Welcome back to the third installment of my feel-good travel stories! If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 and Part 2. I started this series to highlight the unexpected kindness I’ve encountered while traveling, especially in places that might have mixed reputations. Often, we’re advised to be overly cautious in new destinations, but my experiences have reminded me that kindness is universal, and even the smallest gestures from strangers can mean the world. Here’s another round of Good Samaritan stories that I hope will leave you with a smile. Following Part 2, this edition focuses on more memorable transport-related encounters.
A Night of Free Snacks in Saudi Arabia
My time in Saudi Arabia in May 2023 was memorable not only for its sights but also for the incredible hospitality I received. One standout day was when I was traveling from Bahrain to Riyadh by bus. It was a long journey: first a bus ride from Bahrain to Dammam, and then a five-hour trip from Dammam to Riyadh. Having not eaten all day, I was counting down the minutes until we arrived.
About an hour from Riyadh, our bus made a stop at a supermarket around 7 p.m., giving passengers a chance to grab some food. I initially thought the stop was unnecessary—I just wanted to reach Riyadh already! As the passengers returned to their seats, the Saudi woman sitting beside me handed me a bag filled with cookies, chips, sweets, and water. She only spoke Arabic, but her kind smile said it all. Luckily, I knew enough Arabic to thank her, and she nodded warmly as I gratefully drank the water.
The free food didn’t end there. After reaching Riyadh, I hopped into a Careem to get to my friend’s apartment. The driver soon asked if I’d mind a quick stop so he could buy some groceries. By then, it was so late and I already had cookies and water, so I didn’t mind telling him he could. He was only gone for 10 minutes but when he returned, he handed me a box of Kit-Kat chocolates as a thank-you for my patience! I was blown away by the thoughtfulness of these two strangers. I definitely won’t forget my first day in Riyadh because of the amount of free candy I received.
Bus Stop Bodyguards in the Dominican Republic
A few months after Saudi Arabia, I visited my sister in the Dominican Republic, where she was spending her summer in a resort town about an hour from Santo Domingo. After a full day exploring the capital and the stunning Tres Ojos cenotes, the sun was beginning to set, and it was time to head back. We attempted to call an Uber, but drivers kept canceling, so we decided to give public transportation a try.
I had some knowledge of the buses from my earlier conversations with locals. My years studying Spanish came in useful when I asked a woman at the ticket counter at the cenotes how to get back to confirm the route. I understood her directions, but she seemed uneasy about us waiting by the road at dusk. She expressed her concern about “delinquents” in the area and insisted on walking with us to ensure our safety. While she walked with us to the bus stop, we passed by a police officer whom she enlisted to wait with us until the bus arrived. It was incredibly touching to see how much she cared—enough to leave her job at the cenotes entrance to ensure our safety. The officer also kindly stood by for about ten minutes until a bus finally pulled up to take us back. Not only did I save on a costly Uber fare, but I also experienced the genuine kindness of the Dominican people firsthand.
This definitely restored my faith in humanity!
<3 <3