here, there, everywhere

Spotted on the road to Gia Long's mausoleum: apparently this is one of three elephants that live in Hue.

Sunset at Gia Long's mausoleum, outside of Hue.

Back from Hue, which was one of the most beautiful cities I've seen in Vietnam - I wish we could have spent more time there but as it was, I had a great time and hope to go back someday. After three nights of night trains and night buses, I don't feel quite ready to head back to work (or didn't, rather, as I blearily taught my two Sunday classes early this morning and, as always, couldn't tell you a thing about them except that I drank coffee beforehand and it was awesome).

After the week of torrential rain at the end of November, Hanoi has been absolutely, unseasonably beautiful - cold and sunny and windy - and I'm starting to see why my students all rave about autumn here. My favorite description is by Mien, one of my former Elementary Three adults: "I like autumn in Hanoi because I don't forget the milk flower. I like to smell it at night on the absent road." I think this may be the most (accidentally) beautiful writing I've stumbled across while teaching.