Reminiscing some past encounters, I realised that, I was after all quite adventurous (actually, it’s ignorance or lack of situational awareness) when I had the same job a few years back. I remember I walked out the street of New York for the first time even though it was already dusk. I remember I lost my way and had to ask an African-American security guard to direct my way back to the hotel. I grew quite panic when the streets became so dim and the streets emptying.
Another encounter would be Camden Market. I remember that, the tube to Camden station was closed due to a suspected terrorist attack. Fearless me, I took the tube and bus instead to the famous market and watched it transforming into a full-bloomed shopping area in the afternoon. I remember vividly, the images of punk rockers, gypsies, and non-conformists with tattoos and piercings all over their bodies.
Another funny one was in Jeddah. We are forbidden to walk with males who we are not married to. Hence, a group of us girls, walked behind our male counterparts and spoke almost too loudly that might have invited us some unforgivable attention. We were wearing the black “abaya” and joked we looked like pontianaks roaming the sunset street.
In the Middle East also, Dubai to be exact, my buddy and I were walking in the normal street like everyone else, until we realised that a posh sport car tailed us from behind and made some remarks before accelerating past us a couple of times! That was quite scary. Thank goodness, it was a sport car and not some black-tinted windows MPVs!
Well, there should be more encounters that have always reminded me to stay alert whenever I am in unfamiliar lands. However, they wouldn’t stop me from many more encounters which I hope only positive ones in the future.
