Getting a Cab
Trip Start
Jan 10, 2007
1
13
72
Trip End
Jul 03, 2007
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Thursday, February 1, 2007
I went to go ask someone who knew, and I had kind of a strange experience doing it, which I have tried to duplicate here as closely as possible:
"Excuse me", I said popping my head through the door. "I was told you can tell me how best to get to Sharjah airport from here."
Knowlegeable woman: "You go by taxi. I know that the private ones cost 70-80 dirhams; I'm not sure about the regular ones."
"Uhh...What's the difference?"
"A regular taxi is the one you normally ride; a private taxi is owned by a private company, and you call them in advance and have them pick you up."
"Which one costs more?"
"The regular ones. Do you want me to give you the number for a private one?"
"Um, I dunno. I mean, I guess I could just look it up myself online..."
"No, they're not listed anywhere. You only get the number from word of mouth; do you want me to give you the number?"
"Umm, yeah", I said, crumbling slightly from the minor defeat of the internet, "you better do that."
Suddenly, she got very tough with me. "Excuse me?" she asked, smiling in a way that you could just see the iron fist under the velvet glove.
"What?"
"I don't like your tone of voice...I better do that?"
I was very much taken aback. How old am I again? And what was wrong with my tone of voice? That much I will probably never find out, because I hastily informed her, "I didn't mean to be rude or anything. I just meant...uh...it would be a good idea for you to give me a number to call, if that's the way to do it."
I'll never understand it, but I suspect I offended some sort of power etiquette--perhaps I should have been on my knees staring up with admiration gushing from my eyes? One thing's for sure--I certainly do have a knack for making a bad impression on people.
No matter. She gave me the number and instructions, and I politely said thank you several times.
And that is how you hail a private cab..
Your Taxi
