This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen to me!
I always have snafu-free adventures. I meet interesting people and have nothing but magically synchronistic encounters and experiences when I travel. I have met some of the most exquisite human beings in various places around the planet.
This trip has been decidedly different.
I typically don’t lose my luggage. The only other time I remember having missing baggage was when I flew to the UK to get married. Yep, that’s right. They lost my wedding dress. I had planned a fairytale wedding in an ancient castle in the green hills just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland… but that is an entirely different story for another day… (And yes, thankfully my luggage showed up in time for the wedding!)
This transition from India to Nepal has been an unexpectedly intense journey.
I’ve had a wide variety of interesting experiences, such as taxi drivers getting lost and what not, but they almost always turn into funny and magical adventures. This time, I’m talking about full-on suck… beginning with getting scammed by a Delhi Airport hotel and nearly missing my connecting flight because I am in the bathroom getting violently ill. Throw in “losing” all of my trekking gear, and all of the clothing samples I just spent a month making in India, and of course, all the souvenirs and treasures that I bought… Just gone! Vanished in an instant! And then all of a sudden, you have only what’s in your carry-on.
It has been a very humbling trip. I have been working overtime to stay positive and I have been continuously looking for the well-hidden blessing. Remaining upbeat and grateful became my mantra and mission. I gave up and planned a time to go out and buy knock-off, expensive (but shitty quality) gear, and replace my missing boots and all of my hiking clothing. I am a self-admitted backpacking gear snob; having sold, used, tested, and reviewed endless options of long-distance hiking gear. I can honestly say, having to use crappy gear on a challenging two-week trek to Mount Everest base camp (EBC), just seemed completely unacceptable.
This morning, I had such an interesting conversation with a man from Singapore, who was telling me a miraculous story about being healed by an angel. It was so inspiring that I knew he was there to remind me that all I had to do was ask for a miracle. And most importantly, to TRUST that whatever I need, will show up exactly when I need it. I completely surrendered. And when the anxiety inevitably returned, I surrendered again.
I went to dinner after being at the airport half the day ~ for the third day in a row ~ talking to airport employees about where my luggage could possibly be… And then it happened… just like magic. I found the blessing I had been searching for!
Sitting in the magical enchanted garden, drinking hot ginger lemon tea, writing [this] in my computer, it dawned on me how much help and support I have had during this entire mishap. Not to mention that my trekking guide friend here in Nepal has been checking in with me nonstop and perfectly arranged everything in advance for me!
The hotel reception desk ~ and entire staff ~ has been helping me, the airport shuttle driver has been driving me back-and-forth to the airport~ patiently waiting for me while I go talk to the people… again and again; and I finally got the number of someone at the airlines that has been sincerely trying to help me. I am being aided and supported by so many wonderful people! All of these angels are here to remind me that sometimes asking for help (and learning to receive) IS the gift. Nepalese people are incredibly kind and generous! Their hearts are big and I am overflowing with gratitude.
The very moment I had this realization, I felt the familiar buzz of my phone receiving a WhatsApp message in my pocket. I knew without looking at the screen that it was my new best friend, Vishnu, telling me that he had found my bag. And sure enough, a photo of my luggage tag with my name, appeared on the screen, with the words, “Is this your handwriting?” And although I am still at the moment waiting for a response as to whether it has made the trip from Delhi to Kathmandu yet, I know I will get it sometime this afternoon. We leave at midnight for the 5-hour drive to the aircraft that will take us deep into the Himalayas, to begin our 12-day trek to the base of the tallest mountain on earth.
This is not how I envisioned spending the last few hours before starting out on this bucket-list adventure, but I am still grinning ear to ear. A large part of me KNEW everything was going to turn out okay, but I still struggled with the stress of it all. After all, five days is a fairly long time to have only one pair of socks and underwear, (even if you have a nice hotel sink to wash them in).
But enough of that! These truly are luxury problems… and it wasn’t really the “stuff” that was bothering me so much. It was that any of this happened to me at all! Many would say, of course, sometimes shit happens… But ultimately it feels like a test of faith, because I understand that I create my own reality. Ahhhh….All is well… as long as I remember to have some compassion for myself and always look for the blessings! xoxCollin
Namaste
