Taxi woes

Last night jackie and I went out to run some errands which requires the use of Taxis... After running around all day we finally headed home and waved down a taxi. When I arrived at my apartment he suddenly demanded I pay him more than triple the amount on the meter. He made up some excuse about a standard minimum rate of rp 40,000 if the taxi is called i.e. reserved by phone. However since I had just waved him down off the street this was completely bogus. I refused to get out of the taxi and had to argue with him for several minutes before he begrudgingly gave me back my change. This morning as I was trying to go to work I walked outside to the taxi queue as I do every weekday and although there were around 9-10 taxis waiting none wanted to give me a lift. They all just shook their heads and turned away from me. When I finally convinced one to take me he admitted that taxis don't like to take white people and that none of the other taxi drivers wanted to take me because I am white. He said white people do not speak Indonesian and often get mad at the drivers... Well maybe if you didn't try and rip us off at every turn we wouldn't get mad! I am so fed up with taxi drivers over here. It is a constant battle just to get a fair rate.

When I lived here before I hardly ever dealt with taxis because I had a motorcycle and then a car... I had no idea it was this bad.

This week is review week and then next week come mid terms. So very soon yet still so far away...