In my last post, I mentioned meeting Lara from France, and there’s more to this story that I want to share. To truth is, we both knew we’d be good friends the moment we locked eyes. It’s hard to exactly explain that instant, but an shared and spontaneous meeting of kindred spirits was acknowledged.
It was the kind of friendship that didn’t require constant chatter to fill every moment. A joke here and there, a gentle remark poking fun of the other, a shared conversation about vulnerability; these were the precious points that bound us. Not all relationships with the other gender need to be physical to be cherished.
When it came time to part ways, we embraced with a tender hug and a tear. Travel safely, my dear Lara.
I was the only traveler along the 4 hour bus ride from North Drakensberg to Johannesberg, and it allowed me to reflect on the people I’ve met over the last few months and the different kinds of relationships travelers have with each other.
Unlike regular relationships and friendships, travelers need to quickly depend on each other for security. I observed this with my newly and about-to-end group of friends from Coffee Bay, that feeling safe in another travelers company is one of the simplest and yet greatest feelings in the world. To be able to leave all your possessions with someone you just met to run to the bathroom or order food.
I suppose it’s a survival mode thing, but it’s a shame we cannot experience this in a more daily routine. At the very least, I hope it’s a pleasure that you, my dear reader, will be able to have at least once in your life.