Did I mention taxi's?

The magic’s wearing off.

I must point out that’s only the case with my daily taxi ride INTO work in the mornings.

Take this morning as an example - I got the typical Agussi (Grumpy Old Man) driver who, when greeted when I got into the cab, asks me where I’m going. “Industrial complex” I reply. He groans, and mumbles under his breath, and the usual thing happens – He points to the cab waiting in line behind us, and mutters the equivalent of “Sorry mate, I don’t go South of the river!” He gets insistent and continues pointing to the cab at the back. If I get out now, then who’s to say his mates not from the same club.

I sit tight, and continue repeating the address, as if he didn’t get it first time. It’s the only thing I can do, as I don’t have enough Korean to start a full blown argument. He protests. I sit tight. Eventually he gets the message – he’s got someone as stubborn as him in the back of his cab, and either way, he’s lost. We head off, and he kids on he doesn’t know the way, and tries to go the long way round to make it really worth his while. I’ve made this trip a hundred times now, and know the way. The little Korean I have picked up, has probably been the most critical – how to tell a taxi which way to go. Arruncho (right), Wencho (left) and Chic-Chin (straight on). When you finally get to your destination, it’s Yugio! (here). Works wonders!

The reluctance to take me to the industrial complex? – simple, he has real trouble finding a fare to take him back to the city in the mornings. He’d much rather do the local shopping trip, or take the kids to school. I’m hard work.