Old Friends (well, not so old)

Me with Tina and Jakob at our favorite restaurant in Panaji, Goa, India 4 months ago

When I was in India I flew from Gurarat to Goa in January. While wandering the streets around the airport looking for a bus to Panaji, I met Jakob and Tina from Germany, who were also looking for the bus. Over the course of the bus ride, we became friends. Throughout the course of the next few days I ran into them a number of times, usually at my favorite restaurant, which also became their favorite restaurant, I assume, since it seems like they were always there. Then we ran into each other again in Arjuna, a beach town in northern Goa, and through the internet, we stayed in touch the next three months (I love the internet!). As I traveled through India, Indonesia and Malaysia, they traveled through India, Thailand and Laos, and we all ended up in Hanoi at the same time.

We planned to meet in front of the Water Puppet theater at 3:30PM on May 3rd. I waited outside with Mike, my national guide. As we waited, I made up a game (as I am apt to do), challenging Mike to see them first. I described Jakob and Tina to him: Jakob is tall and blond, tina mdeium height with short black hair, both Caucasian and young, around 25 or 390 years old Every couple who passed, Mkie would call out, "Jakob? Tina?" I would look at him in awe - "He had black hair!" or "She is very old." It didn't seem to matter to Mike, he wanted to win the challenge. At 3:29PM, Ha joined us, requesting we get some tea on the street, right next door, while we watch for them. "Only one more minute," I said, for they are German. (When I told this comment to Jakob, he said, "I looked at my watch and saw I was a few minutes late, and I thought to myself, 'Good. We are getting better.'") At 3:31 we moved to get some tea, and two minutes later they showed up. Mike went to get them as we drank our tea. After a few minutes I peaked over, Tina and Jakob had their map out and Mike was deep in conversation with them. Finally he led them to our tea location. Mike had told them I was very sick and was explaining where my hotel was.

I spent the rest of the afternoon with Tina and Jakob, and then saw them again the next day, as they joined our chaperone dinner. One of my favorite aspects of traveling is the ease in which people get to know each other. Some times you get very close very quickly, for everyone is going different directions, and who knows what tomorrow will bring. In the past, there was a very good chance you would never see them again, and this has always been a little sad for me (a Buddhist lesson for me about non-attachment), and so on this trip I have made an effort, through the ease of internet, to keep in touch with the people who have touched my heart. I am thankful for the deepening connections I experience.