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September 06, 2007

Men of a certain age...

The water was only knee-high, but I decided to take up the offer of having my motorbike carried through the current washing across the road at Saouga.

"How much?" I asked.
To my suprise, the young men answered "Oh, whatever you give us is fine."

The people of Saouga have the reputation of charging people heavily for carrying their motorbikes to escape Gorom-Gorom during the rainy season. They know there is often no alternative. So I was taken aback by this unexpected easy-going approach to money.

Nevertheless, I proceeded to wade through the river while my new friends put woods through the wheels of my bike and hauled it to their shouders.

When we got safely to the other side, they put the bike down, and I handed them a well-used note, which they received gladly. Sensing my surprise, one of them kindly explained:

"Si c'est un vieux, nous ne demandons pas de l'argent. Ce que on nous donne est bon."
("If it's an old man, we don't ask for money. What we are given is good.")

So that's it. It's because I am now old that their attitude has changed.

How kind.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina travel motorbike

Posted by Keith at September 6, 2007 02:43 PM