Kindness Diaries (2017–2019): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Gift of Joy - full transcript

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[Leon Logothetis] From a
distance, the world probably
seems

like a big, bad scary place.

If you listen to the news
or even ask the person next to
you,

they will likely talk about war,
poverty, corruption, and hate.

And they are right,
from a distance.

But, I believe that up close,
there is enough good, enough
love,

and enough pure kindness
to make the world go round,

and that is what
inspired my journey.

A journey where random acts
of kindness are repaid

with unexpected and
life-changing gifts.

And, these are The
Kindness Diaries.



After leaving Varanasi, I rode
about 200 miles to the next stop
of my journey.

I just arrived in Bihar Province
in the capital, actually, Patna.

Now, Bihar Province is one of
the most dangerous places in
India.

However, it also has lots of
festivals and today, believe it
or not,

is the biggest
festival of the year.

[Leon] Lucky for me,
the festival celebrations

seemed to make the people very
happy to give me food and drink.

-You can dance here.
-I can dance here?

-Yeah, yeah, why not?
-OK.

[Leon] Unfortunately, for me,
the celebrations ended

when it came time to find a
place to sleep for the night.

You want to stay tonight?

But, I don't have any money.
That's the thing.

-I have no money.
-That's a little problem.



Can I spend the night
in your house tonight?

No.

No?

You'’re from America and you say
that you don'’t have any money.

So, you need fruits
and other things.

So, how can it be possible?

That's a very good point.

So, they don'’t believe
that I don'’t have any money,

so they'’re not going to help.

[Leon] And, believe
me, I asked everyone.

Is there any way you can put
me up in your house tonight?

-Just one night.
-No, I'’m sorry.

[Leon] Though he couldn'’t
offer me a place to stay,

he was nice enough to fill up
Kindness 1 with a tank of gas.

Thank you, my friend.

[Leon] But, for me, on that day
in Patna, that is where the
kindness ended.

So, as day turned to night...

Can I stay with you tonight?

[Leon] I decided to book myself
a room, once again, at the
Kindness Hotel.

[sighs]

It'’s me and you.

For the first time
since Lake Como.

[Leon] The next day,
I got on the road early.

Well, I should say
I tried to get on the road
early.

The bike is finished.
I need to find a mechanic.

[horns blaring]

This is a nightmare.

The bike has broken down and
I'’ve started a massive Indian
traffic jam.

I cried because I had no shoes
until I saw a man that had no
feet.

[Leon] I wasn'’t sure
what I was going to do,

until...

The bike is broken.

We have a mechanic and it's
possible he can fix your bike.

-You're a mechanic?
-Yeah...no, no, listen.

I'm not mechanic. I'm not a
mechanic. My shop is right here.

[Leon] I think
they're mechanics.

I'm not entirely sure but they
said they could help me.

So, I'’ve given up Kindness 1.

Who's the chief mechanic?

There. That's mechanic,
that's mechanic.

-What'’s your name?
-Osolan.

[inaudible]

[Leon] Maybe this trouble
was actually a blessing.

-I'm on my way to Bhutan.
-OK.

-And I hear Bhutan is in the
mountains. -Okay.

And if I had a problem with
the bike in the mountains,

there would be no
one to help me.

It'’s been, I'd say,
nearly two hours.

The bike hasn'’t started yet, but
they'’ve been working diligently
on it.

I don'’t know if they're
going to be able to fix it.

He keeps saying, "Yes, yes."

This is hour number three.

-And you're welcome.
-You fixed it?

Yeah.

[Leon] I can't describe
how grateful I felt

for the kindness these
generous men showed me.

-[cheering]
-Yes!

[Leon] Feeling much more
secure in Kindness 1,

I started to climb the
mountain road ahead of me,

even as the road ahead
started to literally disappear.

Finally, I arrived.

I'’m in Darjeeling, India,
and, as you can see,

the weather ain'’t so great,
but this is the home of tea,

and, as an Englishman,
that makes me very happy.

Is there any way, because
you speak such good English,

is there any way that I can
stay with you tonight?

Sorry, can'’t stay because
I'’ve got my family, my kids.

-Namaste.
-Namaste.

Is there any way that
you can feed me today?

I'’ll do some work.

I'’ll work for you, I'll work in
your shop for some food.

No.

No.

[Leon] Since I wasn'’t having
any luck, I decided to push on.

[Leon] I'’ve been
everywhere in Darjeeling

and everyone says that this is
the place to be, the happiest
place.

Happy Valley.

-Are you English?
-[William] Yes.

-Where are you from?
-London.

London! Oh, my God.
What are you doing in
Darjeeling?

I'’ve come to Happy Valley.

[Leon] I wasn'’t kidding when
I said we English love our tea.

Well, let'’s try and
get in together.

[Leon] So, my new friend William
and I took a quick tour of the
tea estate

and even got to pluck
some tea leaves.

But the best part of it
all came at the end.

If you want, you
can have samples.

[Leon] I would love
to try some tea.

You guys have any preference as
to what type of tea would you
like to taste?

I definitely do.
English Breakfast tea.

[man] That would be a black tea.

[Leon] While we
waited for the tea,

I asked William if he could
help out a fellow countryman.

Is there any way that, just for
one night, I can stay with you?

-Yeah. Let'’s give it a shot.
-Yeah? You'll let me stay?

Why not? You don'’t always have
tea with an Englishman in
Darjeeling.

[Leon] And now that
that was settled...

[both] Cheers.

[man] Was that a proper
English Breakfast tea?

It was literally one of the best
English Breakfast teas I'’ve ever
drunk,

and that'’s not a joke.

[Leon] The next day,
I was back out on the road...

ready to trade one
happy valley for another.

You see, I was on
my way to Bhutan.

Why?

Quite simply because of a
concept the Bhutanese people
live by

called "gross
national happiness,"

and that was something that
I just needed to see for myself.

Kindness 1 and I just made it up
to this extraordinary structure.

This is what the Bhutanese call
the Eighth Wonder of the World.

It'’s a bronze statue
of Buddha himself.

Walking next to this Buddha,

it'’s very clear to me that
this country is very special.

There'’s a magic in the air.

Below me is Thimphu,
the capital of Bhutan.

I'’m in the Himalayan kingdom of
Bhutan, one of the cleanest
places on Earth,

and I am about to meet the man
that makes this all possible,

the Minister of the Environment.

Here, in Bhutan, it'’s a state,
Buddhism is the state religion,

but you can believe anything you
want within the four walls of
your house.

And nobody has
a right to tell another man,

"My god is better
than your god."

That is a violation of human
rights, and then we have peace.

That is gross
national happiness.

It'’s a very profound statement.

Here you can go to any house
anywhere, they will always
welcome you.

No matter how poor,
they will take out their best
for you.

This is it.

This is the true essence
of gross national happiness.

You know? It'’s coming from here.

This is the value system.

And we say that we must
not lose this value system

because once we lose it,
it'’s gone forever,

and no amount of money
in the world can bring it back.

I just finished my meeting
with the Minister of
Environment.

I... what a chap!

What a chap! I am so inspired.
I cannot wait

to get into the
heart of this country

and see it with my own eyes.

[Leon] On the advice of the
Ministers, I'’ve made it to Paro,

and my aim today is to find out
what gross national happiness is
all about.

Kindness 1 would never
have made it up this hill.

It'’s all a little bit bizarre,
I must tell you.

I'’ve met the owner, or who seems
like the owner, and his wife.

I'’ve never met them
before in my life.

They don'’t speak English and
they don'’t even care that I'm in
their house.

Can I help you?

People have told me that the
Bhutanese are the happiest
people on Earth.

So I... for some reason I
decided simply just to come to a
random farmhouse

and see if that was true.

Yes, it is true.
I would like to welcome you.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

How are you?

[Bikash] We are happy to help
other people and we welcome
other people.

Being at home with my family,

I'’m having three meals in
a day that I don'’t have to pay.

This means happiness to me.

Would you like to tour
my farm, go around and see?

Absolutely. I'’d love to.

[Leon] Their farm was simple.
A cow, some chickens, and some
rice.

But for Bikash and his family,

it was all they needed
to be totally happy.

Then Bikash invited me to
experience a real Bhutanese
bath.

We have a practice
where we do a hot stone bath.

[Leon] Where fresh water
is added to an underground tub

and then warmed
by super-heated rocks.

The water felt amazing,
even if the fit wasn'’t quite
perfect.

After my bath, we
returned to the house.

Getting ready to eat a
traditional Bhutanese meal.

You'’re lucky.
You get to eat it every day.

Oh, yes. I'’m very
lucky to have her.

Are all Bhutanese people
this friendly and this happy?

Because you'’re always
smiling, you'’re always joking.

It'’s such a wonderful...
it'’s wonderful to be in your
presence.

Are they all like this?

Yes, all are like me.
They are filled with sense of
humor.

They are always, they are jolly,
they are friendly, they are
good.

Would you like to spend
the night at my farmhouse?

-Really?
-Yes.

I would absolutely love to.
That would be such an honor.

-OK.
-Thank you.

Thank you so much for the food.
Thank you.

Thank you.

[woman chuckles]

[Leon] Then it was time
to turn in for the night.

-This is room is specially for
the guest. -This is the guest
room?

-Yes, the guest room.
-OK. Thank you very much.

-My pleasure.
-Thank you.

And I will see you tomorrow
morning. Thank you for your
kindness. Thank you.

[sighs]

Gross national happiness
is alive and well.

[Leon] The next morning
it was time to leave.

-Good morning.
-Good morning, sir.

-How did you sleep?
-How are you? I slept so well.

It'’s so peaceful.
Thank you very, very much.

-It'’s been such a pleasure.
-You're welcome.

Thank you.

Today I'’m going to try
and go to the Tiger'’s Nest.

-I'’ve heard it's amazing.
-Yes, yes, it is.

[Leon] Thank you
so much. Thank you.

[Leon] I had seen
gross national happiness in
action,

and I was filled
with inspiration.

And now there was just
one more thing I had to do

before I left this
magical country.

Located at the top of a remote
mountain, it takes several hours
to get there,

even by horseback,

but the spectacular views
alone make it worth the effort.

And then, of course, when you
reach the top, there is this.

I don'’t think I've been to a
calmer spot ever in my life.

[Leon] It wasn'’t easy to
say goodbye to Bhutan,

but it was time to
continue my journey east.

I just came from the land of
happiness, arrived in Calcutta,
the land of chaos.

Two totally different cultures.

[Leon] I needed to find food and
a place to stay but wasn'’t
having very much luck.

I'’m absolutely exhausted.

-No.
-No?

If you give money, then he will

-provide you food.
-Okay.

-Can I stay in your house
tonight? -No, not possible.

This is mad. This place
is chaotic. It'’s too chaotic.

I can'’t take this anymore.

Do you speak English?

No.

Guys, I... I really...
I really don'’t know what to do.

You need to... you need to
help me here. I'’m serious.

[Leon] Until I met a man
who knew a man... or something
like that.

It looks like it could be
some kind of mission, actually.

-Hello.
-[man] Hi.

[Leon] It turned out the
mission was an orphanage,

and the children
that called it home

almost immediately
invited me to play with them.

One thing I'’ve noticed about all
these kids is none of them have
shoes.

Good shot!

Whoa!

Agggh!

Oh!

[Leon] We ran ourselves
into exhaustion and thirst,

which led to a
disturbing discovery.

-[man] Not safe.
-[Leon] It's not safe?

Not safe.

We have one-piece
water purifier.

All children drinking water.

So, they drink
from unsafe water.

Do they not get sick?

-Yes.
-Sometimes they get sick?

This is terrible.

I mean, clean drinking water
should be a right for everyone.

Just watching all
these kids, one by one,

going up and drinking water

that even he's saying is unsafe
and they get sick from.

That'’s not right.
This is not right.

[Leon] For the rest of the day I
couldn'’t shake the nagging
feeling on my mind.

I wanted to find out as much
as I could about the mission

and the kids that lived there.

-So this is where they go to
school. -School.

-Hello, little one.
-[laughter]

-[man] This is a free medical
store. -[Leon] OK.

So, there'’s a free
place for children

-to have medicine?
-Yes.

How many years have you
been running this mission?

-[man] Twenty-five years.
-[Leon] Twenty-five years?

[man] Yes.

[Leon] And how many children
have been through this mission?

Approximately 50 to 60.

-[Leon] Thousand.
-Yes.

I will help with
vocational training.

Driving.

I like to hear your story

and I will help...

you stay at here.

-You'’re going to let me stay the
night? -Yes.

[Leon] As I settled
in for the night,

I knew there wasn'’t anything
I could do for the kids at that
moment,

but I also knew that
tomorrow was another day.

I had so much fun playing soccer
and playing cricket with the
kids.

They have light in their eyes
and it really made me feel like
a child again.

When I travel around the world,
there are a few people that me
and the crew meet

who inspire our hearts so much
that we want to give back.

You have shown me, with your
kindness of letting me stay here

and integrating me into the
home with your children,

the level of kindness
that you have in your heart.

Your kids have been
exceptionally welcoming to me,

and we want to give
you three things.

The first thing, because I was
playing sports with the children

and I noticed they didn'’t
really have much equipment,

so the first thing I want to do,

we'’re going to buy
lots of sports equipment...

footballs, cricket bats,
badminton, lots of sport things.

Thank you.

[interpreting in Hindi]

[kids cheering]

So, the second thing.

I was very taken aback by the
fact that the kids were drinking
the unsafe water.

And, I noticed that when I asked
you for some water you gave me
bottled water,

so you didn'’t want me
to drink the unsafe water

but you and your children
are drinking unsafe water.

To me that'’s... that's a
travesty. That shouldn'’t happen.

We want to buy you
two new purifiers.

-Water purifiers.
-Water purifiers,

so that the kids can
drink safe water.

[interpreting]

[cheering]

The excitement keeps
on bubbling. That'’s so cool.

This is what this is all about,
putting joy on kids'’ faces.

-Thank you.
-Okay. There'’s one last thing.

When you took me on the tour of
the home, you told me about the
school,

and you said to me that
you didn'’t have a library

and that you don'’t
have many books.

For me, books changed my life.

I think it'’s so important
for kids to have books.

So, what we'’ve decided to do
is to build you a new library

and give you 1,000 new books.

[interpreting]

[cheering]

We are very excited that...
the mission, children's life...
change.

[Leon] Happiness,
we all hope for it.

I started this leg of my
journey being made happy

by people who were
happy to help me.

Later, I met a nation of people
who showed me what it means to
be happy

with what you have.

And, finally,
I got to experience happiness

while giving to those
who have nothing for themselves.

So, maybe...
when it comes to happiness,

it'’s not important if you get
it, give it, or feel it,

so long as you find it.