Took myself out on a solo trip. Boarded a morning flight from my home city, reached Kolkata airport for the connecting flight, went to the lounge and had lunch (thanks to my sister who got me a card with lounge access). I used to access the lounge in my travels before, but ever since I left my job, all my cards have no longer been accepted. Anyway, after lunch, I came out of the lounge and had some time before boarding the flight. I was sitting by myself, then two uncles came near me. One showed me his phone, indicating we had the same phone, and asked, "Can you charge my phone?" It was a little confusing. I asked him, "You want to borrow my charger?" He said, yes. He had left his in his checked-in baggage. Hmm, I didn't want to lie that I didn't have my charger, thought what harm is it? Let him borrow. I gave him my charger. He said, "You're also going to Hanoi, right?" I said yeah. He went to the charging point. I would have been happy if he had left me alone after that. I could walk to him to get my charger back when I needed to move. But, no. He came and sat right opposite me and started talking.
What is your good name? Where are you from? Which religion do you follow? Which God do you worship? He said things like: People from Nagaland go to Korea, get married to Koreans and settle there. Do you have a boyfriend in Korea? Do you have relatives in Korea? What religion do people from Mizoram follow? In which country are your relatives living? He talked about his two sons, both married, settled, one in the US, one in Mangalore. One is an engineer, another is something, I forgot. He talked a lot. I only answered. Monosyllables or one word. I didn't want to talk. I wanted to be left alone. But he didn't get it. He kept on. What is your surname? Now I really didn't want to answer that. I said, I'd rather not answer. Then he asked, Is it very long? He made some gibberish sound. According to him, that's how our names sound. He asked me to show him my boarding pass. It was in my hand, and I moved it away from him. Then he beckoned his friend to show me their passports and boarding pass. I said, I don't want to see. But, no. He was not done. He leafed through his passport, showing this country, that country, so many places he'd been to. Well, by this time. I decided to get up. I had something in my mouth. An amla, heikru. I was done eating and had to throw the seed, so I got up. As I walked away, I heard his friend say, she doesn't want to talk. I stood near the bin for some time, wiping my hands, adjusting my bag, then came back and asked him for my charger. I went away and sat right next to the boarding gate with other people, where there were no other empty seats. Done. Sigh!
Flew to Hanoi. Reached. Got my esim activated before departure, so I got connected to the internet as soon as I landed. Immigration. Man, some of the officers looked fed up, so done with tourists, even angry. I saw one getting angry at a mother and son. It looked like he was reprimanding the child, and the mother seemed sorry. The officer who checked mine only checked my passport, not the visa. Okay, anyway. Took my luggage. While standing in the immigration line, I tried adding my forex card to the Grab app, so I could book a cab and pay for the rides online. Didn't work. Then tried to withdraw cash from the ATM. But which account type do you select while withdrawing cash from a foreign ATM? I later found out its checking/current account. Failed to withdraw cash. Then exchanged 100$ from the airport foreign exchange. Got 2582000 VND. Came out of the airport. As usual, cab drivers approached. I said no. I booked a Grab car. It arrived very soon, got in and headed for my room. The room. Molds! No!!!!! Just 2 nights. Bear it. Got freshen up. Went out and bought bottled water. Had the two sandwiches I brought from home and an apple I picked up from the lounge. Read for a while, then slept.
Had a good sleep. Woke up properly rested. But stayed in bed and read for a while. Freshen up. Booked a bike, sat in this nice cafe, one of the Tranquil cafes. Ordered coconut coffee with oatmilk, but they didn't have it. Caramel coffee, it was then, and mushroom curry with baguet. Is caramel vegan? Hmm. That's what I got. Read, drank coffee, ate, slowly, slowly. Old English songs in the background. "Only the Lonely" and some others I recognised. Lovely vibe. I finished this book by Meena Kandasamy. The beginning of the book title is violent, like the book. Let me just mention the later part of the title, which sounds far more romantic. "A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife". Oh Meena! It was not an easy read. But I approve of what she did there. Then started Arundhati Roy's "Capitalism: A Ghost Story". Because I gotta know what's happening in my country and the world, keep my mind sharp. At least I try. But reading about billionaires, the exploitation of workers and resources is pissing me off. Time to go.
Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake for a while, booked a ride back to my room. Rested, napped. Got up. Out again, walked and walked and walked a lot. How much I walked! It was nice walking near the west lake in the sunset. Very pleasant, with the cool wind. Asked around some restaurants and cafes, checked thier menu, didn't want anything I saw. Walked back, bought water again. Reached room, ordered food from Grab, vegetarian option. Korean mixed rice with toppings, grilled mushroom with rice noodles. It was fine. Can't believe but I do miss home food and its only the beginning. Time to sleep. See ya!
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