photo-honobono

Back to Marrakesh.

When I arrived at the airport, I was standing in line at an ATM to get some cash. I had already tried 4 ATMs, but none of them worked.

When it was almost my turn, a girl in front of me suddenly said, “What!?”

She said her credit card got stuck in the ATM.  She asked me to watch her backpack while she went to find someone for help.

I was waiting for her with her big backpack for about 10 minutes.

It made me wonder how long she had been traveling to trust strangers so easily.

She came back, but now she had to find someone to open the ATM. Well… that meant I had to wait again.

About 10 minutes later, she came back with a police officer. He opened the ATM, got her credit card out, and we celebrated together.

I was finally able to withdraw my cash and was about to take a taxi to leave the airport.

But… I couldn’t see the hotel address! The airport Wi-Fi didn’t work, my eSIM didn’t work, and all the information was only on my phone.

Then I happened to see the girl I just helped. She was looking for a bus station.

I asked if I could use her hotspot, but it didn’t work either. Then she helped me find my riad. She told me she was staying somewhere close, so I offered to share a taxi with her.

She told me her name was Winnie, just like Winnie the Pooh.

She was from Korea, had lived in Australia (working holiday?), and was now traveling around the world.

I said goodbye to Winnie, hoping we could see each other again one day.

Now I’m in Fez, walking through this maze.

I got a DM from Winnie saying, “Are you in Fez now?” about an hour ago. I said yes, but didn’t hear back from her.

I was looking for somewhere I could see the city of Fez.

Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name.

“Haruka?”

When I looked up, there was Winnie with a friend she had met during her Morocco trip. Wow, what a surprise!

She shared what she had been doing since we first met. Her friend was also a world traveler. Hearing both of their stories reminded me so much of my 20s.

I traveled through New Zealand, Australia, and Nepal. I was thinking to go on another working holiday, but I didn’t.

But now I found something I want to do. Maybe I’ve known it for the past ten years, but I’ve kept it inside me.

When my heart is moved, and I feel a sense of peace, freedom and excitement, I feel alive.

Traveling is one of the things that makes me feel that way. I’m not sure exactly when it’s gonna happen, but I can’t ignore this feeling anymore.

My next destination will be Thailand. From there, I’d love to slowly start traveling solo again.

Anyway, Winnie and her friend recommended a café with a great view of the city.

I ordered a fresh lemonade. It tasted… interesting.

I guess I’ll find out soon.