-–
Thanks brothers blue_swatch, Libra, Reaper and Odysseus. Not to worry… We haven’t come to the end of the story yet. Lan and I are now back together. Yes, she and I are located miles apart and I’ve no 100% guarantee that she really likes me. But when she now takes the initiative to contact me and is upset that I don’t call or SMS her, it shows something.
Also, she has told her mum about me (she’s very close to her mum). In fact, she will be in town next week (her mum is flying from Hanoi to Saigon to see her daughter) and Lan is pleading me to fly over so that her mum could see me. I now truly believe that we’re up to something. Perhaps like one of the brothers said earlier regarding my story with Tingting from Meiya, my perseverance has paid off.
I have two more sections to my longwinded story. I will post one in the next few minutes and attempt to put in the final instalment tomorrow. It will culminate in my departure from Saigon. After that I will still talk about our long-distance relationship, but no longer in such a melodramatic manner. I also need to seek advice from you brothers regarding hotels in Saigon.
-–
I awoke to find myself bathed in the diffused glow of the morning sun. It was already 8:30am on Saturday, 1 September. No time to waste. It had been a whirlwind tour of sorts for me in the past three nights. Though my emotions had risen and ebbed and I had been taken for a ride, I still had to be accountable to my family back home. I had to get out to the tourist attractions and bring back some souvenirs and photographs. My own life had to go on. My plan was to visit Ben Thahn Market as well as the War Remnants Museum. The Cu Chi Tunnels were out as they were in the suburbs and would be a day trip in their own right.
I picked myself together and packed my luggage. Before I left my room, I made a last-ditch effort to contact Lan. Though she had humiliated me the previous night, I did want to keep in contact with her. I did not want to lose this pretty, 17-year-old contact. I would close my eye this time and attempt to keep in touch. I would look her up in future and try to bonk her. What she did with other people was none of my business. I called her mobile. This time, she answered my call.
Me: Lan, how are you?
Lan: I’m okay.
Me: Lan, I’m leaving this afternoon.
Lan: Yes…
Me: *swallowing my saliva and my pride* Can I meet you one last time?
Lan: No.
I was flabbergasted. No??!!
Me: No? Why? You’re not free today?
Lan: I’m tired.
I spent the next half minute or so trying to talk her round.
Me: I want to see you one last time. We meet this afternoon, okay?
Lan: OK.
Me: 2pm. Highland Coffee. OK?
Lan: OK.
With that we hung up. I did a final check around the room, making sure I had not left anything behind. I cast a sorrowful eye on the four little bottles of toiletries that I had stolen from a cleaner’s cart in the Caravelle. We Singaporeans normally take these things for granted, but I had thoughtfully taken this set for Lan, for she would never have had the chance to stay in such a luxurious place. I felt bad that she was chased away by the security guard on our first night, and thought the least I could do was to let her have some momentos from there. After so much that had happened, I left the set standing on the writing desk and locked the door behind me.
I left my luggage in the care of the Front Desk and had a quick breakfast. It was slightly past 10:00am by the time I left Mondial. I had only four hours to do my sightseeing and shopping before meeting up with Lan. By 3:00pm I would have to be on my way to the airport to catch my 5:15pm flight. Surprisingly by 12:30pm I was already done. Settling down for a cool glass of sugar cane drink at the Ben Thahn Market (I had skipped lunch as I was running low on cash and needed to pay for drinks that afternoon), I looked at what I had got. Within the past hour I had accumulated bags and bags of stuff, ranging from snacks to coffee to clothes. Not bad for a guy who had just been jilted. At least he regained his composure and did what he had to do for his family.
I took a slow walk back to the hotel. As it was to be Vietnam’s Independence Day the following day, most shops and buildings sported the red-and-yellow Vietnamese flag. Even taxies played their part. All of them had mini flags flying proudly on their roofs. I arrived back at Mondial very early. It was only about 1:15pm. Remembering that I was running out of Vietnamese Dong, and mindful that Highland Coffee did not accept cards, I approached the Front Desk with my S$50 note. “I’m sorry, we don’t accept Singapore Dollars,” the Front Desk staff said apologetically. I ambled over to the Caravelle. This luxurious hotel looked the same as I had left it the day before. Bustling with activity, people in jackets and suits milling around, the ever-courteous staff attending to business travellers’ needs. I got my Dong and sank into a sofa. Before me were two men in their 40s. From their accents I could tell they were Singaporeans. Singaporeans were really everywhere, I told myself. Saigon was really fast becoming another Bangkok.
1:50pm. I set out to wait for Lan at Highland Coffee. Just in case she stood me up again – Yes, the painful memories of the night before at Bar Stop were still fresh in my mind – I stood outside the cafe. The security guard outside the Opera House kept his eye on me. He must have been wondering what this bloke was doing, pacing up and down in the vicinity.
By 2:15pm, there was still no sign of Lan. I called her on her mobile, half-expecting to hear that “The subscriber is currently unavailable” message. Thankfully I managed to reach her.
Me: Lan? Are you coming? We’re supposed to meet at 2:00pm at Highland Coffee.
Lan: Yes, yes. Me at home. Me going now.
Me: OK. How long will you take?
Lan: 10 o’clock.
Me: Huh? 10 o’clock?
Lan: Oh… 10 minutes!
This girl had mistaken o’clock for minutes. This happens even up till today. Yes, she really needs to brush up on her English!
Me: OK… 10 minutes. How will you be arriving?
Lan: … *confused*
Me: You ride motorbike? Or you walk here? Or …? *not expecting her to take a cab, which I thought was a luxury for the locals*
Lan: Yes, yes. (I didn’t quite understand what she meant)
Me: OK. Never mind. 10 minutes. See you.
Lan: Bye.
As expected, 10 minutes came and went with no sign of Lan. I was still pacing up and down the area outside Highland Coffee, and I was getting impatient. I parked myself at a spot outside the Opera House.
I was looking intently at the traffic around me. Scores of taxis and motorbikes zipped past me. “Hey!” I was startled by a shout. I turned to my left. A girl in oversized shades was smiling a big smile at me. It took me some time to realise it was Lan. She had appeared in a flowing but low-cut pink dress. Somehow I did not return her smile. We walked together to the cafe. I didn’t appreciate that she was late when I had a flight to catch.
Me: You’re always late. I should have told you that we meet at 1:30pm.
We settled ourselves at a table for what I thought would be the last chance for any physical interaction between us. I was keen to sort things out with her that afternoon.
Lan and I settled in our seats. I made sure we ordered our drinks before I started our talk. Lan ordered a strawberry milkshake while I had an iced latte. I looked at Lan. While she still looked pretty, her mood wasn’t quite the same as that the day before. Gone was the smile, probably because of the unsmiling look on my face. I started my probe.
Me: Did you enjoy yourself last night?
Lan shook her head.
Me: No?
I almost blurted out, “No? I thought you were having a good time with that man!”. Good thing I did not.
Me: So what happened last night? I waited so long for you but you did not come back.
Lan looked uneasy. She started fidgeting with her fingers and looked away.
Me: *in a gentle voice* Come, tell me. Tell me what happened.
Lan did not want to look at me. She looked as if she had some unspeakable difficulty.
Me: Lan, I know something must have happened. Tell me… Let me know what happened.
Still no response from her. I pulled my chair closer to her, and draped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her over slightly.
Me: Come, Lan, tell me slowly. What happened?
Lan: … *trying to look for the correct words* Me English no good…
Me: Never mind… it’s okay. Just say slowly. You needed money, so you went off with that guy to do it?
No response.
Our drinks arrived. Lan stirred her drink round and round with the long spoon, still refusing to talk.
Me: Okay, okay. Never mind… Lan, I’m leaving this afternoon.
Lan: I know.
Me: Do you have anything to say to me? *expecting something nice from her, some sort of consolation after all that had happened*
Lan: Take care.
I leaned backwards slightly and looked away.
Me: That’s all? Just “take care”? You don’t have anything else to tell me?
Lan shook her head.
Emotions were starting to get the better of me. Tears started to well up in my eyes. For the first time since I met Lan on early Friday morning, I was starting to cry. Looking back, it had only been about 37 hours since I got to know her at Apocalypse Now, but so many things had happened since, it felt like I had known her for a long time. She had made me cry.
Me: *in a choking voice* After I go back to Singapore, will you remember me?
Lan: *looking at me* I remember you.
Me: *voice trembling* Will you miss me?
Lan: I miss you.
I knew that Lan didn’t mean what she said.
Me: Never mind. Okay, can I make a final request? Later, will you send me to the airport?
Lan shook her head. I was disappointed.
Me: Why? You not free?
Lan shook her head again. This girl seemed like she had a lot of things on her mind, but she couldn’t get round to telling me what it was that was bothering her.
By now, my tears had started to flow freely. I must have been an ugly sight. Lan removed a piece of tissue from my pack and handed it to me. I wiped the warm, flowing liquid off my swollen eyes. I felt embarrassed to look at Lan, and turned to my side.
Lan: You okay? Don’t cry…
Me: *trying to hold back my tears and calm down* I’m okay…
As if heaven was symphatising with me, it had started to rain. Some rain had found its way onto our table. As Lan and I moved the drinks and serviettes inwards, I noticed that her shades had gotten its share of the splash too. I retrieved a piece of tissue and reached for the shades.
“No, no, no!” Lan snatched the items from my hands. She couldn’t bear to see me drying her belonging for her in the state I was in. Soon the rain got so heavy it didn’t make sense to stay put at our table anymore. We shifted elsewhere. I was feeling much better now.
Me: Lan, you know I like you. Can you tell me what happened this morning?
By now, I still had not managed to get any answer from her. Lan’s phone rang. She tried to talk in a normal voice, peppering her lines with “Yes, Papa.” I sort of guessed that the caller was the old, big-bellied Caucasion I had seen in Bar Stop the previous night. He had called for a casual chat. After she was done, I tried to probe for a while more, but Lan had no answer for me.
Lan whipped out her phone again, this time calling a friend. She spoke in Vietnamese, and from her tone I could guess that she was describing the situation to whoever she was talking to. Lan passed her phone to me. I was right. The other person on the line sounded familiar. It was Lien, Lan’s colleague at Bar Stop, the one who had blown the whistle on Lan the night before.
Lien: Hi John. This is Lien… You remember me?
Me: Hello Lien. Yes, I remember you.
Lien: John, I’ll explain to you what happened. Lan’s mum is in hospital. She needs the money, so last night, she followed the man back to the hotel.
Me: Okay…
Before she could continue, I put the phone aside and turned to Lan, who had been intently observing the situation.
Me: Lan, now I understand…
Lan: Yes. Later Lien come, okay? She talking you…
I didn’t want Lien to come. I didn’t want someone to interrupt my last chance to be alone with Lan. Furthermore, I was running late for my flight. I had yet to return to Mondial to fetch my luggage.
Me: Lan, I will go back to Singapore later. Now is the last time I’m with you. Can we be alone?
Lan protested, insisting that she needed Lien to help explain the situation to me. In the interest of clarity, I relented. Lien arrived in a cab in five minutes. I saw the girl who had tried to get close to me the night before.
Lien: Hi John.
Me: Hello Lien.
She plonked herself into a seat to my right. I offered the drinks menu to her. After she submitted her order, serious business began.
Lien: John, you know, Lan did not want to do it. But her mother is in hospital and she needs the money. She won’t do it again.
After a pause, she continued.
Lien: It was her first time and she didn’t like it. But she had no choice. She likes you a lot, and wants to say sorry. She wants both of you to forget about it.
Me: I see…
Lien: Yes… It was the first time she met that young man.
Me: Huh? I thought she already knew both the young and old men?
Lien: No, the old man is a regular. The young one only came last night. He talked to the old man and he recommended Lan to her. She feels very bad. She’s a good girl, and did it because she needed the money. Actually, she was working in a restaurant when she came to Saigon. She just started work at Bar Stop one week ago…
With that, she turned to look at Lan with a quizzing look and uttered something in Vietnamese. Lan responded.
Lien: Yes, only one week. She wants to say sorry to you. No more, okay?
Me: But if she needed the money, she could have asked me.
Lien: She’s shy! She just knew you two days ago. She could not ask you for money.
I turned to look at Lan and gave her a slight smile. I put my hand on her lap, giving it a light pat. She held my hand in hers. Lan and Lien engaged in a conversation.
Lien: John, you know, this morning she went to your hotel, but she could not go in.
John: Huh? You mean, Lan went to my hotel? And the Front Desk did not let her in?
Lien: Yes.
John: What time was that?
Lien: 8:00am.
I did a quick mental recall. 8:00am was about the time I got up. Gosh, I didn’t know that Lien had been downstairs looking for me! Back in my mind, I could picture her having just escaped from the clutches of the angmoh and hurrying to the hotel to seek solace in her boyfriend. My god, I had misunderstood her all these while. But something came up in my mind.
Me: But if she couldn’t enter, how come she didn’t call me? I could have gone downstairs to meet her.
Lien: Her phone…
She reached for Lan’s phone and held it close to me. “You know her phone is no good! She could not call you because there was no power!” I had a look at the power icon. Indeed, it showed only one bar of power left. Her phone battery must have almost reached its useful life and the memory effect must have limited even a long charge to just a fraction of the original capacity. No wonder she had insisted on going back home the night before to get her charger.
Me: I’m sorry, Lan. *holding her hand tightly*
Lan gave me a smile.
Turning to Lien, I got her to ask Lan if she would send me to the airport. The answer was positive. I was baffled. Why did Lan reject my request earlier? Lien responded that Lan did not understand what I was saying, and conveniently said No. I wasn’t convinced, and protested. “But the past few days, we had no problems communicating. She could understand what I said!” Lien would have none of that, insisting on her point that Lan had said No simply because she couldn’t understand what I was saying.
In any case, all was well and I had to go. Lien called for a cab and told Lan and me the plan ahead. The cab would bring the three of us to Mondial Hotel and Lan and I would alight. Lien would continue on to Bar Stop, where she would be starting work, and Lan and I would go fetch my luggage and grab a second cab to the airport. Our cab came and amidst pouring rain, I sheltered the three of us carefully so that we got on board the cab dry. Lien thoughtfully sat in the front passenger seat, leaving the lovebirds alone behind.
Outside the Mondial, I shook Lien’s hand, thanking her from the bottom of my heart for clearing the confusion, before saying goodbye to her. I left Lan outside the lobby as I didn’t want her to get into any awkward situation anymore with the Front Desk staff. I lugged my heavy luggage out. As a cab driver thoughtfully reversed his vehicle into the porch so that we wouldn’t get wet, Lan offered to carry my laptop, like how docile Japanese women help their working husbands with their briefcases. I gave a smile when I saw that. Soon we were on our way.
Once again I relished the company of my girl. With her head on my shoulder and her hand in mine, I experienced nothing but sweetness in my heart. This was made all the better with the superb view I had. Lan was dressed in this low-cut dress that showed her cleavage and part of her bra. I stole many a glance at her chest. Of course, we exchanged sweet nothings with each other, as both of us were locked in a mini embrace, in the comfort of the taxi amid the heavy rain outside. I suddenly remembered something.
Me: Lan, I’m going to the new International Terminal. You know? Terminal, you understand?
Lan: Yes, I know. No worry. Driver know.
The new International Terminal at Tan Soh Nhat Airport had opened just a few days before. For a girl her age and for someone who had not travelled out of the country, her knowledge of things around her was remarkable. She was streetwise. Halfway to the airport, we came to a slight jam at a traffic junction. A taxi and a motorbike had collided. Lan and I both shared our concerns for the safety of the men involved, but as soon as we left the accident scene, we were back in our little world. In a matter of minutes, we arrived at the airport.
With the trolley laden with my bags, I motioned to her to follow me through the door. She did not move. What was happening?
Lan: John, you go. I cannot go.
Me: You cannot go in??? Only I can go in?
Apparently security considerations dictated that only passengers could enter the airport terminals. Everybody else who had no business to be inside had to stay away. And I actually thought I could do a bit of shopping after checking in my luggage. I needed to get a gift for Lan! What should I do, I thought. I fished out my mobile phone, and displayed a message that I had composed in the early morning, just before I had fallen asleep. I had been seething with anger then and had intended to send that out but did not. I let Lan have a look at it. This is what she saw:
“I was so nice to you. I waited for you the whole night but you just disappeared. I wanted to buy a teddy bear for you. But now, you will celebrate your birthday alone.”
I cried for the second time as I passed my phone to her.
Me: Lan, you know, I did not buy anything for your birthday. Now I want to buy something from the shops inside but you cannot go in!
Lan: It’s okay. No problem, okay?
Just then, I had an idea. I opened up my briefcase. I found the bag where which had housed the stuff I had purchased from the 24-hour store on our first night. I kept the still-unused Durex in my pocket and gave the canned drinks to her. I knew it was silly to give canned drinks to Lan as a birthday and parting gift, but that was the best I could manage then.
Me: Lan, I bought these drinks that night. You remember? We went to the hotel…
Lan: I know, I know…
Me: Now, I have nothing to give you…
Lan: It’s okay, no problem.
Me: … So I can only give you these.
All through the conversation, I was fighting back my tears. I offered to pay for Lan’s cab ride back to town but she did not want to accept my money. I reached out to her and hugged her tight. I really liked her a lot, and I wanted to be with her. But I had to leave her there and then. Boy, this was another tearful farewell, just like what I had experienced with Tingting outside People’s Park Complex back in July 2004. Why did I always get into situations like this???
Me: I will miss you, Lan. I like you so much! I will miss you.
Lan: I will miss you too.
I gave Lan a smooch. I tried to probe with my tongue. I wanted us to play that tongue-biting game we had played at Lush. Then, while she was seated on my lap, she had reached for my tongue and given little bites with her teeth repeatedly and I had returned the favour. I liked that sensation. Now, during our last few minutes together, I wanted to relive that experience.
Me: Lan, you remember that night? We were at Lush… You bit my tongue. Bite me again okay?
Lan: *whispering* No… Many people looking.
She was right. There were scored of people around us, people who had come to send their friends and relatives off. I didn’t care. I pulled her close to me again and gave a deep French kiss. I sought out her tongue and gave her little bites.
It was time to go. I let go of Lan and wiped the tears off my face as I tried to regain my composure. I turned around and headed for the X-ray machine, fighting an intense battle in my mind. I was trying hard to come to terms with having to part with my loved one and leave her behind. As I was done with the scan and started to enter the building, I turned to look at Lan. She had already started to board her cab. I noticed that she did not even wave a final goodbye like what my parents and I do at Changi Airport. She had left as soon as I had entered the terminal. Shouldn’t she have given me a last wave? Oh well… Perhaps it was just me. All afternoon, she had been so calm and collected. I had been the emotional one.
I made it a point to dispose of the pack of Durex. As I waited for my flight I recounted the series of events that had happened during this short trip of mine. On Wednesday night I had gotten to know Yen, the Atlas Computers Vietnam account manager at the cocktail reception. She had introduced me to Apocalypse Now. The following night, she couldn’t meet, so I had scooted off to that nightspot alone. It was there where I had gotten to know Lan. Following our quick shot to intimacy, we had made ourselves comfortable at Bar Stop, then the unnamed hotel. Unfortunately, I hadn’t quite made it as far as I had wanted to. That same night, we had met, amidst rain and flood, outside Bar Stop. We had then adjourned to Mondial Hotel, where Lan had been barred entry. We had then proceeded to have supper at Highlands Coffee and then dance at Lush. Subsequently, we had returned to Bar Stop, where she had disappeared with that Caucasian, much to my anger. And just that afternoon, we had sorted things out, amidst heavy rain again, at Highlands Coffee. Then we had just had a tearful farewell here at the airport. We had certainly come a long way… Even though things had gone a big round and at the end of it all, I still had not had a chance to bed this girl, my trip had at least come to a good ending.
I sent a quick message to Lan. “Lan, thanks for accompanying me to the airport. I love you and miss you. I will call you when I reach Singapore, okay?” Lan’s reply came almost instantaneously. “I miss you too, John. I wait for your call. I love you.”
Things did not seem as bad as I had thought earlier that day. The mood was certainly better now. I boarded my flight with a smile.
bro.. u disappeared so long and now came up w dis thread? tmd…. no wonder u have been hidding in HCM..
dey r brothers in HCM.. go visit d viet thread and get 2 meet dem.. dey r super friendly man~~
well, ur story reminds me of d time i’m in HCM n hanoi man.. and YES, HCM hotels r ALL NOT GAL FRIENDLY de… geez.. i guess communist country does has its drawback as well… but in hanoi at least i get 2 bring gals back to my rm for free
.. i’m sort of a regular to that hotel.. muz gibe face rite..
but bro.. jz wanna warn u.. be wary of viet gals.. dey r pro when coming to games… jz b careful n dun sink too deep ok?
i been to apocalyto now b4.. .cramped place n packed.. esp weekends… i did had fun dere as well.. but knowing dat hotels r super unfriendly, i dun bother.. as i oso dun trust local hotels recommended by d gal as well… hmm…
mayb time to go a bit of catching up w our viet brothers…
anyway, go drop by our TP thread once a while n come out for a drink o two man..
welcome back
Not really all HCM hotel is like that, usually it non gal-friendly for those 3 stars hotel onward.
The small hotel which i stay in district 3 which own by a Taiwanese do not have such problem, the gal just have to provide her ic to the reception if she want stay overnight. Somemore the hotel staff can call “massage” gal for u
Quote:
Originally Posted by
faszcom
Not really all HCM hotel is like that, usually it non gal-friendly for those 3 stars hotel onward.
The small hotel which i stay in district 3 which own by a Taiwanese do not have such problem, the gal just have to provide her ic to the reception if she want stay overnight. Somemore the hotel staff can call “massage” gal for u
I diasgree on this point…all hotels are not ger-friendly. Just that some either have connections or bride their way so that they either get advance warning or dont get disturb by the authorities.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
faszcom
Not really all HCM hotel is like that, usually it non gal-friendly for those 3 stars hotel onward.
The small hotel which i stay in district 3 which own by a Taiwanese do not have such problem, the gal just have to provide her ic to the reception if she want stay overnight. Somemore the hotel staff can call “massage” gal for u
I diasgree on this point…all hotels are not ger-friendly. Just that some either have connections or bride their way so that they either get advance warning or dont get disturb by the authorities.
My impression has always been the same as that of faszcom. You mean i have been wrong as well and taking all the risk ???
How often are raids on these lesser hotels ? I am curious on the enforcement of the law. Thanks for any info.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Odysseus
My impression has always been the same as that of faszcom. You mean i have been wrong as well and taking all the risk ???
How often are raids on these lesser hotels ? I am curious on the enforcement of the law. Thanks for any info.
even For locals, it is illegal for a guy and girl to be in the same room alone after 9pm/11pm. not sure which time. that is why you see so many of the couples parking theirs bikes at parks or desserted roads coupling together.
As for how often the raids are, I have no idea, my guess is usually just before holiday season. but if your regular hotel tells you one day that you cant bring the ger up, then you know something is wrong.
btw this disscusion whould be at the HCMC thread in the International forum, not here….