Taxi Hunt

The most frequently seen and yet the most illusive thing in all of Guangzhou must be the taxi. Seemingly innocent they are seen traveling on all roads during all times of night and day. They are seen so often that to view one is considered inconsequential. So much so that when they crowd the sidewalk and nearly run over pedestrians no one so much as bats a lash.

The most amazing and baffling thing is their ability to become completely unavailable the moment one is wanted for transportation. This becomes especially true in the morning and mid afternoon. These particular taxi's have the innate ability to transport invisible patrons. You will see taxis with their "for hire" sign lit and respond in kind with your obligatory arm wave only to get a small wave from the drives as he whizzes past leaving you looking foolish with your arm out and a dumbfounded look upon your face. It is well know that this may happen upwords of five times during the course of half an hour.

When by some act of God you do manage to hail a taxi there is no garentee that you will actually be transported anywhere. On a regular basis using the best Chinese you can muster with the aid of a writen address and many hand motions the taxi driver will deem you a lost cause and refuse to drive you anywere. If you were so forward as to enter the taxi already do not be surprised when you are forced to exit the vehicle, yet again being made to look a fool among the taxi seeking patrons.

All in all the feelings of surprise and dissapointment which accumulate from attemption to hail a taxi only bring me closer to understand what it is like to live as the Cantonese do.