26. Report - 2/12/21 - A big problem at the border crossing

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I seem to be twice as lucky: I didn't get lost in the tricky search for the uncontrolled border crossing and a motorcyclist has just offered to take me to the place where you come across the quiet back road to Kerala between the mountain ranges.

The road looks perfect. I walk the beautiful path with confidence and enjoyment. It's getting hot. A small van stops and offers to take me to the official border crossing. "Under no circumstance!" I reject the nicely meant offer. I can't risk being approached to show my vaccination card.

After three hours the first signs of a village appear. I hope to be in Kerala already.

But: At the intersection there are not only roadblocks, but four border officials control the traffic.

How I feel? - Very disappointed. All my fearful indoor theater and the attempts to solve the problem with tricks - in vain!

There is a tea stand at the corner. I sit in the shade, drink milk tea and watch how the border guards check certain vehicles and simply let others pass through. Again, small crook plans run through my creativity.

But - I actually wanted to be different. I try to be calm inside and watch the knot salad in me ... a critical and uncomfortable process, but proven. After half an hour I feel like this:

- The hardest part of the inner knots became dissolved. - I feel confident and will go over the border.

- If one of the border officials asks me for the vaccination certificate, I will say in a relaxed manner that I don't have this.

- If he asks further, I will react in a friendly and relaxed manner and reveal that my visa status has not been clarified because of the pandemic.

-If he asks any further, I will give him a nice look and confide in him my fundamental doubts about the legality of this pandemic and the lockdowns.

- I feel safe inside and feel the strength to be able to smile at the border guard.

- Perhaps that will mark the beginning of the end of my time in India. Ok, then that's the way it is. The main thing is to be in peace inside.

That's how I feel right now.

When I want to leave, a man comes out of the restaurant. He tells something I couldn't remember and then says that I should get on his moped in the back - he takes me across the border.

As we drive past the border post, the officers give as a friendly smile.


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