The Day When… We had $1,500 Stolen

before October of last year, we had delighted in over 4 years on the road with only extremely minor theft issues. Then, while we were travelling on the Pamir highway in Tajikistan, we had $1,500 us stolen from us. That’s no little sum for a couple of English instructors / travel blog writers trying to travel the world. the worst part is that it was likely stolen by a person who we had thought about to be a great friend.

It all started in the little city of Murghab which is along the Pamir highway just inside of the Tajik Border. We were travelling with 2 other backpackers whom we had only understood for a few days. The four of us weren’t having the very best experience with our driver at the time so, instead of continuing with him for one more 2 weeks, we chose to head to META travel company to discover a new driver / guide to take us the rest of the method along the Highway.

That is where me satisfied our new driver, a young, friendly, English speaking Kyrgyz guy who resided in Murghab. He knew the mountains inside as well as out as well as his excellent English implied that we would have a driver as well as a guide all in one. all of us liked him immediately as well as we were thrilled to have such a fantastic guy with us for the trip.

New buddies On The Pamir Highway
Over the next two weeks, the 5 of us ended up being fantastic friends. We were in the vehicle for about 5 hours / day together, however never had any type of arguments. Our driver turned out to be the very best guide we might have asked for. He went everywhere we did, showing us mountain passes, natural hot springs, stone carvings as well as trick lakes. We were all enjoying the trip so much that even after 2 weeks of driving, we didn’t want it to end.

Dariece, myself as well as the two other travellers were together the entire time. Sometimes, our driver would stay back at the vehicle as well as view our stuff while we went for a hike or a walk around the regional villages. We completely trusted him with our gear as well as he assured us that the mountains were safe, as long as we kept our things close.

Because there are no ATMs on the Pamir Highway, Dariece as well as I were bring about $2,000 in us currency to ensure that we might pay for to pay our guide for his services, pay for spaces along the method as well as have USD left over for our future travels into Uzbekistan as well as Iran, where our ATM cards wouldn’t work. We always locked our bags as well as made sure that the money was tucked away somewhere that it couldn’t be found…. except for one time.

Beautiful hot Springs… ideal Distraction.
It was the second to last day of our trip as well as we had chose to stop at one last hot spring. We had to soak rapidly since the flight terminal was closing in Khorog, as well as we still needed to book our flights back to the Tajik funding of Dushanbe.

Our guide said he would stay back at the vehicle to view our things as well as although he had always come into hot springs with us in the past, we believed nothing of his decision. We were happy that somebody would be viewing our gear.

Men as well as women soak in different areas at the Garam Chashma hot Springs, so the women headed one way, while us men headed the other. We stripped down as well as hopped in the springs as well as we were only soaking for a couple of minutes when our driver appeared. We told him to hop in for a soak, so he did, however he only stayed in for about 1 minute before rushing to put his clothes back on as well as heading for the car.

We all soaked for about 10 more minutes before getting dressed as well as prepared to go. The women got to the vehicle very first as well as Dariece discovered that our driver was in the back seat rummaging around. When he saw them, he rapidly got out as well as hopped in the driver seat. After costs 2 weeks with him, Dariece believed nothing of it. He was most likely just searching for something in his own bag, which was piled up next to ours in the back of the car.

Jason as well as I came out a couple of minutes later, got into the vehicle as well as the five of us started driving towards Khorog to book our flights. It was on that trip that things got a bit suspicious, as well as we ought to have most likely clued into it then.

Our driver stopped at his friend’s home on the way, ran up the driveway, spent about 5 minutes there, as well as then ran back down to the car. We then brought on to Khorog where all of us chose to take our driver out for a huge farewell dinner as well as suggestion him generously for his remarkable guiding as well as driving skills.

Our tasty Farewell dinner Of Indian Curry & Naan Bread
The next day, we boarded the helicopter as well as quote our farewells to our driver before taking off to Dushanbe.

It wasn’t up until we woke up the next morning that we realized we were missing $1,500 US. We looked in our money belt as well as there were only $20’s as well as $10’s. I asked Dariece if she had moved the money as well as when she replied “no”, we both began to panic. We tore apart are backpacks once again as well as once again searching for the stack of 15 crisp 100 dollar bills, however they were nowhere to be found.

At that point, we were in such denial that we didn’t attempt blame our driver, as well as now great friend. We asked the hotel if anyone had been in our room, which was pointless since our bags were locked as well as nobody might have gotten into them without the combinations.

We even called our driver as well as his calming voice assured us that he had no concept what had occurred to our money.

Dariece cried, as well as I might barely contain my frustration. the worst part was that we shouted at each other, completely understanding that this catastrophe was both of our faults.

Later that night we went over the entire trip together as well as it ended up being painfully apparent where the money had disappeared. We had actually locked our bags each time that we were away from them except for that a person trip to the hot springs. There was never a time when our other travel companions were not at our side, as well as it was only our driver who was ever around our bags without us.

Visiting a temple With Our friend our driver

Note: As we didn’t physically see anyone take our money, the complying with is based totally on rational analysis. our driver might be innocent, however provided the circumstances, we believe that he is guilty beyond all sensible doubt.

How it went down…

That day we had stopped at the hot springs, he chose to stay back when he saw that the bag was unlocked. He viewed us all go into the enclosed area where the hot springs were. Nervous, he concerned inspect on me as well as my buddy to make sure that we were soaking in the springs as well as couldn’t potentially get to the vehicle as well as catch him in the act. When we told him to find in for a soak, he did so as to not seem as well suspicious, however he entrusted to such haste that I should’ve understood something was up.

He then rushed to the car, unzipped our money belt, which was stupidly left unlocked in Dariece’s purse, took out all of the 100’s, however left the 20’s as well as 10’s to ensure that if we had looked inside, we wouldn’t notice the theft best away. Dariece came back to the vehicle early as well as almost caught him in the act, however he got out of the back seat before anyone might completely see what he was doing.

The kicker was the stop at his friend’s house. Our driver was on the phone speaking Kyrgyz to a buddy for a few minutes before pulling over as well as telling us he had to go in for a quick visit. He went inside, provided his buddy the money to ensure that he might retrieve it later, then came back as well as drove us the rest of the method to Khorog. had he kept the money on him as well as we realized we were missing it, he would danger getting caught if we had chose to browse him. wise move…

That night he seemed uneasy, peaceful as well as distant, however he handled to keep his composure with our farewell dinner as well as gratuity, best up until our goodbyes the next day.

You may be believing that it was the other two travellers who stole from us, as well as for a short moment, we did too. We’re always the very first to state that it’s typically travellers who will take from other travellers, not the locals. however in this situation there was just no method that our backpacking companions could’ve dedicated the crime. They were always with us as well as the only time the bags were left behind was when our driver was staying to view them.

On top of that, we’re still in touch with those backpackers as well as we’ve because ended up being fantastic friends.

Dariece as well as I had a difficult time getting over this incident, however I believe we handled much better than many people would. instead of beating ourselves up over it, we looked at our behaviour as well as tried to figure out why something such as this would occur to us. had we been as well flashy? as well careless? Were we not appreciating sufficient of what we had?

We strongly believe that the world tells us things from time to time as well as in this case, the world chose to take our money as well as kick us in the junk. There’s always a reason for whatever as well as although it still pains us to believe about losing that money, by far the hardest part was that we had to accept that a buddy had stolen it from us.

After the incident, we relieved our thoughts by believing things like “our driver needed the money more than we did”, as well as “We learnt a great deal from the experience”, however the truth is that stealing is never justifiable as well as no matter where you’re from or exactly how you online your life, you ought to never take advantage of people who count on you.

Our two weeks with our driver were undoubtably a few of the very best times we’ve ever had while travelling. We had felt so lucky to not only experience the question of the Pamir Highway, however to have likewise made a new regional buddy along the way. sadly that was not the situation as well as while we still look back at our trip fondly, it will permanently be tainted by the theft of both funds as well as friendship, in addition to our subsequent revelation that some people just can’t be trusted.

Because we didn’t really see our driver take our money, we have no best to tell you not to hire him as your driver. He was a fantastic driver as well as a fantastic guide, however there is bit possibility of his innocence in our minds. No matter who your driver is, as well as no matter who you travel with, always make sure to keep your valuables locked away.

Have you ever been stolen from? Did you ever get over it? Please show us below as well as assist avoid other travellers from making the exact same mistakes.

Note: We composed about our journeys in Tajikistan on this blog, however chose to omit this extremely personal incident. After getting many emails asking us who our driver was as well as exactly how to get a hold of him, we chose that it was our duty to compose this post. We hope that a few of your checked out this publish as well as it reminds you to be cautious with your things when travelling. even when you feel 100% secure.

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