About psycho cabs & smiling monks
Mood:  incredulous
I stop the cab and after a failed attempt to open the door, the cabby opens it from the inside. I get in and intend to start a casual conversation in Malay. “So, what happened to the door ?”, I ask him. “Why you……..” is his first response and then he keeps silent in all languages…. I still try, exclaiming a surprised and friendly “what ?”, but he doesn’t even blink an eye and seems to have withdrawn himself in a world of his own, far away from this one. The car starts to move with a trembling and rattling than can impossibly be ignored. Gear 1 becomes gear 2, switch to 3 end eventually gear 4. he even tries gear 5 for a moment, but after a few metres gives up and goes back to 4. Regardless of all this, the speed doesn’t change. Having arrived, the brakes prove to be as good as the engine, but even an accident probably wouldn’t have the least effect at his speed.
Having arrived at my destination, within 5 minutes a Buddhist monk stands by my side, puts a picture of some Chinese goddess in my hand and requests for a small donation for the temple. Never mind, I think, anything for the buddah, and I give him 10 bucks. Apparently the amount is negotiable, for he tempts me into another 10-dollar bill. I’m really sorry, I’m still a student, I try to explain. Never mind, broadly smiling he continues his quest. A typical day so far ?? I dunno….