Good bye TP Hồ Chí Minh, Tạm Biệt Miss Saigon

Sunday, December 10th
Sometimes people say: “It felt as if I have never been away”. In this case it was different. After just 10 days away from Ho Chi Minh City it felt strange to come back. Thuy Hang is abroad, and without her something important is missing in this big city. The old room which we before had filled with live and chaos got now very unfamiliar and empty. At least the golden sunbeams were still lighting through the window to the roof terrace and noise from the street remembered me I am still alive within this emptiness. Jens and also the gay guys here had diverted me a bit from thinking too much and missing too much. On Saturday I visited Be and Thuy Hang’s Family. I had bought a remote controlled car for Be and his comment on it was simply: “Why is it so big?” I said I thought he would like it. In fact he did.


Hanoi will more majestic in terms of its look, but people and climate will both be colder. I will miss Ho Chi Minh City and its people really much – the special atmosphere of that place in the country which I love and sometimes hate at the same time. All the places that make Saigon so special, the faces that do smile, at least, whatever might be behind, the little things that make you understand that there is something universal that connects us all independent of which background we are from, the exception from the norm of many people who are just rude. In this city I feel a bit more warm-heartedness. In its moments, in the now remaining images.


I will remember days in coffee-shops, waiters and waitresses, the rivers, dust in the streets, good and bad smells, dishes of all kind and origin, the heat and the sweat, the best custard apple shake in town, motorbike rides with friends, the view over the roofs, my room, the nights out, Dam Sen park and the zoo, hours in the internet, some new acquaintances that are now being kept on my messenger contact list, Trang and Chris, Tam and many more, and of course my Thuy Hang who has a bigger heart than the size of this city can fill, and her smart little son Be.


It was not the first time that I am leaving Saigon with some tears, doing a last phone call to Singapore from my room on the roof. Now I am already sitting on seat 18K on flight VN220 to Hanoi. I will follow function again and start my work at the office tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock.