I’m traveling around South East Asia. So far, I’ve been to Bangkok and I’m currently in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.
I won’t name the hotel – to protect the innocent. My first day passed as expected. I got to know the immediate area. Looked for an ATM – couldn’t find one that recognized my card or I didn’t have any money – let’s go with the first scenario, shall we?
After securing an evening meal I returned to my room, locked the door and hunkered in for the night. Not knowing, as I locked the door with a little force, that I was initiating a nuclear launch sequence.
I was up bright and early the next morning in search of coffee and nutrition. I headed out the door at 8:45am – breakfast ended at 9:30am. Plenty of time to linger over coffee – Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of coffee. I was expecting great things from my first cup in the country.
I went to open the door. Nothing. I tried again. Same.
I called reception. They sent Housekeeping. She couldn’t get me out. Then the manager. He asked me to be patient. They would call the locksmith. As the minutes ticked by, so did my hope for the quintessential coffee experience.
With nothing else to do, I messaged the only people in the world I thought would be awake, my cousins in the UK. Sascha, who never sleeps, answered immediately. I explained the situation. She suggested I demand restitution.
So, when reception called next I asked them to put aside a cup of coffee and breakfast for me. I told Sascha of my request. She was aghast. She said I should have demanded a free stay and a tour.
I hadn’t thought of that. In the movies during these type of hostage situations the hostage taker always demands a getaway car and a helicopter. I had a plan, the next time reception called to reassure me and ask me to remain calm, I would list my demands.
90 minutes later, I was freed from my room and immediately ushered to breakfast where a feast awaited me. Not sure how many people they were planning to feed but there was enough to satisfy a small army.
As I sipped the delicious Vietnamese coffee, I started thinking about where I should have the helicopter take me.
