Just Do It !

Wow! I feel on top of the world after taking a short break. I think it is important for all of us to step on the brakes occasionally, like giving yourself an 'interval' time, you know what I mean, take easy, be with yourself and do the things you always wanted to do instead of always putting it off saying "Cannot leh", "Maybe next time lor" or "No time lah" and all that jazz, they are but lame excuses. It will really do you a whole lot of good, to just do it, don't just try, because whatever negative and unnecessary thoughts you may have, its actually, all in the mind. Most of us take a lot of things for granted in our lives, you have no idea, but it is dangerous, it is the biggest mistake you may make till its too late. Remember, we are all the same, irregardless of whoever or whatever we may be, we never fail but constantly keep trying to achieve and reach high expectations, look here, be practical and don't cause yourselves more unnecessary stress. I may only be an ordinary taxi driver, but believe you me, it is more important, it is truly pleasurable and rewarding if you always keep striving to be happy.

Short Interval.

Needed a short break, so I decided to spend some time at Universal Studios (RWS) on Saturday, from 1.30pm to 7.00pm. By the time I got home, I was too tired to write. I had only about 3 hours of sleep in the late morning. Today is Sunday and I have overslept, just got up about 5pm. I am going out for dinner now and maybe later go for a ride on the Flyer and just relax a bit more, anyway, the ride is free for all Singapore taxi drivers for the whole month of October and tomorrow is the last free day. Maybe after getting refreshed, I might go and work for a few hours (OT) and try to earn some money to at least cover a bit of taxi rentals for two 'off' days. Will be writing again tomorrow folks, so don't go away.

Quiet and Boring day.

Yesterday was not a good working day for me. Somehow, commuters seem to do the 'disappearing' act. Luckily, I managed to collect enough to cover my taxi rental and diesel costs, leaving me with a little bit of pocket money for food and drinks. It was one of those rare days where you keep driving around or park and wait at empty taxi stands seeking passengers but none comes your way. This could be due to continuous rainy weather which we have been experiencing lately, including flash floods and inevitable heavy traffic jams occuring in many parts of the island. This time of the year usually makes us work extra harder because commuters caught in the rain, often get drenched and wet when they board our taxis and therefore, when we stop work, theres a lot of cleaning up to be done. Anyway, it was a very dull and boring run for me, so I decided to close shop early, clean up and head home.

Undeniably 'Celeb' Personality.

I fetched a 20 year old young Vietnamese lady from Bukit Panjang Plaza taxi stand at about 9.30pm last night, and she wanted to go to Yishun MRT. She told me that she is a first year student studying at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) at Clementi Road. She was carrying a plastic container of fish porridge which she bought for her friend, also a Vietnamese, not her boyfriend but a schoolmate who was having a flu. I told her that she was a very kind and helpful person, and she said her friend is quite lonely and did not have many friends in Singapore. As we chatted, I was very surprised to learn that she is Vietnam's reigning Chess Champion, a Celebrity. I felt excited and honoured to have her company and throughout the journey, I was asking her lots of questions, like a sports interviewer from a media company. At journey's end, after the usual giving and receiving gestures, we bade farewell. As I drove off, I thought, she was such an interesting passenger, not because of her present status, and I admired her when I learnt further that with money she won and saved through Chess competitions in Vietnam, she is able to support and pursue her education abroad independently. She has a compassionate heart, kind and intelligent with an independent and ambitious personality.    

A Fruitful Work Day.

Yesterday was one of the 5 pre-holidays per year whereby a surcharge of $1.00 from 5pm till the following day 12 midnight per trip is being charged. This bonus incentive is only for eves of Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Christmas and 2 eves for Chinese New Year. It was an exceptional working day for me, though very tiring, as I managed to collect fares up to $220.00 for driving exactly eight hours non-stop, at the expense of foregoing my regular break, which I forgot entirely. My nett income, after deducting my daily shift rental of $43.00 and yesterday's cost of diesel at $30.00 was a good $147.00. It was just 'driving' work and nothing extra-ordinary or specially eventful happened throughout the day, except for the fact that there were many eager commuters available every where I go. Little India, colourfully lighted up, and very, very crowded with mostly Indians doing their last minute shoppings and also countless tourists with their cameras clicking away was indeed a carnival sight to behold. Today, the Singaporean Indians together with other Indian Nationals, especially the Hindus, celebrate their New Year, the Festival of Lights. As for me, I wonder if it will again be another fruitful working day, only this time, I must not forget to take my regular break.

"Festival of Lights"

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone, especially all my Indian friends and followers a very "HAPPY DEEPAVALI 2011".  Its a great time to celebrate and get together with family and friends.

What's for dinner?

Taxi drivers are the ones you want to look for when it comes to 'food talk'. What's good, Where's best and Price for your favourite dish. For instance, if you ask me, "Uncle, where can I find good Char Kway Teow?" I'll tell you "Why, of course, the one at Margaret Drive, its world best!" Yes, its my favourite Char Kway Teow stall, everyday there's a standard long queue of at least more than 10 hungry souls waiting in line from around 5pm to 10pm. Its the truth, I eat there once or twice a week. However, this stall has presently been relocated at Telok Blangah Crescent, opp. Mount Faber Safra. For your detailed information, visit http://www.haikee.com.sg/  If you have not eaten there before, check it out one of these days, you'll not regret it. Taxi drivers' talk and chat more about food and also places of interests whenever they gather together for their meals at coffee shops or during their short breaks.  Another interesting 'pointer' as to where good and often much cheaper food to be found, is to look out for clusters of taxis parked near eating places.

Honesty is always the best policy.

I was parked first in the queue at Bukit Panjang Plaza's taxi stand at 11.45pm last night when 3 young people boarded my cab. Two ladies and a guy wanted to go to 3 different places, 2 to Yishun and the last one to Ang Mo Kio. During the journey, they were chatting away happily about 2 different wedding arrangements for 2 of them early next year. I could not help but enjoyed listening to their plans which were very interesting. Reaching Yishun, before St.11, one of the ladies alighted followed by the guy who alighted further up near Ave.6, leaving the last one to go to Ang Mo Kio.
Travelling along Yishun Ave.2 and upon reaching Lentor Avenue near the reservoir, my passenger requested to alight  at the approaching first bus stop. I was surprised and asked her why she wanted to alight at the bus stop, as it was already past midnight, I did'nt think there would be any more last buses. She replied, "Uncle, I don't have enough money for the fare, I only have $16.00 with me". I said, "Oh, is that why you want to stop here? Where do you live?",  "Ang Mo Kio Ave.4" she said, so I continued driving without stopping, telling her not to worry, its okay, I would still drive her home. She declined and kept apologising but I insisted and drove her safely home.
She was still apologetic when we arrived at Ave.4, thanked me again as she handed me the $16.00 fare, which should have been $23.60 shown on the meter. I still said, don't worry, don't apologise, wished her goodnight and to take care of herself as I drove off.
I could not possibly just leave her at the deserted bus stop, alone and with no more funds, what was she going to do. She was a sincere and honest person by telling me the truth and not even thinking of taking advantage of me, and I was happy to have been a good 'samaritan' this night.

Shock and Shame.

Shocking! and Inhuman! Murder of an innocent 2 year old toddler in China. Are we living in a supposedly civilized world? Recent anger, outrage and pain from people all over the world watching the video of the ugly and brutal murder that took place in China has been the talk of the town. All my passengers have been shocked and saddened that such a thing can even happen in this present age, and voiced out against the 'could not careless attitude' of the 17 people passing by the badly injured and crumpled body of the little girl without even lifting an 'eyelid' let alone help. The poor little girl died today. I feel very sad and ashamed. 

Unavoidable !

At 11.30pm last night, I picked up a young man, a Chinese National, along Lorong 17 Geylang and he wanted to go to Tanah Merah Kechil in Bedok. He seemed quite sober when he boarded my cab and sat in the front passenger seat. But, as soon as I turned right to go on Sim's Avenue, he started showing signs of 'puking'. I immediately opened my dashboard glove box and took out a plastic bag for his disposal should he puke, and he did just that. I was lucky to be swift enough to prevent my cab from getting into a smelly mess I thought, but when I switched on my front ceiling light, I was utterly dismayed to see his jeans covered with damp-like puke stains along his upper thigh region and then that sickening liquor smell came on. At that moment I felt like stopping my taxi to ask him to alight, but I just could not, instead, I stepped on the gas and drove faster.
All this while, he was coughing and puking, a little at a time continuously. I quickly grabbed another plastic bag for him just in case the first bag gets filled up. I also wound down my two front windows slightly to let in some fresh air. All along, my mind was just in full concentration in driving fast till I reached his destination. I parked alongside the road kerb, his metered fare showed exactly $11.00. He fumbled and dug out from his damp pants (3) crumpled and slightly wet $2.00 notes and a single fiver and paid me, and without a word, alighted from my cab and walked off in a dazed manner.
After he left, I was very annoyed to see wet stains with tiny white food particles covering the top of the whole seat. I parked my cab further up the road at an empty space and spent about 20 minutes cleaning up the passenger seat, and finally sprayed at least half a cannister of air freshener inside my cab before I drove away. It was just after midnight, I decided to call it a day.