Traveling 101 (or) Why I am not in India!
Been debating how to come clean about why I'm not in India and have decided to just lay it out.
First off, let me start by saying I have never missed an international flight. (I did fall asleep at the gate for a domestic once), but this is entirely different. Without having my supporters lose complete faith in me, I have just failed traveling 101. To my defense, last year I went to Nepal through New Delhi airport and I recieved my Visa on site in Nepal, I was never asked for a Visa upon boarding nor in India in transit. Of course, this is just to make myself feel a little better. I checked to see if I needed shots, and other suggested items, but I forgot the critical component of actually acquiring a Visa to India pre-departure. The saddest part of this story is coming. The airline let me board my flight in Berlin and checked my bags through to Varanasi, if only they had given me a boarding pass for both flights. Alas, I arrive in Milan awaiting my transfer, when I am asked about my visa I realize I have found myself in a seriously bad situation. I am sent running to the ticketing desk, where a woman tells me that not only can I not change my ticket, because I already flew a portion of it, but that in fact I will recieve no refund, in addition, since I am returning through Brussels, she cannot assist me in getting back to Berlin. I am crying my eyes out in stupidity and embarrassement and frustration. In 15 years of travel, I have never made a mistake of this caliber (except perhaps eating that soup on the side of the street in Cambodia), I am humbled and stranded. I am starting to think that too much travel over the last couple of years has made me perhaps too lackadaisical about it all. I find myself in a state of exhaustion and overwhelmed by this grave loss of ticket worth a lot of money, in fact the most expensive ticket I have ever purchased. I find my way to the cheapest airport hotel and call a friend for some sage wisdom. We have a jam session on the unjustness of the airline, venting to give them partial blame for the stranding. I think maybe I should just return to Berlin, get the Visa and buy a new ticket. I do some research on tickets and I eliminate this option.I discuss how I had some guilt about photographing travelers in India, because I believe they would be a similar to those I photographed in Nepal. One of my main goals is to get different travelers. I think about the charity I was supposed to do photography for, and how I have failed them. I think about the heat in India (Varanasi) at this precise moment and just how miserable it would have been. Already at 102 (42c) and perhaps up to 106 (46c) during my month visit. I then really dig deep and try to think about how guides and angels work magic, presuming that there is some deeper meaning in this terrible mistake I have made.
My friend asks where I thought I should go, I say Israel. I look at tickets and find a one way from Milan to Tel Aviv for $300 all inclusive with a 16 hour layover in Kiev. I buy it...
Kiev....I lick my wounds in depressing Kiev, a city that reminds me of just how lucky I am. I have options, I can escape this downtrodden place.
In the Airport in Kiev, waiting to fly to Israel....now I sit on a bus in Tel Aviv. The weather is perfect, it is already completely fascinating. I am ready to photograph some travelers.
I think, maybe even after all this, I'm still a travel ninja. I was attacked by the gods of travel, I maneuvered and I ended up in a place that belongs in the project.
I made my wish at the Western Wall & photographed 65 travelers in Jerusalem.
After which I went into Jordan to see Petra, which was always on my list of things to see. Petra was incredible & truly mindblowing. More to come on this soon!
I visited Palestine (where my heart was touched). I had an amazing 3 weeks, I will def be writing more on my impressions of Israel and Palestine, very soon. I am now back in Berlin for an incredible summer!
