It all began when I was waiting for Bb (my ex) as she was shopping in 1 of those touristy shops. I was squatting outside the shop, watching the wheels, feeling the drizzle and I heard a strange voice calling out to me. "You want to buy this from me?" I turn around and saw a Hmong lady flashing a tribal-like colourful bamboo tube at me. Not again, I thought. I have been pestered by thousands of Hmongs and they have been trying to make me buy something which i don’t need. Bored and tired from all these sales pitch, I gave her a weak smile and said thanks while shaking my head. She gave me a faint look and I turn back, feeling the drizzle again, watching the wheels again. Bored, I turned back and tried to catch a glismp of her. She looks young but have wrinkles over her forehead and eyes. She was sitting at the steps, I suppose getting a shelter from the rain as well. I don’t know what came to me really, I moved over and sat down beside her.

"What is this for? How much does it cost?" I asked about that bamboo gadget while recalling that it is probably polite to buy something while making small conversations like these. She explained in pretty fluent english that it is "sound-making" instrument and shown me how to do it. Though it was pretty fun, I guess it was one of those items that you buy and will dump it in some dark corner upon reaching home. I felt an obligation to buy that from her though. Afterall, she was the first Hmong that I spoke to (after that polite forced smiles and shaking of heads that I gave to most Hmongs), and thus paid her USD$1 after some miserable (on my part) bargaining.

We converse on the usual local-tourist stuff. She was quick to guess that I'm a Sillyporean after the 2nd try (1st try was Japanese). I thought she was clever, but she told me afterwards that asian tourists who speak English are usually from Japan, Korea or Singapore. She asked me about my age, which she guess correctly in her first try (do I look that old?). I tried to guess hers, but I was very embarrased when I made 2 wrong guesses (30, 25) and the worst thing is I even over-estimated. Yet, I still had the cheek to doubt her answer. Oh well, I am THAT lousy.

It was by sheer concidence that we met again later in the evening. We were walking past Auberge hotel and saw them sitting at the steps, this time in a group of 4 girls. We stopped and talked. Surprisingly, no sales pitch but just plain conversation. I asked her questions like where she lives, where she sleeps. She asked me questions like where I live, where I sleep (in Sapa). Her other firends were talking to Bb (my ex), playing with her hair (yes, Bb had nice wavy hair), hugging her. In 10 minutes, we became friends with the group though I was still cautious (my chinese roots were at it again). They walked us to our guesthouse and she asked us whether we will be interested to go to her house. We agreed promptly. Afterall, we seldom get such opportunities. The plan is to meet near Sapa market at 8am tommrrow.

Oh, this young girl is called Chi, 20.