Midnight Rendezvous
12.30 am. Train and bus services are running their last service lap. I was waiting at the Woodlands MRT Taxi stand for a fare. A girl not more than 20 years old walks towards me follows by an older man in his 30s walking about 5 steps behind.
I ask her where she wants to go after she boarded the Taxi, she blushed, replying in a shy voice, " ask him". The man asked me after he get on the Taxi, "Uncle, bring us to the nearest hotel".
"You know here is Woodlands? residential area? There are no hotels near by." I replied.
"Ah, there must be hotel nearby, right?" He ask in an urgent voice.
"OK, I will bring you to the nearest hotel I know, a 3 start hotel in Balestier", after which I started driving to Quality hotel Marlow at Balestier Road.
During the whole trip, the guy holds the girl tightly in his arms, touching her neck, kissing and talking quietly at the back.
After I drop them down for a $26 fare. Questions were spinning in my head. How do they end up in Woodlands MRT station looking for a hotel to stay in the middle of the night?
Auntie that walks with a shuffle
7 pm, Swisshotel the Stamford Taxi stand. An Indian man assisting a lady in her 60s, helping by the bell boy shuffling towards my Taxi. I opened the door for her to board.
The bell boy asked me, do you go to Pasir Ris for her. I said, "sure do" ( this is because many Taxi drivers like to stay in or nearby CBD area for the extra $3 they could earn for every trip).
Along the way, she thanked me then starting to rank out her bad experience with Taxi drivers. One that refuse to pick her up, even belittle her shuffling walking style. He asked her to stay at home so as not to inconvenient others. One that asked her whether she can pay for her Taxi fare, that makes her fuming.
What interest me is, she is actually working in the hotel, occasionally she will take taxi when her leg is extremely painful for her to walk. Usually she will take bus then MRT to arrive at her work place.
What moved me is Swisshotel employs her for $1800 for job in the cleaning/ kitchen department. She appreciates the hotel takes care of her welfare. Not many employees does that nowadays.
I gave her a discount at the end of the journey, instead she give me a tip. She has so much difficulty getting off the taxi or going up steps, I literally have to carry her to the lift door.
She is staying alone after her son and daughter moved out after their marriage.
Silent gas out
Picked up a Japanese business man in suit from Hilton Hotel, going to Swisshotel. I was driving along Orchard road to his destination when I get a whiff of shit. Another minute another few whiff, ya, he let out gas in the Taxi.
Trying my best not to do anything drastic, but I could not take it any more when the air gets heavier.
Took a look at him, he close he eyes and enjoying it :)
I open the Taxi windows on the driver side, he kept quiet for the whole journey not moving or complaining.
No comments:
Post a Comment