Fuel the scotter and the spider

It’s funny how something as simple as a scooter can become a full adventure in India.

This morning, I woke up with a terrible headache, and even during Ashtanga practice my body felt heavy, disconnected. My teacher, Aroshi, noticed right away and switched all my practical classes for study time — a small act of kindness that meant the world. I spent most of the day in bed, trying to rest, when I decided that maybe I could at least go fuel my scooter. Something small, easy, normal.

Well… not exactly.

As I opened the seat, a huge hairy spider with two red spots on its head and yellow parts on its body crawled out from inside the scooter. I freaked out. When I tried to make it leave, it went back in again — straight into the engine area.

I had no idea if it was poisonous, and just the thought of driving and having it suddenly appear on my arm made me panic. So I gave up on the plan, closed the door, and went back to bed. Some adventures are better postponed.

By the afternoon, the headache had softened and I decided to try again — this time with a little more courage. The spider must have moved on, because the scooter was empty and ready to go. I rode through the warm air, the smell of dust and spices, and finally stopped to fill the tank.

Filling up the whole thing cost me just 390 rupees — around €3.70. Every time I fuel up, I’m amazed. The petrol stations here feel like scenes from an old movie: cows and dogs wandering freely, people chatting between trucks, and a kind of beautiful chaos that somehow works.

I guess these adventures just happen in the jungle and yes, I still check under the scooter seat every single time.