My Taxi Revenge

[BillyB]

This is pretty much par for the course anywhere in the world

I can assure you it is not. This very much depends on the job market and how much the society is spoiled by the wealth or other factors (i.e. cultural).

Well I must have missed all those countries where driving a cab is seen as a noble profession and people take it up as a profession worth bragging about.
2% good one I can understand. Anywhere. Beyond that, I have my doubts.

In Singapore, Taxi driving is a profession reserved for Singaporeans ONLY .. DO I need to say more ??

Well, I had this chat with a sardarji guy from India, who said he wants to start a taxi company here, and employ Indians .. when I politely told him that Singaporeans are the only taxi drivers allowed here, he went ballistic and on to say "what a shameful country this is .. how could they not let Sardarji's drive taxi .. "

Thats' the smile of the day I guess ..

Nothing wrong with looking after your own stock! India do exactly the same, so do the Aussies. The UK could take heed from that policy!

[ecureilx]

Nothing wrong with looking after your own stock! India do exactly the same, so do the Aussies. The UK could take heed from that policy!

Oh, if UK did that, then the 'BEST TAXI DRIVERS IN THE WORLD" would be jobless ..

That's to quote another sardarji - who said that the punjabi drivers are the best in the world ..

[BillyB]

Nothing wrong with looking after your own stock! India do exactly the same, so do the Aussies. The UK could take heed from that policy!

Oh, if UK did that, then the 'BEST TAXI DRIVERS IN THE WORLD" would be jobless ..

That's to quote another sardarji - who said that the punjabi drivers are the best in the world ..

Ha ha! Very sharp......

[sundaymorningstaple]

Nothing wrong with looking after your own stock! India do exactly the same, so do the Aussies. The UK could take heed from that policy!

Oh, if UK did that, then the 'BEST TAXI DRIVERS IN THE WORLD" would be jobless ..

That's to quote another sardarji - who said that the punjabi drivers are the best in the world ..

Which brings back a memory of the early days here (circa 1982 or 83) I jumped into an old NTUC Taxi of Austin Marina Vintage without aircon (most didn't have aircon back then) and we were going down orchard road and got onto Bras Basar Road going toward where City Hall would one day be. I was starting to get a bit nervous as this Singh taxi driver was cruising along in heavy traffic like he was on a motor bike, e.g., straddling the dotted line and not making any attempt to get into one lane or t'other. Finally, I couldn't take it any longer (horns blaring on all sides but it didn't seem to bother him at all - guess he was used to it! ) so I asking him "Do you have any idea what those dotted lines are for?"

He nonchalantly replied "oh, them? That's just something that was left here by the British!" I still think sometimes they drive that way today. But looking back, now it's funny, but at the time I was waiting to be sideswiped by some old Bedford Truck! (The old doorless ones that used to be so common here, belching black smoke everywhere).

[carteki]

so I asking him "Do you have any idea what those dotted lines are for?"

He nonchalantly replied "oh, them? That's just something that was left here by the British!"

Thanks SMS - I needed to laugh today (but watch the singlish ... "asking him":razz:)

I was going to say in this post how there are exceptions to the rule. Friendly professional drivers who are polite and helpful, but none of them work after hours (which is when you REALLY want a cab).

An interesting statistic that I found:

Hong Kong has a larger population (7 million) than Singapore's (5.18 million). The Hong Kong Transport Department website states that there are 18,138 taxis in the territory, while taxi operators in Singapore have a combined fleet of 26,970.

and then this article: Cabbie Confidential - both from Today Online.

Reading the comments and letters to the editor it seems that Taxi cabs is the one topic that both FT and Locals agree on![/url]

[sanjivvohra]

In Singapore, Taxi driving is a profession reserved for Singaporeans ONLY .. DO I need to say more ??

Well, I had this chat with a sardarji guy from India, who said he wants to start a taxi company here, and employ Indians .. when I politely told him that Singaporeans are the only taxi drivers allowed here, he went ballistic and on to say "what a shameful country this is .. how could they not let Sardarji's drive taxi .. "

Thats' the smile of the day I guess ..

I guess Singaporeans driving taxis are not very efficient, lah! See all posts above.
Good one about the Sardar guy. He must be pissed off in not going international!

[Mad Scientist]

In Singapore, Taxi driving is a profession reserved for Singaporeans ONLY .. DO I need to say more ??

Well, I had this chat with a sardarji guy from India, who said he wants to start a taxi company here, and employ Indians .. when I politely told him that Singaporeans are the only taxi drivers allowed here, he went ballistic and on to say "what a shameful country this is .. how could they not let Sardarji's drive taxi .. "

Thats' the smile of the day I guess ..

I guess Singaporeans driving taxis are not very efficient, lah! See all posts above.
Good one about the Sardar guy. He must be pissed off in not going international!

Have you sat on an Ambassador Cab going down the beaten road of Doddaballapur on a hot humid day and you cannot even wind down the windows. Or get onto one Lada 2 stroke 1500 cc down Skesferhervar in the bloody cold winter of minus 20 degrees. Everything is made of plastic except the bloody engine