Salitajiya!

FROM ISSUE # 157 (January 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Salitajiya had invited me to visit Hungary a long time ago. But when I reached Budapest, she was in Italy. Surendra let me live in an apartment all by myself. Salitajiya came back two days later and invited me out for lunch. We went to a Turkish restaurant as Turkish food was new for both of us. The only food we knew from Turkey were shworma and kebab. So we ordered what we thought looked good.

I got away with my guess but Salitajiya's choice was very spicy. She couldn't eat it all so I had to help her with it. After lunch she suggested that we go to a spa. I had nothing to do for the rest of the day so I agreed. When she suggested we go to the spa I couldn't help laughing thinking about my experience in Laos.

Diana, another friend had invited me for a sauna in Laos several years ago. I went along with her but thought it was like a bathhouse for sex. I told Salitajiya about the experience and she laughed her way to the spa.

Budapest is an old city like Paris and London. In World War II people built underground tunnels to hide during bombing. But these days these tunnels are used as pubs and discos. We went to the metro station to go to Salitajiya's apartment to get some clothes for the spa.

We caught a tram to the spa. Like in most of the developed countries, there were no tickets sold in the tram. One has to buy the ticket in the underground metro but we were too lazy to do so. Salitajiya had a monthly pass but I needed a ticket. At times there are random ticket checks and if you are caught without one, you are fined. Usually, everyone respects this rule and travels with a ticket or a pass. But I thought I would just act ignorant if I was caught and say I just arrived in the city.

A half an hour ride later we reached the spa where she got us a ticket each. There was cold water, warm water, hot water, boiling water, swimming pool, steam bath, dry bath just about any form of water to clean one's body. We tried them all until we got tired three hours later. So we caught the tram back, once again riding ticket less.

That evening we had to go for dinner at Sumi's place. When we got there everyone was making momo; each one in their own style. We made some funny ones ourselves but despite what they looked like they were very tasty, especially with the typical Nepali style spicy aachar. While drinking wine with our momos I dropped some of it on the laptop. Jasmine didn't appreciate that and gave me a warning that if I dropped wine again I wouldn't be allowed in her house ever again. As a punishment she ordered I hold both my ears and I did. Jasmine is a five year old girl.
 
By the time we finished it was midnight. But there was nothing to worry about especially about the transport. So Salitajiya and I left the place and went to our respective homes.
 
When I first got an email from Salitajiya I thought she was some Hungarian girl. The name looked like an eastern European or Russain name. But it was not. Salitajiya is a Nepali girl. When I told Salitajiya Diana 's story, she laughed about it all day. If I told her story to Diana maybe Diana would also be laughing. Hahahaaha! Salitajiya!

UHi Saikale
 Journey started: Nov 29,1998
Aim: to cycle around the world to spread the message of peace and hope within 11 years
Countries travelled till date: 138
Next leg: Micronesia, Marshall Islands