Adventures of a Passport and how Dharmshala came to the rescue!!

For those interesting in what happened. This is a great story and lesson for all you future travelors.

 There is alot going on when you travel and so much to look at and read. It is distracting and in that sense.... I forgot my passport at the Western Union when I went to exchange money. Once I got my cash signed some documents I assumed they already gave me back my passport.....in which they did not. this is ok if I was not leaving within 6 hours. I left it there and didn't realize it at all.

With my group a 3 hour drive commenced and I was at Chakki Bank waiting for the grueling 12 hour train ride ahead of me. It wasn't too bad of a drive and we killed time quickly with a game of cards. "Egyptian Rat-screw" That is a game you play if you need time to kill and entertainment. It always becomes a violent game as you slap the cards when appropriate. Heck when you play with our friend Travis who makes samurai/ninja noises  you attract a spectator group who are watching from behind. Its really entertaining.

Here is a fun story. Our train was coming late so we had to wait longer or play some more cards. When a train did arrive we checked to see if it was the correct train. Well, we looked hard for the correct train and did not find it. Our friend Travis went to run down the train line to find our train...... It took a minute or so and then the train started to move slowly.....I look around to find my group all with out luggage and backpacker bag and our professor who said jump on the train. Holy Cow!! Jump on the moving train! Are you serious. I watched the group go in and I had to run with my heavy luggage and throw it on the train and jump on. Sorry to Ameilia I had to push her in so I could fit. Never in my life do I want to panic and run onto a moving train!! Our friend Travis luckily jumped on the train but ran and jumped on. Whew I thought what a crazy trip.

I was on the train a bit shaky from the experience and thought if I didn't make the train I would be in some crazy Indian train station alone. But, we are fine....well sort of.

It was the wrong train! I kept calm for the most part, but got kinda grumpy later.

We got on a train to early. So we had to wait for the next stop an hour away and wait for the right train. It was about 1 am now and it was mayhem when we did get on the train because people took our seats. We had to wait about 45 mins before we settle down. I was losing patience and by 2 am I finally got to sleep on the train. By 630 we were woken up by our coordinator.

BY 8am we finally make it to Delhi and went to the cab and rushed to the hotel. We were exhausted from the ride and thought about staying awake for breakfast.

I took a shower and rested a bit. Then I did inventory check to see if I have everything. I had everything but my passport. Crap! I checked all my stuff to make sure I wasn't freaking out. I didn't have it and realized when I went to exchange money I may have no gotten it back. They never chased me to say I forgot my passport when they watched me walk out. So I assumed I had everything. Wrong!

I tell my professor we call the place. They have my passport! Great! Now how can I get it before my flight at 11:30pm Dec. 21st. Well there is one plane leaving and it can come meet you in Delhi. Ok.

Lhamu a wonderful Tibetan called every Tibetan she knew to see if we can get it on a plane here. Heck even pay a person to come fly it down. Or a cab to drive it. It was about 11am and we heard rumors of a 345pm flight. Well.... it was a rumor. the last flight was at 1pm. ok.... crap I thought. changing my airfare could cost hundreds maybe even a brand new ticket home.

Lhamu calls Him View Hotel people. Let me say how amazing these people are. Tsering Dorjee the hotel manager. Nicest guy on the planet seriously. Ridiculously nice. He gets my passports and take his motorcycle to Kangra airport and desperately tries to reach his guest who was on the flight. Ok, let me explain it is 40 mins by car ride with traffic. But a motorcycle it took him 25 mins. Meaning he speed like 80 down the mountain dodging and cutting off every cab to reach this guest so my passport can be delivered to me. He calls and says that he made it to the airport and give the guest information. In which I celebrated thinking the passport made it to him. My passport did not make it to the guest. Security is high and would not let the guest leave or Tsering to come and deliver the passport on the plane. He even offers to pay the security guard to just give it on the plane. It doesn't make it period. He called to tell us how close he was but it didn't work. I am so shocked he even tried that hard, and called earlier because he was confident he made it.

It was a wild shot but its ok he tried so hard. On to plan B. Call Jhon! Great Kashimir guy who saved my passport. He has a bus driver friend who was coming to Delhi the next day. So with a chance I am taking to come home, I say ok have him deliver it to Delhi. Jhon, is extremely nice and even offered to come on the 12 hour bus to personally deliver it and immediately return to Dharmshala. These people are your friends for the rest of your life seriously! So nice! I told him its ok, just have your friend you trust and deliver it.

Long story short folks. I switched my flight for a day later and stayed at the Hotel for the night. Amazingly at no penalty charge to change my flight.The rest of my group went on home to the US, and I have one more day here to enjoy India. Even if it's alone, it will be a good day. This hotel is super nice, its a Japanese Buddhism Temple and Hotel. So I even get to speak Japanese to the random Japanese tourists. I spent a day exploring Delhi with friends to get my mind off things. It was wonderful.

This morning at 8am I went to a random station in India and met the Bus driver. I was extremely nervous because my cell phone the one I thought was charging last night was dying. As long as I can call Nabu the driver to meet me was the only goal. Finally Nabu found me and handed me my lovely passport! I said "Thanks to you I can leave the country! Thank you Thank you!!" I gave my 1000 rupees for doing that for me. I was extremely grateful.

Now, I have a full day in Delhi to enjoy the country and tour whatever really.

Even though it was a day later then planned at least I make it for the Holidays! Thanks to folks in Dharmshala for being wonderful and coming to the rescue when I needed it most!! I can't express how wonderful these people are.

See you in Denver!! December 23rd at 2:00pm.

Hello, My name is Viki I work for "Tibet Post" , may I interview you

  Along with my friend Kyle, we sit all day at the desk in front of the computers and type articles. I have a couple myself published :) It is exciting but at the same time a lot of work.

 Working here has been a wonderful experience overall. It gave me the opportunity to ask  the Tibetan community here really anything I was curious about. Whether it was life as a Nomad in Tibet, or the illegal walks to India, a mothers viewpoint and her dreams in the future or even asking how their day was, it was a blessing to go into people lives and make that human connection with people. We all think and have emotions and remember each other. Our World population has reached 7 billion and somehow I met you. It's really phenomenal when you think about all the people you met on a daily bases but being able to jump into the Tibetan community has been surprisingly easy. If I run into the people I interview with on the streets I wave and always they wave back and ask how I am? It's natural to say "hello" and I am loving every minute of it. I don't feel like a tourist because I have made friends and our time is coming to an end which is always bitter sweet.

I wonder if I contributed anything to India or the Tibetan community. Being here I felt that I learned more form them. Sure, I taught English every night with my conversation partner but he is great. He reminds me that I am great, and contribute something.

"You are very good" he says confidently "It's simple but you taught me the word temple. It is simple but it has made my life so much easier."

I have learned that small differences do change people and eventually lead to bigger changes. I can't say that my opinions of believing in politicians and government has changed because it hasn't. I am not convinced.

But, "common folk" Tibetans and Indians who only wish to wake up the next day to food and a roof over their heads.  Or Tibetan students who are working to change things for their future.I need to be reminded myself that I am too materialistic and forget the simple pleasures in life. I need to also remember that small things matter. I tend to focus on details for the bigger picture, but forget that simple things like a "How are you?" or "Hey I thought of you today, so I want to send a email or call you." But that has made my experiences here. I am so grateful, for the emails back in the states, or even facebook messages that say I hope you are having a good time. Simple thoughts from people across the world who are thinking of you send positive energies. I enjoy it and feel empowered that I am not here for myself but living for others is wonderful. I have also enjoyed having tea with the Kashmiri Show owners who speak English quite well.

Whenever, I get to talk with people and interview people, I never forget a face or what they have shared with me. It is very precious when you have that connection with people and can write about it to share with others. Maybe they can feel just a bit of how amazing people can be. It is also a gift to realize 12 hours away people here have hopes, dreams, aspirations and feelings. Just like I do.