when an aussie meets singapore taxi driver
Saturday, July 08, 2006 (10:24 AM)
i was telling jolin about my boss and the cab driver yesterday and she thought i should post it here.
boss: wow, $5 extra!
driver: no, $6.
boss: $6!?
driver: ya. $4 booking, $1 cbd, $1 peak.
boss: that's expensive isn't it?
driver: you get down and try getting a cab without booking at this time. then you all go take bus and mrt. then bus and mrt increase price. then in the end might as well all drive because all so expensive already.
julie: how come price increase but still so little taxis ah?
driver: because (something i couldn't remember)
me: because demand exceed supply ah, that's why price increase.
julie: wa, economics student.
(just to clarify, i know nuts about economics)
-after some time-
driver: actually it's very near. you just cross the road and jog a bit and you can reach. why take a cab?
boss: what? it's that near?
driver: ya. just have to jog. or you want to get down here? but you still have to pay $8.30. not worth it la.
boss: then how are you going to make money?
driver: nevermind la. got other people call one.
boss: why not you drive us back there, we'll walk over and not pay you.
driver: can. then i'll press the red button here to call the police.
boss: oh, you got a red button over there? wow, to call the police? really?
driver: ya. i even got mr bean's seat and i can eject you out of here.
- boss stunned -
-driver uses the auto-door control to open the back door-
-3 of us at the back stunned-
driver: ah... you see? don't play play ah.
me: haha... for a moment i thought why yusma keep opening the door.
julie: ya *laugh until cannot talk*
driver (looking at yusma via the rearview mirror): you from saudi arabia? ya. you look like you from saudi arabia.
-yusma stunned and speaks to julie in malay about the saudi arabia comment (coz driver chinese so might not understand malay)-
-3 of us at the back ignores the 2 jokers in front-
me: oh, you understand malay?
julie: ya.
me: are you a malaysian?
julie: ya, that's the advantage.
me: ya they usually know how to speak 3 languages.
-boss starts poking the coins and a buddha statue on the dashboard-
boss: wow. weird.
- driver pointing at an australian coin-
driver: look. australia.
boss: yeah. that's (something i can't make out)
driver: limited edition.
boss: yeah.
driver: anzac australia.
boss: new zealand.
driver: australia.
boss: new zealand.
driver: no, anzac is australia right.
boss: anzac is australia and new zealand.
-approaching destination-
boss: we're going victor's bowl right?
driver: ya, but victor die already.
boss: who's victor?
driver: he die already but name still maintain.
-boss confused-
julie: victor is the boss of victor's superbowl.
driver: ya, he die already then his partner alex took over. he lucky guy.
boss: alex? who's that? you are confusing me.
driver: victor die a few years ago then alex keep the name.
-after some time-
driver: (some gibberish crap)
all of us: wha... ¿
driver: who got license here?
-julie raises her hand-
driver: you got ah? a lot of people don't know this.
julie: what?
driver: you know the license you got pay $50 every year right? the government take $20 revenue.
boss: what? you have to pay every year?
driver: ya. then now change to the hard card, pay one time $50 no need pay.
julie: what? i don't understand you.
driver: ya many people don't know. (then said something until now, i still don't know what he said)
-arrive at destination-
boss: is it here?
driver: ya. there victor's bowl.
boss: no, is it?
yusma: i thought it's the one in front.
driver: there, the staircase got write.
yusma: but it's so small. why not the one in front?
driver: in front is play billiard one.
boss: are you sure?
driver: ya. you want to (something i couldn't be bothered to listen as i was getting off)