Strafing Runs

Every car in Mongolia is a taxi.  This can lead to some interesting occurrences. One such occurrence is what I like to call ‘being strafed.’  I walk everywhere so whenever said potential taxi drivers see me they want to give me a ride where I need to go; this usually happens at night when I’m heading back to my apartment.  When they see me walking along the sidewalk they will drive by but when they come abreast of me they will slow down and pull close to the curb.  If I made a move toward the car they would stop and let me in. I never do so they always end up driving away in search of another quarry.  Whenever they drive up to me, slow down, then drive away it’s like I’m being strafed.

John