Trading my life away in Vietnam
0430 rise for long bike haul to Saigon to present passport to customs
0500 pulled over by cops (normally doesn't happen as they avoid 'fining' foreigners
'Licence please,' in confident English (yours truly hands over Aussie licence)
'Vietnamese licence please!'
'Sorry, don't have. Going to Ho Chi Minh now to make,' I lied
'No Vietnamese licence, you must pay,' pauses, '10 million Vietnamese Dong.'
'Sorry, I don't have big money,' and fumbles through wallet showing the single 500k and 100k note.
'You no pay me I take motor bike,' he threatens
Shite. But I noticed there were no police trucks at the roadblock just passed.
He notices Visa card in wallet. "ATM"
'No big money in ATM," I lied again
"Passport!" Notices lengthy visa.
"You live in Vietnam?"
Feeling cornered. I recalled reading about the many cops assaulted by locals when being 'fined.' Decide against it. No brainer.
"No, I don't live here. My brother works in Australian Embassy. Vietnamese Immigration gave me long visa,' Motot bike is Australian government,' I continued to lie.
He returns passport and licence, helps himself to the 600k, and orders me to 'go!'
0558: stop at nearest cafe, order cafe sua, log on to trading platform. Don't sell opening of RGI (nor top up). Opens high.
Sell LPD for brokerage. Obviously bought too high. Impatient.
Attain sore ass from 3 hours on bike. Would have been easier to get rooted by cops.
Broken siesta from heat, humidity, kids, dogs, roosters who can't read the time.
1800: English class commences with sons and daughters of local officials.
"Good evening students," tonight the teacher needs you to pay much attention........
2115: Removed some weight from ego.
Log on to STT. Would trade my entire day just to read.
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