We headed out by minibus for a tour to the perfume pagoda. On the way we came across our first (and thankfully only) traffic fatality. A scooter had collided head on with a tourist minibus – the scooter driver had no chance! We then passed the grieving family gathered around the body that was covered in a blanket and laid out on the road. After seeing the way the Vietnamese drive I am so grateful this was the only accident we saw, it was all pretty sad!
The pagoda is a one-hour boat ride from where the minibus dropped us off. The boats are tiny and all rowed by women – they must be so strong, I would totally back them in a dark alley confrontation!
The pagoda itself is a big cave – so not quite what I was expecting. It was raining and the track from the river to the pagoda was too treacherous to walk up so we took the cable car. Since the walk is quite demanding perhaps the exhilaration of reaching your destination makes the pagoda seem more exciting?? I missed the sense of wonder!
We had lunch at the pagoda before heading back on the boats. After lunch I used the toilet out the back of the restaurant only to find a cage full of kittens. . . . .I wonder what we really had for lunch – gulp!
There was a second pagoda near the perfume pagoda – here are some pics from there:
