Worst Entry into the Future!

[Dubai, 4/6/22]

Though I’d been thinking about Dubai for a while, I only bought my ticket the day before departure, so quite rash, but I was worried Dubai would be closed off should I hesitate. Though much went wrong from there, everything seemed quite trivial at first, and even petty on my part for fussing over each incident. On the minibus from Vũng Tàu to Saigon Airport, I could find neither my cellphone nor an essential camera cord in minimal luggage. The missing cord would have to be bought in Saigon or Dubai before I could upload photos.

The missing cellphone could be blamed on my wearing a pocketless pair of traditional pants to go with my áo dài. This also meant I couldn’t feel, at all time, my wallet on me, like nearly everyone else nowadays. Shortly after entering Saigon, my cellphone appeared, tucked under my laptop in my camera bag. Since I always carry my bulky camera, too heavy laptop, assorted cords and a spare camera battery, I’m like a walking office, all the time. Though traveling minimally, I became even bulkier, and more confusing, yesterday.

In Saigon, I had to pick up my five year visa at an office miles away from downtown. The first motorbike guy asked for too much, so I hopped on a second, though, he, too, overcharged me. I was impatient. On the way there, rain came down hard, so I was soaked. Back downtown, I had two beers to calm down, then met Jesse for thuốc lào at a café. It didn’t serve beer. Though it was great to see Jesse, and meet two of his new friends, young college students who needed to practice their English, I was exhausted and, frankly, cranky. I was wet, been outside too long and hadn’t eaten properly.