an entry somewhere else

Every now and then I tend to get testy and find it better just to talk to as few people as possible until the feeling recedes. This week led to one of those days. My coordinator blew into town this week for a few days and she stayed in the part of town that I rarely visit, the touristy area. In that area, there are many hotels of various qualities, the great shopping street of Makassar — Jalan Somba Opu, Fort Rotterdam, and Losari Beach (no sand to be seen). Anyhow, the area has relentless rickshaw drivers. If you don’t want their services, they will often follow you and badger you into taking their rickshaw. In the past, I have walked around a block and the rickshaw driver followed me to the same spot in which he started following me. It’s really the major reason I don’t go down to that end of town. What annoyed me today was when I exited my friendly supermarket and walked up to the queue of taxis. The taxis were waiting there for passengers like myself. I opened the door and got in. A sly guy ran up and stood at the door waiting for a payout. A payout for what? you might ask. I ask that question to myself all the time. He didn’t hail the taxi, he didn’t help with my bags, he didn’t even open the darn door of the taxi. Yet, he wants money for standing and looking in at me. I feigned innocence and the guy eventually closed the door. I was brought up under the expectation that if I did work, I would get paid. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t get paid. This chap, however ingenious, didn’t actually do anything other than scramble to my door after the fact. With all that said, I don’t ’stiff’ everyone who does the same type of thing… It irritates me that someone wants to take something for nothing.