Final fittings

Trip Start Nov 01, 2007
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Trip End Nov 20, 2007


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Friday, November 16, 2007

Michele and I stayed much longer at Hoi An orphanage than we had planned, so were very late for our final outfit fittings at the tailor's.  we rushed over there, and I felt very down after the time I'd spent that afternoon with the children.  I guess I felt guilty for being so self-indulgent and decadent when there's such deprivation in the world, and that my money would be better spent on people other than myself.  Still, I had ordered the garments and walking away now would mean that people wouldn't get paid for hours of hard work.
 
I did my final try on for the shirts, pants, skirt and waistcoat, and all were perfect.  The only thing to be finished was the raincoat which needed to be hemmed and the buttons applied, this took only ten minutes or so, and then it was time to pay.  Time to panic!  The machine wouldn't accept my credit card and I didn't have enough US dollars or Vietnamese Dong on me to pay in cash.  I think the machine was broken because the transaction went straight through when the cashier tried a second machine.  I found out later that others had experienced the same problem.  Perhaps the cashier enjoyed the look of panic on everyonnne's face when she used the faulty machine, who can say.
 
So now I have a very smart new wardrobe and no space in my backpack - oops!  I don't really want to throw away my clothes that I brought with me because I quite like them, even though they're old and tatty, so time to bite the bullet and buy an extra bag!  I don't think this will be a problem on internal flights in Vietnam, but totally not sure about the flights between Ha Noi and Bangkok, and then Bangkok to London.  Oh well, gonna give it a try because this new gear just won't squish up small enough for the backpack.
 
My evening finished with a delicious dinner with my fellow-travellers - unusually for this trip, the menu was 95% veggie/vegan so I was spoiled.  Very happy end to the day.
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