Today was a busy day and i stayed a bit late than normal on job to finish some of the urgent stuff. I went back together with two colleagues and we decided to take taxi. i seldom take taxi and today ride has reveal a sad story of being a taxi driver that i never know before.

We took a Toyota Camry taxi. A luxury and comfortable ride. Interior compartment is so comfortable, spacious and cosy. We started the conversation by saying, "ohh.. how good if i can ride on such a comfortable car as part of job instead of working so stressful at site?".. The driver started to debate, ".. friend.. thing is not as simple as you see.."

Only then i realized normal taxi driver drives more than 14 hours per day and averagely first 8 hours drive is to break even the cost, like pay installment to employer, petrol, maintenance, etc. The earning is start counting from the subsequent hour.

The peak hour like morning 6-7am or 7-10pm will be a good business hours. Other than that will greatly depend on luck and sometimes wandering for nothing. In the peak hour, most of the time will get 5 trips maximum due to traffic jam. The situation usually turn sour in school holiday or public holiday, while everyone is not rushing time. In such circumstance, most of the tax driver will be loitering in coffee shop rather than on the road.

The most saddest part as claimed by the tax driver is he has to wake up in dawn and leave the house before 6am, go back on after 11pm. His sleeping hour is less than 5 hours a day and worse still, his children hardly see his face everyday. He forcefully groan that he won't be a tax driver if he has a chance.

Eventually he is still feel blessing to have a good wife who willing to bear the situation with him and he claimed that as if other normal women, already run away from home.

After the confrontation, i understand that thing cannot be judged by what you see. Appreciate your current position and don't complaint too much, especially you are not the worst to complaint.