[random thought] i'll meet you halfway.

20130529    9:05pm


Before, my mind mantra was:
     Find your way to me.

Now, it's changed to:
     Don't worry, I'll come find you.

I should have realized sooner that your geography is poor.
And that you're lost somewhere.
Obviously, you had no sense of urgency too.*.^
And I think  I've waited long enough.

But fear not dearest.
Though I can't read a map to save my life.
Can't tell North from South.
And a compass is something that exists only in science textbooks.
Fear not.

Though it took you forever. I didn't mind.
And even if it takes me forever. I wouldn't care.
If you're already halfway across the world to me.
Thank you. Now i'll do my share.
I'll come find my way to you.
Stand still and wait for me. 

Vietnam 20130413 - 20130421

.. so what else is new lol I'm blogging exactly 28 days since I left Vietnam. I wanted to blog about it as soon as I can but in between my regular day job and moonlighting as a writer (writing product descriptions for luxury watches, boring to death but hey, it pays for the bill, and in this case about half of my travel expenses) plus a bit of random online activities, it simply went into my to-do list. I was looking for something in my bag though and I found a handful, a big one, of tour tickets, hotel cards, receipts, maps, and brochures from the trip and I thought to myself I had to finally sit down and do it. So here we go..

3 years ago I wrote about going to Vietnam:

 http://ilovecoffee-oldworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/places-im-going-before-i-die_08.html

I may be three years late but I'm happy that I made good with my promise. It was a bit unplanned. I mean I was browsing online looking for some information on Biri Island in Samar. I spent my birthday in Bicol last year and wanted to spend it this year somewhere else. As I scroll down through the destinations in Cebu Pacific's website however, I just suddenly clicked on "Hanoi". Lo and behold, it was on sale for half the price! So all thoughts of Biri island and the rock formations suddenly evaporated. It wasn't ideal for a female solo traveler anyway. Booked my roundtrip tickets and from there, it was a whirlwind of online research and back and forth emails with hostels. I originally booked my tickets for four days but I know in my heart once I'm there that I would be heartbroken to leave so soon. That's how much I love the country. So I rebooked and extended it for 3 days more. Understandably, since I booked last minute and because the tickets were on sale at a limited time period, I couldn't find anyone free to travel with me, but I'm fine with it, I'm not a stranger to DIY solo traveling. The only thing that's different is that it's my first time going abroad.

As itineraries often go, at least for me, I was able to follow maybe only about half of it. ^_^

April 13

I headed to the airport way too early. It's my first international trip so being a bit paranoid is forgivable haha. Thanks to some bloggers, they pretty much outlined what to expect and do once you're in the airport so it was a breeze. Since I believe in paying it forward, here's my own experience.Please note, the time stamp are all estimates.I'm not that OC lol:

8:30 pm  

I lined up at the check in counter. Since I took advantage of the web check in service, it took only                         minutes. After checking in, I was asked if I already paid  the travel tax. I thought I was supposed
to do it after I've checked in. I thought wrong. But so did a few other passengers. No biggie.I left                the counter and headed at the back to pay the P1,620.00 travel tax. Returned to the check in
counter and got my boarding pass. Filled up the departure form.

8:45 pm  

Headed to the pre-departure area. Paid the terminal fee of P550.00 (?)

9:00 pm  

 Proceeded to the immigration booths at the back. Here's where I got a bit nervous, after all, my
 passport is as clean as a blank sheet of paper plus I had this travel ban from I scholarship I
 passed up on years ago (long story).Supposedly I've been cleared but still... I was a trainwreck
 inside but I lined up looking like I do it everyday hhaha. When it was my time I approached the
 counter smiling the immigration officer but I could see she isn't  fooled one bit lol. I handed her
 my passport, my ticket, and my departure form. The following interview ensued:

 IO:  Who do you know from Vietnam?
 me: No one. I'm just going for a short vacation.
 IO: Is it your first time to travel?
 me: Yes.
 IO: Where do you work?
 me: ___________
 IO: What account?
 me: still smiling like an idiot and answering as briefly as possible (a tip I got online) "______"
 IO: Do you have your work ID?
 me: Yes. I showed her my ID. It was at this point that I lost my pen while fishing for my ID out
 of my bag haha.

After a quick glance, she stamped my passport! yay! Vietnam here I come!! Going in to the pre-
departure area though, another IO was checking on people. He stopped me, asked for my
passport and if I was travelling by myself. I said yes. He then asked what was the nature of my
work. I thought to myself, well isn't this a bit redundant? But I smiled and was back at giving brief
answers. "______", I mumbled. What he asked next was kinda weird. " are you a competitor of
of ______?" Huh? I said not really. He handed my passport back and I went in to the pre-
departure area for some peace and quiet. Or not. Every 15 minutes or so, they're announcing
delayed flights so I wasn't surprised when ours got delayed for 30 minutes as well. I worried for
the guy who will pick me up at the airport.

11:00 pm

Boarded the plane.

01:00 am
Touchdown Noi Bai International Airport

01:15 am

 Lined up for the immigration yet again. I was thinking to myself do they send people home? haha
 It would be ironic to be so close only to be sent back home haha. The line was moving      
 ever so slowly! I worried about the hotel guy more and more. I wish he hadn't left. I wouldn't be  
 able to call  the hostel as I don't have roaming services nor wifi access. And at this hour, I don't
 wanna be forced to take a cab especially after all the taxi scams I read about online. Good thing        
 for what seemed like an eternity it was finally my turn. It took the IO all of 1 minute to stamp my
 passport.

01:40 am

Picked up my luggage. Since the airport was closed, I guess it took them awhile to load the bags
and it took me another 20 minutes to claim mine. sigh.

2:00 am

I went out into the arrival area and heaved a sigh of relief when i saw my name on a card. I smiled
apologetically to the guy, said sorry, and thanked him for waiting. I asked him where I could change
my money but as it turns out, the currency exchange booth was closed. He told me I could use the
ATM but I decided to wait til I get to the hotel instead. So off we went, it was a pretty quiet 45(?)
ride since he didn't speak much English so I had plenty of time to notice that for the most part,
it looked like any highway we have at home except for the signs in Vietnamese and the fact that I didn't see any plastic bag or paper scattered about.
     

Summary of Expenses:

International Travel Tax    P1,620.00
Terminal Fee                    P550.00 (?)
Hotel Airport Transfer      18USD

Day 1 http://ilovecoffee-oldworld.blogspot.com/2013/04/hanoi-vietnam.html