Don't sit back, take a step forward

Who do you look upon when you look for inspiration or who comes to your mind when you have to think of heroes or peace makers in your country's recent history? I have been thinking about this lately and the answer is not as obvious as it seems like it could or should be. It's always easier to come up with names from times when we were not even born, maybe because appreciation for such people is cultivated over a long period of time. 

How about we take a step back and see if we can find such heroes in our everyday life or among our friends or relatives. On my travels through India I was lucky to meet someone who decided to get on his bike and take off in search of such people. People who have inspiring stories to share, promoters of peace, who (not only) young Indians can look upon, someone who is not history to them but alive and active now. 

The project is called "De Paix Yatra" and was set up by two young men, Nitesh and Parth. They planned to ride their bikes through several countries to Europe in 2012 and collect stories of inspirational people to later present to Indian youth. Their journey took on a different direction because of protests in Pakistan but instead of giving up, the team changed their route to Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.  This year they are planning to publish books, documentaries and take other steps in other to share their experiences and encourage young people towards positive change in their environment. 

Why I am writing about this is because I want to point out that by coming up with this project and making it a reality, they already discovered the first inspiring heroes, themselves. 

To me, meeting someone my age who decided not to sit back but act instead is enough of an incentive to start thinking about my own life, the lives of others and how I can make a positive change, no matter how big or small, myself.

Let's not think too much about how we can help, let's just do it. Be nice to one another. Be kind, inspire and let others inspire you. Do something positive today. Give a smile to a stranger :) Please, do it today! For me, for you and for everyone in the world. 

"Peace ya'll" Kathmandu, Nepal

Sometimes it's worthy to be on the wrong train

On my way to Bombay from Goa again. This time on a train. The train really is way better than being on a bus, especially during the day when so much is happening. But let me start from the beginning here. Although the man at the reception at my hotel made it seem like it was a ridiculous idea to try to take a bus to the train station in Thivim and suggested a taxi, I decided to do it the bus way. Especially after I asked one more person how long it was going to take and the time shrank to half.

So after three buses and about thirty rupees I find myself on the side of the road, leading up to the small train station in Thivim. Now. I think of myself as a pro when it comes to taking trains. I have taken many in my life and they are really not that different here than anywhere else. The system just works the same. So I walk to the station, feeling the sun getting stronger with each step.

There are people waiting already. I haven't had anything for breakfast so I buy two samosas at a stall wrapped in newspaper and have a look around the platform. By the way it would be quite interesting to see what kind of stories are wrapped around each samosa, what kind of information you swallow together with the spicy dough.

Anyway. The train comes, I find my carriage number and without thinking too much about it, get on. Now, the part about not thinking is a crucial one. I don't even consider I could be on a wrong train. I realize it's a little ahead of schedule (actually quite a lot) but don't see anything wrong with that. There are many people who will be getting on, it's probably just early. So I find my seat and get comfortable. A lady asks me if I am from Goa. I reply I am not (obviously) but wonder about the question for a moment. Do I look like I could be Goan or do I look like a foreigner living in Goa? Anyway, I leave that alone once the train starts moving. Something is not right. I keep hearing Madgaon, Madgaon, which I know is the opposite direction to where I need to go and also the train just leaves too early. I ask the lady where the train is going and "surprise, surprise", she says Madgaon. When she sees the "oh shit" expression on my face, she asks me where I need to go and I tell her the other way, to Bombay. Now she definitely knows I am not from Goa, someone local would not be that dumb to get on the wrong train.

The next stop is Karmali, I know my train also stops there. What I can hope for is that I catch it there and nobody catches me without a ticket in the meantime.

Once I feel like the train might be stopping soon, I get up from my seat to walk to the door. I confirm with two other passengers that the next stop is Karmali and share my situation with them. Then an old lady comes who also wants to know what is going on and she finds it necessary to share it with all the men in the compartment by the door. So now I am not in it alone anymore! They excitedly poke their heads out of the train to see if mine is at the station. Now sign of a station yet.

I am not really stressed or mad, rather amazed about my stupidity and kindness of my fellow passengers. We enter a tunnel. The station must be coming up. And sure enough, it is. The train is right there! Now everyone starts reassuring me the train will wait. What do they mean it will wait? Will it wait because I am stuck on a wrong one? I am not too worried though. I trust these people, they must know, right?

They let me move all the way to the door so I can get off first but make sure I don't try to jump off too early while the train is stopping. I may seem adventurous (they ask me if I travel alone) but trust me, I am not about to break my leg just to be on the right train when really, I have all the time in this world to get myself to wherever I need to be.

Not to make it sound like I don't care at all, there is some adrenalin involved. Finally the train comes to a halt and I step out rushing across the platform to get on mine. This is not that obvious since technically, I am supposed to board it from the other side. No time for that though. I just climb over the railings, still under the watchful eyes of my fellow passengers and hop on. Within thirty seconds the train starts moving. I made it! No, wait, WE made it!