One of the impacts of travelling is that it widens the circle of
people dear to us. It could be argued that most of them were nice to me only
because I was their source of livelihood; be that as it may, I know that it
doesn't take away from the laughter we shared or their acts of kindness.
In times of crises anywhere in the world, and certainly during the
current global coronavirus pandemic, I've been visiting all those people in my mind.
That train driver who stopped an entire train for me when he saw
that I had alighted on an inconvenient platform with my huge suitcase, so that
I could use the train to cross over to the other platform with an elevator.
The family we shared everything with - bathrooms, chores, meals,
bonfires, laughter, and a spectacular view of the Himalaya.
That lady who gave us soup on the house during a thunderstorm and
made calls to a petrol company in a foreign language, when we worried that our
card had been billed multiple times.
Those guides to whom we entrusted our lives as we traversed
treacherous, high-altitude Himalayan terrain for days, accompanied by much
talking and laughter.
That farmer, homestay host, and chef, all of whom gave us free
produce to take home because we had enjoyed it so much.
That air bnb owner who left us wine and cookies in our room, should
we have midnight hunger pangs.
That random stranger I nodded at, who stopped and said "gosh,
you are beautiful!", making me blush.
The villager who invited us into her house and plied us with freshly
squeezed sugarcane juice because it was the best her farm had produced that
season.
The sales assistant who sent me to her competitor who stocked more
designs in large sizes, because she wanted me to buy a jacket I loved and not
just because it fit me.
All those who didn't speak a word of English, but patiently heard
out my inelegant mix of pidgin Mandarin and sign language as I ordered lunch,
never hurrying me even though there was a long queue.
To all these and many, many, many more - know that I am thinking
about you.
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