Tales from the Taxis

I have fully experienced local taxi service now and…..wow, it has been unbelievable! There are line ups of taxis here going on specific routes to either areas within a city or to another city. I am still working out the details but seem to get to my main destinations with ease now. Well, it’s at least easier!

Up North, my first taxi day was quite an adventurous introduction. The man picking me up on the motorbike to get to the taxi line was running behind, so we started off late. I figured showing up an hour late to my research site was not out of the norm so didn’t worry at all. Once I arrived at the taxi line, it took over an hour to secure a taxi. Basically, the driver waits until the car is full and then adds a few extra passengers and off we go! Initially, the driver was trying to fill a station wagon which would have taken ages. I checked out the supermarket, had a drink, read a few chapters of my book and was still waiting. Luckily, he eventually traded the station wagon in for what would be considered a 5-seater car at home. Except here, the passenger seat holds two and the back seat holds four. I was so relieved when the driver started the car because I had big plans for my research that day! The seven of us set out for a rural community that is normally about half an hour away. Fifteen minutes outside the city boundaries, we stopped at the police point where our driver and the police officer got into an argument. The police officer ordered all of the passengers out of the car to sit beside a fruit stand and told the driver to take the taxi back to its starting point! She said she would find us another ride which I found hard to believe since it took me so long to find a taxi heading in my direction to begin with. We waited for awhile and then surprisingly a taxi stopped that was carrying four passengers already – a couple and their two children. The rest of us piled into the taxi for a cramped ride to the village! There were four of us sharing the front seat! I arrived fours late but on a good note was driven right to the school which saved having to organize another motorbike ride. Funnily enough, I was the only one concerned about time, no one else seemed to bat an eyelash! This is a good example of how “time” can be seen so differently.

I took taxis back and forth to this village for about five days and then a long taxi ride when I returned to the capital city. There are just too many stories to share and I am not sure if I can even come close to articulating the variety of responses and experiences I have had! My taxi rides have been uncomfortable and sweaty but extremely interesting. You just never know what will happen next. I have learned more of the local language while in the taxi, discussed the life of a late politician, met some very motivated college students and just enjoyed the view of lush tropical forest. We made a lot of stops on the way where my patience was tested to the max! The stops slow us down but always bring a unique surprise. For example, one of the first times my taxi stopped I thought we were needed for a road side emergency. Nope, we were stopped to transport bananas. A gigantic banana load, tree trunks and all! Another time, about thirty car batteries were stuffed into the trunk along with some steel, and then removed, repacked, removed, repacked, removed and finally repacked…while the driver and battery owner negotiated how much money should be paid to carry the batteries. Like the bananas, this weighed down the car significantly and added another hour to our journey! My mantra “Don’t fight it , just enjoy the ride….”