Tuk-tuk calling!
February 3rd, 2010 | Published in Adventure, Humour, India, Living, Travel | 14 Comments
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!
February 4th, 2010 at 5:13 pm (#)
Everyone has a website these days!!
Check out this Barber… http://www.foradamsonly.com/index.php
This dude even has a Twitter account!!!
February 4th, 2010 at 9:06 pm (#)
Wow! that is really impressive!
And they have twitter accounts and all? wow!
February 4th, 2010 at 10:56 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!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:08 pm (#)
Wow, 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!
February 10th, 2010 at 11:14 am (#)
Funny 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
February 14th, 2010 at 1:56 pm (#)
seems 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!
February 14th, 2010 at 5:32 pm (#)
A Chennai auto driver with a website ! WOW its incredible.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:02 pm (#)
I 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.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:42 pm (#)
hey,
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
February 27th, 2010 at 7:52 am (#)
Loved 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?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 pm (#)
this is fantastic! i wish i had a resource for a taxi though, with my 5 member family! any word on that? :)
March 24th, 2010 at 5:37 pm (#)
Hi Anita, great info — and i am amazed — will surely contact Samson if i plan to tour chennai
March 27th, 2010 at 3:34 am (#)
Your blog rocks Anitaji. Really well written with a great positive vibe all around. And yes, nice things happen to nice people :)
April 25th, 2010 at 10:47 pm (#)
really 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…