SWEDEN VS ROHINGYA

Friday, 30 November 2018.

Only one Justgrab story.

11.21am, LIS a meksalleh girl at Menara TM going to Mandarin Oriental KLCC (this is what she typed in the apps). Once she got in the cab, she told me that the hotel was wrong as she couldnt find the "W" Kuala Lumpur hotel in the Grab apps, not "Double U" hotel ye. But I found the hotel on the Waze. As both hotels near to KLCC, I told her not to worry about the fare differences. Later we talked and talked all the way to the city center.

She's a Swedish, but have been working in Hong Kong for the last 3 years. She's here to attend a seminar with the telecommunication company (TM). She asked me the similarities between Bahasa Indonesia and Malay. I told her that the bahasa are the same with some differences. So she mentioned that her Swedish language also almost the same as the Norwegian with some differences. I taught her a "terimakasih" word. The she told me about Sweden standard of living is the same for all classes of people, ie salary, housing prices etc. So that's mean, a janitor salary is the same as a doctor salary. But, she said, a doctor would pay higher taxes (80%). Wahlaweh. That's why some of the Swedish moving out of the country like herself.

A bonus story.

8.37pm, MAB a Rohingya guy, which I thought initially was a Bangla, at Jalan Ampang Kiri, Kampung Berembang, alone going to Giant Bandar Baru Ampang. When asked, he spoke in Malay ofcourse to me that he needs to renew a paper from UNHCR for every 3 years. He told me that he's working as a penebar roti canai in a restaurant for Bangla people in Wangsa Maju. His income is RM65 perday which would became rm1900 permonth."Sometimes I can get rm2000," proudly he said. Wahlaweh. He's working for 12 hours per day, and got a lunch break for one hour, then he also "uli" the tepung for the roti canai in the evening.


TERIBBLY JAM

Thursday, 29 November 2018.

Today I completed 13 jobs.
Only one Justgrab story.

After dropping 4 India bosses at Marriot Putrajaya, a few minutes driving out the hotel...

6.18pm, FIK a Sabah young man at the same hotel going to a far far Kelana Idaman Ara Damansara. Due to very far destinationn and the traffic was very very bad, we just talk and talk. From his study in KL, now working with TNB, buah tarap, to chinese school, Gunung Kinabalu, rumah terbalik Tamparuli, his Ranau village, his rented room with 2 other roomates who are weekend husbands. And also, we discussed a bit about the latest issue of kuil tragedy. Of course, we also talked about teksi problem.

NOT A RELIGION OR RACE ISSUE

Wednesday, 28 November 2018.

Just one justgrab story.

10.09am, ASG a Malay lady with her little girl at Goodyear Court 2 Apartment USJ going to TBS. She texted me to pickup at block S “which bnyk motor parking tu.” When she hopped in the cab, suddenly she asked me about what happened to the kuil Sri Maha Mariamman, Subang Jaya demonstration. I was quite shock. I told her that I didnt follow the current national news. And I didnt notice on any of my whatsapp group. But I did remember yesterday when I picked up these two Malay guys from Suria KLCC. One of the guys was glued to his smartphone and reading about "bomba kena tarik dari trak bomba". Since I dont entertain her, she just kept quiet all the way to TBS. Even I need to help to buckle up her daughter who sat infront next to me.

Another bonus story today.

4.18pm, ADR an Indian guy at Nadia Parkfront Condom going to Villa Puteri Condom Jln Tun Ismail. He liked to talk and talk all the way. First we know that we are on the same age, just that he's older one month than me. He got his lawyer degree but never practiced it. He used to work as a property agent. But due to most banks not giving any new loans to the subsale property, then he quit. "Cannot cari makan," he said. Then he's trying drive Grab, but "it's not worth it," because he's renting the car from the Grab company. Now he's working with PPIM, Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia, which I heard it for the first time. He said, he's the only non-muslim (with the other chinese guy) who work in the islamic club (organisation) since his friend (Datok) asked him to join as he's jobless during that time. So I asked him a lot of questions on PPIM. He said there were many cases. Even the navy boy who was tortured and killed during the training was also under his testimony versus navy. He refer this case to the "a few good men" movie starring Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon. Currently also, he told me that he's involved with the case of a young boy in Kedah versus TNB. During the dropoff, he gave me his phone number just incase I need to use his service in the future.

Dear diary, today I completed 15 jobs and my personal rating going up to 4.91 for the first time. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

THE CHALLENGE AS A CAB DRIVER

Tuesday, 27 November 2018.

One Justgrab story this morning.

8.04am, NEM a chubby Malay girl alone with 2 luggages and was sendoff by her little brother at Urbana Residences Ara Damansara going to far far away Astro Taman Teknologi. Not much talking until at the end when I approached the Astro main gate... When I was driving to the back of the Astro building of the Visitor entrance via the Shell, she screamed at me saying that the route was incorrect and asked me to drive straight and uturn back. I thought she wanted me to drive her to the other side which confused me as I believe there was no other Astro building. But since she’s so adamant, so I followed her request. Then I realised she asked to drive all the way back to Bukit Jalil by using the back road which would take another 4.7km. Aiyah. As I reckon that she’s going to the same visitor entrance at the back, so exited to the Plus highway and soon later entering the shell sration and straight to the gate. Actually I followed the Waze but why she worries so much? And to add salt to the wound, she never apologised for her ignorance. OTL

Apparently, the van was waiting for her. This is really one nuisance job.

Dear diary, this morning I cancelled 2 jobs.
1. 10.39am, MBM at Wet Market Pudu. The reason - he might carry wet and stinky market groceries.
2. 11.52am, NURUL at Menara Technip. Aiyoo. Kecot telo beb!

BARISTA VS BARTENDER

Monday, 26 November 2018.

I got a battery’s issue on my iphone again. Demm. It’s a charger cable problem that needed to be replaced with a new one.

One Justgrab story.

5.14pm, after Asar, NOH a Malay young man at VCR Jalan Galloway Bukit Bintang going to Desa Gembira Condom. We talked and talked all the way. He’s working in a kopitiam in Kuantan. He came to KL with his boss today to have a meeting with a competition committee on Barista Contest 2019. He said he likes his job and has been working there for 2 years already.

Then we talked a bit of current politic issues, such as ICERDS and also his unfinished diploma study.

Now I know the differences between Barista and Bartender.

From Quora:
The barista is an expert in coffee. Preparation methods (expresso, chemex, french press, aeropress, you name it), coffee bean info (country of origin, taste, roast type, etc…) and other data regarding how to properly serve a cup of coffee in any given manner. On a broader meaning, an expert in beverages without alcohol (some may even guide you with tea and other kind of infusions).

On the other hand, the bartender is the one in charge of serving cocktails, wine, beer, and everything else under the term “alcohol”.

YOU GAVE TEKSI A BAD NAME

Sunday, 25 November 2018.

From the south, near Nilai exit I set destination to home.

Only one Grab story of the day, even I only got 2 trips.

9.55pm, after I cancelled the first cheapo Justgrab (rm10) at TBS, STL a chinese man ping me at Taxi & Town Bus station, not the infamous Gate C main lobby due to bad traffic. I arrived at the KLIA Transit but actually he’s waiting under the TBS building. Then he agreed to walk to my cab.

He’s going home at Bukit Pandan 2 Condom, Pandan Perdana.

He told me that he’s trying to book and haggle with the teksi driver just now. The driver isn’t using the meter, instead he’s asking for rm30. The Grab fare is only rm15. He’s upset because the driver not trying to use the meter.

Then we’re talking about his job as a travel agent. He said travel industry also need to compete with Air Asia. No middle man required now.

THE FIRST AND LAST JOB WERE 6-SEATER

Friday, 23 November 2018.

Started at 7.48am.

Only one Grab story today.

8.22am, MDM 6 Banglas at Jalan Wawasan 2/1 Bandar Baru Ampang going to far far away Jalan Radin Bagus. They’re not much talking to me, only talking among themselves. The guy who sat next to me got a very huge Samsung smartphone but smaller than a tab. After a while he tried to put the phone in his pant’s pocket but obviously it couldn’t fit in.

Today I managed completing only 6 jobs.

After sending off 6 Rohingya guys whom apparently came from a nearby mosque after solat Jumaat to Bandar Puncak Utama, Serdang, I drove straight to JB.

NON EXISTENCE 6-SEATER TRIPS

Thursday, 22 November 2018.

One Justgrab story.

8.37am, under the heavy rains, MAMAT an Indon guy at Sri Begonia Apartment busstop. Actually he and his brother just finished their breakfast at the nearby kedai mamak. He came to the cab first but need to wait for his brother to pay the bill first. The brother seems an ignorant guy as he’s wearing a big headset on his head.

Later I sent them to far far away Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad TTDI. Their friend told them to find for Kedai Ayamas which we found it.

Another note. My personal rating is suddenly going up to 4.88 after many many weeks as it’s under 4.7 something.

AIRPORT IGNORE QUOTA

Wednesday, 21 Nov 2018.

Today I completed 11 trips. Very slow indeed.

I got notifications from Grab that we are allowed to ignore THREE (3) KLIA/KLIA2 bookings without affecting our queue number. Good lah.

Other note. I got desk job offer to start early next month. Very cheapo salary indeed. OTL

One Justgrab story today.

6.22pm, MAL at the same LRT Glenmarie KJ27 going to Utropolis Suites Shah Alam. From the Malay accent he spoke that I reckon he’s Sabahan bah.

NO PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR REFUGEES AND DRIVERS TOO

Tuesday, 20 November 2018. Maulidul Rasul public holiday today.

One Grab job story today.

6.41am, the first job, SEL 5 Afghan family members at Chancellor Condom going to UNHCR. Since today is a public holiday, I told them that the refugee camp might be closed. I got the bad experience last time and I dont want them to waste and money. The parents seem cannot speak English nor Malay. But the girl told me that they still insisted to go. Okay lah. When arrived, we saw there were many people at the wntrance gate. So I was wrong this time. Next time I need to remind myself not to interrupt with other people business.

Other note. This morning after a couple of trips, I could smell dog shit inside my cab. Then later I reckon that there’s a shit under my left shoe. Demm. So after cleaned it up, I bought ambur perfume and glade spray air fresher from Petronas Pekan Sungai Besi.

FREE CONCERT TICKETS BUT STILL GOT COMPLAINS

Monday, 20 Nov 2018.

Dear diary, today I completed 15 jobs.

Only one Justgrab story.

4.43pm, JOS alone at Menara KLK Mutiara Damansara near Ikea Damansara going to Bangsar Village. The Indian guy likes to hear the old song from my radio. I dont remember the song's name. Then suddenly he's talking about Guns and Roses concert last week. "I got a free tickets but it's disappointing," he told me in Malay. "Axl Rose (the lead singer) not very energetic as expected." Then he talked and talked about his previous concerts that he attended in KL and Singapore of Metallica, Iron Maidens etc. Apparently he's working as a reporter. No wonder lah he got a free ticket.

Once, he said, during Rafidah Aziz (the minister) term. He's got to fly to Berlin with her urgently. "Even now we're still in contact," he said.

He’s also telling about his okd Malay schoolmate who he’s met and still remember during their “good old days” while on high taking syabu (gumm), “ko la keling yang paling aku suka!” He’s laughing out loud.

Later on Jalan Maarof, "that alfa romeo is nice car," referrring to the white car travelling on opposite direction. I told him that everybody likes to have beautiful car, beautiful house, and beautiful wife. Then he story mory a bit about his girlfriend's parents. Since he's still bachelor but living with his girlfriend (ex-reporter). "My friends told me how lucky I am to have a nice looking wife," I can feel his proudness, "of course lah, dia anak datok mah!" But the father doesnt like him, not like the mom.

Another note. Today a blog reader called me and asked me if I can get a driver from JB to Singapore. His friend wanted to bring his family for a day tour in Singapore.

KEEP CALM AND QUIET

Sunday, 18 November 2018.

After sending off Via’s family at KLIA2, I started “membangau” at Landside. 8.40am with GC queue at 1201-1300 (ETA 300 min) and GC 6s at 601-700 (ETA 300 min). After more than 2 hours, I cannot tahan to wait there. So I drove out to Kota Warisan hoping I would get any trip.

I am “membangau” at train station Kota Warisan. Waited for one hour with no ping. Then I drove to nearby Masjid Kota Warisan until after zohor prayer. Still no ping!

Even I went to Xiamen University maingate. I saw many drivers already waiting there.

So I drove to kedai mamak at Kota Warisan new shoplots next to the the highway. After lunch (maggie goreng mamk and ice lemon tea), I went to the toilet where I got ping. Aiyah. The phone is inside my pocket lah. No rejeki.

So I drove to masjid bandar Dengkil. 3.33pm already. By 4.00pm I am at Alamanda shopping mall.

Then my first real Grab job at 4.27pm, ISM 4 Bangla with an Indon lady waiting at traffic light Presint 16 while I went to the Petronas surau to pee and pray. I sent them to UniPark Condom. But some of them, including the Indon lady stopped at the nearby roundabout.

Today I poorly completed only 5 trips. OTL



BOOKED TO THE AIRPORT

Saturday, 17 November 2018.

Just one Grab story.

1.31pm, VIA an Indon family at Nu Sentral going to Swiss Garden Residence. Later she asked me the fare to “bandara” (airport). I told her the fare amount including toll which she tried to negotiate. But I told her that “i am just cari makan.” Finally the Om who sat next to me said they agreed with the fare.

Dear diary, actually I wanted to tell you a problem with my cheapo Samsung J1 mini prime. The battery drainage is becoming worst now.

A bonus story.

After dropping off VIA trip just now, I got a very high fare from The Robertson Residence Pudu going to far far away MAHSA University at Bandar Saujana Putera. This trip was completed nicely and no issue until I got another trip from One South. One of the India boys found a key with a parking gate pass on the backseat. It’s shown “The Robertson “ on it. Since I dont have the rider contact number so I just kept quiet. Its very scary too because this issue may cause my account deactivated. Later the amoi called me and willing to pay extra fare for returning the key. Due to ignorance on their side, masking phone number, finally after one hour I managed to give her back the key. That’s after a couple times calling the Grab CS. She gave me extra rm30 and said "sorry sorry sorry" many many times for the trouble. But my heart is already broken.

PATIENCE IS THE ART OF HOPING

Friday, 16 Nov 2018.

Today I completed 15 jobs.

Only one Grab story.

After sending off ahkakAF at TBS main lobby, I driving around Gate C (TBS) hoping of getting any rider. Just after leaving the gate C and driving down the ramp, REKHA ping me. Aiyah. So I need to drive one more round to the main lobby Gate C. But a minute later, she cancelled. Panda lela lah. But it's okay. I hope I will get bigger fish.

3.46pm, 3 minutes later while parking at the roadside with other drivers (Grab or others?), an
iPhone" user ping me to pick up a Pakistani worker group at Basement Parking TBS near the taxi stand. Actually, instead of 4, only 3 Pakistan workers who cannot speak English nor Malay catched my cab. Their belongings of only 2 baggages and 2 small bags. All of them (3) are sitting behind me. Due to language barrier, the colleague who was waiting near Xiamen University construction site told me just to follow the given location. Yes, I follow it to the university main gate. The fare was very high because of the 6-seater fare. But nobody complain.

When arriving at the dropoff location, and waiting for few minutes, the colleague hopped in the cab and showed me the way to construction site at the back of the university.

MAPLETREE CITY

Thursday, 15 Nov 2018.

Today I woke up warly at 3.55am and later couldnt sleep.

Only one cheapo Justgrab story.

10.59am, ALL a Malay young guy at Jalan 18/62a, Taman Sei Serdang ping me to send his coworker to Mapletree Shah Alam. The Indian young man who apparently just arrived from India and couldnt speak Malay or English. ALL wanted to pay me first. The fare was rm49 for 27km. I told him that the toll fare may be under rm5. So he gave me rm50 note and I returned the balance of rm6. He dont want me to give the fare balance to the Indian young man.

At the dropoff location of Mapletree factory, due to language barrier, I called a Nepal security guard to speak to the Indian guy in Hindi. The Nepal guard told me to go to the other Mapletree factory which is on the other side of the highway. Panda lela lah. When checking, it would take me another 8km (14min) to drive him to the new location. Due to the pity to him, I just sent him there without asking for extra charge.

Okaylah dear diary, I just hope that I could get better reward and trip after this.

WHO IS CHARLIE PUTH

Wednesday, 14 Nov 2018.

Today I completed 6 jobs with two 6-seater trips. There's a busy running errands to Sunway Mentari.

A Justgrab story today:

6.28pm, HUY 2 amois wearing black at First Subang Mall going to Stadium Malawati Shah Alam. "We are going to the concert!" said amoino2 happily. I said okay but I dont gave any attention to them. I just driving out of the mall the jam packed road.

There was a bad traffic jam along the road. And one of the Waze users wrote, "due to Guns and Roses concert." Then I thought these amois were going to the legendary metal rock star concert. "No lah uncle, we're going to Charlie Puth concert." In fact, I need to ask them many times on the singer's name. Then I google his name on my phone. The amois also never heard about Guns and Roses band. "That's very old rock band, we're new generation!" said amoino1. Then I played Charlie Puth's songs, ie How Long, The Way I am, We Dont Talk Anymore and Attention. They're enjoying the songs as they sang along with the youtube I played. They truly can sing.

Then later, amoino2 asked me to play Guns and Roses video. Without hesitation, I google and played the band old and evergreen song, "Sweet Child O Mine". I dont know about them but Lentuk beb!

I asked the amois about the ticket price. She said, "only two hundred ringgit." Aiyah, I told them that the Guns and Roses concert ticket were sold at one thousand ringgit as I saw it this morning on facebook fans and they believed it!

When we arrived at the stadium, the traffic not very bad even though the rains just kept pouring. And I couldn't find the main lobby. Instead they rather get out at the nearby stair leading to the stadium.

6-SEATER TO THE AIRPORT

Tuesday, 13 November 2018.

Dear diary, today's story is only on airport waiting areas, ie the infamous Landside and the Charterfield.

10.45am, MUO ping me to send his family and few boxes and baggages to KLIA2. Yay! It’s been a long time since I got a 6-seater trip. He’s driving the other car, while his old man and a sister and a little boy travelling on my cab.

I played alWaqiah mp3 and they didn’t complain. When asked whether they're Bruneian (thanks uncle google), but the old man said they're flying back to Sabah bah.

Unlike yesterday’s ping to KLIA from Kepong for rm65 (83km), this trip is a full fare of rm105 (43km). No toll on this route from Balakong via Silk highway and Putrajaya and Dengkil.

Arriving the Landside one hour later, I sent cik Jnulekasnova for body wash and vacuum. The damage was rm16. While waiting, I took a lunch break at the Cafe Harga Yahudi, ie nasi campor with ice tea.

From queue number 1101-1200 (GC), 3 hours later, it's going down to  181-200 when the first ping hit me.

Other notes. A few days ago when I was membangau for 3 hours at the Charterfield before driving out without a passenger, I reckon that the surau Fatimah was closed and barricaded. The guy who's sitting there told me that they’re going to renovate it. The worst part is that we cannot use the toilet as well as using it for a solat. They cut out the tapping water already. “You can use Ali Maju’s toilet,” he told.

Dear diary, today I managed completing 9 jobs from 7.17am to the last trip at 8pm with 2 airport trips. Okay lah.

LEARNING ARABIC FOR FREE

Monday, 12 November 2018.

Just one Justgrab story today.

1.10pm, SRA an Arab lady with a baby and her stroller at Regina USJ1 Condom. When I arrived at the lobby, this black man (which I thought at first he was her husband) was helping her lifting the stroller into my cab thru the back door. While driving her to 1 Utama shopping mall (new wing), I kept playing surah alWaqiah slowly. Then suddenly she asked me to turn up the volume, so I did.

Eventhough she looks nice and friendly but I dont have a mood to talk. It’s a very long trip about 27min and the mp3 player managed to play twice of the surah. She didnt complain. Then I turned it off. It’s about 7 more minutes to reach the mall. Then she started to ask me questions, “are you doing this full time or part time?” She’s been here for more than 10 years and can speak little Malay. She’s an English teacher and married to a Yemeni guy. She wanted to teach Arab for free. “Its a language of Jannah,” she informed me. I told her that learning Arabic is harder compare to Malay or English. She agreed by saying, “betol betol.” But dear diary, I regret not asking her phone number. It might be useful.

At the mall lobby, she insisted me NOT to help with her stroller. Aiyah. You see, dear diary, the lady with a baby on her arm and trying to pull out the stroller from the cab?! So seeing she’s having trouble, so I hopped out trying to help her. But she managed to pull it out. So I just closed down the cab back door. I still can remember she said "betol betol" few times.

Just a bonus Justgrab story.

9.36am, LEY an Azerbaijan lady alone at Kiaramas Danai, Mont Kiara going to Wisma Central KLCC. When she hopped in the cab, she mentioned about "Different entrance" and "Lot three" which scared me! I tot I tot I saw a ghost. OTL

Today I managed to complete 14 jobs with better fare.

TOO MANY PASSENGERS

Sunday, 11 Nov 2018.

Started at 7.44am and the last trip was at 9.04pm.
11 jobs completed today. And only one 6-seater trip. Demm.

Only one Grab story.

6.29pm, YAS YAS at Lorong 6 Kampung Pandan booking on JUSTGRAB going to far far away Kampung Sungai Sekamat, Kajang. The fare was quite high (RM48) for a distance of 21km due to heavy rains and traffic jam. Getting to their pickup point also taking so much time.

When I arrived at the narrowly road leading to the house, there were a group of Rohingya people. When I asked, he said in poorly Malay, "only 3 people." Infact, there were 3 adult (one male, 2 ladies, 3 young kids and a baby). Aiyah. But I just let them in as I was pity to this group of people.

Seeing they were crowded on my backseat, I asked 2 of the kids to take off their shoes and hopped in to the last seat which they did happily.

When arrived at the dropoff point at Kampung Sungai Sekamat, he asked me to follow 2 guys riding on the motorbike which was 800m off the dropoff location. Then at the last point, before dropping them off, I told him (YAS YAS) that the fare was RM51 (actually RM51.30 including the toll). But he gave a RM50 note only. I asked an extra rm1 which hard for him to get it and looked pity, so I let him go.

When all of them already alighting the cab, I saw there were many food leftovers on the carpets and some on the seat. Aiyah. I cleaned them all with the wet tissues. Then I reckon that I couldnt find my green wool towel which I just used it to clean the dashboard and interior parts from the wet water. "It must be taken by the Rohingya kids or the poor moms," I said it to myself only.



DRIVING AT 69

Saturday, 10 Nov 2018.

The second day of driving Grab.
9 completed jobs with the first trip at 6.30am. Only one 6-seater job. Demm.

Only one Grab story.

4.14pm, LCM an Indian lady called me to pickup her beloved husband at nearby NSK Balakong. I saw this uncle already waiting by the supermarket entrance. This uncle likes to talk and talk too. When he was inside the cab and sat next to me, and while I was struggling with my cheapo Samsung smartphone to activate the google maps, he told me just drive straight into the freeway and he'll show the way. Soon, he asked me the cik Jnulekasnova's fuel consumption. He told me that he used to drive Grab too with his relative's Exora. But after a while he quit driving Grab since it's not worth it. NOw, he's driving a lorry with many tires. "I bought a lorry with 12 tyres," he said, "but the lorry is in the workshop being repaired." Then he borrowed his relative's lorry too but the lorry also got problem.

While the google maps showing the farther (21km) but quicker route via Silk hiway to his home at Lestari Putra Permai Serdang near Aeon Taman Equine, he told me to use the Seri Kembangan route via the infamous South City Plaza (9km!) which is normally jampacked.

He told me about his family too. He and his wife got no kids and they lived together in the house only. He said that his wife cannot bear a child since she was getting operated due to cyst on her body.

He said so far he's got no health issue. His daily habit of heavy smoking of 2 packed cigarette is balanced by his heavy mineral water drinks too.

He also told me about his financial burden at his old age since he just bought a second-hand lorry. He story-moried about his previous working experience as a navy and KTM officer which was a shortlived career. He also engaged with many contractor works but most of them not working very well. He told me that he lost a lot of money on the three bungalow projects due to his incompetencies in managing the project.

At the dropoff of his corner lot house, I thanked him for the nice chat.

RESTART DRIVING GRAB

Friday, 9 Nov 2018.

Back to drive Grab again in KL.

Started late at 4.49pm.
The 8th and the last trip of the day at 10.43pm.
Arrived home at midnight.

SUDDENLY GRABCAR SAVER SAVED ME THE FARE

  Tue, 5/12/23. At 11.20am, I tried to book online taxi from my office at Jalan Ampang. My destination today is to Jalan Pekeliling. First, ...