MY TRAVEL STORY +++++++++++++++++++ I didn t expect to find her there, I was a humanitarian medical doctor, in tacloban , philippines, during the post super typhoon haiyan ;in an international medical camp,during the recovery and rehabilitation phase. I did not expect to find- ---------------------------------- - a little girl of eight ask me this, during a routine check up; why did you come here?I was amazed by her question at this age,very impressed but had no answer. I followed my heart,i said honestly. When i grow big ,i want to be like you. In my sixty years of nomadic travelling;humanitarian work:working in remote sites;disaster management,volunteer work;no one complimented me,no, no one honestly. That was my nobel prize,my olympic gold medal,my grammy award,my oscar-all in one. I could motivate one gentle soul, who had lost everything in the world,still had the fire in her burning bright,to make this world-a better place for you and me,all of us. I never saw her again, I made three visits to the same place for my work;in three months,each vist lasting one week each;everytime looking for her;i tried to trace her,to give her some gifts, i used to carry with me. Life slowly moved on ,i used to stay in manila with my host family,who took me to pahlawan beach,supposed to be the best ,according to lonely planet travel guide,and the famous malls in manila. I started to enjoy the place,sights and sounds and smells and the friendly people. One day i went to the church to pray,philippines being a catholic country, with a lot of american influence,american fast food and fashion,a deter to tourists , who wanted to see the real philippines;we have a famous filipino market in kota kinabalu,sabah,east malaysia. The mad rush,traffic jam,in manila with the air and noise pollution is alarming. The night market ,like anywhere in the world is more lively,full of people,noisy,colourful and fun. Being -of indian origin,born in malaysia,and being a vegetarian,i used to look for indian food. I loved going to the parks in manila,for morning walks,temples,a sizable indian community lives there,to my utter surprise. I used to procure life saving drugs for my humanitarian work in tacloban,few hours flying distance from manila;making connections with donors;sponsors;good samaritans;hospitals;doctors;ministry of health. Enjoying the hospitability,my stay became more meaningful when i spotted that small girl in a night market selling souveniers with her family. I was delighted to see her again and gave her the gifts, i used to carry,hoping to meet her one day. I took her whole family out for pizza-a very big thing for them, in a fine dining restaurant. I learnt so much about life from an eight year old;my work for mankind :youth-intensified afterwards to the extent ,i received the asean youth leadership icon award in manila philippines,i am proud of the eight year old girls question which became a motivation to me,to do more for others,especially the vulnerable group. As i enjoyed my work as ngo volunteer dr ;i also being a wanderlust;took the small girl,her family and other people i befriended,tour the city,country side,beaches,night markets. This interesting work in a far off country ;making new friends,understanding new cultures,lives of people, who depended somewhat ,on international non government organisations,gave a new meaning and purpose to my life;my approach to personal glory,hoarding ,success had a paradigm shift to something higher and more nobler;giving hope to the hopeless;procuring medicines;finding oppurtunities;education,employment for the peoplt i called -my patients. Why did i come there,was it destiny or a higher calling,sitting in the church and gazing at Jesus,meeting this eight year old patient,who actually had no problem but more inner strength than me-brought tears in my eyes and i changed -for the better.I found people everywhere the same,the same God in them-my touring interest coupled with my humanitarian effort to make a difference in peoples lives made me more humane,full of love for strangers in strange places. No-i did not expect an eight year old girl to ask me this question in tacloban, philippines-why did you come here? I went there to help,to see a new country,to meet her by fate, to fail at a question i had no answer to-to make me look very deep inside me-why do i love to travel;why not? ;