Advice From Others

Going to foreign lands, it is always wise to seek advice from others. It is truly amazing how many people I have been in contact with -- from friends, family, family friends, friends of family -- everyone wants to share a story or impart some wisdom before I leave.

The fun advice though tends to come from those that you have not solicited it from. This occurs frequently when making small chat with people and you would normally seem relatively boring due to the fact that you don't have a job or something so you decide to tell them all about your upcoming travels in Asia. My new eye doctor especially liked to chat about this since he had just gotten back from Vietnam. I wish I knew his name but the nurse had me take out my contacts before I met him which rendered me absolutely blind and unable to focus on much new information.

Anywho, Mr. New Eye Doctor started telling me about how facial reconstruction is his specialty and then asked if I have ever heard of mopeds. Note: Although he was young, he acted like he had never heard of a moped before going to Vietnam. I told him yes but that I was not planning on going on one if I could help it. I also cracked a joke and said I was thinking about investing in a helmet. Well, Mr. New Eye Doctor Who Actually Prefers Facial Reconstruction did not find that funny at all and told me that a helmet could save my brain but not my cheekbone (he actually said a more technical term). "You would look like you are missing half your face and it could never be repaired," were his actual words I believe.

Well, okay then. I was left speechless. I was also really confused because I still couldn't see much more than huge blobs. Luckily, he let me leave after that lecture and I was able to go put my contacts back in.

At least not everyone is so pessimistic... Now I will share my positive experience with the woman who gave me the best nugget of advice thus far -- Juliana, who works at American Express where I went to purchase traveler's cheques and rupees (the Indian currency in case you were curious).

Meet my new best friend Juliana...

We took an instant liking to each other, her being Indian and me being about to go there. She even thought I had already been to India as my knowledge of her country was so abundant! Yes, I am perfect. However, even without our common interest in her country, I think we would have gotten along fabulously -- we are both good-looking, smart, and funny ladies.

So she ordered me my rupees on Monday, especially requesting small bills for my convenience, and I was on my way. As is the manner of dear friends, she promised a speedy delivery so I wasn't too surprised when today, she called and told me they had arrived! I hopped in the Mount (my other best friend, who I am driving constantly these days in order to celebrate his 100,000 miles while I am still in the country) and drove up to see Juliana. Upon arrival we started chatting some more about where I would be staying in Mumbai, what I wish to see, what to look out for, etc. When I asked her where she was from, she replied, "Goa." "Goa!" I cried, "I plan on going there! It looks beautiful there and I love beaches."

Let me tell you, I wish I had a camera when I said that because Juliana put on the biggest smile and then looked at me in a manner I wish I had captured. If I could explain the look, I would say it meant "I am sneaky and have a wonderful place for you to go to but by the way I am sneaky and you must go to where I tell you!" and that doesn't even begin to explain.

And what beach prompted such a look? "BAGATOR BEACH," Juliana tells me, writing down the name. She looked back up at me, winks and says, "It is a nude beach."

Thank you American Express for giving me my new best friend, Juliana. While the young Mr. Eye Doctor did not know what a moped was, Juliana the middle-aged Indian woman could suggest a nude beach. In her country where propriety is emphasized.

To wrap this up and leave one last final food for thought, one email I recently received from an advice giver who doesn't know me at all said, "If you are embarking on a trip like this, my guess is that you have an adventurous spirit and will NOT want to come back permanently." She also suggested I think about teaching overseas. It hadn't been something I was planning on, but hey, advice is advice and some of the suggestions least expected could be the best ones.

Either way, keep the advice coming because I certainly enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I am not endorsing nude beaches nor has this become a concrete destination in my itinerary. I am actually a bit uncomfortable when it comes to nudity.