So after visiting Old Shanghai, on the other side of the river from where we were staying, we couldn't find a taxi driver to take us to the hotel. They were all just mad that we didn't want a ride to the airport. They were all standing around, smoking, doing nothing, earning no money, but they sure didn't want to take us to our hotel. I'm not sure what in our appearance said to them, "We need to get to the airport." Our passports in hand, or mountains of luggage? Wait, we didn't have any of those things with us. Just a few shopping bags. But they sure were mad at Neil when he didn't want a ride to the airport! So this scooter guy offered us a ride to the nearest subway station, about 2 miles away, so we could get home. I was laughing uncontrollably!! Looking back, I think it was more of a defense mechanism than anything else. The post title says it all! And it rhymes, to boot :)
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20 RMB! to go 2 miles on a motorcycle- Man those taxi and cycle drivers have quite a deal worked out to rip off Westerners. A car taxi should have only cost you 29 Rmb. Ah well, they wouldn't give you a ride and so what can you do? LOL-Welcome to China!
ReplyDeleteBTW - what's with the snobby taxi drivers in Shanghai? I keep hearing horror stories about not being able to get a taxi there.
That's awesome! Well at least you guys had a "side curtain airbag" to protect you in a crash. It may have been a bit on the skinny side for an airbag, but it didn't look like you guys were over 60mph.
ReplyDeleteWell, I feel a whole lot better about Wilson's scooter ride and close call in an Orem driveway after seeing that you almost made him an orphan! So was that a scooter/rickshaw combo or what?
ReplyDeleteHey Brynna! I'm excited that you have started a blog so we can follow your adventures in a new country. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAs far as taxi drivers go, this is the only time we had trouble getting a taxi. However, it is also the only time we tried to get a taxi on the West side of the river. On the East side (newer and less dense...where we will be living!), we never had a problem at all.
ReplyDeleteSo for this particular trip, we knew a taxi would easily cost 50 RMB, so to pay 20 RMB for the scooter ride and then 5 RMB each for the subway was actually a savings. I don't worry too much about being ripped off because Neil works all the deals in Chinese. Not getting ripped off by Chinese people is his day job!
I'm so excited for your blog!! The taxi ride seemed like an adventure itself. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
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