Diary Entry Day 10: Miss(ing) Saigon

By Jia Wei Low

Photos by Audrey Samuel

               

Our evening began much like any other time commitment we’ve had here in Saigon, running on Malaysian time. Picking out the right shirt, trying not to blotch make-up and getting last minute preparations for Cultural Night seemed to be the usual suspects to fault for our tardiness. We managed to pull through however, getting there in time to prepare for the arrival of our guests.

                

 On our last night in Saigon, we decided to give back to those who graciously helped us in our journey - the facilitators of our learning sessions, our student guides and even those who put us up and put up with us for the past nine days. To show our appreciation, we invited all those part of ‘In Search of Saigon’ for a Thank You dinner and cultural show.  Dinner consisted of delicious Vietnamese fare while the show included songs from four of our student guides; Pham Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thien Vi and the dynamic duo of Vo Nhat Thang and Le Kim Thanh. Following that, the Indian Bhangra dance was put on, with a makeshift singing group following after, belting out tunes such as Kau Ilhamku, Ais Kacang and Stand By Me. Then all the travellers joined to perform the Dikir Barat with a finale comprising a tribute to Dr. Yeoh, our guide and mentor for the trip, sung to the tune of P-p-p-poker Face by Lady GaGa.

Some of our guests at Cultural Night with our student guide Thang Vo standing

Following a tradition established last year, awards were given out to our travellers, who were voted and nominated for individual categories by the rest of the travellers. The winners for this year’s awards included Lochna Menon, for Most Considerable and Helpful Person and John de Silva for Most Culturally Aware and Perceptive Person.  Mumbi Munene, an exchange student from Monash South Africa (and Editor on the trip) took the prize for Best Travel Companion while the Most Hardworking Person was well-deservedly Abeer Yusuf (the Chief Editor).  In the last of the official categories, Andrea Tee, also the Blog Team Head, went home with the award for the Most Well Written Story for her two part coverage on food in Saigon. One special unofficial category was also included- that of Most Persistent Session Sleeper, for the one person who slept through all 6 official school sessions. In a unanimous decision, Bonnie Teh went home with the infamous moniker.

Sorry Abeer for using this unflattering picture!

 

Once all the awards were given out (with Oscar worthy speeches following some), tokens of appreciation were given out to our guests and guides. The most special moment of the evening for me however was when everyone gathered to watch the slideshow of our adventures in Vietnam thus far. The video brought out streams of emotion from (almost) everyone there. While the trip might have started off on uneasy footing, we eventually formed a sense of camaraderie in the truest sense of the word- our own fellowship.  The evening concluded with one final walk through the city to our hotel, to take in every last bit of sight, sound, smell and taste of this wonderful place we’ve come to call home.

Farewells are never easy- pictured here are traveller Mumbi and student guide Anh

These past 9 days have been quite the ride. It feels like we’ve been here for an eternity, yet still it is too short a stay. Every single experience here, though not always pleasant, will forever be treasured. I cannot speak for everyone else, but I personally wouldn’t change a thing. Stolen wallets, hangovers, everything. Its these important life lessons that have given me perspective on just how privileged we are and how so often others have to grit their teeth just to achieve a fraction of what we often take for granted. 

               

Our last morning seemed a bittersweet affair. Though many of us relished the thought of Malaysian food, not waking up to see each other’s faces in the morning and walking down the spiraling stairs seemed like a heavy price to pay. But still, we packed our bags, said our last goodbye to our home/hotel in Saigon and hopped into a taxi to the airport. Our guides and friends awaited us there, to share last farewells and tears of parting.

Goodbye to the alley we’ve come to know so well

 At that point, waves of emotions were building as it dawned on many of us that our sojourn in Saigon was ending. The curtains were being drawn and even though we knew that all good things must come to end, the bitter pill remained bitter. But the memories remain with us, immortalized within each and every one who walked the alleyways of Saigon, be it student or teacher, guide or traveller. In the end we will always have this blog; a little piece of our history. Our mark on the world.

  

Till we meet again, travellers

Check out the Saigon tear jerker here

Fit into small holes

Crawl through underground tunnels

Only in Chu Chi

Riding on a boat

Abundance of sky up high

Only in Mekong

Dodge motorcycles

Crossing streets like you own it

Only in Saigon

LowJia Wei, 23 is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Writing and suffers from chronic Internet addiction.