We’ve read a lot of violent bloody crime on news and daily conversation. Who likes it? They scare us to death. Naturally, we have an invisible bubble surrounding against strangers that we carry every day to fight against the chaotic urban life, and defend for our safety.
I haven’t read or watched any news since 2014 besides the artwork and my tech geeks. It’s my strategy to feel secured and relaxed. Naive or too arrogant? You’re both right but I learnt that from Mass media 101 at college that the more you read about crime, the more you believe in crime and, obviously, the more you see crime. Plus, there were heaps of ways the media could manipulate our thoughts that I almost forgot right after the semester ended : ) Thus, I’ve upskilled my survival skills instead. What doesn’t kill you, make you stronger. You’d rather believe.
In fact, I’ve met the most amazing people in this world during my travel. I decide to write all those wonderful stories happened in my travel so far. 5 years. Around the world. To be continued.
On top of my mind, let’s talk about people I met on the flights back and forth Saigon and Melbourne in my recent trips.
- The lovely grandma
I still have a bar of chocolate in my backpack. Dark mountain bar of Switzerland. The husband of that lovely grandma gave to me, he barely spoke any English, he just shook his head when I returned the dessert, I answered sincerely, “Thank you”. I was on the Scoot flight from Melbourne to Singapore. My 2nd time in fewer than 30 days. The old sweet couple took a flight home to visit the husband’s mom at the hospital. The aisle and the silence drift them apart. She was in the business class for giving a lecture to a wealthy middle-aged woman with her Bible storybook in propaganda style. It was nice of her to invite me there as a company, unfortunately, I was too stressed to shut off my chatterbox and found myself not a good match with those gorgeous ladies. But they prayed for me. Both of them and me myself for a good blessing to home.
Before that, we – the grandma, me and a nice Indonesia guy sitting next to each other had a great conversation about our lives. We raised it up since the nice guy offered me and the woman some food from his meal. I accepted it without any hesitation, I could eat a horse that morning, all I had so far was just anti-depression pills and worries. The grandma laughed out loud, she enjoyed my cheerful and responsive reaction. She told us, “that was the first time of my life I saw people were this generous and friendly”. Then, she shared with us about her anger, rage at Singapore education and how it was her childhood nightmare. How many teenagers killed themselves and how the government tried to hide it. It was a long sharing in a strong form of expression. How people locked themselves in public, no talk, no care, just racist fight. I had that sound recording on my phone. Such an honest downside opinion of the cleanest country in the world. The guy talked very briefly about himself, just listened and responded appropriately. I shared my mental break down at work and that was the reason I came home. I cried silently, face on my arms, between 2 passengers. The grandma asked me, “Ok. Grandma’ll treat you this time. Here is the menu. Choose whatever you like, ok lah? But no alcohol lah.”. “Ok lah grandma”, I answered. Ironically, the bacon egg n cheese was just like the customer service on that Scoot flight, tasted like shit!
Next chapter maybe
2. The sweet Lisbon flight attendant, “I don’t want to fly anymore”
3. Jess in Jump Inn – a wild walk to the teleport
