First up, Europe! The summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college I backpacked Europe with my high school best friend, K. We planned an ambitious itinerary of visiting 6 countries in 3 weeks, and managed to make it through 4 countries and over 2 weeks without any major hiccups or squabbles - that is until we got to Rome and I contemplated murdering her. We had successfully been navigating the various metro systems without error and so we got on the metro to head to the Colosseum with minimum hassle and perhaps too much confidence. It was mid-afternoon in the middle of July, the train was packed as it was sweltering outside and everyone in the city seemed to be heading home to escape the heat. We were crammed in like sardines and she and I stuck close to the door since we only had a few stops to go, as we neared our stop we suddenly realized that we didn't if we had to signal that we wanted to stop and open the doors or if the train would just stop. We started going back and forth as to what we needed to do and some helpful gentleman chimed in that we just needed to pull the red chord. This didn't seem right and the helpful gentleman didn't look too helpful to me but K. was already reaching for it and pulling the chord. Rapid Italian immediately started crackling over the speakers and the train stopped alright, it stopped in the middle of the tracks. What little air conditioning had been eeking out of the vents quickly disappeared and an entire car of people were now turned and very focused on K. and me. The helpful gentleman made his way to the other side of the car and the conductor was now making his way from car to car to check what the emergency was to pull the emergency stop. I was starting to panic as I knew this was an offence that carried a fine in the states and was conveying this to K. only to watch her slither away from the red handle that she had just so quickly grasped. As she made her way further from the scene of the crime she started to laugh nervously and turned to me and exclaimed- "Don't look at me, you pulled it!" Just as I raised my arm and pointed at her accusingly. As all eyes on the car swung between the two of us the conductor arrived in the car. Surprisingly the so-called gentleman gave him some sort of excuse in more rapid Italian and after a sweaty 15-minute delay our car began moving again. We got off at the next stop, which turned out not to be the Colosseum and hoofed it another 15 minutes in sweltering mid-afternoon heat to the ruins. Although I didn't murder her, I had a few visions of pushing her off the top of the Colosseum. Our friendship is still in tact and whenever the opportunity presents itself, I thoroughly enjoy bringing this story up as prime example of her loyalty and ability to stay, calm, cool, and collected.
Now onto Asia, where I was traveling with my current travel buddy C. We have known each other since high school and had a couple of small trips together under our belt before heading for 2.5 weeks in Southeast Asia. We had a great time exploring Thailand and Cambodia, and had just settled into our last leg in Vietnam when we encountered our first mishap. We had arrived with a tour group and while everyone else went on a bike tour of the city we went to get massages - because we were ready to start the luxury part of our vacation and had decided to get a massage everyday until we headed home. We checked with the hotel desk to recommend a reputable spot and headed over. We got there and I was escorted back to my room. Immediately alarm bells started ringing - the room had a very different feel than the other parlors we had visited - but this was the first one we had been to in Vietnam so I decided to put my unease aside and prepared to relax. My masseuse came in and the first thing I noticed were her very high platform heels - not exactly the expected footwear of someone who spends her days on her feet - but who am I to judge?! And so I let her begin what will go down as the most awkward massage I have ever had. She gently rubbed my back with baby oil for 30 minutes, walked on it for 10 (sans the shoes), and then pressed on my feet for another 10 minutes before rubbing some oil in my hair and announcing I was done. Like I said - awkward. Before leaving the room she told me I could rinse off in the shower and demanded I give her the tip. At this point, I am not willing to step into that shower as I am questioning a lot of things about this place so I get dressed and head to the lobby to wait for C. who went in after me. Imagine my surprise when I find him waiting for me in the lobby. I approach him and am about to voice my concerns when he grabs my arm and yanks me down the stairs. Once outside and sufficiently away from the building C. stops and looks me dead in the eye and says "I had to leave - she tried to undress me!" Turns out he had been waiting for me for 50 minutes as his masseuse didn't believe he just wanted a massage. The further we got from the parlor the harder we laughed that we made it through Bangkok without this kind of problem but our first stop in Vietnam was such a misstep. It is one of our favorite stories to share after a few drinks and he enjoys ending it with "But Kara, why in the hell did you stay for the full 50 minutes?!" To that I say, because I had already paid!
So remember, what may seem like the worst part of your trip may just end up being the most memorable. And even if it isn't remember to laugh, even at the worst moments; because if you are laughing then it will probably be even funnier after some time passes!
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| Proof K. & I made it to the Colosseum! |
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