Taxi?!
I got used to calling them tuk-tuks from my trips to Thailand but I’ve discovered the locals call these prominent taxis either three wheelers or tri-shaws. I like driving in them – they are fast in busy traffic since most drivers are adept at using the ‘imaginary’ third lane and the ride is usually quite cool with the open seat but don’t expect your hair to look pristine after a three-wheeler ride!
Below, you see them in the ready position outside of Majestic City which is the biggest mall in our area.
This week, when a Sri Lankan friend hailed a ride for us, we made it clear across town on 100 rupees (approximately 1.00 Canadian -taxes included) while the same trip, had we arranged the ride, would have cost around 300 rupees or more…so we’ve started to get tougher with our three-wheeler rates. We now don’t expect a ride to Majestic City to cost more than 100 rupees from Global Towers (where we live) – whereas, when we first arrived we were paying 200-300.
Today, when the sun got the better of us on our walk, we decided to hail a three-wheeler. Knowing the ride should not cost more than 40 rupees…we started bargaining – the first driver countered with 60 rupees but we said “Too Much!” and continued walking…within seconds a second driver stopped but he didn’t accept our rate either…. AT FIRST!!….we started walking again and a few seconds later, the second driver was beckoning us into his taxi – perhaps 40 rupees was acceptable but out of sight of the first driver who did not accept??
Street commerce, perhaps I’ll come to understand it within our year here!
