talking to a stranger

to some it happens often. to others it does not happen often. but we all experience it at some time in our lives. that you get to spend hours with a complete stranger. i have been fortunate to travel like many others have. airport. stations. en route. from here to there and everywhere. i like the trains of europe. the buses in africa. the ferries in indonesia. a common place where people meet. people from all different walks of life.  you sit next to somebody or meet someone. only to find out that you are heading in the same direction. a long bus ride. a hop-skip-and-a-jump transfer between destinations. a ten hour flight. and you tag along. it is not always a pleasant experience though cos you get many different (stereo) types of "tag-alongs". you get the nosy old ladies that ask inappropriate questions. you get the self-indulged business men. or the bubbly au pair that simply has the inability to stop talking. you also have the laid back jocks that never remove their sunglasses and with bulging muscles that takes up half of your seat. only to name a few...but the list goes on. my personal favourite...definitely those weirdos. they dress funny. they speak funny. they sit with their legs crossed on the floor. they almost always walk around with ear phones that are twice the size of their heads and seem to be permanently connected to their heads. i just love talking to them. they are by far my preferred stereotype. cos a conversation with them is like speaking to someone from outer space...but in a good way. they are normally on a mission somewhere to go and help some endangered specie or find some form of spiritual enlightenment. i can listen to them for hours. slowly probing and by asking questions you are drawn into their world that is made up of things you did not even know existed.