Ignore the bad apples 🍎

Hey, you! 

I’m still in Cape Town, and today I’ve been spending the afternoon cafe-hopping while I work. 

I was just ordering my last cappuccino (and feeling pretty darn good about myself for having a productive day) when the barista subtly signaled that I had a sizable piece of cilantro lodged in my front teeth … Who’s been there? I mention this tiny moment of embarrassment because it perfectly sums up this week’s topic: the kindness of strangers.

Let’s dive in …

Hey, this is Kelsey, and you’re reading the SiteSee newsletter. Think of me as your Big Sis when it comes to travel, inspiring you to keep going places. You can expect an email from me every Friday filled with tips for living a location-independent lifestyle and the gear to get you there.

Travel Story✍️

When my best friend Irina and I decided to pull an “Anthony Bourdain” and get off at a random train stop on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, we soon discovered that the idea was a lot more appealing when we were safely tucked inside the train car. 

As soon as the doors closed behind us, we realized we weren’t exactly in a tourist-friendly destination. Instead, it was pretty much empty—except for the many pairs of eyes intently watching us, the two uninvited outsiders. But with the train already long gone, we were left on our own to figure out another way back to the city. And fast. 

You see, we were quite far from the city—so simply hailing a taxi to come to our rescue was out of the question. We would have to find someone willing to drive us all the way back. 

As I contemplated our imminent kidnapping, I wondered how it would go down, how my family would cope with the news, and who would get my collection of Beanie Babies. Luckily for me, while I was busy doom-spiraling, Irina was taking a more proactive approach. 

Since we were clearly out of place, it wasn’t long before passersbys started to take an interest in us and gather around. Fortunately, Irina and her (surprisingly impressive) miming skills managed to communicate that we needed help finding a ride to the city. 

Before long, an elderly gentleman from the crowd approached us. He just looked at us for a while … and then walked away. I was convinced he was getting reinforcements to come back later and steal our cash and passports. I clutched and unclutched my bag, oscillating between going full-on paranoid and then trying to play it cool. 

But upon his return, he gave us a big, toothy smile, stained red from chewing paan, and held up his card keys, gesturing for us to follow him to a rusty car parked nearby with tires that looked like they could burst at any moment. Grateful (and just a teeny bit worried that this was Act II of our horror story), we slid into the backseat.

Forty-five minutes later, we were safe and sound in our hostel in the city. The sweet guy didn’t even accept a tip at first—we had to practically beg him to take all our cash as a small sign of thank you. 

After spending the better part of a decade traveling around the world with nothing more than a suitcase, I’ve been lost, dazed, and confused so many times that almost nothing catches me off guard anymore. 

Except this: the kindness of strangers. 

It’s the one thing that transcends cultures. 

No matter which country I’ve found myself in, I never cease to be astounded by people’s universal willingness to extend a helping hand.

For example, in Vietnam, the host of our small bed and breakfast woke up at 5 AM to make us a hot breakfast so we wouldn’t go hungry before our long flight back to the States. In Colombia, our tour guide invited us into his home for a meal with his family—long after he was finished officially hosting our kayak tour. And in Italy, newfound friends took us on a bar crawl to their favorite local spots, insisting we didn't spend a penny along the way.

As Paul Theroux pointed out in Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, “Most travel, and certainly the rewarding kind, involves depending on the kindness of strangers—putting yourself into the hands of people you don’t know, and trusting them with your life.”

Sure, there are a few bad apples out there (like the camel handler who tried to cop a feel that one time when I was taking a selfie). 

But don’t let these isolated incidents color your perception of the world.

Too often, society wants us to believe the world looks like this:

But really, it’s like this:

So whenever I meet an unpleasant individual, I remind myself that they’re only 1 in a million—and I shift my attention to finding the kind-hearted soul who might be just around the corner, about to recommend their favorite local restaurant to me. 

And that's the beauty of traveling.

It gives you a gentle reminder that humanity is inherently good, people are kind, and most strangers will gladly help you out when you’re in a bind.

So ignore the bad apples, and make way for the good ones.

Gear Check🧳

I’m one of those people who, when I find something I love, I wear it non-stop. I’m like one of those characters from Saturday morning cartoons: shamelessly sporting the same outfit day after day.

My newest obsession? This Cropped Tank from Beyond Yoga. 

While designed for workouts, its trendy racerback cut and soft fabric make it versatile enough to pair with a cute skirt or high-waisted jeans. Have I worn it to a sweaty Pilates session and then seamlessly tucked it into a flowy skirt afterward for a stylish lunch date? Perhaps. (But that can be our little secret.)

Airport Reads🗞️

• Check out this podcast episode with Emma Grede and Jay Shetty, where I found tons of useful takeaways, including a nice reminder about the importance of unenjoyable work and how to become a better storyteller. 

• This poem by Mary Oliver that talks about self-acceptance, belonging, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.

• This list of travel gifts for women and this list of travel gifts for men (all under $100). Your saving grace if you still have a few people left on your holiday shopping list.

Last Thing✨

Thanks for being here! Before we part ways, I wanted to share some advice I recently heard on this podcast.

Have a wonderful weekend. I’ll see you here next week :)

Onwards,

Kelsey

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