7-hour bus ride to Oaxaca reminds me of how slowly time passes when you just sit.
I read, listen to music, watch the setting sun, and snack on my 5 tacos purchased for 20 pesos...
9pm, we arrive at the Oaxaca bus terminal, and from the looks of the place and people, it seems like a cute city with buildings, churches and statues that are left intact from colonial times.
We find a very cheap hotel in pastel pink with no electrical outlets, no hot water (sucks for Dad) but a nice terrace that gives us a view of the surrounding mountains and the densely packed building rooftops.
As we unpack our bags, I realize that some of my zippers are halfway opened in my hiker's backpack. Hrm. Then realize that some straps are loose...
"Oh #%*@!!!!"
I quickly open the compartment that holds my iPad and surely enough, it's gone.
3 days into the trip, everything seemed so promising, and BAM, it's gone. All my hopes for an exciting and memorable trip, lost in an instant. "Why, why, why???"
After being frozen in shock for 3 minutes, I gather myself and send an apology to the family who gifted me the useful device. More than anything, I felt like crap for not taking good enough care of their kindness. I take a smoke, pick myself up, and we walk to the city center to try and feed our hungry stomachs.
Similar to the Coyoacan park in Mexico City, Oaxaca's people (and tourists) gather at the central park at night to chill. With such liveliness as our backdrop, we eat at a rather expensive looking outdoor restaurant. Dad tries to lift me up by allowing this, and even suggests that we get beer. And so, we dine in luxurious atmosphere over local beer, and for a moment I am able to forget about my loss.
Halfway through our meal I get a response from the gifters of the lost iPad.
"guess someone needed it more than you did. Stay safe!"
Talk about the right things to say, I almost teared up being reminded of how giving and thoughtful some people are.
Yes, maybe the thief will put it to better use than I. Maybe he has a sick child at home that he can't pay medical expenses for. I can live without an iPad for now, and won't waste my time moping over something that won't come back to me.
3 days into the trip. Had a huge loss, but I'm alive and well
I can still go on :)
To the Jones Family, thank you.
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