This is a tribute ....

.... to all the good samaritans and angels I met in this past week.

I know they may never know I've written this, but I just felt that they deserved a more concrete expression of my gratitute than just mere 'thank you's' and 'muchas gracias'.

In Kingston, I met a couple of fabulous Jamaicans and a group of Malaysians. One of the Jamaicans took me out for a real Jamaican dinner (jerk chicken - similar to ayam bakar and Jamaican beer). It was so much more better than fine dining because this was the real deal and I had a wonderful time. It didn't hurt that he owned a BMW ;) and his family owns a yatch ;) And the Malaysians, it was just sheer pleasure speaking BM to them. They invited me over to their house for a home cooked dinner but because of my schedule I had to pass. But I promised I would see them again when I returned to Kingston next month. Although I was thousands of miles away from home and everything that I'm familiar with, I actually felt very comfortable in Kingston.

Then, during the weekend, I traveled to Honduras. My flight route was just crazy! Kingston - Montego Bay - Grand Cayman - Havana (Over Night) - San Jose - Honduras.

My flight departed late from Montego Bay and I arrived in Grand Cayman with barely enough time to go through immigration, pick up my luggage, run over to check in, check in again, immigration and security check again. I had to go to the front of every long line (the whole airport was infested with tourists :P) and give my most pleading look and ask the person if I could cut queue because I had to catch the next flight. Even though some were more reluctant than others, thank God for all these people who let me go through all this checkpoints! I made it just in time to board the flight to Havana. Phheewwww !

Once I landed in Havana, suddenly I really felt like a foreigner because everyone was speaking Spanish. But the immigration and airport officers were so helpful. They would come up to me and tell me which forms to fill (one of the forms asked for "date of bird" ;) ) and where to go. Although people were generally kind and helpful, I didn't like the atmosphere in the airport. There were so many security checks to get to the exit and they had dogs running around sniffing every bag. I may have been imagining but it just felt a bit unsafe. Once I got out of the airport, my taxi was waiting for me and we headed straight to the hotel. The hotel wasn't very nice but I slept most of the time till morning.

Morning came and I went down to the lobby at 5.15am to wait for my taxi to the airport. I waited..and waited... and waited ... but my taxi never arrived. I had to take a taxi myself to the airport but I had absolutely no Cuban currency ( didn't think of changing because I was only in transit). Anyway the hotel called another taxi for me and said I could pay in USD. The taxi driver was a jovial sort of guy but I was feel very apprehensive all the way to the airport (it was dark and I was a girl traveling alone - needs no further explanation). Once I got there, the driver said I had to pay him in Cuban currency. I have him a horrified and pleading look and told him I didn't change any money and the hotel said I could pay in USD. Thank God he didn't make a fuss. So I paid him (USD30 :P sob ~~ sob ~~) and was on time for check in and immigration.

Hours later, I've arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica. Much to my horror my phone could not roam in Costa Rica. I was so worried that my mother will worry on why I didn't let her know I've arrived. So I bought a calling card for USD10 to use the public phone. But because the instructions were in Spanish I had no idea how to use it. A very nice man helped me through the steps and left before I could thank him. But I don't know why, I dialed my boyfriend's number. And silly me, the moment I heard his voice I started crying. I was not homesick until that moment but I guess being in so many strange places and having to figure out things when everyone speaks a different language - his voice just felt like home. So anyway, I called him and told him I'm ok but I probably can't use my phone for a few days till I get a local SIM Card and to tell my mother all this.

Final destination, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I made it out without any trouble, only to realise there was no one to fetch me. The airport was new but the town was poor and run down and I didn't dare attempt taking a taxi by myself to the hotel. So here I was in a strange land - with no phone line, no money and not knowing a word of what people were speaking. I went over to the information counter to ask how I could use the public phone, I wanted to call the secretary who had arranged my hotel and tranport. Suddenly a lady came up to me and asked if she could help so I told her my problem. And she tells me that she owns a shop named Ideas upstairs and I should go up and find a girl named Erica and tell her Ana sent her and that I could use her phone. Ana said it's not safe for me to take a taxi on my own and very difficult to call using the public phone. I found Erica upstairs, withdrew some money to top-up her pre-paid card and used her phone to call the secretary who informed me that there was a mix-up with the transport and she would make sure someone came to pick me up. I will be eternally grateful to Ana and Erica, that they were kind enough to help a total stranger.

So I've finally arrived at my hotel room ( the guys from Ericsson came to rescue me from the airport). I haven't even unpacked but I felt I just had to write this down. It was a very tough week but I also realised how blessed I am to have people help me all along the way.

Now I'm going to watch Las Vegas in Spanish ;)

Tired but safe : Anya