My dearest,
The most important things I’ve picked up while traveling making my daily backpackers life easier are the following; As this story’s title states ‘A coke a day keeps stomach problems away’. A combination of after sun and tiger balm make great aftershave. You HAVE to bargain and the best ways to get what you want is by walking away and by emphasizing the importance of the cost (without even getting a good look at the product, ask for the price). Although I learned this one before I left, I feel I should confirm to Turnee that rolling up your clothes indeed is perfect for saving place in your backpack. And speaking of backpacks, mine is near to flawless. Only it’s handle broke off, but all the rest really is made for this purpose. Plus I’ve found that I can’t do without my tiger balm, nor my locks.
Now some things I’ve learned that can’t be avoided; holes in your clothes, bruises on your legs and feet, being ripped off once in a while, forgetting or simply losing stuff (lost already: 1 skirt, 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 bra, 1 sunscreen, 2 towels, 3 water bottles and my passport (I got it back the very next day)…
By the way, did I say that Asians never lose their temper? Well, allow me to take that back.I bought an open sleeping bus ticket. An open bus ticket is a ticket without a date, allowing you to get on and off the bus wherever you want and whenever you want(only tourist destinations though). Sounds good, huh? Well, I only had a receipt, but I would get the ticket itself on the bus. That bus of mine was early, half an hour early! I was having dinner with Penny and got screamed and scolded at because I wasn’t ready… alright good start. I forgot my passport at the hostel in my rush and I didn’t get a new ticket after giving off my receipt. When I got off the bus the next morning and I asked for my ticket,he kept on telling me that he was busy. So before I would lose my patience I decided to set off for the travel agency and take care of it there. Unluckily they didn’t speak any English. Near to desperation (also because I stood without my passport) I let the matter be and tried to find a hotel. Thank buddha that I bumped into Penny then. I love coincidence. Serendipity. Our hotel took care of my passport problem, leaving me only the bus ticket one. A great relief that was! Two days later I returned to the travel agency and guess what… someone else was traveling on my ticket number!!! I sat there for over an hour, with my frustration growing by the minute. I’ve tried everything, from explaining calmly to crying out loud, but they wouldn’t do anything for me, but ignore and exclude me by talking to each other in Vietnamese. When I thought the situation couldn’t get any worse I spoke to the guy on the bus that had taken my receipt and had been busy ever since. He screamed at me, totally lost his temper and accused me of losing the ticket. Once again I tried everything from explaining calmly to accusing him directly of selling MY ticket to someone else. I was outraged and so was he, so nothing came of it and to avoid any more fuss I bought a new one (with ANOTHER company of course). This little joke cost me 15 USD and a bit more including the telephone costs I made. Thank you Penny for helping me through this, I don’t know what I would have done if I were to deal with all that on my own. So yeah Asians do lose their temper and aren’t always as honest as they seem or anyway pretend to be.
Much love,
Lot
By: Traveler Lotschurin
