A few years ago, my now-husband, Alex, and I spent several months sailing around Indonesia, experiencing the same high water – turquoise waters, freshly caught fish and stunning sunsets – and lows, including a broken engine. We were also there during Ramadan, a special time to travel to the world’s most populous Muslim country.
At one point, due to too much salt, lack of sleep and hunger, we were stranded on Belitung, a small island east of Sumatra. We happened to pull our dinghy onto the island during Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, and found white-sand beaches full of celebrating families.
Within moments of our arrival, a woman held our hands, beaming and speaking rapid fire Bahasa. Our knowledge of the language was minimal but his meaning was clear: We should sit down and enjoy the vacation with his family. Lying on a blanket, we feasted on jackfruit curry, fried water spinach and the best beef rendang I’ve ever tasted.
When reflecting on your travels, it’s easy to think of times that went wrong. You have been pickpocketing for a long time. The rude hotel concierge. The hour, or hours, you have lost terribly. But travel is also an opportunity to give and connect in ways that transcend language barriers and cultural differences. This holiday season, in the spirit of gratitude, we’re asking travelers to share the most memorable random acts of kindness they’ve seen or experienced on their travels near and far.
What are the moments of good deed that stick with you, the unexpected welcoming locations, or the strangers or acquaintances that made your adventures easier (or, in my case, more delicious)? We’ll read every response, and use a selection of the stories you share in an upcoming article. We will not publish any part of your response without contacting, verifying your information and confirming with you. Finally, we will not share your contact information outside of the Times newsroom. Thank you
