Advertisement
Published: December 16th 2006
Edit Blog Post
The Bindal Leap
Siquijor - just outside Islander's Paradise where we stayed. Last night I was reminded that people are actually good - that human nature is not completely devoid of kindness as it has so often appeared to me of late. Through the following story, I would like to pay tribute to three strangers whose selfless generocity has both impressed and challenged me.
Back in June I was in China with a friend. We stayed several days in Hong Kong, the last of which was spent in Kowloon. As we were headed to mainland China, we were reluctant to withdraw any more Hong Kong dollars and so pooled our remaining change for the final day. By lunch time we were starving. We stood by the counter at an Indian food stall, comparing our leftover coins with menu prices. There was only enough to afford a plain piece of naan that would then have to be split between us. We ordered the naan.
The man behind the counter returned moments later with a bag of food for each of us - an entire meal inside.
"Oh, no no," I objected. " We really can't get all of this - we only want the naan."
"But this is for you," he insisted.
I was confused.
"I'm sorry, I don't have enough money for all of this, we just want to get the naan." I repeated.
"Not to worry madam," he said with a little glint in his eye. "Its already paid for."
He motioned off into the distance and leaned in closer.
"It seems you have a friend in China. The lady standing here before has paid for your lunch. So please," he handed over the bags. "... take it."
I looked around at the sea of faces which flowed and swelled around us. She was out there somewhere now, lost among them. I wanted to push my way through to find her. I wanted to say thank you. But I didn't even know who she was.
Yesterday I ws in Cebu, Philippines. I sat nervously in the departure lounge as my flight to Manila was further and further delayed. With only a very short layover before my ongoing flight to Bangkok, I had a feeling of dread that I would miss the connection. That would mean I'd miss the flight to Rangoon which would mean I'd miss out on Burma and that I would have wasted all this
money on flights and visas and... I tried to stay calm.
At our eventual departure I informed the flight attendant of my dismay. She had me write the details on the back of an air sickness bag and assured me she would tell the ground staff. On arrival she then told me to tell the ground staff.
They had me sit in the corner of the baggage claim area while they joked amongst themselves and talked into handheld radios. Very official. Apparently there was a free shuttle service to the international airport but nobody seemed to know when, or if, they would arrive. I approached the two remaining passengers to see if they too were waiting for the phantom shuttle but they wern't. But they accompanied me for further discussion with the radio wielding ground staff but to no avail. Time was running out. I was advised to get a taxi.
The taxi line was backed up with anxious passengers who told me they'd been there for a very long time. It didn't apppear to be a viable option given my flight was leaving soon. I attempted yet another discussion with the ground staff - imploring them
The bus ride from Tagbilaran to Carmen
Carmen is where the viewing point for the 'chocolate hills' is located to have the shuttle take me right now! They were unmoved. There was no use, they told me. I was only going to miss my flight anyways. Just as I was feeling completely helpless, a little voice came out from behind a tinted window.
"C'mon, we'll give you a ride."
It was the ladies I'd just met inside. Their driver was standing by, ready to load my luggage. I was so relieved and very thankful.
By the time I reached the international terminal I was practically glowing from their random act of kindness. They had no idea I was about to miss my flight or any of the repercussions it would have incurred. In a country that is in a world of people who are out for themsleves, they did something for me where there was nothing in it for them.
It reminded me of the film 'Pay It Forward.' In it, there is a little boy with a big heart and the idea that if each person was to help somebody else, that ripple effect of kindness could revolutionise the entire world. I sat pondering long and hard on the changes each person could make through such
an implementation. I was overwhelmed and incredibly motivated by the concept. World peace and the end to poverty were played out blissfully in my minds eye. But as I came down off my kindness high reality began to sink in. Would human nature really care about 'paying it forward', did that ideal even matter to anyone? It only takes one ride on the London tube to convince anyone that people can be completely callous. You only have to watch the news for 30 seconds to know that humans are responsbile for everything but kindness. You have to look out for number one these days, right?
It is no secret that I have become very disillusioned with this entire concept over the past few years and saddened that I should be so surprised at the kindness I've received. But I am vey encouraged to know that from China to the Phillipines to many other places I've been along the way, there are many who challenge my own ability to mirror that selflessness and generocity. It has to start small. It has to start somewhere. Perhaps the focus should be not on how we fail one another but the potential we
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
They don't look too chocolatey at this time of year, I think its better to see the hills when they're all brown to get that chocolate effect posses to preserve good will. Perhaps a new years resolution is in order.
I arrived at the departure lounge in Manila with minutes to spare. Before being permitted to the lounge, a young Filipino security guard checked my passport.
"You're from New Zealand?"
He was looking at the passport, it seemed a silly question.
"Yes."
He paused for effect, attempting to eye me with some subtle seductive gaze, rotating my passport in small circles as if expecting me to grab for it. I supressed an amused giggle.
"You know, people from New Zealand are very beautiful,"
I couldn't hold the laugh any longer.
"Well," I replied. "It's lucky I'm from New Zealand then!"
He was lucky I was still high on kindness. I dont' usually engage weird men that stare. I wonder if that could count as a 'pay it forward'...
Advertisement
Tot: 0.055s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 10; qc: 19; dbt: 0.0318s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb