Your river taxi evoked memories of a couple of 3rd world water taxi trips I have taken. In Nicaragua I showed up for the taxi at the time I was told it would leave. I ended up retreating from a light drizzle to a nearby cafe with a couple of young English tourists, playing cards for a few hours while we waited for enough passengers to show up. The driver wasn’t about to leave until the boat was full.

Good luck keeping your eyes closed and your temper in check.

Gail