A Bonanza.

This time around, there is Extra income to be earned for taxi drivers during F1 night races in the city area and at most hotels within. For between $40.00 to $45.00 per trip, taxi drivers will find it worthwhile to go near or around the Grand Prix circuit areas. These fares will be chargeable until Tuesday 27th Sept. That's when F1 championship comes to an end.
Previously, cabbies will definitely shy away from or near this vicinity for fear of being caught up in heavy traffic jams. This year a greater number of spectators from overseas is expected, tourists will have more exciting and entertaining international shows available with quite a number of well known celebrities including this year's Miss Universe also attending the Grand Prix spectacle. Singapore has indeed put on this amazing event for viewers from almost all over the world. The changing face of our country's skyline, two vibrant casinos, Formula one night races together with the latest Marina Bay attractions has recently caused quite a big 'Buzz" around the world. Taxis are more in demand nowadays and I know there will be a greater increase in the taxi population even though it has already more then 25,000 roaming the streets presently.

Chaotic traffic jams.

I was quite unfortunate to be stucked in the heavily clogged up traffic jams along Upper Pickering Street heading towards Church Street and Market Street at about 7.30pm last night. I was ferrying two young and pretty French lasses from Kitchener Road (City Square) who wanted to go to One Fullerton, opposite Fullerton Hotel. With the many road closures near the Grand Prix arena, in the city area and travelling at snail pace, my passengers opted to alight near Market Street and continue on foot which they reckon would be faster in reaching their destination. I felt bad for not being able to complete the journey. The fare alone for this trip came to $27.60 but I only asked for $25.00 which I think is already too much due to the expected jams and road diversions. I then parked myself later at the Market Street taxi stand as traffic could hardly move and had to wait for quite a while before getting out from the traffic 'mess'. With the F1 carnival starting, roads surrounding the Grand Prix circuit will be closed and worst of all because it is night racing and also during peak hours, heavier traffic jams are inevitable. Of course I will try to steer clear from these parts but its not going to be easy and also not my choice for I cannot choose nor refuse a paying passenger's request. The closures and road diversions will be lifted in just a few days more, until Tuesday, 27th Sept. when the big Show finally ends. Taxi drivers' income is badly affected during this period especially when caught up in a traffic 'Snarl'.

'Akan Datang' CCTV.

It is soon going to be more and more difficult in future to load potential passengers for me even when they flag me along roads where there are white lines, single and double yellow zig-zag lines.
The simple reason for this is because the Government is soon going to install CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras along roads to capture wayward, unlawful and indiscriminate parking of all vehicles. The fine for such offences will be between $50.00 to $120.00 and thats not a small sum.
This soon to be installed CCTVs is the result created by who else? For being 'kiasu' (afraid to lose out) and inconsiderate most of the time, disregarding, causing undue inconveniences, disobeying traffic rules and regulations and finally causing road congestions, we have ourselves to blame.
We have maybe about six months more to enjoy 'free' parking as preparations for installations of these detecting 'eyes' get underway. I can envisage loss of income for taxi drivers in the near future because we will definitely be 'camera shy' for sure.

Making Friends.

Where in the world can you find a job, that gives you the opportunity to meet up, get to know and also to engage in conversations with people, total strangers, from all over the world especially when your country's Tourism Board keeps up their relentless drive to attract more and more tourists each day.
Yes, the Taxi Driver gets to welcome and make first hand contact with the tourists as soon as they arrive in Singapore. I must say, I am most fortunate to be one such cabby.
Today, after driving for more than ten years, I get a chance to engage in conversation with this pretty and charming young lady from Bolivia, when I ferried her from Hyatt Hotel in Scotts Road to Changi Airport Terminal Two. I have 'travelled' with people of different nationalities, from all walks of life and from so many countries such as Finland, Russia, Poland, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Nepal, Mongolia, Spain, Morroco, Ireland, Jamaica, Chile, Dubai, Mexico, Belgium to name a few, together with many others from more familiar Western countries and nearly all Asian countries as well. So you see, this job of mine gives me the opportunity to get to know, learn and find out what people all over the world are like, even if it is only knowing them in such a short period of time. For instance, I have learnt that in Bolivia, people have at least four names, the first two names belong to them and the last two, their father's and mother's. This is of course quite unique to me. Miss P.A.F.T. (initials only), I hope it is correct, told me her name and it sounded very nice. I also told her, it must be quite a hassle each time she has to fill in her long, long name into small columns in forms that require her to state her full name.
Wow! I continue to keep learning things which I am totally unaware of. It is truly a pleasure and delight to be able to chat and befriend people from all over the world. I am happy and proud to be a cabbie.

To catch a cab.

When I don't stop my taxi after being flagged by potential commuters along the roadsides, most often than not, I will be shown the 'fist', or the 'third finger' or even get spat at.
The reason why I don't stop is firstly because, my taxi is already been hired and commuters are not aware and cannot see clearly as I drive past them.
Secondly, I may have the 'On Call' sign or other relevant signs such as 'Changing Shift', 'Not for Hire' or other location names sign which is displayed clearly on my vehicle's windshield. I don't blame them for showing anger because the signs may not be visibly understood as I drive past at certain speeds. I know what its like to be ignored when we have been waiting for so long and feeling very frustrated trying to catch a cab. Yes, I know too, because I myself need to catch a cab when I am not on shift and in a hurry to go somewhere urgently.
The problem usually occurs during 'peak hours' when folks are rushing home after work, after dinner or after having done their shopping, its sometimes near impossible even to book for one. These times are normally between 5.30pm to 10.00pm thats why we often see long queues of anxious commuters waiting in vain outside shopping malls' taxi stands, places of interests, clubs and other popular places, such as food centres etc.
The busiest days for taxi drivers are on Fridays and Saturdays, thats when the world comes out to play and taxi drivers will definitely go all out in full force to secure higher earnings from eagerly waiting commuters appearing here, there and everywhere.

Thoughts and Imaginations.

It happened again last night at about 11.30pm when I picked up three Indian Nationals from 'Little India' at Mustapha Centre in Serangoon Road who wanted to go to Lim Chu Kang Road.
Traveling along the PIE (Pan Island Expressway) I have to exit into Jalan Bahar and go straight all the way to reach Lim Chu Kang Road. Along the way, we have to pass by Chua Chu Kang Christian Cemetery on my right, the Muslim Cemetery directly opposite it and then the Buddhist Cemetery on my left. My passengers alighted along the narrow road leading towards Sungei Gudong Military camp nearby, which is quite a dark and forested area. To drive back along the same lengthy, quiet and dark road towards a livelier Boon Lay or Jurong Point Shopping Mall, this time without passengers with me is entirely a different story altogether. Everytime I drive along this lonely long stretch of road, usually at night as I do night-shifts and alone by myself, you tend to let your imaginations run wild. What if there is someone or 'something' trying to flag your cab near the cemetery areas? Worst of all, what if it was a beautiful woman dressed in white, trying to hail your cab at this 'ungodly hour'?
Oh dear, as you slightly brush your hands on your arms you can feel your hair starting to stand up. More and more "What if?" starts to flood your mind and your heart begins to beat faster and faster, your foot on the accelerator feels so much heavier. Thoughts of ghostly apparitions or restless souls and spirits 'flitting' about and lurking around you makes your hair 'tingle', then 'fear' and apprehension of what may suddenly appear sets in.
All of us are only human and sometimes our imaginations tend to get the better of us. Being a fan of Horror and Eerie Ghosts stories, movies or books, maximises and invites greater imaginative evil thoughts within us. Being Night-shift taxi drivers, we tend to surround ourselves with thoughts of the 'unknown' and the 'supernatural' when we travel alone along lonely, dark and deserted areas. Last night was another 'happening' night for me.    

Labels to refer.

To make for easy reference to subjects of some of my previous posts, I have put in labels to recall incidents in blogs where these words appear. Its exciting and fun for easy reading.

The Beginning.

The taxi is a money making machine, but, to operate it, you have to be a taxi driver.You must first of all have a motor vehicle driving licence, after which you can then apply for a Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) from the LTA (Land Transport Authority).
Upon approval, you will need to pass a full medical examination before you are allowed to proceed to register for a taxi driver's vocational course (fee costs about $230/-) conducted by LTA, and would normally take about six weeks, (three hours daily) to complete. The course being taught, is basically about traffic rules and regulations, roads and landmarks, places of interests including embassies, dos and don'ts, etc. At the end of which, you have to sit for an examination, pass it, before being awarded a taxi driver's licence (fee costs $40/- for 3 years).
Next, you decide what taxi model you like to drive, and which taxi company to join. Having made your choice, you have to deposit $1,000/- (refundable) with whichever company chosen, attend a full day's class to learn how to operate the taxi meter, the company's rules and regulations and so on.
After having gone through the whole process, you have finally become, at last, a full fledged Taxi Driver and can immediately start to operate your money making machine.

Strive to be happy always.

Last night was a fairly good Wednesday work shift for me and not only that, the very first passenger that I picked up from United Square taxi stand, a most personable and charming young lady who was going to Suntec City to attend a lecture on Telemarketing. She impressed me with her 'super-duper' memory recollection of Singapore's past because her father always brought her along here and there when she was still very very young, to see old buildings such as, the former National Theatre, the Van Cleef Aquarium both along River Valley Road as well as the Killiney Road hawker centre (opposite Centrepoint) even the 'bombing' incident at Macdonald House at Orchard Road and many other places of interest. Little did she know that I had just posted a blog in respect of the Big Fire in Bukit Ho Swee and she became evidently excited as we talked about Singapore's heritage because she had been doing lots of research into the history of olden day Singapore and when I told her about my website and what she can find out and discover even more from it, she immediately told me she could hardly wait to get home to check it out. She exclaimed and showed great enthusiasm about it. We talked and talked as though we had known each other for 'centuries'. I am most fortunate to be able to enjoy and share lots of laughter together with my passengers everytime I get the conversation started on each trip. I love my job, it makes me happy.

Pride and Agony.

Throughout last night, whilst at work, my mind kept returning to old photographs. Together with a black and white live video footage, especially that of the tragic Big Fire at Bukit Ho Swee on 25th May, 1961. Here is James Seah's memory of the fire and video below:



Remember, I was browsing through Singapore's heritage yesterday and was caught fully engrossed in stories and old photographs of yester-years gone by when I got stuck trying to write a new blog?
Its come back alive again, those pictures in my mind.
Yes, I was there at the scene of the Fire.  I was then in Sec.4 (Outram Secondary School) and also a member of the School's Red Cross Society. I cannot really recall how I came to be there at the scene on that fateful day, but I can remember vaguely though, how I helped carry a skinny old Chinese woman 'piggy-back' style from her hut to safety. I also remembered attending to those slightly hurt as well as assisting many others to safer grounds with the fire still raging everywhere. It was truly an unforgettable first time experience for me to be 'engulfed' in such a huge crisis. As I write, visions of more vivid incidents at the scene keep flashing through my mind, such as a half burnt monkey yelping, jumping about, and trying frantically to escape while still chained to a tree with me watching helplessly at the sickening tragedy. I was shocked and stunned then. But now, somehow or other, I have just felt a great relief after sharing this bit of history.