30th of March, 2023.
Hitchhiking in India.
The first car to stop, it says to be going only to a few kilometres ahead. I refuse. Then a young man walks from his car and tells me something similar. Again, I refuse, even though he seems very eager to help.
When he is leaving, a lady comes by and asks him to translate that they are going to Thissur, a city about 60 Km from here. They both say that my chances will be better there. Initially, I was planning to not take anyone going less than 100 Km, but I decide to listen to them. Lucky me!
Simy and Prince are a lovely couple going back home. They cannot speak much English but we manage to communicate pretty well! They have a daughter, Anita, and a son, both studying, at University and College, respectively, in different cities. They can speak a good English and I talk with both of them during our short trip together.
We make a quick stop for coffee and Prince has some breakfast too. He also buys me some Milk Peda and some ginger candies. Yummy! And a booster to my immune system!
After a sad goodbye, and as in Prince’s words: “There is only a few Km left, but I don’t want to say goodbye!”, they drop me off at the bypass.
The cars are coming quite fast, and they cannot see me really well, but what to do?
Luckily for me, two brothers and a cousin, saw me and not having time to break, they came back. How sweet! Albin, Nickson and Abin, the driver, all of them in their early twenties, are going to Coimbatore, to pick up another cousin, so they offer to take me there. Can you drop me off at the bypass? – I ask. They say yes and I get in!
Albin (in the back seat with me) is a tattoo artist and he shows me some of his nice work. Abin has finished his studies and has plans of going to do his Masters in the UK. Nickson has also finished his studies, and his plans are to go to France. After a selfie inside the car, the guys carry on to Coimbatore and I get out at the bypass.
Thomas seems quite surprised to see me, but he stops anyway. My sign says “Salem” but he is actually going to Bengalore, which is after the next town on the way to Andhra Pradesh, which is great for me!
After clarifying everything about my travels, to Thomas complete astonishment, we start talking about religion. How great is to finally find someone who shares the same thoughts as I about religion. Because since I arrived in India, all I was doing is learning about religions. The result? Not so good! Disappointment with Buddhism; a good surprise with Sikhism principles and practices at Punjab, but then disappointment again as I travel to Mumbai; a total confusion and weirdness about Hinduism. Thomas is the first non-religious person I have talked to, and what a pleasure! Just like me, he was a Christian, and as well just as me, after starting asking questions and gaining some knowledge, he became an atheist. I do love talking with religious people, don’t get me wrong. I have met some wonderful souls in all religions, with whom I like to talk and from whom I have learnt a lot. It is just that, sometimes, it is nice to talk with someone who shares the same point of views as you.
We make two stops for tea, and in both he bought me local delicious snacks. The trip it lasted way longer than I expected, and we arrived in Khrisnagiri at 8 p.m.
I walked for a few minutes alongside the highway, and when I spotted a young girl, I came to ask her for information. Lucky me! She told me about a convent in the city, and when I attempted to walk there, she asked her friend to give me a ride in his scooter over there. Yay!
The Convent is St. Clare’s and I come to talk with some sisters. At first, one of the sisters tell me to wait for the sister in charge. While waiting, I have some banana chips and two milk pedas because I am shaking with hunger. Then I talk with a lovely sister, called Alex, and she tells me to wait that they will help me. But middle time, the first sister with whom I talked, tells me repeatedly that they don’t offer shelter here, so I should try somewhere else. I have a good feeling about this place, so I tell her that I rather to wait and talk with the Madre Superior first. Lucky me!
Sister Amelie is very sweet and after hearing my story she tells me I shall come and stay in a room. I told her that I could simply put my tent outside, but she insisted for the room.
Then she invited me for super with all the nuns. She kept telling all the sisters about me and my travels. I also kept giving them more details, to which all of them were more and more surprised. I even have some papaya for dessert.
I ask to Sister Amelie to wake me up at 5.45 a.m. before she goes to the mass, so I can leave at 6 a.m.
The room is very comfortable and with a bathroom. After a shower and washing my clothes, I try to sleep but I am so overwhelmed by my day and for staying here, that it takes some time until I manage to sleep.
I wake up a 5 a.m., so when Sister Amelie knocks at my door I am ready and waiting for her. I leave at 6 a.m.
10 Years Around the World 