Countdown: 2
Trip Start
Mar 14, 2010
1
61
62
Trip End
May 01, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam
Monday, June 7, 2010
The museums are closed on Mondays, so I'm not sure what to do. I stay at the room till the checkout time, then I move to the hostel I found. Only one out of 6 beds in the dorm is occupied, and I take a place just by the AC - it's the best!
I go for a walk, taking pictures here and there. I check where is that place with airport shuttles. It's not too close, and the timetable is problematic. I probably should take a taxi or just the opposite a bus.
The museums are closed, but the temples are not! The Temple of Literature is a de facto the first university in Vietnam, founded in 1070. Started as a temple dedicated to Confucius. The studies there were focused on literary accomplishments. Stone stelae which have turtles as their basis were errected to record the names, places of birth and achievement of men who received doctorates and passed the exams. These look very educational!
The Museum of Fine Arts is right behind the park where the temple is localted, and it's also open today! And the AC is perfet in here. Too bad I have only one hour before it closes at 1700. There are some really impressive wooden sculptures here. These are not too old - something around 17th century, if I'm not mistaken, but it's nice anyways. It's even worse that they decide to close some of the halls of the museum 15 minutes before the official time. Well, at least I have my ticket remaining - will probably return another day. Then a storm begins! A monsoon comes down with furious wind and dark clouds. The water is pouring down like there is no tomorrow :). I have two plastic bags for my backpack an the camera. My cone hat does not a bad job too. I walk on the streets through the puddles and streams, but it's not as bad as it could sound - I'd say it's rather pleasing with all the heat.
