The Woman in the Train and Other Stories

 It's my second month here in the Philippines following the (supposedly) lengthy backpacking adventure, which was cut short due to an emergency in the family. We're hoping to be back traveling before the year's end.

I'm really missing traveling. For now, I'll share four stories of travelers who've experienced kindness from strangers across the globe. We have contributions from Cacinda, who met a lovely stranger on a train in Russia—where she even kept an eye on the spot my train live to ensure her journey went smoothly—and Lyndsay, whose stalker in Thailand didn't get a chance thanks to two strangers-turned-friends around her.

Shannon's account is worth telling She and her companion encountered an Good Samaritan on the road in Bali at a time they required one of the most. Maria On the other hand, wrote two stories. I've included her short trip to Paris together with her husband. The trip was "sweet and sour."

Enjoy, read and find the faith you have in mankind!

With the lady in the train.

The Woman in the Train (Russia)

Dr. Cacinda Maloney has been traveling every week in her life for more than 20 years. She is a member of both the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association as well as the Professional Travel Bloggers Association, she blogs at Points and Travels. Follow her travels via Facebook as well as Instagram.

The year 2009 was the time I was travelling across Russia on my own while my husband worked on an MBA.

The day I was in I was in the company of an ex-wife of one of his coworkers and we decided to travel by train to visit Catherine's Summer Palace in Pushkin. It was a cold, dreary winter but we didn't care as we were a bit curious!

And, how difficult would it be? The instructions read: "To get to Pushkin from St. Petersburg, you can take a suburban train from the Vitebsk Station to Pushkin Station, and then take buses 371 or 382 to the park gates." It's not difficult, right to you, doesn't it?

Everything was going well at first, but then the train began to become extremely crowded followed by goats and sheep. .... We realized at once that we were in the wrong train.

I remembered having seen a woman reading a book that had an English title and I slowly returned amid the crowds to find where she was, to find out whether it was possible she was speaking English.

She did! She was so enthusiastic for the opportunity to "practice" her English and I was thrilled to meet her. She walked off the train along with us, transferring train stations, boarding another train, and traveling on the bus together all on the way to the Palace.

At first, I was a bit skeptical however, at the end of the day she just ended up being lovely. I would have liked to have got her name and sent her a thank-you note!

***

Saviors in Krabi (Thailand)

Lyndsay Cabildo, a travel and fashion blogger as well as an expert in social media, as well as a graphic designer for the web. Originating from the Philippines but now living in Arizona, USA. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

The gang in Krabi (L-R: Doug, Lyndsay, Leizel, Nick)

It was Krabi the moment it occurred. Leizel me and myself first met in Vietnam when we were backpacking in separate ways and began a wonderful bond. We decided to get together once more in Bangkok which was the place we agreed for a trip together Krabi.

It was around noon at the time we arrived. After an eight-hour bus ride as well as a half-hour boat ride with backpacks that were bigger than ours, we realized that we needed to find a spot to stop for a rest. While walking through the alleyway and saw the food cart.

The two Canadian people eating in the restaurant at the same time, and they (Nick Doug and Doug) said to us that the food was cheap and good quality. food was. This was enough to put our backpacks out and have a meal with them. We compared the rates of hotels we had gotten from various locations to theirs, and then we became neighbors.

After putting our bags away in our tiny house, Leizel and I took a stroll. We were approached by a Spanish man approached us and offered to join us on our walk. Because backpacking is where you will stumble upon decent people, we weren't aware about the man's identity.

To make a long story short, he was a sexy guy who believed that there was a woman who was okay to accept his (sexual) harassing. Na ah! It was never going to happen.

He was very agressive and he stayed with me for a long time. One time, while I was alone the man walked up to me from behind and kissed me on the neck. I started cursing, then quit, not concerned that I left our things in the car.

I met Leizel, and we both were able to see Nick as well as Doug. They have been my heros! They asked me about my life and I said, "Oh I'm just running away from a creepy guy!"

Then, they were determined to not leave Leizel and me with Leizel. They also made calls for reinforcement (they also had 3-4 other acquaintances who were also close by). The spookier didn't want to leave me, but I wasn't so worried with five bodyguards in the area.

It was that day when friendships lasting for a lifetime were formed. We are all friends, and the four of us remain amazing friends regardless of where we are today. Leizel lives happily and married, is based on the island of Denmark, Nick is engaged and is based on Canada, Doug and his GF lives on Canada, and his GF lives on US East Coast, and I'm happily married, and settled to the south of America.

***

Kindness of a Balinese Neighbor (Indonesia)

Shannon has been a American writer and travel journalist who has travelled across the globe on a daily basis for the last three years. Shannon has also taught English in Asia and travelled back in Europe and currently lives in a van New Zealand. She blog on the blog Lives in Abroad. Keep up with her travels via Facebook as well as Instagram.

My story happened during Bali where I was able to experience kindness and hospitality, literally on the road.

While working and living in Bali I was able to attend the decision to have a business appointment approximately 30 minutes from home. When I awoke to find my motorcycle tire totally flat, I began to panic, anticipating the idea of having to cancel the meeting.

My friend took a ride (just barely) in search of an auto mechanic, but he quickly discovered that all of them were locked until the end of the working day. As he waited at the front of one to wait for it to reopen the mechanic's neighbour lent us his personal motorbike.

There was not a single word spoken in Balinese or English was spoken between us, however the neighbor's warm and trusting heart didn't seem to be concerned. We were in desperate need of assistance, and he was able to provide it to us. We were strangers whom he'd never seen before!

***

A Memorable Affair With Paris (France)

Maria Roy is a blogger and photographer who is based in America. United States. She blogs at Worth A Thousand Words. Follow her journeys on Flickr.

Maria with Buster the cutie

It was 2009 it was the year we made our very first European trip and we were with just 6 hours in Paris among other cities, before taking the flight connecting to Barcelona.

We didn't want to be in an airport that is boring and a boring airport, we decided to take in as many attractions as we were able to within a brief time. The CDG Information Desk, we were rebuffed to follow this idea. We didn't take enough time visit the attractions, they told us. There's a transportation strike that they have added.

We were however not to be discouraged. In being determined We were then given directions on which train to board and the best place to exit. It wasn't much aid, considering that the instructions were written in French.

We did, however, make it to the stop, where we were supposed to be off. My husband discovered that his wallet wasn't there. In the 40-minute train journey there was a street vendor in the train, and he drew his wallet to pay the busker.

Did he place his wallet back where it belongs? Did he fall it while trying to keep the bag in place? Who knows?

The panic set in as we attempted to find the train was in, and then looked it up and other trains to find the wallet. I even got as far as searching the trash bins. The pickpockets typically get rid of wallets as soon they get all the money and anything else they'd like to take out.

There was however, no evidence of his money in any way. We didn't have mobile phones back then. The only thing we needed was a landline phone to make a report of his stolen credit cards and stop the payment for everything which could have been charged onto the cards.

Fortunately, even in that case we only had two cards on the road the main one as well as a backup in the case. We met a uniformed policeman and shared our story. He took us to the police station in the train station and allowed us to use their phone to inform creditors.

The police were incredibly friendly and helpful even through the language barriers (kindness number one). After the issue was resolved and we were able to go on our way, and visited The Eiffel Tower as well as Notre Dame, and Arc de Triomphe. We bought souvenirs, enjoyed coffee, and had tasty desserts.

While on the train towards the airport we had been looking at the route map of the station we would make since the strike prevented us from being able to travel on a direct route towards the airport. We were fighting with the lady in front of us in a dress that was elegantly sported was speaking to us in English. She advised us at which station to go to and which train to take for the return trip to Airport (kindness number 2).

We barely reached our destination. The flight was on the last flight to board when we were at the check-in desk. Like Speedy Gonzales we arrived at the plane -- that happened to be half-full and when I sat to my seat the agent was able to ask me a question that I'd hoped to be asked all day long - white or red?