Thursday 11 Jan'07, I picked up 2 Caucasian gentlemen and an Indonesian lady at Terminal 1. Strange that these 3 passengers have no luggage with them. As usual, I greeted them and asked where they would like to go. One of the Caucasian jokingly said, "Where are we heading guys? Yati, where would you like to go? We have a few hours to spare. Shall we go to the Police Headquarters? I think that's where we will go. Ok, we go to Police HQ."
As I drove along ECP towards Marine Parade, they were talking about something related to some cases or something related to it. Then, the same guy asked again, jokingly, "Yati, would you prefer to do some shopping?" I told them the nearest and biggest shopping centre is Vivo City, which is near the Police HQ. Then I asked the same gentlemen again, "You are not joking with me about going to Police HQ are you, because I have not pick any passengers from the airport without luggage except those who sent their friends and relatives off? "Yeah, don't worry. We go to Police HQ, then we go to Vivo City, right Yati?"
When we reached Police HQ, I stopped behind a row of cars that was under the direction of the policeman on duty. The same gentleman said they would like to alight first. Ok, no problem. After they alighted, the policeman stopped my cab and said I am not allowed to let passengers alight at that spot where I had earlier and pointed to the camera above. I apologised for it and said I wasn't aware of it. He pointed to the double zig zag lines on the road and again said to next time stop further down where there is a double line. I said ok and apologise once again. I hope won't get a fine for it.
Friday on 12 Jan'07 is a day to remember. Not because it's interesting but for another reason.
I was driving along Bt Timah Rd (4m/s) near the newly opened NUS Campus on the extreme outer lane on my way home for a short break in the afternoon about 3pm. It has been raining since 11 Jan'07 afternoon when I saw that the water level had risen to about 600mm near the top of the monsoon drain, which in my view, is pretty dangerous if it overflow and spill over to the roads. If it had continued raining unabatedly without break, I belief that area would have flooded. This brought back memories of the 1969 - 1970 when the area stretching from Whitley Rd/Stevens Rd/Bt Timah Rd junction right up to Chinese High School is often flooded whenever there is a heavy rain. I was then studying at Dunearn Secondary Technical School (no longer around) and my mother and sisters would be really worried whenever it rains. Even heavy vehicles can't pass through the knee high water level back then and had fallen victim to the flood. If there is a flood and vehicles stalled, fear not. There would always be help around from the malay communities living around that area. The boys and men would be out half naked to help you push your vehicle to side of the road or dry land for a small fee. Good money back then.
I would like to take a break for now and will be back again.
Cheers.
2 comments:
Papa, be careful when driving in bad weather!:)
I will. I have wrote to Taxi Company about the cheap tyres they have installed. They have responded and mentioned that they are looking into providing better tyres in the near future.
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