Funny Moments of Note

1. The Tuk Tuk driver drops me across the street and a cement barrier from the train station...as I attempt to navigate the traffic  (no small feat in Indian cities), the cows and stray dogs, not to mention the bajillions of people, and the cement barrier with both my packs (sweating like a pig of course)...I slip. I slip in "mud." Mud in India is at least 70% poo - cow poo being the worst of it, but definitely not the only culprit.  As I think "noooooooooooo!" someone from behind bumps into my pack (also not unusual) just right so that I'm able to catch my balance and run across the street. That's where I burst out laughing...while everyone stared in amusement  at the spectacle that I always seem to be here!

2. So... my train ticket that I got ripped off purchasing didn't seem to have an actual seat number, so I thought maybe this train since it's a shorter distance only has class of coach. At 2am after trying to ask 2 people for help to no avail, I boarded the train in the correct section and proceeded to claim the first open seat/bed. After making myself quite at home lying there reading my book with the curtain closed for privacy - about 5 minutes after the train starts moving a middle aged man throws open my curtain and just stands there staring at me. Then he closes it without a word. An official comes knocking next and of course there are assigned seats that I was supposed to find online prior to boarding. One loo, at me all comfy and confused...he says stay there and closes my curtain with some kind of finality.  Oops!

3. I'm on the local bus from the border to Pokharra and not only am I the only foreigner, but no one seems to speak or really understand any English. About 5 hours into the trip, the door guy/money collector dude starts coming through the aisle back towards me shouting something that sounds like "ma'am trule." I look at him and say "me?" He repeats himself louder this time. I'm looking around the bus parked on the side of the road in the pitch black for some kind of clue. Nothing. He repeats himself directly in my face and I mumble something along the lines of "I don't think I'm supposed to get of here..." He gives up and turns to walk back to the front of the bus mumbling the same mysterious word. My ESL teacher brain kicks in and I've got it... "TOILET" I shout...and the half of the bus that is not sleeping looks very amused. I say "oh, no thank you" even though I should go...because well it's pitch black and the jungle...and plus the others who needed to have already come back. The bus takes off again.

4. Have you ever been pushed off a bus in the middle of the night in the jungle? And then a guy looks at you through his motorcycle helmet and says "you are Mary?" If you have, then you know he puts on your small pack, instructs you to put on your big pack, and then you both suppress a giggle as you do you anything but "hop" with very little grace onto the back of the motorbike.  Off you go into the night on a wing and a prayer.  Grandma would have had a fit. I thought it was hysterical and fun!

5. Old fashioned keys and I don't get along- especially when the hotel dude gives me the wrong one.  After that epic sweaty journey and the ever necessary shower, I was in search of food. Only problem was in had somehow successfully locked the door only to be unable to open it. Seriously. After 10 minutes of consistently trying the key from  the inside, as one does here, I contemplated banging on the door...yelling for help...but those all seemed too "damsel in distress" at 10:30 at night. After another 10 minutes I managed to jam the lock and get it open. Only to find out the kitchen  was closed. Sometimes we just have to laugh in order to avoid crying into our Nepali Ice  (beer yes, food no... that was the answer at reception).