A sister who did not want to drive, a brother who couldn't be troubled to check his flight details, an aunt who had no address labels, a mom who wanted to be a saint, a friend who was late-ish (ha) did not exactly bode well for my R&R. Add the beginnings of a migraine, the heat and humidity of HCMC, a cabbie who dropped us off at the wrong hotel, and another one that charged us more than what was fair and my temper was all set to go off.
But sometimes the universe remembers its conscience, grows kind and directs its forces to conspire and deliver the fantastic. I was reminded of its ultimate benevolence: PAL seat sale (and flight attendant, a sibling's old friend who gave us a great booty bag) + IHG friend and family rate (courtesy of another sibling's friend who cannot possibly resign his post).
I took to the city instantly. The streets were wide, the greenery was lush and the skies almost constantly blue. It was every bit as tumbledown and shabbying chic as it was luxe and modern. It had a sense of languor about it even as a million motorbikes zoomed by/tried to mow you down. And anywhere you went, there was something to intrigue (wares at Cu-chi), appall (the escalators at Anh Dong market were so ewww), amaze (magic tricks at Bonsai), snicker about (the display convertible Audi's godawful floral decor), or get teary-eyed over (War Remnants Museum).
Here is to making a beeline for the bright side!
My other reasons for hearting HCMC follow.
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8 comments
(Will read again later... I mean, will write my version later... though really what else need be said?)
The possibilities are endless.
And bawal ang tamad.
I'm jealous. G lets go somewhere haha.
And why are you inviting just G? Annsley and I are up for China. Hopefully, we get to do Shanghai, Beijing, Xian (for the terracotta warriors). Or just Beijing. Let's wait for the PAL sale. Or Bali. Let's wait for the Singapore Airlines sale.
Or London. (You know where this is going...)
North London to narrow it down.
Borough of Islington to narrow it down even further.
Holloway if you want to know the area.
The Emirates Stadium, to be exact.
For Arsenal, of course.
And Cesc, most of all.
Why is South Africa out of the picture again? oh wait, I know. I can't afford it. Even if we could scrape up money for the fare, it would be sad if we couldn't even get inside a stadium. sigh
Kenya is apparently about 2.3k. Not near South Africa enough
Re p. 9: I don't know... I feel like a trek atop The Great Wall might require another teacup.
Re p. 13: IS a good girl!
Yes yes I'm working on mine...
I need to prepare for that trek for at least one year...
You may be a good girl.
Hurry.
Or Arsenal at The Emirates. I don't care what game it is. Let's see Cesc play midfield maesto before Barca comes and get him.
Life is about planning trips and taking them.
So we'll see how our finances are at the end of the year, and hopefully take another.
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