A weekend trip to Lake Tahoe driving through the curvy mountain roads was a good break from the busy San Jose life. California and Nevada share the proud ownership of this lovely blue lake that looks majestic between the green mountains. With a maximum depth of 500 m, this boasts of being the eighth deepest lake in the world. It would have probably been even more awing if the hills around had a bit of snow, we were just a few weeks early. 
The next weekend I came to Ottawa on a business trip. I know it was a little late but just wanted to try my luck with the fall colours. I took a car and drove down to Adirondack Park, New York State; there was a bit of snow, there was a bit of green and a bit of fall colours. The drive through acres and acres of protected forest was without doubt an unforgettable experience. But more than anything else, what remains in my memory was the question the US Border security asked me when I showed him my passport - "Have you ever been arrested before for any charge sir?". I know that question had a lot to do with my pigmentation. I wanted to just snatch my passport from his hand and come back to Ottawa but then didn't want to waste my two hour drive to the border. Then he made me wait inside, took my car key and searched through the car for a few minutes while I saw the other "white" cars pass by. He came back and said "You're all set, sir". I was not angry, for he was performing only his duty, but just hoped that some day the reverse happens.
More pictures are in my album.
I'm sorry to hear about your travails at the border, but don't feel too bad. This past week while fire destroyed a local landmark in Rouses Point New York, our Border Patrol "friends" decided to detain a fire truck from Canada on the way to the scene.
ReplyDeleteThe local rural fire departments typically rely on mutal aid from closer Canadian departments when they really need it - luckily this time no one was killed in the delay.
Of course, that's not the worse Border Patrol has been responsible for. In two separate accidents four people were killed and more than 60 injured (four critically) when Canadian based buses failed to see a Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 87 in Elizabethtown due to poor signage.
Of course then there's also the damage to trade and tourism for Adirondack locals, but that's another discussion altogether.
That's interesting ... and equally shocking to hear too. Hope there's more brightness in the days to come.
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