The man seated next to me dry heaved two or three times until he eventually was able to produce a generous amount of vomit. Motion sickness lacks any real internal stimulant, so the vomit doesn’t come out with much bravado. It was less projectile and more of a laborious reunion of his previous meal. The vomit came out slow enough that he had to push the excess out with his tongue, then it slid down the inside and outside of the bus. He would stick his tongue deep between his lips and gums to get any remaining debris, and then he would suck the collection to the back of his mouth and spit it out seven to thirteen times. This process repeated for quite a while. The acidic smell of bile quickly filled the bus, causing a person two rows back to open their window and vomit as well. I took deep breaths and had a sip of water every ten seconds to wet my mouth so that I wouldn’t vomit. I did everything I could to distract myself. My new charmed and elegant lifestyle was quickly and violently taken away. I was back in the rough. This is who I am. This is what I deserve. I was foolish to think I could escape fate. I had no choice but to dissociate completely.
By the time I arrived in Jibhi, the weather was cold and rainy. I had booked a homestay online that had great reviews. It was heralded as an idyllic getaway, completely one with nature, pure bliss. I figured I would lay low here for a couple of days to collect my thoughts. I got off my bus and began the 45-minute trek to the homestay. I walked so far that there was no sign of any civilization, just the vegetation around me and the muddy road under my feet. I was smiling for the days ahead of me – a true creative retreat into nature. As I was walking, night fell upon me. The cold air became severe, and vision was minimal. Surely the homestay is just up the hill – nothing. I looked deep into the forest for any signs. The lack of daylight made it more challenging, but I wasn’t worried. It’s probably just a bit further up. Hunger began to set in. I had been on a bus all day, not eating because I was certain I’d vomit. I had set myself up for failure. My emotions were fragile. I was losing my patience. I recall the directions saying I had to take a trail off of the main road. No sign of any trail. There was a building high on the ridge in the distance. I figured that must be it, there was nothing else for at least three miles. I had to trudge through the jungle to get to it. I stepped in a creek and soaked my shoes and socks. Spiderwebs assaulted my face every few steps. Bugs were jumping on me from every which way. I was swatting, cursing, climbing up to the building above. I was near my breaking point, but rest was just on the horizon. I reached the building in the pitch-black darkness of a rainy night. No lights on. The sign for the homestay was faded and dilapidated. There was no sign of life whatsoever. Perhaps they go to sleep at 8:00. I knocked. Nothing. It slowly began to sink in. The place was closed for good, out of business, abandoned. The third-party booking website had not caught on. I was livid. Of course, this is how it goes. I try to be proactive about lodging, and this is my reward. Every emotional extreme coursed through me. I wanted to scream. As I trudged back out of the jungle, through the spiderwebs and the creek, I developed a thirst for revenge. I had to settle the score. Scorched earth. I was so angry that I smoked an entire cigarette in one hard drag. They made a god damn fool out of me. They took my money, left me alone, cold, wet, hungry, and lost. That is unforgivable. I found a guest house and walked into the lobby where people were having a good time. I filled the room with negativity and hatred. I ended up talking to a group of Indians that were also on vacation, and they invited me to dinner. We had great conversation, and it felt amazing to spend time with such a friendly group and to enjoy each other’s company. Amid our laughter and sharing of stories, I had completely forgotten about the tragedy of my day. My rage had evaporated. My mood truly flipped. The devil had a hold of me, but their kindness and generosity saved me from damnation. I owe them a great deal of gratitude. Today really wasn’t so bad when it’s all said and done.
Nauseating experience with a happy ending though! A bit of advice.. don’t trust google navigation especially if it leads to lanes and bylanes, even if you do so, verify by word of mouth from locals.
I love the kindness of others! Especially when you least expect it and desperately need it❤️