“Travel isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you... You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain.
A job might fill your pocket, but traveling fills your soul. We are always longing for that time of the year when we can take a vacation, get out of our daily routine, leave our jobs behind and break the monotony by exploring a new place, and what can beat the thrill of last minute packing. But what counts the most is the experience, sometimes it's overwhelming and sometimes it's not as good as we hope it to be. This story will take you through the ups-and-downs that a woman experienced during her visit to Zambia and how rescuing a dog changed both of their lives forever.
Life can get tough for anyone, and dogs are no exception to it. We all know that dogs are more sensitive and emotional and feel more than any other living being. Ginger was a security dog in her time in Zambia, and at times, things would get hard and scary for her. Some of the incidents involved Ginger hiding under the cars on the property out of fear. The dog desperately needed some help, but no one reached out to her, until one day...
Stuck in the routine in Barcelona, Spain, Sara Ortin León needed a change for the better. Sara had always loved traveling to exotic places and exploring different cultures. She planned a trip to Zambia, a country situated in Africa. It is well said that "Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." Sara was compassionate towards others and was always willing to offer her help.
It was the year 2015 when Sara flew to Zambia. It was more than just a weekly trip that one usually makes, she stayed there for almost a year dedicating her time in researching and rescuing chimpanzee at a sanctuary. Sara had two pet dogs of her own in Barcelona namely Ula and Joy, it will be right to say that she was an animal lover.
Sara defines her time in the sanctuary as one of the life-changing events in her life, because it was then she had first met Ginger. The sanctuary was also a home to many other animals, including several dogs. Ginger was one of the many dogs who lived there. You may call it destiny, as Sara bumped into Ginger when she was there.
How can you not love a dog? right! I mean, is there anything cuter when you cuddle them and they lick your face clean? Sara was a dog person, and it was love at first sight for Sara, she liked Ginger the moment her eyes caught her. Ginger reminded her of one of the dogs Sara had in her family in Barcelona and thus began their friendship.
Talk about unconditional love and a dog will never disappoint you, Ginger too, reciprocated the love she had received from Sara. It was clear as a crystal that Ginger couldn't get enough of Sara, as she would follow Sara around the place like her shadow. Sara felt delighted by this gesture of Ginger. It was in no time that they both had secured a place for each other in their hearts.
Sara's time at the sanctuary required her to patrol around the place to briefly study the activities of the chimps, and when she did that, Ginger made sure to accompany her. “It was like 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) there, so we had to walk there and back,” Sara said. It was this long walk that strengthened their friendship.
With every day passing, the bond between the duo grew deep. No matter how much time they spent together, it was never enough. At night, Ginger would curl up to Sara and lick her face, Sara would give him a warm hug and cuddle her up. They would fall asleep together in the bed, "it was really, really awesome," Sara confessed.
Sara had now completed a year living in Zambia, it was time to head back home, return to Barcelona. Sara had now grown accustomed to Ginger and her company but she didn't want to act selfishly. She was stuck in a dilemma, she couldn't get enough of Ginger and her heart wanted to take the dog back with her. While in her head, she thought that Ginger would be more happy in Zambia.
It was a tough decision to make but Sara headed back to Barcelona alone, leaving Ginger behind in Zambia. Sara was back to Barcelona, but still didn't feel like home, because "the home is where the heart is," and her heart belonged to Ginger and her family was incomplete without her. “I wrote my thesis, and thought, I don’t want to be in Barcelona anymore,” León said. “So I just bought a one-way ticket to Zambia and I left.”
As soon as Sara arrived at the airport in Zambia, she headed straight to the sanctuary and started looking for Ginger. But to her surprise, Ginger wasn't there. She had traveled a long distance just to see Ginger, and she wasn't going home without trying. When she inquired, she was told that "The sanctuary had a lot of dogs, so the managers had to fix the problem, and they sent the dogs to different homes."
It had come to Sara's knowledge that Ginger was relocated to a mining site as a security dog. Without further ado, she marched straight towards the mining site, she bought dog food on her way and used it as an excuse to get herself in and feed the dogs. She kept looking for long but there was no clue of Ginger. Ultimately, she asked a local about where the dogs were, to which he replied: "There are no dogs, madam." Sara was taken aback by what she had heard as the mining site was the only place where Ginger could possibly be.
Was it Sara's intuition or her never say never attitude? She just knew Ginger was there, she strenuously searched the mining site and her efforts paid off when she caught the sight of the most awaited. And there lay Ginger, underneath a car, petrified, as if he had seen a ghost. When Sara approached to hug her, Ginger didn't move a bit, like she didn't know Sara. It bothered Sara as Ginger had never acted before as she did now.
Sara was caught in the moment and was delighted to have found Ginger. But sooner, she would realize that Flora was still missing. Flora was Ginger's sister and her companion in the sanctuary, she was also relocated with Ginger to the mine as a security dog. She later found out that she was beaten to death. It was when a thief got into the site and tried to steal petrol, Flora caught her, she was a brave dog and she started to bark at him and the thief beat her to death with a bat.
Sara and Ginger had been distant lately, the separation from Sara had made Ginger vulnerable and what followed at the mining site had only worsened things for the poor dog. One could simply look at the dog and tell that she was still under a trauma, as Ginger would give everyone a silent treatment. Sara couldn't bear the thought that things would have been different if she hadn't left Ginger's side. So, she came up with an idea that would heal Ginger and bring her back to life.
Ginger was literally in for a ride, Sara had Ginger sat in the car, they kicked-off their first of many travel extravaganzas and thus began the duo's road-trip of Africa. But not much had changed, Ginger was still silent and would act lost towards Sara's actions .“Ginger kept looking out of the car’s window and would stay mute” Sara said.
As Anatole France once said, “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.” And who would know it better than Sara, she had plans to leave for Malawi. She wanted to travel and explore Africa with Ginger. Sara made up for the things that happened in the past, she wouldn't go a moment without Ginger and would always tag along with her dog with her. She didn't have to think twice, it's like wherever she goes, Ginger is with her now.
Ginger was still traumatized by what she had experienced at the mining site, often petrified, she would hide underneath the cars or any vehicle she could fit under. Sara was worried for Ginger as there was a possibility of the dog getting hit by a vehicle. Fortunately, for Ginger, she regained her confidence with time, all thanks to an activity that Sara and Ginger would participate in.
Besides Sara's love, the one thing that brings a smile on Ginger's face is Paddleboarding. Sara and Ginger would often visit a lake in Malawi, it became their thing. The spot was a tourist attraction as it was famous for its water sport. Sara would help Ginger get on the paddleboard and the duo would paddle for hours. Sara certainly loved it and was amused by finally getting to see a smile on Ginger's face.
In addition to paddle boarding, the duo also loved hiking in the African woods. There's no side to the jungle they haven't witnessed. The wildlife around helps them in keeping their calm and maintain composure. After a long hike, they often set a bonfire and enjoy the treasure of camping. Sara reads stories to Ginger and their regular visits have made them quite popular among other hikers. Ginger often receives a compliment on her smile from the people around.
Their lives were definitely more than happening, there was nothing that Sara and Ginger didn't do to add colors into their lives. The dog who was once so scared and petrified that she would hide under a car or a truck to escape would now freely wander in the animal safari in midst of the lion's roars and moving elephants. Sara was initially scared and yelled, "Oh God, We are about to die." But to her surprise, the confident look on the face of Ginger assured her, "don’t worry momma," we will be fine.
Sara and Ginger never stuck in the rut, they always had new adventures coming their way. Trekking mountains, going to the safari and witnessing lions roar, had elephants approaching them, getting on boats and paddling, rescuing dogs and chimpanzees, educating school kids about treating the dogs right and what not. While most of the people would stop here, for Sara and Ginger, this was just the beginning of the adventures that were about to follow.
Besides Ginger, Sara had a family of her own, who anxiously waited for her to return to Barcelona. Sara didn't have to think much this time and she started packing her bag. Packing is definitely not a task that many people love doing, and to top that off, she had to pack two bags- one for her and the other for Ginger. But, Sara pulled it off with a smile on her face as she was thrilled with the thought of adding another member to her family i.e. Ginger.
Even after moving in with Sara it took a lot of time for Ginger to overcome her fear. For about a month, she would hide under any vehicle she could, including cars and trucks. It was bittersweet for Sara as she was happy that she could look after Ginger and ensure her safety, but it also broke her heart watching Ginger suffer. It was late but never, Ginger again made to her previous self that she was with Sara; happy and playful.
It took time for Ginger to realize that how privileged she was to have a friend like Sara. Sara would always tag her along to all the places she would travel to. Sara made sure that Ginger always felt loved. They would go for long walks, play together, cuddle, and Sara would read to Ginger that helped the dog relax, "while it may seem small, the ripple effects of small things is extraordinary."
Traveling with a dog is not as easy, and it wasn't easy for Sara either. While the heavy expenses can't be ruled out, there is a dozen of restrictions that one has to face while traveling with their dogs. Unlike the west, people in Africa are scared of dogs and there were certain areas where carrying Ginger became quite challenging. For instance, Sara had to be extra cautious at the zoo, she had to make sure that Ginger didn't bark at other animals, which is a dog's trait. There were often obstructions while crossing the African borders due to lack of proper documents that could prove that Ginger was not being smuggled.
In Sara's words "dogs are amazing" and she had learned a lot from Ula and Joy (her pet dogs in Barcelona). But it was Ginger who influenced her and changed her for good, he made her wild in a good way and taught her how life should be. She learned a valuable lesson from her experience with Ginger that life can be exactly the same as you want it to be, and she's more than happy with this realization.
People in Africa don't think very good about dogs and they have formed a rigid perception that dogs are dangerous. They often throw stones at the dogs or kick them when they encounter them in the streets. But "life's problems wouldn't be called hurdles if there wasn't a way to get over them." Sara and Ginger stood up to the challenge, they started visiting schools and educated the students so they don't fear dogs. A lot of kids interacted with them and gave Sara and Ginger with beautiful memories.
For a dog, Ginger had been through a lot in her life which made her sensitive. Losing her sister and the separation from Sara followed by her relocation had made her compassionate towards others. Ginger is always reaching out to other dogs who are in need of help. For instance, Ginger once spotted a dog in a street, and Sara didn't see it, Sara thought it was a cat and asked ginger to let go as Ginger started to push. However, it did turn out to be a dog who was in need of help. This dog does own a beautiful heart.
Ginger and Sara had the time of their lives in Zambia. They didn't miss out on anything, once Sara took Ginger to one of her friend's place there and had a blast. Sara didn't know at the time that Ginger could swim. It came to her knowledge when Ginger dived right into the swimming pool at her friend's place to accompany Sara. They had a lot of fun and they successfully added another adventure to their travel diary.
Sara describes her decision of rescuing Ginger and making the dog her travel buddy as the best decision she's ever made. To say she's happy to make a difference in ginger's life would be an understatement. "No words are enough to describe how happy I am to have been able to bring Ginger's smile back, and she makes me happy too," Sara said. She's glad that she didn't care about the expenses that came along in traveling with Ginger.
It is often said that "two people is a friendship, and three is a family", her arrival in Barcelona gave Ginger a new extended family. In addition to Ginger, Sara already had two other pets, namely Ula and Joy. They were Sara's family dogs. The gang of three got along from the very moment they met, they would play with each other running wild in the backyard. A family of her own was the best present Barcelona had for Ginger.
Ginger had spent the first half of her life in Zambia, for her, life in Barcelona was an all new experience. Her curiosity to discover her new homeland had filled her with enthusiasm. Unlike her life in Zambia, Ginger gets all the good attention here, she gets adored by strangers walking by on the streets. She loves everything about this place, the fancy cars, tall buildings, the streets. In Sara's words, she is more than happy here "she stops after every few steps, to smell the other dogs" Sara said.
At present, Sara and Ginger are in Barcelona, having fun with their family during the vacations. Their stay here is short as they are planning for a new travel adventure. However, their life is not all travel, fun, and frolic. Sara's experience with Ginger gave her a new objective in life. After their return to Barcelona, both Sara and Ginger took up the project of saving other stray dogs like Ginger, who are living a miserable life.
What's meant to be will eventually happen. They are both happy to be together, "she’s like my kid," León said. Ginger realizes that she's a lucky dog to have been rescued by Sara; not every dog gets to travel around the world. And for Sara, the reunion felt like she had met with a long-lost family member. May they have more adventures and trips in the future to add to their travel diary.