Checking the under the seats there was about a 1.5 inch gap between the foot rest and the floor of the people behind me, to prevent any wandering hands from entering my backpack. This was good since it meant that I didn’t have to sleep with my all my electronic equipment on my lap, assuring a better night sleep. I still slide a shoulder strap around my leg, dropped down the other leg ramp on the empty seat next to me AND I put my leg down on the side of my leg ramp to block side entry.
All of this is not done due to paranoia, but it is to counter what happened to other backpackers and to reduce the odds of it happening to me. South America is a war zone between tourists and thieves…we are the pray and unfortunately can easily be identified.
What happened next is still not very
clear but this is what I can remember. In
the middle of the night, I had an awaken dream that someone was hovering over
me and put something on my skin to put me into a deeper sleep. I was so tired I could barely open my eyes
and was unable to focus. Wanting to come
out of this middle point between sleeping and being awake, I couldn’t. My body felt like every part weighed an unbelievable
amount. I felt so exhausted that I just
wanted to go to back sleep but was also trying to fight it feeling that I was
being robbed. Not able to fight it any
longer I fell back into a deep sleep.
Waking up in the morning, there was
a beautiful sunrise. Writing off what
happened last night as a strange dream; I pulled my backpack out from under my
seat to grab my camera I noticed my pack was on an angle and not directly
underneath me. With my strap still
around my leg I assumed that I picked up my leg during the night. Seeing that my bag was unzipped and after
further inspection, my camera case was open - wondering if I left it open last night
and it slide out of my backpack onto the floor.
I began to look under the seats for a loose camera I didn’t see it
anywhere.
After my thorough investigation…I
accepted that I was stealthfully robbed from the seat behind me which was now
empty. The thief must have tried to fit it
between the 1.5 inch crack while in its case, but due to it not fitting, they
opened it up in complete darkness and then pulled it out. They also got their hands on my international
adapter to charge my electronics.
I could only falsely smile since there
was a lot more they could have stolen such as my SLR camera, computer and other
items, but fortunately they were too big to fit through the cracks. I still have 2 more cameras, but it is inconvenient
and frustrating that I gave them an opportunity to steal my good midsized
camera. I even sewed some attachment on
my backpack which 97% of the time, I have it locked. But the day I didn’t do it…it happens. They were good at what they do so in a way
they deserved it because I feel I am also good as for keeping my equipment secure.
As for my strange dream…I thought
about it a little more. Could I have
been drugged? If so, why wouldn’t they
have taken everything, not just what Mr. Tweezer hands could pull from under my
seat? Thus, I have decided that my
awaken dream as just that. I feel stupid
for what I had happen, but I am sure there will be other stupid moments in my
life.
Putain!
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