Sleeping Cabbies

There are always taxis parked at bus bays late at night or in HDB car parks or along quiet roadsides with their taxi engines still running but no headlights on, infact no lights on whatsoever and do you know why? Well actually these taxis with their drivers inside are taking a short nap or simply sleeping when they feel too tired or do not have enough sleep the night before or sometimes just bored. They would usually park their taxis at a quiet spot and sleep. I myself have done that. Taxi properly locked from inside and the seat in a reclining position, it is quite comfortable with the air con on. Normally we rest for about half an hour or so, and after that, we feel very refreshed and awake before we continue to cruise around.

I have a particular taxi friend who drives a Comfort taxi always resting at a certain spot to await taxi bookings. He is in this trade for more than 20 years and had already formed this habit of waiting for calls as he does not like cruising around anywhere nor wait at taxi stands or follow behind long queues of taxis waiting their turns to pick up passengers. He is an OMO driver, meaning "one man only" without a relief driver. He must drive 7 days a week and cannot even afford to fall sick, without any CPF contributions at all and most of them are usually family men with mouths to feed, bills to pay and housing loans to repay. It is sad to see him not having any family life at all except during the Chinese New Year celebrations. We meet once in a while to have a meal or have a cup of coffee and that's where he would confide his problems at home and outside and try to seek some advice. I've learned that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand........

MDA stricter disclosure rules

Its only a matter of time, and soon such rules would kick in. Bloggers who get gifts or money may have to own up and declare whether they receive such for their write ups. The Media Development Authority has said it is looking at stricter rules, its Deputy Director says such regulations will protect consumers by enabling them to make informed assessments about what they read. When and how likely penalties will be enforced is still not known yet, but as from 1st of Dec in the United States,bloggers will have to make a "clear and conspicuous" if, for example, they write a restaurant review after having been treated to a feast there. The penalty for flouting this rule in blogs or postings in Twitter, Facebook or YouTube: a fine of US$11,000, (S$15,360) will be imposed.
I have read that beauty product companies are suspected of having paid a female blogger here on 2 occasions to write 'glowingly' about their products. CASE said disclosure regulations would enable consumers to distinguish between advertorials and genuine reviews. Stomp Star Blogger is concerned, however, that these proposed regulations may give the impression that blogs are commercial, and have strayed from their original aim of being the voice of an individual.
NEWS, news, and more news about LIFTS, newly retrofitted and upgraded, inBedok Street 4 and Avenue 4 not having the electronic panels which tell them which floor the lifts are at, and, wow, the Geylang Serai's history as told through photographs and text mounted on a 2.5 metre high storyboard also out in the market. Incidentally, the Geylang Serai Market hit the headlines in April when contaminated indian rojak from one stall killed two people and left more then 150 people ill, recently reopened after a 4 months makeover, in July.
Being a Taxi Driver is not just about driving a taxi, its also about 'being in the know', I mean, that's what we call it, in order for us to engage in interesting conversations with our passengers as well as to ensure that their ride is pleasant and enjoyable and also the journey to their destinations usually feel much quicker........ The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling, and even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it..........

Today is Chinese Nationals' Day

This day was an unusual one, "Ni hau, war yeow chi Neu Cher Sway" as this petite chinese young lady boarded my taxi along Thomson Road, near Novena. I turned around and said "Hello" at the same time gesturing to her with my hands, like "What?". Although I knew what she meant, but feigning ignorance. She said "Huh? Ni shi Hua Ren, Ni pu huay chiang Hua Yi?" sounding quite arrogant. I said "No, you mean People's Park?" and she nodded. I sent her to where she wanted to go and she pointed to Chinatown Point building, looked me straight in the eyes as she paid the fare and I said "Thank you".
It is also very common for local commuters, the majority of them, when they board my taxi, they immediately start by directing me in Mandarin all the time and I will always wish them and reply in English and ask also where they wanted to go. My English is not bad and I speak everyday Mandarin quite fluently, but the thing is this, why do most commuters presume that you speak Mandarin only, even though my replies are in English? I tell you, it is widely misunderstood that taxi drivers are mostly Chinese Ed. True, we Singaporeans are bi-lingual, and so, not much problems in communicating unlike what I heard in the news that all taxi drivers in Marseilles must go to school to learn the English language due to influx of foreign tourists and nearly all drivers cannot speak or understand English at all, how stressful.

And then this good looking gentleman boarded my taxi and when he blurted loudly and fast in his mandarin accent, I was at a loss. I simply could not understand a word that he said. He was already in my cab and we both exchanged 'alien' hand signals and spoke in different 'tongues' but, alas, to no avail, I did not know exactly where he wanted to go. He looked blankly, put both his hands up like "I surrender" and got off my cab, there goes a 'lost' fare. "Phew" I hope I don't have to learn this foreign 'tongue'. Drove around to seek my next passenger and, yes, you guessed it, another Chinese National flagged me near Temple Street. This time it was different, he showed me a card, on it was scribbled, 'Hot.81 Ju Chiat'. I quickly made the correct deduction and brought him straight to his destination, without any chit-chats. Wow, I thought to myself, I must be in China?? (I have not been to China yet). I proceeded straight towards East Coast Road and just before the junction, two pretty young ladies hopped in, chatting with each other so loudly in....."Oh no," I said "Hello? Hello" and both of them spoke at the same time, "Yia Loong, with hands showing 16" that was easy, (Geylang Lorong 16), and with a sigh of relief I drove straight to their location........ Don't lose your control, breathe deeply............

Little India

At around 7.30pm, I dropped this passenger at Mustapha Centre, the only 24-hr shopping mall in Singapore at Syed Alwi Road, and just as quickly, an Indian couple immediately boarded my cab, carrying with them some shopping bags. "Please, Madras Hotel" 
"Okay" and I started driving very slowly weaving through the very crowded road with people, mostly Indian Nationals, waiting, individually as well as in groups with their shopping bags, luggages, and you name it, parked alongside the road, waving and even patting on taxis even though they may be occupied. 
This is 'Little India' with shophouses packed with goods overflowing onto pavements and numerous restaurants and coffee shops fully packed. This chaotic situation can be witnessed especially on weekends. Very slow moving traffic mingling with the hordes of equally slow moving human traffic. The whole surrounding area with its numerous side roads are thronged with Indian Nationals mostly from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The majority of them are foreign workers working everywhere in Singapore. During weekends, they stream into Little India to buy necessities, eat at their favourite restaurants and coffee shops or meet up with friends and relatives from their respective countries or simply just hang out together in groups all over the place occupying practically any visible empty space available anywhere in sight, till very late at night. 
Presently, with Deepavali coming on 17th October, the "Festival of Lights", Little India is already lighted up with colourful facades lining Serangoon Road and shophouses decorated in all its splendour with huge crowds overflowing all along both sides of the main road and with inevitable jams and very slow moving traffic, most taxis automatically shy away from this area for fear of getting stuck in the maze. 
Finally I arrived at Madras Hotel which is located at the start of Jalan Besar, opposite the popular Lavender Food Centre, another big eating place with many foodstalls lining up side by side. The fare was $9.60 for such a short journey and my passengers paid me $10/- and gestured to me to keep the change. "Thank you" I said and drove off and immediately found a parking lot just ahead. I stopped to rest and then went to look for my favourite "Goo Bak Kuay Teow soup" (beef noodle soup) which is very popular and good...........

unforgettable episodes

In all my years driving a taxi and plying my trade, I was cheated 5 times. The very first incident, not easy to forget, happened one evening when I picked up a businessman from the queue at Changi Airport Terminal 2.  This guy had a big luggage which he put in the boot and held on to another sling bag. 
"Good evening" I said as I helped him load his luggage. 
He replied "Good evening, could you  please send me to Pasir Ris Street 72." 
I said "Okay" as he boarded my cab and sat in the back seat. In my mind I was thinking, no luck, so nearby, and I had been waiting at the queue for more than 20 minutes, but never mind I can always come back and line up again. He was wearing a dark business suit and looked smart and presentable. 
"Returning from a business trip?" 
"Yes, from Vietnam" as I started driving. We did not chat much except for the usual greetings like 'how's your flight?', 'had your dinner?' and so on. 
We soon arrived at his residence and his fare was exactly $11.00. He pulled out a S$100.00 note and gave it to me. I said "Mister, I don't have enough change for that much, do you have smaller notes?" He said no but maybe he can go up to his flat on the 7th floor and get some small change if I can just wait awhile it would just take less than 5 minutes. I said okay, that's fine with me and since he is going upstairs I told him he might as well carry his luggage home first. I still had my cab's hazard lights on, stood outside and lighted up whilst waiting for my fare. 5, 10 and then 15 minutes went by, I kept looking up at the corridors especially the 7th floor and then I started getting that funny feeling that this guy wasn't coming back. I waited 5 minutes more and then decided to move off knowing that I've been had. 
I was angry and felt rather stupid for being so trusting and even asked him to take his bag up first. I can still picture this incident clearly in my mind as I type this cos this was the first time I was cheated. I am constantly reminded and promised myself to be more careful and wary of future cheats but alas this was not to be, will let you know the next and the next later on, meanwhile, have a thought with this short quote "Don't look where you fall, but where you slipped......"

Kah kin, Kah kin, Kum Siah.

It has been 7 days already, and I have yet to give any passengers my promo $1/- ride. 
The first clue: Its a Toyota Crown Premier Silvercab.
The second clue: go here.
And to be doubly sure you spotted me, here is another very simple clue. Look out for a copy of the New Paper which I will put on the right side dashboard everyday, face up, in front of my steering wheel. 
You know, everyday, as I roam the streets plying my trade, I keep waiting for someone to surprise me by saying "Hey, you are Uncle Frank!" but no leh, still no response. Well, my offer is on till the end of this year and its still a long way to go, so will be seeing you soon. 
Anyway, it is most encouraging to see the rising number of viewers visiting my site each day as I continue to keep you updated on happenings in daily encounters on the road. There is always the common everyday short chats, grouses, criticisms, attitudes, disgruntled faces, all kinds of news, stories, information about everything and anything, silence included, with my passengers which makes life for me on the road so very interesting. 


Like the other day, this Chinese fifty-ish looking guy boarded my cab along Victoria Street, near the National Library building, around 10pm, got into the front passenger seat, fiddled and turn the air-con vents left and right, shifted the seat right back and just lie down and went to sleep after telling me in Hokkien "Kah kin, kah kin, Hougang puay hung'.... (Quick, quick, Hougang Avenue 8). I said "OK" and started off. This guy must be shacked, dead tired and he looked shabbily dressed. All kinds of thoughts raced through my mind as to what misfortunes might have fallen upon him as I drove on. Very soon I reached Ave 8, called him and he got up, looked around and pointed at the bus stop ahead. "Luah chuay?".....(How much?) Paid the fare. 
"Kum siah"......(Thank you) I said as he quickly alighted and disappeared. I re-set the seat properly and continued down the road wondering what happened to that guy. 
This trip was quick, silent and straight to the point transaction, no "Why, What, How?" And life goes on.

Reflections

Remember the time when there was such a big Hoo Ha about the coming of the magical number, year 2000. All of a sudden, this 'number' is now 2009 and, coming around the corner you are about to see year 2010. How time flies, year in year out, this is still the famous phrase without end. 
Just a couple of months ago, was our huge and colourful August 9 National Day celebrations, then there was this festival of the Month of the Hungry Ghosts, the historical 2nd running of F1 night races, followed swiftly by the Muslim Ramadan, Hari Raya Puasa and even before these celebrations subside, immediately coming next with all the lightings along Serangoon Road, Little India to bring on Deepavali and still more to come. Look out for the start of the decorations on famous Orchard Road "Light Up" to welcome Christmas and the end of another hectic year. 
These are important and continuous festivals, celebrations for survival of Singapore's big fleet of Taxis (more than 24,000 cabs) and the latest stats of our growing population now standing at 5 million and the governments intention to bring it up to 6.5 m. And with the ever increasing inflow of tourists from all over the world, we shall continue to survive. There will always be angry, frustrated lot of waiting commuters everywhere and just as many taxis with 'On Call' signs and more 'Signs', fingers and all to make our lives more interesting as we ply our trade along increasing crowded roads, streets and highways. 
With heavy traffic congestions and jams everywhere, everyday, driving is no longer enjoyable and we cabbies face stiffer competition on the roads as well as get tired more easily, and still manage to try to give of our best services. 
As for me, I keep discovering pleasure in the elemental : eating, breathing, walking, tasting, touching, seeing, sleeping, dreaming and also watch a sunrise at least once a year.............

Taxi Singalong

"Hello Uncle, can you bring me to Yishun Street 81, thank you," 
"Hello, of course, my pleasure!" 
"Wah, Uncle, I love this song, what radio channel is this?" 
"Channel 90.5 golden oldies, Brian Richmond is the D.J. and I always listen in on this channel" I replied. This pretty young lady started singing softly in accompaniment. 
"Can you turn the radio up a bit?" 
"Sure, I see, you love to sing and you have a good voice." 
"Thank you, in fact I just left that Karaoke with my girlfriends, we really enjoy singing the oldies and I wanted to continue but too late already, got to work tomorrow.....Do you like to sing too?" 
"Oh yes, I love singing very much, but nowadays only sing at home through those karaoke songs from Youtube, haha" 
Just then, this song popped up - "Danny Boy", a duet sung by Cliff Richard and Helmut Lotti, and I joined in, but when the chorus was halfway through, we arrived at her apartment. 
"That was very good, you sing very well!" 
"No lah, you are just being kind."
 That was quite refreshing as I drove off and continued singing along. Brings back memories of the time when my father and me were singing in our church choir, incidentally, we were both tenors, and now trying to reach the higher notes puts a little strain on my voice, so I sang a little louder and I could still do it. 
So you see, sometimes the passengers get you involved and you become revitalised and ultimately you imagine you are a singing sensation and carried on singing very loudly with the radio turned up whilst cruising along the CTE towards town with the trees lining along the highway, your silent audience. After that, I just felt good throughout my shift. 
Remember, you've got the right to be happy.........

Feelings of despair

I have ferried many different foreign nationals all over Singapore, and each time I have not failed to ask of those who are helpless working here and having their families suffering at home, and not being able to be with their loved ones in their plights, and wanting to know if their families are safe, as you read and learn of great tragedies, famine and sicknesses happening everywhere around us. 
The recent earthquakes in Sumatra, tsunami in Samoa, typhoons, great floods in India and Philippines where whole villages are wiped out, buried alive and so many thousands in cruel and unsuspecting deaths, and much more. 
We in Singapore are indeed blessed and everyone of us should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate than us. I have heard of fear and desperation and anguish from many of my passengers and even hear them sob and cry. I don't feel good and have wished many a time that if I were there I could help out a bit, and there are so many helpless 'ifs'. 
I remembered a time long, long ago, when there was this big fire at Bukit Ho Swee and I was there and did carry this frail old lady left alone outside her burning attap hut to safety and also guided many away from harm. At that time I was also a member of my secondary school's Red Cross unit. In my primary school days, I had always wanted to lead and was a Sixer in the Boys Cub and then a Patrol Leader in the school's 91st Boys Scout troop. Therefore fetching passengers who are unfortunate to have families involved in accidents or down with all kinds of sicknesses, feelings of despair and helplessness or in deaths, makes me feel for them and I know and understand their predicament. 
Driving a taxi can also get you involved with helping out some passengers in need of immediate assistance. I love this job because I get to meet with all kinds of different personalities, characters, learning and hearing of different lifestyles, of all sorts of problems, and me being able to help out in some ways such as by giving a bit of advice here and there or to counsel those who need it. Never deny hope to anyone, it might be all they have.....

Why so quiet lately...

Hardly any heavy traffic movements lately along Geylang Road. 
"Hello" 
"Uncle, go Tanjong Pagar" 
"Ok."
"Bro, how come so quiet nowadays in this area. Aiyah, everyday anti-vice raid, at least 2, 3 times a day where got girls anymore. All disappear suddenly. You taxi drivers know what, no girls sure no people" 
"You are going to Tanjong Pagar but there also very quiet what" 
Had to speak like him and they become more relaxed and at ease. 
"Same lah, there also quiet, but I not go to look for girls. There, worst, like ghost town. I going to collect money for my boss"  
Oh, this guy must be a Loanshark worker as soon as I heard him start talking to a debtor on his mobile the rest of the way. Very soon we got to where he wanted to alight. He just paid his fare and walked off......... 
"Good evening, could you please send me to Traders Hotel please." 
"Good evening to you too. Yes, sure, going back to your hotel so early? Its only 10 o'clock" "Yeah, I was here 6 months ago and I befriended this beautiful Philippina and I told her I'll be back very soon but the Pub where we met has closed down and up along Duxton Hill is so very quiet, where have they moved to?" 
"Mister, I don't think they have moved anywhere, they just close shop due to continuous anti-vice raids everyday, and business just came to a standstill as all the girls dared not make any appearances for fear of being nabbed. They must have left the country to go elsewhere nearby. So, without girls around, guys too disappeared."
"I am flying home day after tomorrow, say, is there any interesting joints here where I can have a drink with ladies around?" 
"Of course, I'll bring you to Orchard Towers, a very popular place of interest and there you will find many young ladies to keep you company." 
"Sounds good! That'll be fine, thanks." He paid the fare plus a little extra for me.
"Thank you, Cheers, and enjoy yourself, take care, goodnight."