I’m frustrated, and decided that my journal has had nothing but good things so far, so I’ll share something that didn’t work out. Let me start by saying that I’m mostly frustrated with myself.
I decided to go to the border today. Every day before sunset there is a big ceremony, for which hundreds of people come. On each side of the border there are large viewing stands. The is an elaborate ceremony to take down the flags with outrageous costumes for the soldiers. People yell and cheer as the flags of both countries are lowered, carried to the border gate and then folded.
Well, I knew that shared taxis go from the Golden Temple around 3:30, so there I headed. I had met a man who distributes free pamphlets there, and I thought I’d ask his advice. “Sit, have tea…there’s plenty of time he said.” I knew I should say no, and go look for a taxi, but being the overly social, trusting person I am, I agreed. After the tea, which I gulped down, he took me to an auto-rickshaw driver whom he knew. At this point I doubted I would find a taxi, and decided to accept the high price offered.
The driver then passed me to his brother in another auto. The auto was so amazingly slow, and I think most of it’s energy went into shaking and making noise. I watched taxis and other autos pass us. By the time we reached the border I had a headache and the ceremony was virtually over. I was very frustrated at having spent extra money to miss the ceremony. I found the driver and told him to find other passengers, and I gave him a portion of the money. In the end I went with him, but told him to take other passengers.
When I cooled off, I felt sorry for the poor driver. I wasn’t mean to him, but I wasn’t friendly either. He refused to take the remainder of the money, and I apologized.
Well, I still have time here, and perhaps I’ll get to see the border yet.