Coffee, Tea or Tuyo???

     I was giddy and nervous when I finally reached NAIA 3 despite the Friday night traffic.  This is it, the start of my brief adventure.  To begin with, I hate airports.  It brings memories of saying goodbye  to people who are dear to me.  It's a one of a kind jungle with people coming and going.  It's confusing as hell and certainly not for the likes of me who'd panic at a mere sight of a crowded elevator.  But it had to be done Kat and you only have 15 minutes before they close the check in counter.

     After braving the crowd and waiting for kingdom come, I happily called my dad to announce that I am finally boarding.  "Wag kang mawawala."  Don't get lost, he said.  I bit back a smart-ass retort and just reassured him that I will get home in one piece.  Goodbye for now, Manila.

    The two and a half hour flight from Manila to Saigon was pretty much uneventful.  Or so I thought...  There I was happily sitting on my window seat when the guy right next to me (a fellow Pinoy)  tapped my arm, breaking my silent reverie.  "Miss, do you mind if I place this here?"  He was pointing to an innocent looking paper bag, the contents of which I will discover a few minutes later.  It's okay, I don't mind.  He smiled and jammed the paper bag in between us.  He then told me that he will be heading to Phnom Pehn to attend his brother's wedding.  I nodded and took a nice deep breath preparing to bombard him with questions about the city.  As I inhaled deeply, it finally dawned on me why he looked so apologetic when he asked to put the bag near me.  He must have seen me cringe because he then proceeded to explain:  "Uhmm, sorry the overhead bin is full.  My brother requested for dried fish.  I was in a hurry, I think I wasn't able to pack it properly"   I just nodded and smiled but in my head, I was mentally smacking him like a pro.

     Don't get me wrong,  I love dried fish just like any other Pinoys.  I am not at all bothered by the smell.  Pero utang na loob kuya, wag mo naman itabi yan sakin sa eroplano.  Seriously, WTF?!?  Why me?!?  I glanced at the person on the aisle seat and noticed that she's a tourist.  Kaya pala ako ang piniling parusahan ni kuya...  Kaya pala...

     So there I was, smelling like tuyo, finally setting foot in Tan Son Nhat Airport.  Well hello there Saigon, we finally meet...