accidental friendships

our way home from Biratnagar: indescribable. and another example of how fortunate we are in the states. we were supposed to fly out to the Kathmandu international airport. but a plane crashed in one of the few runways that they have. very very thankfully no one was hurt. which is obviously the most important part.

the plane in the runway meant no outgoing or incoming flights to the Kathmandu airport, leaving nearly 80,000 people stranded. including us. but not nearly as stranded because we were still in Nepal! my cousin's wedding aka the main reason we came to Nepal started the next day so we had to make decisions quick!

a relative of mine had a friend who was driving to Kathmandu that night in a private car. he offered that he would go with us so it wasn't just my mom and i on a 10 hour adventure in a car with people we didn't know. next thing i knew my mom and i were packing our bags for Kathmandu.

i was not sure what to expect out of the trip but i just went with the flow oh the joys of traveling.

we knew nothing about these people we were about to travel with except that we were extremely grateful for them to be offering us a ride. we were informed that he was a very important and powerful person in Nepal. but that was all.

he got into the car and his smile and laugh were like a million dollars. from the moment i met him i knew we had met for a reason. you just know an inspiring soul when you meet them. and he was one for sure.

we all started talking right away we said we were visiting from the states etc. and he gave us a bit of background of his life. when we said we were from Michigan he knew of the state immediately as coincidentally he does real estate in both Kentucky and Michigan as a side job.

what are the chances he would do real estate in Michigan?! that was my first sign from the universe...

we continued learning about each other's life when he shared that at the age of 17 he opened his own publishing company. which happens to be the top publishing company in Nepal. at the age of 19 he was able to buy his own first house. i was stunned. what are the chances that we would wind up in a car with someone who has seven books that are New York Times bestsellers?! i have never met anyone like him. he said the fame got overwhelming but he stuck to himself, friends and family and learned a lot from the experience. after everything he would say he would have a short chuckle and smile. this was one of my favorite things about him. and i let him know that. while on the trip we stopped at a restaurant on the side of the highway. there were a couple people some vegetables and a little teepee fire used for cooking. he, of course had some recently caught fish in his car that he conveniently brought out. he ended up making quick friends with the people and cooking a meal with them right before our eyes. i couldn't stop laughing an international businessman and top publisher on the side of the highway with us cooking dinner. i still can't believe i had the pleasure of meeting someone so genuine, kind, successful, daring and lighthearted as he is. you know when you meet him that he is someone who truly appreciates all life has to offer. we continued our journey...most times we were the only people on the road. in Nepal certain roads that are deemed to be dangerous after dark close from 8pm to 4am. because of his power and stature in the country we were let through. leaving us to be the only car on open roads. it was getting later and later but the conversation was only getting started.

we had five hours to go one the trip. so still some time and it was nearing 11pm. i was feeling slightly tired but i knew i had a limited amount of time in this moment so could not sleep if i even tried.

he abruptly asked me "who are you?" i laughed. i don't recall anyone asking me a question like that and honestly did not know how to start. i asked if i could take a second to collect my thoughts then i started with a "well i was born in Michigan..." he interrupted me and said "no i mean...who are you?"

i laughed again and knew this is EXACTLY why the Universe sent him to me. i attempted to answer again this time saying that i honestly don't really know, but who really knows? we grow and learn from new experiences everyday where we in turn learn more about ourselves through them. he agreed but said go on.

we talked for a bit then he said why do we cook and eat? to survive? why do we want to survive? what is it for? my mind was running at this point i LOVED it. i said we were given this gift of life, every breath is a gift and we all have a purpose, we are on this planet to serve that purpose.

he said..."okay but why do you think we're gifts?" we were both laughing. he said i usually don't ask these questions to most people, especially upon just meeting them, but you are smart and i know that, so i'm asking you. i laughed again and said i truly enjoyed that he was making me think. and knew that we had met for a reason.

we got to talking about some of my life back in the states and he said that no one is a vegetarian. "everything we eat is living. if we take a bowl of rice and let it sit out bugs would come to it. this is proof.

he asked me again "who are you?" i responded firmly. honestly, i do not know. he said "you need to know. we all have a purpose and we all need to know that purpose. we must find ourselves. and once you find out, Charisma, you will be one of the top 100 people in the world."

he said to call him when i do and let him know. i'll never ever ever ever forget this man. the more i write about him the more i remember our conversations and must write more. he was wearing mala beads and he said he is constantly saying mantras in his head. he wakes up every morning and from 3-5am meditates. he said he can fall asleep within 30 seconds and stay up all night if needed anytime. he remembers all of his dreams and always gives at least one random person money everytime he is out.

i've never encountered anyone like him and by chance i got to. he taught me a mantra that i will keep forever. we arrived home at 3am and i happened to have the book "The Power of Now" on hand. i gave it to him and we switched contact information. i know that we will meet again...maybe that day i will know who i am. :)