My Long Overdue Rant!
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Last December, I visited Hong Kong and needed to transfer in Shenzhen, a large Chinese city right next to Hong Kong. It was midnight when my flight arrived at the airport. After taking a shuttle bus from the airport, I intended to wait for a taxi at a nearby bus stop near my hotel.
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At that time, I got off the shuttle bus alone and planned to use my phone to call a ride-hailing service (similar to Uber or Grab in Southeast Asia).
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Not far away, several taxis were parked idly at the bus stop. I thought how tough it must be for these drivers to still be on duty at such late hours waiting for customers.
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But since I was cautious about safety, my mind immediately flashed with the following thoughts: Late at night + few people around + just one girl + newcomer from out of town, all these negatives combined into quite a challenging situation. I urgently pulled out my phone to order a car.
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And then! The exciting incident happened!
- A couple of taxi drivers stepped down from their cars and stared directly at me. An alarm bell rang in my mind, urging me to put on an assertive face.
- However, to no avail! One particular driver approached straight ahead and shot a particularly oily and repulsive smile, asking whether I needed his taxi service.
- I responded, "No, thanks, I've ordered a ride." But he was far from giving up and pursued further conversations with me, questioning my destination, arguing further that there wouldn't be any other rides due to the late timing.
- Moreover, he brazenly tried to grab onto my suitcase placed on the floor, attempting to persuade me into considering his taxi service.
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I kept politely declining, but in truth, I had yet to successfully arrange a ride at that point.
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He persisted, standing by my side with keen scrutiny over my smartphone screen.
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It wasn't until he realized my persistence and the fact that a ride-hailing car responded to my order that he grew visibly irritated and slunk towards his partners.
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My guess is that he presumed I wouldn't understand Cantonese - the local dialect - considering I was a passerby. He began cursing at me in that specific dialect that I know will involve some heavily censored words once translated. Afterward, he called me “poor” who couldn’t afford a taxi ride, though another line remained unclear, but the meaning clearly wasn't positive.
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As they found no chance for business from me, those taxi drivers finally drove off. Having boarded my previously booked ride-hailing car, I breathed a sigh of relief at last.
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Noted recently in the news were incidents that might relate to mine, revealing situations potentially more disastrous than mine. Thankfully, I only ended up getting cursed instead of actual physical confrontations.
Ladies, especially those traveling alone, please be aware of the following important precautions:- Avoid being alone in deserted spots during late night transfers.
- Why? Because you might encounter persistent taxi drivers with intentions to harass or forcibly engage with you.
- Solutions? Order a ride within the airport or station where people are gathering. If transfer is inevitable, choose well-lit areas that are slightly busier. Research routes beforehand and communicate your location to your family or loved ones.
- Be calm but firm against intrusive taxi drivers.
- Why? Because individuals tend to become more pushy seeing weakness in others.
- Solutions? Deny their insistence unambiguously. Protect personal items such as luggage and cash to avoid easy grabs. If uneasy, pretend calling someone close and loudly speaking locations and circumstances or proceed to crowded spots. Remembering license numbers could help report any complaints if necessary.
- Don’t instantly believe the argument that ride-hailing services aren't available so late.
- Why? These are techniques often employed by such drivers.
- Solutions? Persist a bit more, switching to another app if needed. In big cities, ride-hailing services are generally reliable.
Other than that, I hope this unpleasant experience serves as awareness to potential risks for travelers, especially for friends visiting China.
#Shenzhen #WomenSafety #TravelExperience #SomethingsRealllyDoFeelHelpless
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I strongly support introducing Singaporean caning!!!!!!!!!!
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Up! Up! Up!
