trip. I had a great last night and will stop by and Singapore for couple of hours and have dinner with a friend who is working there.
Comments
Awesome
I don't know what it is about this particular set of pictures--maybe all the water?--but they were really beautiful. I especially loved the one of the empty boats and the bell. These shots reminded me of some wonderful and stunning framed prints this famous travel photographer sells at Arts Fest here each year. (Most of them have a Buddhist theme or flavor, and they're priced from the low hundreds.) This work is absolutely comparable.
Safe trip home!
Sylvia
Hi Adele
Hi Adele-- What an adventure, it sounds like you are having such an amazing time. I don't want you to move to Saigon for good, but I certainly understand you wanting to! I can't wait to see more pictures, and of course Lost Pictures. Miss you.
mmmm
It looks like it feels good to be there.
Hi
I've truly loved every entry - it's like I've been along for the ride with you! The connection you've made with the people and the place itself...well, just amazing for the short time you've been there. I wish you a safe return home.