We spend a lot of time in taxis these days. We don't own cars, and don't really know how to get everywhere we want to go, so we depend on the taxi drivers to get us there. Because we are a family of five, we can't all fit in one taxi. The rule is no more than four, but since it's China, the word "rule" is, well, just kind of funny. Cars make left turns through the wrong side of the intersection, drive in the bicycle lanes, drive the wrong direction in the bicycle lanes, drive on the wrong side of the road, Don even saw a car driving on the sidewalk. So driving rules appear to be optional. Imagine a country full of people on bikes, give half of them cars, and watch what happens. Yes, they drive the cars like bikes.
But even without the "rule" we all don't fit into one cab, so if we are going somewhere by taxi, we have to take two. Taxis are cheap, it's usually only about 10RMB per trip, which is less than 2USD, and since it costs 2 RMB for the bus, sometimes taking a taxi is worth it for the convenience. For going to church, however, we have to go pretty far, so it's costing us around 25RMB per cab per direction, so that adds up to over $15. Despite our best efforts to be on time for the bus, we were running late this morning, so we took the taxis again. We did take the bus home, and the kind driver even slowed down enough that we could jump off at our stop before he sped off again.
Traveling by taxi is really kind of fun, though. Take today for instance. I hailed two cabs at once, John and I got in one, Donald and the girls in the other, and we were off! Our cab driver kept trying to pass Don and the girls, well he was trying to pass anyone, driving in two lanes at once to keep all options open, while not letting anyone pass him. The other driver was using similar techniques, so it was back and forth the whole way. Our driver took off on a side street for a short cut, getting us there way ahead of the other cab, but I had a coughing fit (my bronchitis) that let D, A and E catch up. So John and I had to run the last 20 yards or so to the apartment where we have church.
But we won. Stay tuned for next week's episode.
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6 comments:
it is so funny to read about you going to church and being done with it--when i realized it was my tommorrow--
Relief Society had a food group and we went to an ethopian restaurant--some of us enjoyed it more than others--missed you though!I am in charge of next month-I am thinking about your asian place on Southern and Dobson-what was the name of that again?
I figure the spring rolls will be fine for those that are picky and can not handle the hot---Let me know some other things to recommend
I enjoy reading your adventures--and expect you to show up one of these days--still can't believe that you are all really gone!
Leigh Ann
LeighAnn, email me! I don't have your address.
Yeah, the time difference freaks me out sometimes. We're half way through with Sunday and you're going to bed Saturday night. Weird.
some reason it is bouncing into undeliverable--here is my e-mail
sondrupclan@msn.com
Was Phil at the end of the finish line? He's always so cheerful. Unless you're last and then he's somber.
50 yuan doesn't equal $15.. it's more like $7.35
Dear Anonymous,
A main point of my post is that we take TWO taxis every place we go. So if it costs 25RMB one way for one taxi, that is 50 RBM one way for two. With return, that would be 100 RBM, which is about 15 USD. Thanks for reading!
Lee
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