A new journey begins

Taking a taxi could mean more than getting from one place to another

“Good morning sir, how are you? Where to?” says the taxi driver as you slide into the back seat of his silver TransAD cab. “Fine, thanks. Take me to Emirates Palace hotel.”

An advert for Hugo Boss pops up on the entertainment screen mounted in the car’s headrests.

“No, I’ve changed my mind, take me to The Avenue at Etihad Towers. I need a new suit. I want to go to the Hugo Boss store.”

“No problem, sir. Where are you from?”

A tab appears in the top right hand corner of the screen promoting Ireland as a tourist destination. “Ireland”, pops out of your mouth.

“You’re from Ireland, sir?”

“No, no I didn’t mean that,” as you gaze out of the taxi’s window.

Your eyes return to the screen, which is now showing details of the most popular movies currently showing in Shanghai’s cinemas. “Shanghai?” you mutter.

“You are from Shanghai, sir?”

“No, no, I am sorry I didn’t mean that,” as you begin to mourn the loss of your regular conversations in taxis – about cricket, family and home – and wonder how you’ll ever adjust to life with in-cab entertainment.