uneasy feelings

Sometimes driving a cab and looking for potential customers can be quite tedious especially in remote areas such as Tuas, just after dropping your passengers in that area during the night time. There is not much point in cruising around such places because there is hardly anyone looking for a cab at this time, so, very often we just turn around and head back to town where there is more life. This is one of many reasons why most taxis try to avoid fetching passengers there. Another downside is that, you would be wasting quite a lot of time travelling back to town without any passengers. Moreover, there is this uneasy feeling that the unexpected can happen anytime in such dark and quiet areas. Still, when you are parked at a taxi stand anywhere, waiting for passengers, you cannot refuse them and have to go where they wish, as you have no choice. I have sent many passengers, especially foreign workers to shipyards and factories faraway, but not too often, and so far, there has not been a single problem that I faced, (touch wood), unlike that of an unfortunate woman cabby who was found murdered and lying in her cab one night in the Tuas area . Her murder is still not solved till this day.

More Caucasian missions accomplished.

I was still thinking of the incident with the previous caucasian while driving off from Tanglin Mall when a fat looking, also caucasion man knocked on my door. I wound down the door window and he said, "Could you fetch me to Four Seasons Hotel?" I said "Sure, hop in".

"Thanks, please open the boot, my bags?" I immediately released the boot catch, came down and assisted him with 3 of his bags into the boot. He then got into my cab together with his wife, who is also as plumb as him. 
As I started to drive, he said "Wow, Singapore has changed so much since the last time I was here, about 12 years ago. I was living at Upper Thomson Road and those days, it was not as crowded and the pace was very much slower and the people then were more of locals and much more helpful and friendlier than now."

"Yes, but now the population has grown to 5 million with more mixture of foreign expats and new citizens. See, the roads now so congested and look at the people walking around, so crowded. Yes, yes Singapore has changed quite a bit, where do you live now?"

"I am at present working in Kuala Lumpur and back here to do a bit of shopping and now I find goods here more expensive."

We soon reached his hotel, the metered fare was $5.15. "Oh, just give me $5 will do."

"No, no, no here's $6.00 thank you" said the wife.

I thanked her and got down to help unload their bags from the boot. The man shook hands with me and said "Thank you again".

I thanked him too, then got into my cab when the hotel doorman asked if I wanted to fetch some passengers to the Night Safari. I said "Sure, ok." and this family, the father from Kenya, the mother from Canada with their 3 young daughters then boarded my taxi. It was around 7.20pm when we left the Hotel lobby heading towards the Zoo. This trip with the family was pleasant and most interesting as I repeatedly joked with them that they were indeed an international as well as nomadic family, we were all laughing. We continued chatting and I learned that the father and mother used to live here for 1 1/2 years, and before that in many other countries and currently living in Sydney, Australia since 2003. We arrived at the Night Safari at 7.45pm the metered fare was $20.40 and I just asked for $20/-. We waved goodbye as I continued driving away from the Zoo... What a satisfying and spectacular day it was for me as I sped off towards Bukit Panjang to 'seek' my well deserved coffee break and maybe dinner?........

The Caucasian mission accomplished.

I had just dropped a passenger at Bugis Village when I spotted another waving to me near junction of Rochor Road and Queens Street, I immediately stopped to pick him up. He was a caucasian and looked to be in his late forties.

"Hello" I said as he boarded my cab.

"Hi, could you please bring me to Tanglin Mall by the quickest route possible, I need to get there by 7pm".

"OK, I'll try my best, if I were to turn left and go by Bencoolen Street, there is the ERP charge of $2.00 at this time but then it may be faster to get you there by 7pm."

"Oh, its alright, ERP charge no problem, just go by the fastest way, I have a very urgent and important appointment with my wife."

As I looked at my watch, it was exactly 6.45pm, I said "Meeting the wife for dinner?"

"No, an important meeting".

I then drove steadily through Bencoolen Street towards Orchard Boulevard amidst tight traffic conditions and finally reached the taxi stand at Tanglin Mall.

"We're here, and you still have 5 minutes to spare, time now is 6.55pm."

The metered fare was $10.30 and he straightaway handed me $12.00 and said "Keep the change, thank you, thank you so much, that was great driving, you just saved me from a possible ugly 'TIFF" with my wife. Thank you, great driving!" and gave me a 'thumbs up' sign.

"Its my pleasure, take care and good luck!" as he rushed off. I then proceeded towards the taxi stand at Orchard Towers feeling very good and happy that I've helped someone in a small way. Mission accomplished.

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.............