i hate travel agents

my flight itinerary to new york was booked by my aunt through this 'reliable' travel agent friend she has been using for ages. now, my aunt's the sort who doesn't like the hassle of going through the detailed planning and arrangements for trips. in typically gungho fashion, she'll just up and go without a second thought. in some ways, i can be like that too, and i won't care less if the agent dumps me in siberia or the north pole.

but, not this time.

if i'm travelling alone, i don't really care as much how i get there or where i end up having to make my way around. but i do care for those i travel with, and therein lies the reason why i'm so irked by this travel agent dude, who seemed determined to screw up my itinerary. from refusing to reply emails promptly, or give me any information (or worse, wrong info) to help in my planning until late, to allocating crappy hotel locations, to unilaterally changing my flight arrangements without telling me. god.

i think its analogous to life, or at least, my attitude to life.

my world view is basically that life's a journey, and i'll take whatever comes along in my stride. but if i'm travelling through life with someone else, i become extremely intolerant of mediocrity, especially when it affects those i care for adversely. i also can't stand people telling me what's best for me, when what they really mean is what's best for themselves.

if life's a journey, i'd rather plan it myself than rely on travel agents to screw it up for me. i can screw up my life perfectly on my own, thank you.