Posts by Mmlepatsy

Okay, let’s start with the worst—or the worst ones... A big street in Calcutta that suddenly narrows because of construction... and the crowd pressing in, tighter and tighter, more suffocating and dense, hands wandering, my bag clutched against my stomach, panic rising, the little perpendicular street inaccessible, especially because a cop is blocking the way... An Indian woman who senses the fear in my eyes and shoves the cop aside to let my friend and me through. I thought I was going to die there!!! Still in Calcutta, we stopped near a railway track (yes, I know, *great* idea!) to photograph kids bathing in the river... until, of course, the train came. No time to move—just paralyzed by the fear of getting mowed down! We missed it by 30 cm!!!

Aside from that, in India, China, and Malaysia, I’ve cheated death 30 times on perilous bus rides—but what traveler hasn’t?!!!

Now for the good, *really* good memories: an overnight train from Bangkok to northern Thailand (ugh, memory lapse—some gorgeous town by the Mekong, near Vientiane) with a Russian sports team (volleyball? handball? a bunch of giant, well-lubricated guys, in any case!) celebrating their victory with a jeroboam of vodka... My friend and I ended up, vodka in hand, between the train cars in the tropical heat, with this huge sense of freedom and happiness at being there. So simple, but such a great moment!

Another train, in India’s Kerala—train door open, feet dangling out—another rush of joy and freedom. But I also remember the beauty of Yangshuo, China, and the stunning face of that young boy in Calcutta who followed us all day without asking for anything, not even sharing our lunch. He was so beautiful!

So many other memories, but I’ll let someone else take the floor...

Bonjour à tous, Nouvelle inscrite sur le forum mais vieille lectrice... Serai également à Bali fin juillet début août, avec aucun parcours précis en tête, à part peut-être Ubud à la fin du mois... Vous pouvez donc probablement me compter pour la rencontre prévue! A bientôt, donc!

De mon premier voyage en Inde, j'ai gardé un souvenir extraordinaire de Bénares, je crois que c'est une destination incontournable.... d'ailleurs, je prévoi d'y retourner cet été, et d'y passer quelques jours.... Trés joli souvenir aussi d'Udaipur, beaucoup plus calme et romantique.... Bon voyage!