Kukup Malaysia Resort Trip

Did not drive Taxi on the 27/28 July 2014 Hari Raya Pusa Holiday. So Sorry to Joe Fong the Hirer.

Went up to Malaysai Kukup Island for a 2 days one night family retreat. For S$100 you will get transport from Singapore to Kukup Mangrove resort, 3 meals and lodging in the resort's clean air-conditioned room.

We stayed in the Mangrove resort. The whole Kukup Island is a National Park.

The moment I step off the tour bus, you get the feeling you have traveled back in time 20 years. The rustic quiet village and resort entrance is there beckoning you on.  We walk on a long cement path way above the muddy sea water to reach the resort. Along the way, we saw many rubbish in the mud and also mud skippers eating in the mud. Do you know why they are so fat?

On both side of the walk way, you can see modern house on cement stilt and air-coniditioner. You can also see old, run down house the is falling apart. The feeling of an abandon history, it is just waiting to tell you its younger days of glory if you ask.

There are provision shops along the walkway and hawkers selling salted fish and all kinds of preserved seafood. I have a feeling it is almost like the 70s again.

Panorama view from a Kelong

Scenic view from the Kelong. 

The view from the resort jetty. The water current flow is very strong as the resorts and Kelong are place between the mainland Malaysia and Kukup island.

From WikiPedia.  Kelong

Kelong (sometimes spelt Kellong) is a Malay word describing a form of offshore platform built predominantly with wood, which can be found in waters off Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Only a handful remain around Singapore due to rapid urbanisation.

Kelongs are built by fishermen primarily for fishing purposes, although larger structures can also function as dwellings for them and their families. They are built without the need for nails, using rattan to bind tree trunks and wooden planks together. Anchored into the sea bed using wooden piles of about 20 metres in length and driven about six metres into the sea, they are usually sited in shallow water, although some can be found in deeper waters. Some Kelongs are less isolated and are connected to land via a wooden gangway. Other variants of Kelongs can be mobile, or may involve a large groups of Kelongs joined together into a massive offshore community.

Me and Wife (peck Har)

At night we played fireworks all night. The only bad thing is some holiday goer do not know when to stop. The continue beyond 12.30am.  But I enjoy looking at the children's laugh and giggles when they lights up the fireworks then jumps away.

Google map view of Kukup location.

The old town feeling.

The walkway to the chalet

 Another view of the walkway

 My Brother's family

The mangrove chalet viewing from the jetty

 Dinner provided by the chalet

Fireworks at night

TIPS for a Taxi Driver

It is about nine o'clock at night. It is a hot saturday evening in Singapore. Sending a customer to cruise center at Harbour Front. After the old couple alights, a young man pulling along a  luggage approaches me.

"Üncle, can bring me to Orchard Road? I need to go 2 places?" He asked.

"OK" I waved him in after I check no security guards around.

He start telling me he is in a hurry. He needs to delivery item to 2 places, one in Jalan Bukit Merah and one in Orchard Tower. "Can you wait for me", he asked.

"I will keep the fare meter running." I answer beneath my breath. "Also you will need to pay up to the current fare". I am afraid he might be another fare cheat.

"Uncle, wait here, is that enough", he handed me 2 piece of $10 note. I nod.

And wait goes on for 30 minutes at Orchard Tower Taxi stand. Very lucky no enforcement officer tonight.

After he jump back into the cab, it was around 10.15pm. "Thank you Uncle for waiting. It is so difficult to catch a cab at this hour. I need to hurry back to cruise center to catch the last ferry back to Batam"

"How can I thank you? You help me so much." Thinking of all those time wasted waiting for him. I mutter you can give me tips if you appreciate my service.

We reach Harbour Front cruise center at 10.45 for him to jump on the last ferry. He gave me additional $30 on top of the fare. Then he ran into the ferry terminal.

It is one of those trips I keep on thinking what is in his luggage? What he is delivering? He must be making a decent profit to pay me that much.

Singapore Taxi Driver average Income calaulations

The Sources are from LTA publications on their web site. We all know statistic only tells one side of the story, be it accurate or not, depending on the context you are applying. Let me show you some interesting numbers.

There are 28,210 Taxi registered in Singapore. Daily ridership is 967,000 trips. That is averagely 34.2 trip per taxi. Per trip is about 9.7 km.

Let do some calculation based on above figure to come out an average income for Taxi drivers.

Assumptions:

Meter starts at $3.2. 

Every 400 m travelled is 22 cents.

Each day makes 3 x $3 surcharge pick up fare (CBD in the evening or airport)

Each Taxi makes 34.2 trip per day.

Each pick up tavels 9.7 km.

40% of the trip attracts 25% peak hour charges

Taxi Rental is $115 per day. (sedan from $100- $133)

Daily km travelled = 34.2 trip x 9.7km = 331km

Diesel/Petrol = 10km/L diesel or Petrol = 33L diesel/petrol per day

Retail Diesel =$1.2 /L Petrol = $2.2/L

Calculations:

Per off peak Trip is $3.2 + (9700/400)x0.22 =$8.53 

Per Peak hour Trip is  $3.2 + (9700/400)x0.22 x 1.25 = $10.66

Daily collections for off peak trip (20.52) per day =  $8.5 x 20.52 = 174.42

Daily collections for peak hour trip (13.68) per day =  $8.5 x 13.68 x 1.25 = 145.35

Airport +city surcharge = $9.

Total Daily collection = $328.77

Cost - Daily Rental =$120

Cost - Daily Diesel =$1.2 x 30L = $36

Average Take home = $328.77 - 115 -$36 = $177

Now the bomb shell = 80% of the Taxi is operated by 2 driver in 12 shifts.

That  is S$177 / 2 drivers = $88.5

Notes:

Rental can be as low as $69 for PRIME Honda Fit (OMO only) or $175 for a Mercedes Benz.

Starting meter fare can be from $3.2 (standard sedan taxi) to $5 (SMRT Chrysler)

In theory OMO (one man operation) working 15 hours can collect $177 or more, 12 hours shift is set to collect $88 per shift. 

Also I have not taken into consideration of 50% surcharges after midnight or call booking charges. That would add $10 to $30 depending on the type and the number of bookings.

There are slightly more than 28000 Taxi registered in Singapore. During evening Peak hour, around 80% of Taxi are on the road. That is about 22400 taxi. (In theory only)

If Singapore is a fine city (tongue in cheek), drivers should be fined for not driving during those hour. But the most effective way is to provide incentive for drivers to meet the 250km /day or driving during peak hours. After all, they are driving for themselves for a profit.

Let us look at the trend between Lucky Plaza and ION. Far East Plaza comparing to Lucky Plaza. One is outside CBD and one is inside CBD. What does it tell you about the 2 times longer waiting time for TAXI?  The Driver will go where they can make a higher profit, after all, they are business man too.

The difference in collection is $3, for an average collection of $10 per trip. It is a 30% increase.

Source: Screen Captured from SG LTA website (2014 July)

Why do I drive Taxi

Someone once said. The only certainty in life is uncertainty.

Today you might be working in a good company with a good prospect. You feel safe and secure.  One day, you will be ask to leave, or you want to leave for a change. Whatever the reason, you need to find a job quick that is able to put food on the table.

Ability to drive a Taxi fits this description. As long as you are willing to work hard, it will provide you with a decent pay. Same as other job, the better you are at your job, with a bit of luck, you will receive rewards more than your peers (other Taxi drivers).

LIKES

1. You do not have to look at your boss's long face or un-predictable mood everyday. If you do not like the customer, you might never see them again for the rest of your life after 20-45 minutes.
2. You will get to visit places you might never have a chance to visit in Singapore.  When is the last time anyone here visited Mount Faber? Or Tuas South sea side looking back at the mainland?
3. You can choose when to start work or when do you stop working. There are no penalty to pay when you are late for work. 
4. You work smart, you will be pay for every every hour of work. Not a lot, about $10 per hour. You want more, work longer.
5. You can try all kinds of food all over the island. You eat where ever you may be when you are hungry. For me, whether the parking is free is not important, the taste of the dishes has the highest priority.

DISLIKES

What I do not like about being a Taxi Driver. Non-matter what happened, you have to pay rent. Even when you are so sick you cannot even walk. ---- Comparing to an employee, you can call in sick, have a day off, you will still get paid.

1. No vacation leave for you, my dear. You have to pay rent.
2. No Employer CPF for you, my dear. You get what you earned, what you get is what you put into your CPF account.
3. Passenger will look down on you. You will always been suspicious of cheating on their fare.
4. Passenger might be vomiting in your Taxi, you are expected to clean it up. The next passenger will be complaining about your smelly cab.
5. Fare cheats, they take it as a game or achievement that they do not have to pay the fare. Wish Taxi companies will install Cameras that will make their photos available to the Police.

Well, the above also applies when I run a retail shop in a shopping center. Same for having vacation leave, sick or contributing to CPF. As a boss, you are on your own.

Taxi driving on 5 July 2014

It is a cloudy day, I picked up the taxi from Joe (Hirer) at around 3.30pm. Sent her back to her Block, received a crash course on the Prius Taxi operation and Meter operations. And off I go around 4pm.

1.   Woodlands circle, picked up 2 gentleman going to RWS. One PRC and one local. They were happy to go on a day out at the casino. We go by SLE-CTE-bukit merah exit. Saw an accident on CTE.

2.   RWS to Raffles hotel. A Japaneses couple on honey moon here. I like those submissive Japanese wife, lucky him.

3.   Raffles hotel to Mandarin Orchard. Tourist from PRC China. We chat about the Hybrid Prius. They are rich, carry bags of GUCCI and other expensive branded items from shopping at Raffles Hotel Arcade.

4.   Mandarin Orchard to T2 changi. A quiet gentleman.

5.   T2 departure to Mount Faber road. It is around 6pm, time to meet wife at woodlands for dinner and attend church Cell group.

6.   On the way, send a malay family to Tiong Bahru Plaza before going on CTE at Outram. They complains shortage of taxi. It is peak hour on Saturday. It is now 6.30pm.

Break

Meet wife at Woodlands 11 around 7.15pm and attend church cell group (dead tired, I need coffee).

Continue my journey of discovery

Starts off again at 9.30pm.

7.   Pick up a drunk disable person from Admiralty MRT going to Yishun ring road.
Yishun Ring round to Anchorvale. I am so confused by the Yishun Ring road, make a wrong turn, comes back to center rather then Yishun Ave 1. Gave here a discount of $3. She carried 2 young boys that is so tired that almost fall asleep on the taxi. But with 3 bags and 2 toddlers, I help her to keep them awake.

8.     Anchorvale off to Orchard Road (empty). Center point to Clarke Quay.

9.     Clarke Quay to Geylang Lor 28

10.   Geylang pick up 3 PRC from Lorong 23 to Lorong 9 for dinner.

11.   Geylang couple to Macpherson Estate to Bedok Reservoir road (another area I am very confused).

12.   Bedok Reservoir Road to Boat Quay (it is already 1130). Think this guy is going to watch world cup the whole night. I am so confused in the area (bedok resevoir road) missed the turn to PIE, have to make a U-turn to PIE ram- Paya Lebar, Guillemar road, Nicoll highway, Stamford road - boat quay. Gave him a discount of $2 for the wrong turn.

13.   Back to Orchard empty taxi again. 2 gentleman again going to Clark Quay.

14.   Clark Quay to Claymore hill.

Turned into Orchard Tower, long queue of Taxi at the Taxi Stand but no patrons. Hummmm time to go home.

Enter Woodlands on the top display, start driving off home to Stevens Road, Upper Thomson road, Sembawang road. Hoping to catch a fare along the way.

14.   Pick up a pair of young lover along Upper Thomson road to Teachers estate (total $7.70 fare). That helps to pay for the petrol home.

Top up Petrol at Shell station. Return Taxi at hirer's car park.
2am. Toke a slow walk from Woodlands circle back to Republic Poly. A sweating walk but I needed the exercise. Reached home 2.30am, both wife and son sleeping.

Did a brief calculation. 

Total Collection = $192 - $5 (discount) +$2 tips =$189.
Petrol = $ 19.
Rental = $60.
Take home = 189-19-60 = $110

Put $50 in a Milo tin, the rest I spent on food with son and parent on Sunday at Chine Town Smith street.

The beginning

Life has its ups and downs.  Could not take the bullshit and unnecessary stressed at work. So I started driving Taxi for a living from March 2013- December 2013. Now (July 2014) I have a full time job plus driving Taxi on the weekend.

It took me one month from the application to LTA and health checks to the start of the lesson. To my surprise, the class of 40 is full (I did it at SMRT woodlands). It was a full time class of 2 weeks leading up to the test. The classes at Taxi Academy and Comfort is all full too.  I starts to wander why so many people is trying this career.

We are lucky to have Young Foo from STA (Singapore Taxi Association) as our instructor. He share many tips and story about Taxi driving in Singapore. The ups and downs of it, the unfairness in this in industry. Which I will list it down as objectively as possible in other blogs.

Follow this link to find out more about how to be a taxi driver.
http://www.taxi.org.sg/tdvl.html

Highlighs
Pre-requiste for becoming a Taxi Driver:

- Must be at least 30 years of age.
- Possess a valid class 3/3A driving licence.
- A Singapore Citizen.
- GCE'O' Level or 'N' Level pass in English (at least an D7 grade) / Level 3 or higher pass in English (WPL-CAT)
- Have at least a one year driving experience with a clean driving record.

As of 1 June 2012, TDVL holders will be allowed to extend their vocational licences up to 75 years old, subject to passing a special assessment annually.

Course Durations:

Choose from Full-time or Part-time courses:

Part-time Course:
20 days (5-6 days per week)
1 lesson per day (7.00pm - 10.00pm)

Full-time Course:
10 days (5-6 days per week)
2 lessons per day (10.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 5.00pm)

TDVL Course consist of 5 modules over a 60 hours session classroom training. You may choose to attend Full-time or Part-time courses.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Taxi Service Overview & Road Safety
Module 2: Taxi Rules & Regulations
Module 3: Locate Destination
Module 4: Plan Routes
Module 5: Deliver Quality Taxi Service

There will be tests at the end of the course on all modules using touch screen tablets and 3 practical tests at the end of module 5. Candidates have to pass all modules (1 to 5) to attain the TDVL Licence. Licence is issued within one month by the LTA.