A Horrid Travel Nightmare

Travelling by yourself, as a woman is definitely a risky, frivolous pursuit be it to whichever country or place in the world. I traveled everywhere with my son since he was a toddler. And a single mother traveling alone with a toddler or even a ten year old could not be any less challenging as it would be for a 16year old teenage girl. I too have had several ackward, scary or could have been more dangerous situations during my travels, however this one really scared me off.

Once in 2010, We traveled to SRI LANKA, The Pearl of The Indian Ocean, a very beautiful island country in the Indian Ocean with spectacular coast line , diverse wildlife, an amazing history and endless opportunities for adventures. We had a lovely holiday exploring the sparkling white beaches, watching the freely strolling elephants at Udawalawe National Park, the turtle hatcheries, the Buddhist temples, particularly the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy. The SriLankans are absolutely the kindest people I have come across among my many various travels. Even while the country is slowly recovering after the island’s decades-long civil war, the generousity and hospitality is still alive in SriLanka. And I would definitely want to visit again.

However we all know, Protagonists and Antagonists are both essential characters of most stories. And thus this story👇

My son 7years at that time and myself were on our way to the airport, to board a flight Colombo-Mumbai scheduled at 7am. The travel agency had arranged a known taxi for us. Considering the distance from the hotel to the airport 3 hours + 2 hours early arriving at airport before departure, our taxi journey commenced at 2am. 30 to 45 minutes through the journey, I realized something was amiss.

Raised by an alcoholic father, the odor of alcohol wasn’t new to me. I understood the driver is drunk. My son dozed off in my lap..The driver switched on some dirty music and started singing along with it loudly..I requested him to switch off the music but he didn’t or didn’t want to hear me. I could feel him staring at me intently through the rear-view mirror. I started feeling scared but I decided not to exhibit my fear, I avoided eye contact completely. I noticed 2 of 3 mirrors were directed towards me so anywhere I looked he was looking at me. I rolled down the windows and it was pitch-black outside, we were on the highways,with no roadlights I couldnt make out if we were passing a jungle or any kind of waterbody. The air in the car was getting cold. I squeezed my arms around my son tightly. I was wishing if I could see any police patrol car, I would wave or scream..All kind of dreadful thoughts in my head – what if he raped me, then kill my little son and me.. while I was lost in my thoughts, suddenly he put his left hand on the seat head next to him, partly pointing towards me and watching thru the mirror if I was reacting.He still was singing and had a dirty disgusting smile on him attempting to get reaction from me.His hands were so close to me as he had pushed back the front seat .It was getting more and more scary, I then saw the city lights approaching.. Saved. We reached the airport, I rushed out my bags and without a single glance at him, I took my son and vanished into the airport..

I am not sure if I have been able to convey the horrid experience in my writing as I had encountered it..oh well I didn’t spare him at all, once I was inside the airport I immediately called the hotel and told them about it, the man was arrested and lost his job too. This was the worstest of experience I had of many, so close and spine-chilling but as you can see, none has hindered my love and keenness to travel..every such awkward experiences has only made me more tougher, more confident and a careful traveler.. Keep reading for more stories from my travels ❤️.

“LIFE IS EITHER A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING AT ALL” ~ HELEN KELLER

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