Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Singapore Public Transport: Cabs

Waited for 15 minutes before decided to call a cab yesterday at Raffles City Shopping Centre. 85% of the people that waited @ the taxi stand called for a cab. Taxi Stand should be re-defined. it is not a location to wait for cabs to come to you. It is a location for called cabs to know where to pick up their passengers.

Personally, I think it is rather unfair to the passengers for taxis "loitering" around the CBD area, not waiting to pick up passengers, but waiting to press that "$3.50" button on the screen in front of them. yes, as I found out yesterday, many cabs are able pick us 5-7 minutes after we made the cab call. Cabs who got played out did not even want to pick up passengers waiting @ the taxi stand. off they go to their pressing game again.

Both of us happily hopped onto the cab. extra charges $6.50. What? before I can figure out what other extra charges are there, the metre has already reach 3 bucks. thats already $9.50. your seats are not even warm yet. Uncle was all right, not the usual grumpy one, upon asking, $3 is an extra charge for services within the CBD from 5pm to 12 midnight. the W word came up again. WHAT!!!! and after 12, there's this midnight charge. i thought to myself: THIS IS HOME, TRULY.

Foreigners says that our cab fare is one of the cheapest in the world. Countries like Australia has the metre increasing like your heart rate. but here back home. Sorry guys, the heart is already pumped before you are on the cab.

Public Transport Planners: Is this scheme suppose to benefit taxi drivers or the passengers? is it suppose to encourage drivers to enter CBD area. CBD area should be somewhere accessible, not somewhere forcing passengers to make that call. or is it suppose to increase the use of buses and MRTs. I guess we will never know the answer, I hope those people making the decisions know the real answers, I'm sure they will never be in our situation. cos they own big cars. Guess at the end of the day, We, the Citizens of Singapore just want to get home safely everyday.
No reason is needed which makes your job here much easier. Just have to answer to the top guys


to own car, you need a COE
to take a cab, you need to pay EOC > Extra Ordinary Charges.
better stick back to trains and buses

"good" on you singapore, continue to impressed the outside world with casinos, terminals and airplanes. because no one knows the inside world YET! Congrats.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

I'm Back

after an anxious wait on Krispy Kremes
after a 8 hours flight from Sydney on the A380.
after watching 3 full movies: The Kingdom, Rush Hour 3 and The Game Plan.

I'm BACK finally after 1.5 years.

Singapore has really changed over the past 2 years.. more traffic both vehicles and human.
more variety of shops. went to Vivo City yesterday. It was huge. we just didnt know where was the entry and exit!

Saw the new Jack Neo movie. not exactly what I expected, but if he is trying to film something similar to Infernal Affairs or Sin City. I'll be very disappointed. Stick back to what you are doing, just like what you did for Money No Enough. on the good side, Fann Wong is still as stunning even as a tomboy.

All right guys, drop me a msg or email me for my new temporary number.
hope to see you guys soon.. this time is for real =)

cheers!