Happy Couple on my taxi

Who am I to point my finger to my boss. When the crowd ask Jesus what to do with the prostitute brought in front of him. Jesus said,"who is without sin throw the first stone". Everyone walks away after some soul searching.

Anyway, today's story is about a pair of happy couple

It is a hot Saturday, have been driving for 10 hours straight except toilet break. Time is around 9.30 pm at night, picked them up along Yishun Avenue 7 road side. The whole family is wearing traditional Malay dress, first came in the husband, wife and a little daughter around 4 years old sitting in the front.

They asked to go to Woodlands block 681. I am thinking to myself, ok, another $10 to pay for my petrol on the way home.

They started talking in the back. The voice is full of joy and happiness. The Malay man is trying to learn hokkien counting 1 to 10. When the wife starts to correct his accent, then I realise it is a Malay chinese couple. I look at the little girl, it has all the Chinese girl feature in a Malay costume. She smiles back at me with a happy look.

I did not catch the conversation at the back, just laughter of them enjoying each other's company. Still learning and adapting to each other's culture.

What makes such a deep impression on me is their respect for each other's background, religion and language. It is clear they make a extra effort to please and adapt. Being the chinese woman in Malay dress and Malay man learning Mandarin and Hokkien.

I let them off the Taxi with a smile on my face. This is what makes my day driving a taxi in Singapore.

Photo of me and wife 2010 at lower pierce reservoir.

Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia Trip

On 9 -11 August 2014. Me being Lazy and wife's constant request to visit her friend. We make a trip to Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

It is a self drive, homestay holiday. Petrol cost Ringgit 150 per way and room another 100 ringgit per night. We travel via Woodlands, Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Pekan then Kuantan. Road signs are clear and readily available for reference.

In total it is around 400km one way non-stop about 5 hours on Malaysia road number 3.

Below are photos of Pandan waterfall Kuantan we visited on the second day.

It is easy to reach by using Garmin GPS, but need to pay entrance fee of 5 ringgit per person. It has stores selling drinks, ice-cream and toilets. Water from the waterfall is refreshing and we took a dip into it, I am happy to enjoy the endless running water beating down on my shoulder.

Below are photos of the Kuantan Beach. It gives you  a lazy quiet feel, not many people on a Sunday afternoon. It gives you a cozy feeling while sipping a Mac coffee in a McCafe. Blue sky with horizon as far as your eye can see. Car Park are ample and secure, you can take a long stroll on the beach, enjoy the sea breeze, eat a big Mac or eat at any of those boutique restaurant along the shore line.

Todayonline commentary on new taxi drivers

The Commentary is Written  BY  JASON TAN   jasontancc@mediacorp.com.sg   PUBLISHED: 4:03 AM, AUGUST 6, 2014

The link is here. Basically he lamented that new Taxi drivers of Singapore does not know the way or the building where he is going. You can read the full article below. 

http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/new-cabbies-need-more-rigorous-training?singlepage=true

Oh well, after being a Taxi driver after 6 months, I know how to get to mediacorps from Woodlands, City, Jurong and airport. All I need is to get on to PIE then get off Thomas road exit. But friend, during my first month as a driver, I have no clue.

As a Taxi driver, I get my fair share of FT screaming at me for not knowing how to get to Farrer drive etc. There was my first week of driving and she was in a hurry. We all need time to learn. After being on the road for 2 years, a taxi driver will be able to get you to most places quickly.

Why I put 2 year? When I used to train IT engineers for an MNC. That is the amount of time a junior engineer who just joined us, fresh from school, starting to learn the rope about hardware, software, networking and security design in a real world. Working in the real world cannot compare to any of the class room examinations. 2 years is about the time I have confidence to leave him alone to a site for level 1 and level 2 support.

What I am trying to say is, no amount of class room training will prepare you for the real world job. Same applies for Taxi drivers.

You can read an extract of his Article here below.

Also from those heart warming comments by fellow Singaporean. (extracts are below as well). There is still hope for Singapore being a gracious society.

I might be wrong. But this might be a typical classroom case of young scholars living in a ivory tower, being a scholar he knows everything and has solution for every problem in the world.

An Extract of his commentary