USB?

Taxi driver story: Over the weekend, my daughter wanted to complete some homework items for printing. Margie lent her USB for her to use. On her return, she realised she forgot the USB at the print shop in Namaka. I hurriedly called for a taxi. As soon as the taxi arrived, I got in and quickly created urgency of the matter - to avoid taxi driver chatting to me.."Bhaiya, Please hurry, we have to go to the print shop very quickly..I forgot my wallet there". I  just said "wallet" coz I assumed he wouldn't know what a 'USB' was and I didn't want to explain what it was. "Please, please, can you hurry ? Taxi driver responded calmly,"You know, just last week, I bought my son the latest Universal Serial Bus...and yesterday my son called me,ahre crying... he forgot it in the computer shop". Without giving it thought , I asked "Whats this unversal serial bus"...He replied, "Ahre, USB, man"! Kaila! Never underestimate the intelligence of your taxi driver. Hehehehe!

Super Save w' Dulux 4ltr Tins

A great Suva Taxi driver story: Margie & I were Suva this week. The other night we took a cab to visit family in Nadera. Conversations with taxi driver focused on how he distrusts all banks & now not happy that Government wants everyone to have a TIN number and all earnings to be in the bank. "Guess where, I keep my money now?", he asks Margie.  "Under the mattress?",Margie responded. He replied,"Nahi yahrr, I keep in used paint tins, 4 gallon kind". "Everyday, I put in 5 saqamoli" ($1coins). "Now,I got 6 tins full". I make cement in da ground, and keep tins there and lock it & then put mud and put plants on top". Taking a deep breath, he sighed,"Now, my doctor tell me, I might be sick, and my memory is getting bad. You knbow it's one week now, I just can't remember where my paint tins are". I prompted him, "where you do you live?". He quickly replied, "Ahre you mad....I won't tell you my house"..KAILA MADA!!

Mr. Valentine

Taxi driver story: While we're still on the topic of Valentines Day- I remember during my days with Fiji Visitors Bureau, coming from Sydney into Nadi, picked up a taxi from airport to go to the hotel, dropped my stuff and headed to FVB Office in Namaka. It was Valentine's Day, 2002. I was talking on the cellphone and wishing a friend, Happy Valentine's Day. Being a natural busy-body,the Taxi driver interrupted, "Brada, this falla, Valentine - this falla work at Fiji Visitors?" Not in the mood to correct him, I just said, Yeah, that's the falla, Tom Valentine..kaila mada! Sorry Tom!

Happy Valentine's ♥

Taxi driver story with Valentine's Day theme: On our way out this morning, Margie and I were chatting about Valentine’s Day..Immediately, the taxi driver, piped up.. "Ahre Bhaiya, you know I forgot about today". "You know,my wife called me to remind me...Ahre, I better not eat the food at home tonight". I asked why. He replied, " Ahre, becos I forgot about Valentine. I know my wife will put 'extra mircha' in the curry..that's heart burn bro! He pondered for a second, "I think I will eat from taxi base and go home after". KAILA MADA!.. Anyway Happy Valentine's Everyone..don't eat too much curry.

Cyclone -120 kg an hr :)

Taxi driver story: Last Friday Margie and I were picked up at home.News about cyclone possibly hitting Fiji was still high, so I struck up conversation with driver, "Hey, there is a strong cyclone coming this way". Driver with a quizzical look asked, "Eh? You true? How many kilos, Bhai?". Not about to correct him about the difference between kilos and knots, just yet, I responded,"120kilos".  Of course, Margie is quietly killing herself laughing". (I think he might have come back from a heavy grog session). Still looking serious, Driver says, "I am very worried". "About your house?, I asked". He replied, "No, about my wife, she is very light". Okay, I know its a crazy conversation, but I suspect, he was worried, his wife could be blown away. Weilei!!

2000 or 3000?

Taxi Driver says the company, "Taxi 2000" thinking of changing their name to "Taxi 3000". I asked why? He thinks, it will sound more. Gonei!!

Sorry no change....

Taxi Driver story: Have you noticed western taxi drivers often use the line, "Sorry no change" if you hand them a big note? Its almost like they expect you to give them the note without them giving you change.

Tonight was a lovely surprise, or so I thought - Margie & I went to the St Mary's dinner this evening..& taxi fare was $5.10. I said to driver, "Sorry bhaiya I got no 10cents". He replied,"Ahre, you our best customer, some time you will be short..I will understand". He took my $5 as we went our way. What a considerate driver, I thought. 

On our return, another driver from same taxi company took us home. Just as we got off, the driver asked me "Bhaiya you got the 10cents now for the other driver?" Weilei Navua...you should have heard Margie give her 10 cent worth !! LOL!

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Forgotten Lunch

Taxi driver incident yesterday: Realised my lunch was not in my bag. Called Margie if I had mistakenly left it home. She suggested calling the taxi company. Called them & asked about the missing lunch box. I could hear all the nonsensical chatting in the background. Then operator returned with a firm response, "Sorry boss, driver say, no lunch box left in taxi".

Well, this morning, the same taxi driver picked me up. I immediately raised the question again...He said, "Boss, I tell you truth, I look in the front, I look in the back, I look everywhere”. Jokingly I asked, 'You look in the boot"? He remained serious, tilting his head, "Oh sorry boss, I never look in the boot". 


Not to make him feel bad, I remarked, " Man I wish someone had found it and ate the lunch, so it was not a waste..you know alot of people today don’t have food". 
Just as I got off, the driver with guilt written on his face, admitted, "Boss, the food was very nice" ... Isa lei...voleka saraga!

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