Ho Chi Minh City Day 1

So here I am, finally in Vietnam. Well, normally upon arrival, I'd look like a backpacker who'd wash dishes for a meal. But today, I had to dress up with makeup and hair cos the director was going to film my coming out of the airport as the character's coming home to Vietnam. I even managed to nicely place my contact lenses in my eyes while at my seat, and there really wasn't much space at all. I was suddenly very grateful for my height, or rather the lack of it.

Now lots of people have been saying I look Vietnamese, even the Vietnamese who visit Sentosa. Yes my features may be able to pass me off as one of the locals but definitely not my clothes, walk, talk and the look in my eyes. Especially since I was dressed up and ready for a shoot. And the reason I notice this is the reflective glass panel ahead of me as I walked up the ramp from the airbus plane.

Within a minute I was on a walkway with glass windows on either side. On my right was the mild sunshine blending with the vertical rains. And on my left, waiting lounges where locals were sitting. Though I was simply glancing at the locals, my reflection wasn't hard to miss. So the moment I saw myself with my bags and cardigan, I reminded myself to stop slouching. And I realised I wasn't the only one looking at me. They might be wondering if I was a wealthy Vietnamese girl who travelled to glamourous Singapore for a privileged university education. "She must be returning to visit her family for the school vacation", I imagine them speculating.

Just on the streets when I was strolling with my director, the smiling lady selling freshly steamed corn on her bicycle spoke to me in Vietnamese with hand signals that seemed to say "i don't understand him. What does he want?" To which I smiled and said, "Sing Ka Por." She laughed and carried on in Vietnamese to me. Heh, but I must admit I deliver an awesome 'hello' in vietnamese and a fantastic 'thank you'. The hotel staff sure seem to think so.

Ok I oughta get ready for dinner. Maybe a little nap is in order. I'm feeling contentedly drowsy after the really organically sweet corn. When I checked in, I had a nice shower but the water temperarture is a little difficult to control. It gets a little extreme once you turn the heater on. My sweetheart lent me his video camera and I've acquired some footage on the room and the people in this team. I feel like I'm a film maker too! Thank you honey. I love you so.

Friends, please email me cos I'm turning my phone off most of the time. And do not leave voice messages for I will not check them til I get home and I am quite certain your voice messages will expire by then. So sorry... And thank you all for understanding.