I believe in Karma, traveller’s karma – a destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.
Those of you in the backpacker / traveller space will be aware of websites such as ‘couchsurfing.com’. It’s a volunteer-based worldwide network connecting travellers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation and/or advice. In short, if you have a room, space for a tent in your garden, or even a couch, you can offer it up on the site for backpackers. In exchange, you have access to a worldwide network of free accommodation ready for your next backpacking trip. No money exchanges hands and providing you have a good experience, whichever side of the fence you’re on, everyone’s a winner.
Over the last few years we’ve helped out a number of fellow travelling friends and friends of friends. In St Albans our lovely Aussie mates came and crashed for a few weeks whilst they got acquainted with the area and subsequently decided to stay and found work. In Mumbai our friends friend from America completed his 3 month backpacking trip around India with a 4 night break with us, complete with guided tours and lots of good food (the poor guy had lost over 13kg during his trip and looked in desperate need of being nourished) and on another occasion a friend of a friend crashed with us for a night on her way back from Goa.
Kiwi Dan
I have to say that over the last 2 months we have received a huge amount of generosity from our friends in this part of the world, even more generous as we now come with a baby. We can no longer claim to be the guest that “you won’t even notice we’re here”. If we’re here you’ll know about it, particularly if ‘the boy’ is teething or leaving a trail of destruction with his newly found walking skills and inquisitive hands.
On arrival in Singapore, our friends from Mumbai, Dan and Susie, very kindly let us stay with them, on not one, but two occasions (on arrival and post Tioman island). They had the bum deal as not only did they have to share their flat with a backpacking baby novice, but also a baby suffering with jet lag AND a bad bout of teething!
More recently, a few days ago in fact, our friend Jan and her hubby Howie made us very welcome in their home in Singapore. Over the course of a few fun packed days Jan and ‘the boy’ struck up a firm friendship and bath time, playtime and meal time duties were assisted by his new friend.
Jan and 'the boy' say "cheers"
In Ubud our friends Jo and Sven flew in from Perth for a holiday. Jo a seasoned backpacker (we met in Australia and backpacked around Western, Central and South Australia together) appreciating the budget constraints of backpacking long-term generously treated us to two top-notch meals.
A night out in Ubud (spot the buggy!)
So there we have it – travellers karma.
Thank you Dan, Susie, Jan, Howie, Jo and Sven. If you’re ever in our area our door will always be open for you. Which area, we don’t know, but hopefully in the next few months we’ll find out….
Top tip of the day:
Today’s top tip is going to be given a blog post of its own entitled ‘lock up the limes’….
