Trust in the kindness of strangersOctober 26, 2016

Michael was talking about Berlin's infamous death strip, which became the centre of weekend fun for locals and travellers alike. Unlike our other flatmates, I wasn't green with envy. I learned about kindness in the most unlikely place.

Mum wanted to see the Khmer ruins after looking at the photos (on the Internet). She wanted to compare the temples in Siem Reap and the pagodas in Bagan. Dad asked her if there were temples on the island of Java. She didn't seem to hear it, but I found out that he was right. It didn't matter, as we learned about our itinerary. The scenic countryside in Vang Vieng would not be missed.

It was a humid morning when I checked my inbox. It was the first week of March, and I figured that winter ended too early. Michael suggested the Hidden Peaks bike trail (after our holiday), but I didn't give a reply. I was still thinking about the warm river while experiencing water tubing in the remote region in Laos. And we had an unusual experience a few hours ago. My parents were looking at Bayon Temple, as they figured out what was the best spot to take a picture. A Khmer teenage boy came out of nowhere and suggested the small pyramid (on the left side of the temple). We didn't know that we were standing beside it (until we took a closer look). The narrow stairway forced us to climb slowly. It turned out that the summit was the perfect place for taking pictures. As for the young lad, he told us that his school was undergoing repair. He was hoping that we could give him some money (to finance it). As Dad explained later, it didn't enter his mind if this was a scam. He was glad that the boy guided us. It turned out that this won't be the last.

A friendly curiosity everywhere we'd gone

It took us nearly two hours to travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Kulen Park. Rith, our tuk-tuk driver, suggested this place after we checked all the temples. It was located on a dwarf mountain overlooking a plain of grasslands and snake-like rivers. A stairway greeted us upon our arrival, but we didn't expect to see the people in the stairs. Women lined up the stairway, crouched and reaching out for a small amount of cash. Some local visitors would stop by a store to exchange their large bill into smaller ones, and give all the women a little bit of money. I don't know what to make of it, but I noticed the faint smile on their faces. And they clasped their hands and gave a slight bow (to the kind locals).

This might be part of their culture; this could be another lesson in kindness. It wasn't a foreign concept, as I recalled the helpful faces during Freshers Weeks. And how my tutor would accommodate me whenever I was lost (in the coursework). I won't forget the camaraderie (in the English Department) as well. This one would be different because these people seemed to have little or nothing at all. I've been thinking about it. Mum seemed to notice it, as she asked me if I didn't enjoy our holiday. Dad thought it was a strange smile on my face.

Read all articles→