Travel

A general strike in Bangalore called a bandh brings my work, the city, and any exploring to a halt. Sitting in my hotel room, I’m reminded that “a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”

As we rounded a bend in the road somewhere between Medellin and Santa Fe de Anitoquia, I saw what looked like dead bodies sitting propped up against a fence on the side of the road. These people-sized dolls sold along the road are part of an odd new year’s tradition.

The first rule of traveling, as every traveler knows, is to expect the unexpected. Whether it’s the screaming child next to you on the plane or forgetting your cell phone in a taxi somewhere, the unexpected can easily disrupt your otherwise well laid plans.