Smoot (or HairyDonut) loves comfort cabs because they (or the drivers) bring out the emotions in her. Hatred, that is. You know what she should do? She should just call LTA and give them the driver’s numbers, since the Comfort operator doesn’t know what to do.

Frankly, I don’t know what’s wrong with these drivers. If it is really so hard for them to make a living from driving cabs, then perhaps they should consider other jobs? I may not fully understand their predicament, but to resort to such methods… is not right. Again.

And of course, the cab companies don’t really care, do they?

Ever since last Monday, I have been really really looking forward to being able to get taxis with greater ease. Or at least being able to call taxi with greater ease.
Unfortunately, I believe the regulations have simply pushed taxi drivers into a higher level of innovation. I understand the basic concept of creativity within our respective fields of expertise, but this is getting ridiculous.

Last Saturday at noon, a group of various assorted strangers stood at the side of Bayshore Road trying to flag taxis. They stood, they flagged, they watched as SH8201U (? I was so angry my memory may have blanked out) sped past with nary a passenger within and the ‘available’ light beaming brightly.

The same group stared blankly at SHA6557X which was parked barely 10 metres away with its red ‘Hired’ sign on. It was parked. It was empty. But it was ‘Hired’. There it sat for 10 minutes whilst we stood and perspired and tried our best to get a goddamn taxi.

Finally, I called 6552 1111. Just as I got an automated message that taxi no. SHA6557X. would be coming to pick me up in 5 minutes, that same taxi that I had been sitting empty in front of me for the past 10 minutes whilst I carried my son flashed the on-call sign, drove up and picked me up.

I called 6552 1111 through a red haze of rage to tell them about this. “What would you like me to do” said the operator, sounding perplexed. “I would like you to take down the numbers” said me in red rage. “Ok. I will do that.” she said, calmly, vaguely, like this actually mattered at all.

Article obtained from http://smootie.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-love-comfort-cab.html on 27th November 2007

Hmm… I didn’t realise that Korea is the most expensive asian place to stay for expatriates at No. 7 in the global comparison, while Singapore is in the 9th place in asia - from a ranking of No. 132 to No. 122. Apparently, Japan’s cost of living for expatriats is ranked lower than Korea - at No. 13, down 3 places from 10th. This is partly due to the recent decline in Yen. Hong Kong

While I am at this, I would like to comment that the news report… is a little confusion, especially when they didn’t mention if Japan dropped from No. 10 to No. 13, or is it the 13th most expensive place now. Report is attached as follows:

SINGAPORE has risen 10 places in a new global survey of the most expensive places for expatriates to live.

The Republic is closing the gap on higher-priced Hong Kong, which stayed at No. 79 in the survey, conducted by human resources firm ECA International.

Despite the jump, Singapore, at No. 122, is still significantly cheaper for expats than Hong Kong and other key global centres, such as London at No. 10 and New York at No. 48.

Singapore’s rise up the table from No. 132 was the result of rising expat costs such as higher rents, coupled with a stronger Singapore dollar.

In contrast, the Hong Kong dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar, is weakening - offsetting a rise in expat costs.

Singapore is the ninth most expensive Asian city, the survey found. Seoul is the most expensive, at No. 7 in the world. Tokyo dropped from 10th to 13th place, partly due to a decline in the yen.

Top spot went to the African city of Luanda in Angola. Places like this, which are off the beaten track, are more expensive because some expat consumer items are hard to get, and those who want them have to pay top dollar.

The survey compares a basket of 128 consumer goods and services such as groceries, drinks and tobacco, clothing and electrical goods that are commonly purchased by expatriates in more than 300 locations worldwide.

Multinational firms use the survey’s results to help determine how much to pay their staff working overseas.

Living costs for expats are affected by factors such as inflation, availability of goods and exchange rates.

Singapore has seen higher inflation, partly due to a 2 percentage point hike in the goods and services tax to 7 per cent.

Mr Sebastien Barnard, 32, at the British Chamber of Commerce, said living expenses, especially food, have risen. ‘A year ago, lunch for two adults and two children cost about $70, including drinks. But now it’s over $95.’

But the surge in property rents is still the biggest bugbear of expats here.

Mr Mark Brider, 43, head of international personal banking for the Royal Bank of Scotland in Singapore, said: ‘There is a growing number of international people living in Singapore, so the demand drives up rental. My landlord just told me my rent will be raised 80 per cent in March next year.’

Nonetheless, he added, Singapore’s cost of living is still ‘competitive’ and ‘has still not reached the level of Hong Kong’.

The rising Singapore dollar has also pushed up expat living costs, said Mr Lee Quane, general manager of ECA International Hong Kong.

He said Singapore’s rising cost of living is ‘bad news’ for global companies, which have to adjust their expat employees’ pay and allowances to help them maintain their spending power here.

graceng@sph.com.sg

Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 27th November 2007