August 04, 2012 marks a very important event in my adult like. It marks the first time that I am traveling internationally. I am going to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (formerly Saigon) to visit Kristianne since she is about to leave Vietnam to transfer to Hong Kong again. I gathered this was the only time I was going to ever get to visit Vietnam without it costing so much.

You see, I can live with her since her company has graciously sponsored for an apartment so this is the perfect time. I asked her to book me tickets and I had my passport ready so I was all set. I was really excited and nervous at the same time. I am going abroad and even though it's only an Asian country it felt good to be out of the Philippines and away from home again. Away from the worries of my normal life and etc.

Mama, Zack and Zoe sent me off the airport after we had a hearty dinner at Bon Chon in MOA and the rain also sent me off. I was at the airport as early as 7pm for an 11:50pm flight. Can you blame me? I was just really nervous.

I checked in already via web 24 hours ago so I had my boarding pass ready. I checked in completely and got my official luggage tags. I then proceeded inside the terminal. I paid a ghastly Php550 for the terminal fee and went on into immigration. I wasn't stamped right away and instead was led to an interview section. Now, this was the first misadventure I encountered on this first international trip.

I was given a questionnaire to fill out and when I got my turn at the interview table, I was pretty much scared out of my wits but I masked my feelings. After all if I showed my nervousness, they might think I was out to travel to never come back to the Philippines. The other 3 girls who were interviewed before I was, were not allowed to travel and as such were refunded everything they spent excluding the first part of the trip were it was not refundable anymore. So double the scary part for me. I mean, who is to say I won't be deemed as unfit to travel. Thankfully I got some extra documents from Tiane and I was allowed to travel. I took the stamped papers back to the immigration window and they stamped my passport. I WAS ALL SET!

Vanessa called me up and I told her what happened and she said that it was going to be the same for entering Vietnam. Sheyt! I wasn't completely out of the boiler room yet!

When my flight was called, I was excited and apprehensive but I think I was able to get past it. When the plane ascended I could see the twinkling lights of Manila flickering good bye at me and that sight made me think of candles lighted all throughout. It was lovely! I slept for an hour or more on the plane and was glad of the time to rest.

When the pilot announced that we were ready to land, I was again excited and apprehensive and I noticed that like Manila, Ho Chi Minh from above also felt like there were a lot of flickering candles lighting for my welcome but I have to say Manila's looked better or was I just biased. After we landed at Tan Son Nhat airport I was relieved that the flight was good even though there was a lot of turbulence with the bad weather Manila was having. Now comes another part facing Vietnamese immigration.

I deplaned then went straight to the bathroom before going on to immigration since I was needing a break and also to plan how I was going to face the Vietnamese immigration. I got out my Canon camera and put it on my neck to really qualify me as a tourist and I took some shots as well. Going through Vietnamese immigration was relatively easy. I just lined up and when it was my turn I just handed him my passport and he stamped it. Off I went to the luggage claim right away. Whew!!!

I met Tiane at the exit and we took a cab back to her place and we ate some midnight snack while I regaled her with my immigration story! Thank you God for a safe and successful flight to Vietnam. Now the heat is really on in Saigon!