Date:
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Time: 10:19:00 PM
So... exam ended last Tuesday. Bought myself an external hard drive after that. Still unopened though. Haha..
Babysat the three musketeers on Wednesday. Adik looked disappointed when I told him I wanted to go home last night. I wanted to bring him home but I still got to tie some loose ends first before I can finally RELAX! So, probably by next week I can have some fun with him.
Yesterday, I took a cab from Adik's place which left me so frustrated. I got a dumb, unhygienic and disgusting driver to drive me home. And I am still frustrated with the whole issue. Here's what happened. As usual, I flaged down a cab at my usual spot. I was already so tired and drowsy (thanks to the flu medicine which I almost have to rely on daily these days). All I wanted was a smooth and safe ride home. But, somehow.. I thought of playing games on my handphone which I just purchased that evening.
Here's what happened:
Driver (D): Where to?
Me (M): Bukit Purmei.
D: Where? Kampong Bahru there?
M: Near Telok Blangah(for fear he takes a wrong and unfamiliar route)
D: Which way do you want to go?
M: By BKE exit Dairy Farm, then by AYE Clementi Ave 6
D: Silence ( I presume he has acknowledged my directions and I am all ready to begin my game)
At the junction near the Al-Iman mosque, whereby if you turn left is the road leading straight to BKE with huge sign showing the direction, he stopped at the traffic lights and asked me this dumb question.
D: Go straight?
M: No, you turn left here.
(Driver was silence as if to show his disappointment that his passenger knows her way, so no chance to rip off extra fares from her!) And.. he went real slow and I was already frustrated.
When we reach the exit at Dairy Farm, he asked me another question which almost pissed me off and I almost wanted to just alight in the middle of the expressway.
D: Here ar? Here ar? Can go here?
M: Yeah, exit Dairy Farm.
D: (still trying his luck to frustrate me and trying his chance to rip me off some extra money) Sure can go?
M: (almost erupting) YEAH?! YES GO STRAIGHT! YEAH WHY CANNOT?
(If home was nearby, I would just gave him a piece of my mind and scoot off. Unfortunately, it was still far away and I was already so drowsy. I raised my voice and he kept quiet. But, I was still frustrated cos the signs were all over. AND, as a cab driver you should know your way. Even if you dun, you can check with the passenger. By checking with the passenger, does not mean you go all out to frustrate them!)
The journey was like I said, slow. Any slower, he would get it from me. Seriously. And along the way, he was wiping his mucus with his hands. BARE Hands! Imagine the agony I was in?
The initial plan of paying by my credit card was shelved because I couldn't imagine how dirty and how am I going to keep that card for the next few years! So, I decided to use the $20 bucks that I have in my pockets. But, I was thinking the change that I will received will be tainted with his germs and whatnots. Then, I remembered that I had $26 in my wallet. The fare was $12++. I am not going to get any change from him. That means I must give him exact change. Luckily for me, I had lotsa coins in my pouch. So, I gave him an exact change. For the first time on a cab ride that I have given a driver an exact change.
Anyway, my point is this. I am not looking down on cab drivers. But I detest cab drivers who takes the slightest chance to cheat their passengers and those who never took the effort to know their way around the country. New or old drivers, I am sure you know your way around Singapore, if not how the hell you earn that license of yours?!
Precisely, this is why I hate to take cabs. And, I take a cab only when necessary. Sometimes, I took a cab because I do not know my way to a certain place. But, it frustrates you further when the cab driver feign ignorant and take the chance to cheat you of your money. To these kind of drivers, let me tell you all... your life is not safe earning your income through cheating your customers' hard earned money! And, if I ever come across this kind of driver, I will make sure you will lose your license and income. Trust me. I am really frustrated! It reminds me of one incident when I first wanted to go to my cousin's place at Fajar.
Seriously, 4 years ago.. Fajar was an unknown place. Never heard of it and never went there before. So, since I was already late for my appointment as I had guests over at my place, I took a cab down to Fajar. Then, still young and innocent, when the cab driver asked me which way would I like to go by. I told him honestly that it was my first time and I do not know how to go.
So he took me for a ride. And earned a lot out of me! Blardy Bugger! To get to AYE from my place, is just by turning left from Lower Delta Road. But he took me all the way to Jalan Bukit Merah which I seriously thought he was going to use the expressway (sorry cant recall the name of the expressway). So, I kept quiet. To my horror, he did a U-Turn and go to AYE. Blardy hell! I am so frustrated as I remember that incident! Like I say, I was young and innocent. So, I didn't remember to jot down his plate number. If not, I will make sure he gives me a public apology and lose his blardy job!
I can be that extreme. So, never ever step on my toes or you'll be sorry. Trust me, cheating won't bring you anywhere. Better be safe then sorry. I have said my piece. The rest, is up to you to decide.