1-Way Ticket

The fruit vendor, Jewellery woman, Snake boy who wanted to put his five-foot pet around my neck for a photo, Fortune teller, Masseur, who persistently demanded my hand for a demonstration. I reluctantly agreed. Realizing he was no fake, cracking bones, moving flesh and tissue, my hand felt like brand new, loose and flexible. Producing a note book o

The cutting-saw too old for a museum, similar to a smaller version I seen in my grandfather’s shed twenty years ago. To buy an electric saw, drills or a television with a video recorder would be fruitless, electricity was minimal. Back at Dhading boarding school people were

visit to the Russian embassy was worse than a trip to the dentist. At least when

They would try and nudge in-front of you, by going to the top of the line to ask a question, then, buy their tokens. “I guess you see we can be aggressive,” one friend said. “But it’s not malicious, it’s part of our personality. Do not take this seriously, simply hold your spot, do not give way,” she advised.

For me, Odessa, on the Black Sea was a welcome change from the masses that flock to the Mediterranean. No contending with the British larger louts, or the punctual Germans who take all the beach umbrellas and get the best spots, the Scandinavians who are so good-looking but too disciplined. With few westerners it was a greater opportunity to

I was thinking, a few sodas and a bit of banter in the student canteen, but they had planned and wanted much more. Administrators

I met Eddie from Belgium in a local cafe. Seated at the next table, he encouraged me to visit the prison for women. Surprised, “Why are you hanging around prisons?” “I went there this morning to see a girl from Denmark. She got romantically involved with a local guy. She is here seven months, has over-stayed her visa. A large fine is the penalty, o

So what would be my approach? A strict no nonsense disciplinarian, plenty of homework or an easy-going jokester, perhaps somewhere in-between. A normal day began with Kanak, the cook’s

I bought ‘over the counter medicine’ but it was like eating sweets, no potency. So I decided to leave after four days, the visa was only for ten days anyway.