This guy’s going to be getting a lot of calls for sure.
Meet Samson, an auto driver from Chennai, who has his own website, and incredibly (yes, yes!) also turns on the meter!
When I think Chennai and auto driver, my mind wanders to a journey we undertook a few years ago — my sister and I. We were just visiting South India then and decided that Chennai would form a part of our tour plan. We made the mistake of trying to bargain with a auto driver who was intent on robbing us. We paid him a perfectly decent amount.
What he did next, left us scarred forever. Despite my ability to completely forget small details, I still remember this incident. He threw the money out of the rickshaw and abused us. I thank God that we didn’t understand a word of Tamil. Phew! After that, I approach all auto drivers in Chennai with some amount of fear.
Samson therefore comes as a breath of fresh air.
A Japanese tourist set up an email ID for him, a Brit tourist set up his website and a Dutch client gave him a laptop! Only going to prove that nice things happen to nice people!
Okay, so I know who I’m calling on my next visit to Chennai. Though I have a feeling Samson’s calendar might be a little full.
(And here’s another interesting auto driver from Mumbai via Twitter — he offers a 10% discount to newly married couples and has a first aid kit in his auto!).
I hope auto drivers in Bangalore, who don’t want to go anywhere (and I mean, anywhere except where you want to go) take a hint!
Everyone has a website these days!!
Check out this Barber… http://www.foradamsonly.com/index.php
This dude even has a Twitter account!!!
Posted by Devakishor | February 4, 2010, 5:13 pmWow! that is really impressive!
And they have twitter accounts and all? wow!
Posted by snippetsnscribbles | February 4, 2010, 9:06 pm@ devakishor: heh, not bad! but there’s not a mention of where his salon is located! :-)
@ snippetsnscribbles: impressive yes! but not sure if they have twitter accounts!
Posted by anita | February 4, 2010, 10:56 pmWow, that is one smart Auto-dude.
Definitely calling him up the next time I’m there. But I agree with you completely that Chennai autos are some of the worst in the country. I can bear even the Dilli-wallas in front of them. And this after knowing Tamil!
Posted by Sid | February 5, 2010, 11:08 pmFunny Indian News channel
Some one forgot to mention the cameras were still rolling
http://www.outofdream.com/2010/02/funny-indian-news-channel-10-pics.html
Posted by OUTOFDREAM | February 10, 2010, 11:14 amseems like the tuktastic guy is doing his rounds on the www. I don’t know about the website and all that, but i sure would love an auto that runs by the meter in chennai!
Posted by Ms.N | February 14, 2010, 1:56 pmA Chennai auto driver with a website ! WOW its incredible.
Posted by Thomas | February 14, 2010, 5:32 pmI hear that the CallAuto service that has been launched in Bangalore is reliable. Non-tampered digital meters I hear. Haven’t a first hand experience though.
Posted by Lavanya | February 15, 2010, 3:02 pmhey,
remember that blog about a place which dint serve you on time ???
miller’s 46?
i remembered that when i read about kiruba’s story.
vasu
Posted by vasudevan | February 17, 2010, 11:42 pmLoved his site–I’ll have to look out for him when I go to Chennai next month. :)
I’m planning my first trip to India to visit my parents who live in Bangalore and I’m thrilled to find your blog. How wonderful is the internet?
Posted by Michelle Mitton at Scribbit | February 27, 2010, 7:52 amthis is fantastic! i wish i had a resource for a taxi though, with my 5 member family! any word on that? :)
Posted by mamatha | March 2, 2010, 9:47 pmHi Anita, great info — and i am amazed — will surely contact Samson if i plan to tour chennai
Posted by Donna | March 24, 2010, 5:37 pmYour blog rocks Anitaji. Really well written with a great positive vibe all around. And yes, nice things happen to nice people :)
Posted by Praveen | March 27, 2010, 3:34 amreally nice to hear this…keep going on…i to have started…but yours is rocking i think so while looking at the comments on your site…
Posted by yreadthis | April 25, 2010, 10:47 pm