(18) THE CITADEL – AROUND THE FORTES

Ada untungnya juga ngelilingin sekitar benteng. Ternyata Vu meskipun cuma supir becak dengan bahasa Inggris yang kacau balau tapi dia seorang guide yang baik, pintar, lucu dan menyenangkan. So akhirnya gue enjoy sendiri dan lupa kalo gue mesti ngejar waktu. Vu tahu mesti bawa gue kemana. Banyak sekali tempat–tempat bersejarah, kendaraan dan senjata berat peninggalan perang tentara Amerika. Gue masih gak habis pikir gimana sih bangsa Vietnam kok bisa ngalahin tentara Amerika yang punya peralatan dan kendaraan perang super-duper canggih. Yaahh … memang bukan hal yang mustahil kalo mereka menang perang dan merdeka. Buktinya gue sebagai bangsa Indonesia pun bisa bangga negara gue merdeka meskipun para pahlawan-pahlawan bangsa berperang dan menang hanya dengan bersenjatakan bamboo runcing. Kalo dipikir-pikir kan kayaknya impossible ya ….

There is fortunately also going around the fort. Vu Apparently even if just a rickshaw driver with the English language of turmoil, but he's a good guide, smart, funny and fun. So finally I enjoy myself and forget that I had to chase time. Vu knew where I had to take it anywhere. There are lots of historic places, vehicles and heavy weapons of war American troops. I still do not understand how Vietnamese could defeat American soldiers who have the super-duper sophisticated war equipment and vehicles. Yeeaahh ... it's not impossible if they win the war and independence. The proof, I as the Indonesian people can be proud of that my country can be independent even though the nation's war heroes won only armed with bamboo spears. If you think about it, seems impossible, isn’t it?!

Akhirnya kita sampai juga ke tempat Vu nunggu dengan selamat dan happy … he he he he … sebenernya Vu Cuma minta tambahan ongkos yang semula US$2 jadi US$3 untuk nganterin keliling Citadel dan sekitarnya, tapi gue pikir tadi itu lumayan jauh sekali dan gue juga happy selama dianter keliling sama dia so gue kasih dia US$10. Waaahhh … senangnya dia ….. sampai jingkrak-jingkakkegirangan and bilang thank you berulang-ulang. Sedangkan Vu sopir gue senyum-senyum ngeliatnya.

Finally we reached the place where Vu wait with safely and happy ... he he he he ... actually Vu just ask for extra charges originally US$ 2 to US$ 3 for bringing around the Citadel and the surrounding area, but I thought that was pretty far away and I'm also happy during around with him so I give him a US$ 10. Waaahhh ... he was so glad ... .. so he jumps and say thank you again and again. While my driver Vu looked him with smiles.

Karena waktunya sudah nggak memungkinkan so kita lewatin itinerary ke Gunung Marble dan langsung kembali ke Da Nang. Agak kecewa juga sih … apalagi ngeliat Vu nyetirnya pelan banget cuma 30km per jam. Sempet gue bilang sama Vu gimana kalo gue yang nyetir biar cepet … tapi ternyata emang peraturan di situ nggak boleh nyetir lebih dari 40km per jam dan Vu sudah 2 kali kena tilang karena ngelanggar kecepatan. Busyeeett … pantes aja gak nyampe-nyampe.

Because the time is not possible so we passed itinerary into the Marble Mountain and immediately returned to Da Nang. Somewhat disappointed ... moreover look in Vu driving very slowly just 30km per hour. I asked Vu to let me drive to make it faster ... but there was regulations may not drive more than 40km per hour and Vu are 2 times got a ticket because of break the speed. Wow ... No wonder if not quick to get the direction.