Funny Cab Ride

Funny Cab Ride
Nov 24, 2007 15:27
SPCCARSTENS Points: Join Date: Nov 24, 2007 Status: offline	We flu into the Xian airport and went for a taxi to take us to the hotel. On the far right I could see a line of taxis, a nice guy approached us and asked if we wanted a taxi. He had a valid taxi license, and seemed nice. We fallowed him to the right, away from the other taxis and towards the street, where he had called a taxi that works for him. I thought little of it until we got on the highway and noticed that the meter was not started. The woman that I travel with speaks fluent Chinese and when she asked him about it he responded that the meter was broken. They argued some and she translated to me what they where talking about. He said the price for the ride would be 150RMB, we called the hotel and they said that it should not cost more than 120. So they argued some more and the driver slapped him self (extremely funny) After I thought that my friend had enough arguing I cut off their conversation and told him that I will pay him 100 to take us to the hotel or he can take us back to the airport. After he saw that I meant business he calmed down some but continued to argue with my friend. Couple of funny things that he told her… If she was alone he would take her back to the airport, but since she was accompanied by a foreigner, he didn’t want me to have a bad impression about the Chinese so he would take us to the hotel (how nice J)… he kept trying to convince her that the ride was more than 100 and swore on his mother and wife that he was telling the truth, swearing on some one is apparently a big thing in China… so he told her that he was heart broken about what the hotel staff had told us and would not take 100RMB for payment, that he would rather just take us to the hotel for free. I didn’t know if he was joking or if he really meant it, it was just over an hour ride from the airport to the hotel, and he had to pay a toll on the highway… so I told her not to offer him money when we got to the hotel and I would offer him 100, if he really wasn’t going to take it he was provably telling the truth so I would offer him 145 (it was all I had in small bills) I thought it was hilarious that he said he wouldn’t take 100. Sure enough when we got to the hotel and I offered him the 100 he waved his hand and said no… so I offered him the 145... Again no… I thought the whole situation was so funny that we just agreed on the 150, he really meant it when he said that he would rather take us there for free than to accept a small payment (LOL) Just watch the cabs, and make sure they turn on the meter and that it works shortly after you get in the cab, I have been ridding in cabs all week long and this was the first mishap (so I guess it’s not a common occurrence to get a “dirty” cab driver in China)

Nov 24, 2007 15:27

SPCCARSTENS
Points:
Join Date: Nov 24, 2007
Status: offline

We flu into the Xian airport and went for a taxi to take us to the hotel. On the far right I could see a line of taxis, a nice guy approached us and asked if we wanted a taxi. He had a valid taxi license, and seemed nice. We fallowed him to the right, away from the other taxis and towards the street, where he had called a taxi that works for him. I thought little of it until we got on the highway and noticed that the meter was not started. The woman that I travel with speaks fluent Chinese and when she asked him about it he responded that the meter was broken. They argued some and she translated to me what they where talking about. He said the price for the ride would be 150RMB, we called the hotel and they said that it should not cost more than 120. So they argued some more and the driver slapped him self (extremely funny) After I thought that my friend had enough arguing I cut off their conversation and told him that I will pay him 100 to take us to the hotel or he can take us back to the airport. After he saw that I meant business he calmed down some but continued to argue with my friend. Couple of funny things that he told her… If she was alone he would take her back to the airport, but since she was accompanied by a foreigner, he didn’t want me to have a bad impression about the Chinese so he would take us to the hotel (how nice J)… he kept trying to convince her that the ride was more than 100 and swore on his mother and wife that he was telling the truth, swearing on some one is apparently a big thing in China… so he told her that he was heart broken about what the hotel staff had told us and would not take 100RMB for payment, that he would rather just take us to the hotel for free. I didn’t know if he was joking or if he really meant it, it was just over an hour ride from the airport to the hotel, and he had to pay a toll on the highway… so I told her not to offer him money when we got to the hotel and I would offer him 100, if he really wasn’t going to take it he was provably telling the truth so I would offer him 145 (it was all I had in small bills) I thought it was hilarious that he said he wouldn’t take 100. Sure enough when we got to the hotel and I offered him the 100 he waved his hand and said no… so I offered him the 145... Again no… I thought the whole situation was so funny that we just agreed on the 150, he really meant it when he said that he would rather take us there for free than to accept a small payment (LOL) Just watch the cabs, and make sure they turn on the meter and that it works shortly after you get in the cab, I have been ridding in cabs all week long and this was the first mishap (so I guess it’s not a common occurrence to get a “dirty” cab driver in China)

Nov 24, 2007 20:44	#1
ELLEN77 Points: Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: Offline	The driver is really funny, I think he doesn't cheat you then!

Nov 27, 2007 01:59	#2
FAERIEQUEENE Points: Join Date: Aug 8, 2006 Status: Offline	Also be aware of taxi drivers offering you cheap fare to eastbound terracotta route, i was told by some travelers that they stopped at at least 6 jade shops, supermarkets...to 'collect parking labels' for the tourist spots, so that your taxi can wait for you

Nov 27, 2007 11:01	#3
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	The further you get from tourist and busy travel locations, the less this sort of thing happens.

Post a Reply to: Funny Cab Ride