Day Nine

I took a leak in the bushes behind the pool in the Forbidden City today. Perhaps not a great way to represent, but I really had to go, and apparently no one in the Forbidden City ever had to go, because I didn't spot a single WC when I needed it. And actually urinating in public is widely acceptable - we've witnessed many incidents - on trees at a crowded intersection, into the river while tour boats tour by, onto the sidewalk as we walked by. I'm not saying I condone the behavior, just that I have a certain sympathy for the exhibitionists now, because I was hurtin' in the Forbidden City. A disclaimer (and/or justification), there was no one around within several hundred yards, I was very discreet, and when I actually did find a bathroom (like a mile away) I was glad I chose the bush.

We walked from our hotel to the Citadel - about 20 minutes meander. And then to the citadel within the citadel. And then, no lie, to the citadel within the citadel within the citadel (Forbidden City)...  A bit extreme in my opinion, but the building practices were a little different back in the early 1800's. On our walk there, we were almost constantly accosted by bike taxi drivers - boat drivers - and people trying to give unprompted tours. We kept saying a polite no thank you, we'd like to walk. At one point Jade said, no thank you, we need the exercise, and the man smiled and said Oh No, you very small and motioned with his parallel hands moving them close together. We laughed but kept walking. It is very touristy here of which we don't prefer. The citadel was really interesting when we arrived - historical buildings - interesting building methods - colorful stories of the emperor. By the third hour, walking - reading - exploring, I felt more like a kid on a class field trip, when do we get to eat our lunches and go home...?

In the heat of the day we headed out of the citadels and up the way a bit to see the Pagoda recommended in our guidebook. Not seeing an entrance we turned to walk away, before a very small old man came up to us and started pantomiming and pointing to the Pagoda. Assuming he wanted to show us around, we followed. He took us around and into the hidden entrance that we missed. He signaled for us to take off our shoes when we went in, and to take lots of pictures...  It was odd. Once inside I was more worried that this guy was going to run off with our sneakers than I was paying attention to the building - it would have been a long stocking footed walk back. He took us thru the grounds performing elementary level charades and we were getting them right every time. He pointed at a pile of wood and made a chopping motion with his hands and looked back at us enthusiastically, returning the energy - we quickly said in unison - Chopping Wood! He made some sort of a laughing affirmation that we were right. He walked us by a little room where the young monks were cooking, he pretended to hold a bowl and put something in he mouth, we called out - Eating Food! Damn we're on fire! Our bizarre little 10 minute tour came to an end and we offered the little man a small amount of Dong for his tour. We didn't know Vietnamese - he didn't know English - how much more than a nickel tour could he have given us? He had one final charade as I handed him a few bills. And he stepped it up a notch! He waved off the money, and then touched his stomach with both hands making a sick face? I almost blurted out Traveler's Diarrhea but refrained. I wanted to see where he was taking this. Then he started writing something on his hand with his finger. A one, a five, the letter 'U', and the letter 'T'...? Sensing confusion, he did it again, sick to his stomach and then one - five - U - T... I had stopped paying attention to his charade and focussed in on his missing ring finger. He did the same thing a few more times, and we started walking away saying goodbye, thank you, and sorry we don't understand you. He said a few things in Vietnamese and held his hand out. Still confused I walked back to him and handed him the money - he accepted it this time. Jade and I both agreed that that was quite an experience and worth the nickel.

After our day we rested a bit in the hotel - cleaned up and went to Indian for dinner - which was quite good, and then to bed.