When Cab Drivers Blog

Saturday, September 8, 2007

I didn't know the city well
I often asked customers to tell me the way.
- Ihsan Aknur, Cab Driver

I was amused when I learned about Ihsan Aknur from Travel and Living. He is a cab driver in Istanbul, Turkey. And he has a website entitled The Best Taxi Driver. It is basically a website about his routes around the city and the people he met. Ihsan started it last 2000. He fondly remembered how his fellow taxi drivers laughed when he began to learn English back in 1982. Most of the words he learned were romantic like: "I love you," "You have pretty eyes," "Are you married," "What are you doing tonight," and "I've never seen a pretty woman like you". Then when he created his own website, again his friends laughed. Now he is working with Çiragan Palace Hotel Kempinski taxi station and he just acquired a new taxi.

Ishan's making of website got me thinking that perhaps the cab drivers in the Philippines could do likewise as well. They would probaby do great in making travel blogs. Though my guess is that they would likely produce political blogs.

20 comments:

lovelyn said...

That was cool! He looks really proud of what he is doing. 'Kakaibang' blogger.

Sad to say, yours truly who is a 'promdi' heard and had some bad experiences with some taxi drivers from Manila. Sorry to mention the city.

That's why many of us who grew up in the Cordilleras would always be proud of our Baguio cab drivers. Most of them play country music sa taxi which is typical on Baguio's sound waves. 'Kahit piso binabalik nila ang sukli'.

Anonymous said...

That's a dandy, some taxi driver beat me. Mr Cab driver did this to embarrass me, haha....well good for him nonetheless. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Hi http://animatedhomepage.com/blog/frequently-asked-questions-about-this-blog/
I have a nice article idea for you ,
I've just finished creating a new widget marketing concept :
Sending my blog's half-million daily visitors to my sponsors using my widget. Sponsoring starts @ $15 , you can have more infos on my blog
It would really be nice if you blog about it ;)

I have some nice ideas that can really be nice posts..

Thanks in advance

Novice Blogger said...

Lovelyn: I had the same unpleasant experience as well with several taxi drivers in Manila. But of course, there are still those who are making honest living especially the provincial cab drivers. I think Bacolod and Davao have good taxi drivers as well.

Trueblue: Right you are. And he created it back still in 2000! It may be a sign that you have to make your own already!

Ano: Will be checking your blog.

THE ANiTOKiD said...

This got me thinking. Now that I have a blog, I guess that right thing for me to do is be a cab driver, bro.

What do you think? It is a neat idea, isn't it?

Novice Blogger said...

Haha! I never thought it that way bro. But it isn't a bad idea.

Anonymous said...

"...my guess is that they would likely produce political blogs."

yeah, with the taxi drivers i have met so far, i tend to agree.

Novice Blogger said...

Hehe. Di ba nan? And all they have to become one is the radio.

admindude said...

Wow. This made me smile. I agree that our taxi drivers will most likely be political bloggers if they blog.

I once rode a taxi and its driver was very knowledgeable about political surveys, presidential approval ratings, survey margin of error, etc. I was really impressed.

Novice Blogger said...

Survey margin of error really? Haha! It won't be impossible Bill.

Layad said...

Hehehe... Some taxi driver this man is! But I guess most taxi drivers are philosophical, what with all the thinking they have to do while driving.

Yes, Manila taxi drivers are the worst. Kauupo mo pa lang e may dagdag na ung babayaran mo. Aarrgh!

Buti naman at naembarrass si Sir Trublue; it might make him change his mind and prompt him to start a blog one of these days =)

Novice Blogger said...

Haha, kahit nga di ka pa nakasakay minsan, may dagdag na bayad na.

And I'm guessing that Mr. Cab Driver might just advise Mr. Trublue here and say, "Just blog it!"

The Penniless Fat Guy said...

It will be more interesting if taxi drivers blog about their experiences with passengers. I guess the Marinella blog has led me to think this way. I do agree that most taxi drivers are well-informed when it comes to politics. Listening to AM radio is the main culprit for this. No matter what aspect taxi drivers would prefer, blogging will always be a unique endeavor for them.

Novice Blogger said...

Agree with you Sam. The Marinella blog is quite illustrative. And if taxi drivers switch to the FM frequency, they'd be great musicians I guess.

Anonymous said...

Great post kabayan! Pucha talaga kabayan! Wala bang bagong post?!

Novice Blogger said...

Wahaha! Di kita napansin agad kabayan! Napaisip pa talaga ako sa miniclip drilling game! Kala spam comments na naman! Ah well, soon may post na siguro kabayan. Para ganda na game kanina ha. One big fight talaga! Natawa ako sa Wrong Spelling. Peace sa mga green people! : )

Anonymous said...

Haha that is awesome I never thought of a cab driver blogging. I figured they would be driving.

Anonymous said...

long live cab drivers without them we will be nowhere.

Taxi Cab Tom said...

Interesting! By now I have compiled quite a list of blogging cab drivers. I came across more than 50 active, blogging cabbies but this is the first turk I found thanks to your blog.

TaxiChick said...

what i need is an iphone so i can blog whilst i am working!