Everyday I would go on long walks looking for shops selling electronics, particularly ones manufactured by Samsung. I was looking to buy a replacement adaptor for my laptop, which by now I was sure was lost. But none of the shops I went to were selling a suitable one. Finally I came across what seemed like a shopping mall filled with shops, all of which were exclusively selling electrical and electronic equipments. Although it was already past closing time, it was a massive boost to my dying confidence. I knew that if a replacement adaptor existed, it was to be found in this mall.

Few things beat lying in a hammock in a garden with a laptop

Next morning after breakfast, I set out on the long walk to the electronics shopping mall. My level of confidence dipped with every shop I went to. Most of them didn’t have any power adaptors, and those that did, didn’t have one that would fit my netbook. Finally in one of the shops, I was told that they could make a custom one for me, but it would cost about 150 USD. This was more than the cost of my netbook itself, so I politely refused the offer.

As I made my way back to the hostel, I passed a couple of tattoo studios. I had always wanted to get a permanent tattoo, and I figured getting it done on the exact other side of the planet would make the trip all the more memorable. But this would’ve to wait. It was time to head back to the hostel and drown my sorrows as all hopes of finding a replacement power adaptor were now gone.

The hostel lobby

I was really worried now. In a few more days, I would move on from Cali, and then I wouldn’t even have access to Sarah’s adaptor. In desperation, as a last ditch effort, not really expecting a positive outcome, I called the hostel in Popayan where I had stayed last week. Imagine my surprise and joy when they said that they had indeed found a laptop power supply and didn’t know who the owner was. I told them to keep it safe while I would make the 5 hour bus journey to come and retrieve it. But they had a better idea. They would find someone headed to Cali and would ask them to take it along. I agreed and thanked them profusely for their help.