She sweetly handed me a plumeria blossom, then started to run away.
The second of twelve pagodas I would visit that day, the Mingala Zedi Pagoda, had steps up to a wide walkway circling the pagoda. Mesmerized by my first glimpse of the plains around me, I saw acres of scattered scrubby trees, interrupted by blazing orange pagodas.
I couldn’t believe I was actually here! I had dreamed about this moment for months.
The pagoda was mine, not another soul was there – so I thought. One benefit of visiting during the hot season is very few other people are crazy enough to travel among the pagodas in the heat. The thermometer climbed towards 106 degrees that day.
I had nearly finished my turn around the pagoda and didn’t even see where she came from. She just appeared, running up behind me, as if she was trying to catch me. She stuck out her hand, clutching a white plumeria blossom. She handed me the flower and smiled. One of my favorite memories from the trip. She started to run away, but I pointed to my camera, asking if I could take her photo. I didn’t want to forget this beautiful girl.
As I walked toward the taxi, I saw her running over to her family. She kept waving and waving to me. I passed the white blossomed plumeria tree and looked back at her again and she gave me a thumbs up.
rumpledluggagetag.com 