$100 TAXI RIDE
Where does $100 dollars take you? When you have a spirit of adventure, and your taxi driver does too, it can be to the ends of the earth.
Imagine getting into a taxi and letting your driver pick the destination—with no agenda and only one restriction: to go as far as $100 will take you. This eclectic, half-hour television series travels the world—from Auckland to Amman, Hollywood to Havana, Bombay to Buenos Aires. Though we visit every continent (except Antarctica!), it’s no ordinary travel show. Our destination is always just $100 away—as the cab flies—and the more unusual the trip, the better. Each episode features two journeys in wildly contrasting parts of the world.
The series unfolds from the front seat of a taxi, spilling out into the countryside, inner cities and inner sanctums. Starting out from 26 locations on six continents, we join the driver as he (or sometimes she) takes us to some of the most exotic locations in the world—extraordinary places not found in any tourist guide.
And the guides for our rides? Knowledgeable, personable, with a keen sense of humour—and a keener navigational instinct—our drivers are as diverse as the locations. They provide unique, and unexpected, perspectives on their countries. We meet their friends and colleagues, witchdoctors, fortune-tellers, radio announcers, monks, miracle workers, artists, a self-proclaimed werewolf—and even their mothers. Along the way we chomp our way though a remarkable variety of food—from a delicious coddle in Ireland to raw beef in Ethiopia, from prairie oysters in Calgary to kiss-proofing fermented shark meat in Iceland. In Bombay we eat the evocatively-named “tomato stuff” and in Phnom Penh raw duck embryos top the bill. But we draw the line on the cockroaches.
Where will The $100 Taxi Ride take us? From the road less travelled to beyond your wildest dreams.
EPISODE 1: Tijuana & Gibraltar
On the boundary between Mexico and the United States, Tijuana has the busiest border crossing on earth. With so many transients and emigration hopefuls, officials can only estimate the city's population. Guesses range from one to three million. Oscar our driver in this episode introduces us to the rare Tijuana zebra, he arranges for a street band to sing Mexico's traditional happy birthday song to our presenter, and he explains no birthday in Tijuana would be complete without a Tequila Popper-a celebration to remember.
Next we're on the Rock of Gibraltar, ancient Pillar of Hercules and modern sentinel of the seas, where on a clear day you can see three countries, two continents, an ocean and a sea. In town Harry Parody our driver takes us to meet the Lower House to solve the world's problems while baking in the sun. Next Harry takes us across the border to Spain, where Iberia's oldest bullring, a bull-fighting school and a different way of life beckon.
EPISODE 2: Havana & Salt Lake City
Since the 50s Cuba has been cut off from the rest of the world. That means no Coke signs, no fast food and well no amenities. So what does it have? Old cars, aging architecture, resilient people, dogs and noise. Anthony, our cab driver, has a 1957 Dodge Kingsway. So off we go on a whirlwind tour of Havana. First stop, the Floridita, where Hemmingway drank the Daiquiri in the home of its invention. We then visit one of the largest Chinatowns outside of China! . Anthony then takes us for a pick-me-up at his Mom's, homemade Cuban coffee, or is it rocket fuel? Powerful stuff. Fusion. A word that represents many things in Cuba.
Next we're off to Salt Lake City, Tracey our cab driver tells us when Brigham Young brought 147 Mormon followers into this Promised Land, he decreed, "This is the place," and there they built their temple. The centre of the city is still dominated by the Salt Lake Temple, a pilgrimage destination for Mormons around the world.
EPISODE 3: Istanbul & Panama
Istanbul, where East meets West literally. It's a city perched between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. It's a place to take an intercontinental taxi ride, with Ishan, who is, literally, Istanbul's "best taxi driver"-at least that's what his website says. Our ride with Ishan takes us on a bridge across the Bosporus and sees him "drive" from the bridge of a ferry across the Sea of Marmara. On the way to see the famed tiles of Iznik, there is more than a little dancing in the street-which is, perhaps, not to be unexpected from a taxi driver who teaches belly-dancing.
Next we're off to Panama, where our driver David takes us to a large scientific observatory in the heart of the urban rainforest. It's said there are 205 shades of green in Panama! Back on terra firma, we visit one of the seven modern wonders of the world-the Panama Canal.
EPISODE 4: Hollywood & Bombay
It's the city that's made of dreams- Hollywood! From all over the world people come here in pursuit of that elusive brass ring. Even our taxi driver Joe has come here looking for work-not as a cabbie of course. Joe came here 20 years ago to be a star. He got work as a Chippendale Dancer and as a centrefold for Playgirl Magazine. Joe takes me to Griffith Park, the setting for some movies most famous scenes, including one from Rebel Without a Cause. Nearby I find a memorial to James Dean. On Rodeo Drive, Joe points out that the shops are so exclusive the doors are locked and shopping is by appointment only.
Next we're off to Bombay, our guide to Bombay (Mumbai) is an ace taxi driver named Pandy. With him we see pigs that fly, eat the evocatively-named "Tomato Stuff" and clean up afterwards at one of the world's largest clothes-washing facilities. And when, after a nap in the park, our shoes go walkabout, Pandy knows just where to find them-a detour to the Thieves' Market!
EPISODE 5: Amman & Prague
In this episode Rabea, our driver in Amman, takes us on a trip to the southern desert. A quick pit stop in the souk (market) for essential supplies sets us up for the journey. Equally at home behind the wheel of his taxi in Amman and behind a barbecue in the desert, Rabea takes us to where Moses got his first view of the Promised Land and introduces us to some real Bedouin hospitality.
Next we're off to Prague, capital of the new Czech Republic, former capital of Czechoslovakia and home to the sexiest sounding coup in history-the Velvet Revolution. It's also very Bohemian-which shouldn't be a surprise, as it is smack in the middle of a region called Bohemia. On a trip to the heart of the Czech Republic Eugen our driver shows us an observation tower where the Communist authorities didn't want anyone to look out, a Jewish cemetery used for 500 years until closed by the Nazis, and a chapel where human bones provide a very strange line in interior decoration!
EPISODE 6: Cape Town & London
Located on the tip of southern Africa, where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans collide, Cape Town has had a stormy existence-so it's no surprise that the first Europeans to reach the place named it the Cape of Storms. Only later did Dutch PR guys give it a more congenial spin naming it the Cape of Good Hope, in expectation of the riches to be made here. Our driver, Clive, was born in Rhodesia and like many before him, he came to South Africa in the spirit of hope. Clive shows us where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu helped make a new South Africa-and where the new black and white residents of Boulder Beach swim.
Next we're in London, we arrive at London's famous Waterloo Station where we meet Tony Brookman, our driver for this hundred dollar ride. After a spin on the London Eye, and with feet firmly back on the ground, we go to Borough Market and the East End.
EPISODE 7: Buenos Aires & Calgary
With 32,000 taxis, Buenos Aires boasts drivers with a variety of backgrounds and tastes, but none could have represented this city of culture and beauty better than Hernan. An opera singer who also keeps a pair of soccer shoes in the trunk of his car, Hernan is tapped into every aspect of life in this sprawling South American city. From the flower-strewn gravesite of Eva Peron to the simple fare offered at one of the city's 200 taxi bars, Hernan shows us how to find the soul and pulse of Buenos Aires. And for its heart-ah, one must learn to Tango. Under the crystal chandeliers of an opulent dance studio our cultured cabbie explains that one must learn to "feel" the dance.
Next we're off to Calgary, Alberta in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with our driver Sandy Norgaard. Calgary is the heart of Canada's oil and gas industry-and cattle country. The annual Calgary Stampede is one of the largest rodeos in the world!
EPISODE 8: Dublin & Johannesburg
Dublin is a surprising mixture of Georgian grandeur and rural charm. It's a town where high finance happily rubs shoulders with low tech, where horse-drawn carts make deliveries to glass skyscrapers. Our driver is Des Dempsey who starts our trip in the back streets of Dublin and then we visit the Wicklow Hills to Dalkey.
Next stop is Johannesburg the biggest city in South Africa, which was founded by two Johannes. Our cabbie Jimmy takes us into Soweto, Johannesburg's most notorious suburb. Jimmy then takes us down a street with a unique claim to fame: it is home to not one but two Nobel Peace Prize winners. On the way we stop for the local delicacy, Fat Cakes, meet Jimmy's mom who is, unexpectedly, an ardent fan of Britain's Queen Mum, and have our "bones thrown" at the witchdoctor's supermarket.
EPISODE 9: Addis Ababa & Phnom Penh
Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, home of the descendants of Solomon and Sheba, has the oldest Christian church in Africa, and some of the fastest long-distance runners in the world. Fanta, our driver on this Ethiopian adventure, tells us his brothers are named Cocacola and Sprite. Right! He also tells me he's a driving instructor-and to prove it he takes me to a driving school unlike any I have ever seen. On the way to finding the Ark of the Covenant we chew some qat and find a steakhouse where raw beef tops the menu. Indeed, it's the only thing on the menu. Eat your heart out, Indiana Jones.
Next we're off to Phnom Penh. Here, in the dark days of Pol Pot's regime, schools were transformed into dungeons. Yoen our driver counters the terror of the S-21 Museum of Genocide with a spot of his favourite pastime: karaoke. Birds are big in Cambodia: we encounter tasty duck embryos, release doves for peace-and hold our breath as a chicken dices with the original jaws of death.
EPISODE 10: Halifax & Auckland
Halifax is an ocean town and with oceans come tragedy, shipwrecks, storms, accidents-and ghosts. Duffy, our old salt of a cab driver, has seen them all and he knows where the skeletons are. Meeting Duffy at the South End Grill was easy; all the great cabbies hang there. Our ride however, seems to be more of a challenge. First stop, St. Paul's Church-to view the window with the face of a Vicar in it: a relic left over from the 1917 explosion that killed and injured over 4000 Haligonians. Duffy tells us about the tragic nature of the history of Halifax. It explains why the city is riddled with graveyards.
Next we visit Auckland. On this trip through Kiwi country, we visit the City of Sails, where one in five has his own boat. This may explain why New Zealand has fared quite well in the America's Cup of yachting. Our amiable driver Bill guides us through Auckland's park system-which mainly consists of extinct volcanoes.
EPISODE 11: Bangkok & Reykjavik
Julie, our driver in Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the city's first female taxi drivers. She's street-wise, and knows all the tricks. Her hot-line to the radio station helps her avoid most jams-but when the city is grid-locked it's a good thing that Bangkok is a city of canals. There are so many that it has been called "the Venice of the East." And Julie knows them all. What better way to avoid rush-hour gridlock than to take to a short-cut on a long-tailed boat? Julie shows us fighting fish in a gas station and what she claims is the world's largest reclining Buddha.
Next we're off to Reykjavik. In this episode our driver Gudjon takes us on a tour of Iceland's hot spots, introducing us to a drink known locally as "Black Death," and to a fish so strong that, after eating it, you won't be kissed for two days
EPISODE 12: Hawaii & Brisbane
This $100 Taxi Ride in paradise begins at an early morning fish auction in Hilo, the largest city on the Island of Hawaii. The event is attended by cabbie Neal who likes to keep his hand in by relaxing for a few hours on the water. As we travel through the verdant countryside, Neal explains that the Hawaiian word "aloha" is much more than a greeting. It is a state of being, a kind of sharing spirit that brings about good will. In front of the Library, Neal points out two large rocks. Legend has it King Kamehameha lifted the rocks, proving his suitability as ruler. My attempt reminds me I am not a royal type. On the road we visit the Parker Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the USA. We also visit a Hawaiian Winery and taste wines that are not available anywhere else in the world.
Next we're off to Brisbane. In Moreton Bay I meet Peter Robb and his taxi boat. On the way to a place we splash by some historic sites, Peel Island and enjoy the colourful waters of the Pacific.
EPISODE 13: New Orlean & Singapore
One of the most eclectic cities in North America is New Orleans. Tourists flock to the Big Easy for the partying, the food, the amazing mix of cultures-and the jazz. My driver Denise, one of the few female drivers in this tough city, is well connected and will help me in my quest to define jazz. We pass through the French Quarter and over the big muddy, the mighty Mississippi. In a city built below sea level, above-ground crypts are all over town. And when the fog rolls in, imaginations roll with it. After a visit to Joey's indoor zoo, Uncle Wayne's puppet show and the home of a stripper, I'm thinking that jazz is any kind of art.
Next we're off to Singapore. Singapore is a city in transition-balancing traditional values and customs with the competitive world of high finance. Our driver Mr Poon takes us to visit two temples in one, where Buddhists and Muslims worship side by side. There is a bi-belief energy that is unique here, and the place is full of believers.
EPISODE 14: Amsterdam & Ho Chi Minh City
In this episode our Taxi Driver Bea wants to show us what makes the Dutch so laid back, but at a guess it is not the bicycle made for two that we daringly try to navigate through the city. Amsterdam, famous for its tulips, hosts the biggest flower show and it is here we witness the strange phenomenon of a car driving itself up one of the only hills in Holland!
Next we're off to Ho Chi Minh City, (Saigon) with our driver Vo Ba. The underground tunnels once used by the Viet Cong to launch surprise attacks on the Americans are now a tourist attraction but they serve as a reminder of a gruesome war. We were lucky enough to be in Ho Chi Minh City on Liberation Day, which celebrates the day the North Vietnamese freed Saigon from the Americans.
EPISODE 15: Hobart & Anchorage
It’s north to Alaska and the biggest city of the biggest state in the USA. We start our larger than-life tour at Chilkoot Charlie’s. The legendary bar’s best customer is a bit of a legend himself, not just for his six toes on one foot, but because in the summer months, cabbie Larry Reed is a full-fledged, albeit part-time gold miner who knows 27 blackbears by name at his cabin in the woods. Larry explains how the city got its name, spots the first seagull (a harbinger of spring), and takes us to meet the unofficial mascot of Anchorage, a pet reindeer named Star. In these parts, reindeer is game, and though our traveller is game for reindeer sausage, Christmas will never be the same.
Next we're off with our cabbie Maree Abbot to Hobart, Tasmania, an island state off the south eastern tip of Australia where we meet some orphaned kangaroos and wombats, and experience the most intriguing attraction, a Tasmanian Devil.
EPISODE 16: Cairo & Beijing
Cairo was founded in the 10th century, and it’s been the capital of Egypt ever since. It's the land of pharaohs, pyramids and 16 million people. In this episode former cabbie Hassan welcomes us into his home and after a mint tea he takes us to a soccer match. After a break for Muslim prayers, we stop for Sheesha water pipes of tobacco that taste like apples baked on a bonfire. In the Nile, the longest river in the world, we catch the world’s smallest fish and then we're off to the pyramids.
Beijing is our next stop where we meet cabbie Kong. We visit Kong’s home and meet his father, who has his first encounter with a westerner. We are then taught how to perfect the dumpling, before consuming enough to feed a small army. Kong then leads us on an expedition up the Great Wall of China.
EPISODE 17: Beppu & Barbados
This sleepy coastal town in southwest Japan is one of the world’s most active geothermal sites, where boiling water steams from the ground (there are nearly 3,000 hot springs all over town). Mr. Kakuta our cabbie takes us on Japan’s first wooden roller coaster and we experience a variety of refreshing, therapeutic and otherwise tantalizing ways to let heat in, toxins out. The first is a sand bath where we’re buried up to our heads in over 40 degree Celsius sand and then we get to soak in hot outdoor mud. Next stop is the Hihokan Sex Museum, where Mr. Kakuta assures us there is a distinct barrier between nudity and sexuality in Japan!
We next arrive in the western-most islands of the West Indies, Barbados, just in time for a conga line celebration. From there it’s a laid-back exploration of Bajan life and history, guided by Derrick, a third generation taxi driver. We take a break from the sun, surf and spectacular scenery to explore the Harrison’s Caves.
EPISODE 18: Palermo & Albuquerque
Nestling on the north coast of Sicily, this city by the sea has been influenced by many great civilizations, which perhaps explains why it’s like one giant intersection with no one directing traffic. Our cabbie Enrico Mazzela takes us to a fishing port, Pilgrim’s Mountain, the Sanctuary of Saint Rosalie, and the Catacombs of Capuchini. We’re sure the thousands of mummified remains in this ancestral home of the Godfather is just a coincidence. Enrico enlists his friends in our tour: one careers through the city on her motorized vespa with our traveller hanging on for dear life, and the other gives us a primer on Sicilian wines.
Next we're off to Albuquerque. Even though new freeways have replaced America’s famous Route 66, they still cross the wild west at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Aztec Motel is a reminder of the city’s bustling past, and our taxi driver Troy shows us other examples of free-spirited south western architecture. We also visit the National Atomic and Tinkertown Museums.
EPISODE 19: Rio De Janeiro & Nashville
In this episode our cabbie Marcello Candal takes us to one of Rio’s poorest areas, we visit the favelas (slums) and meet an artist whose life work is tiling a stairway with gold. We scale those heights as a prelude to the tram ride up Sugarloaf Mountain and a spectacular view of an amazing city.
Next we're off to Nashville with our cabbie Richard Platt. Deep in the American south lies Nashville Music City USA. Like hundreds of thousands of others before us, we make the pilgrimage to Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand 0l’ Opry radio show. Here we stand on the spot where country music legend Hank Williams did six encores. Close by is the world famous Tootsie’s, whose popularity soared mostly because of its proximity to Ryman’s, where you couldn’t smoke or buy a drink. Here we watch an up-and coming act pursue his dream!
EPISODE 20: St Petersburg & Santiago
In the 20th century, it was known as both Petrograd and Leningrad, but just over a decade ago, this 300-year old city started by Peter the Great as a fortress reverted to its original name. Today this sprawling, cosmopolitan city of St Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia and cabbie Gennady Victorovich Chensov is going to show us around. While literary giants like Dostoevsky and Nabokov wrote here, most of its architectural marvels echo of gun shots and cannon blasts. Partway through our $100 ride, we leave the Lada for a riverboat cruise, fewer bumps, and definitely more secure than our flight in a Kruschev-era helicopter. Caviar and a Russian sauna lead to a toast to the resilience and beauty of this Venice of the North.
Next we're off to Santiago, the jewel of South America, a city of poets and soldiers. In this episode our cabbie Alwin takes us to the Concha y Toro winery and we taste the traditional Chilean Pisco Sour.
EPISODE 21: Taipei & Liverpool
Jih Hsiang Lin aka Shaun our cabbie spent his teenage years in the United States which would account for his unusual Texan accent. He also has an appetite to go with it, so we are never far away from the next meal. We visit the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and reminisce about the Generalissimo’s role in battling Communism. Then we imitate the guards; apparently they can go a whole shift without blinking! That’s dedication for you. Next is a dance with cheerleaders and then it’s off for a night on the town and, oh yes, a bowl of snake soup!
Next stop Liverpool, the birthplace of the Beatles where we first visit the famous Grapes Pub where the Fab Four used to hang out. Here we meet Ronnie Hendry our cabbie, who shows us the real Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. We climb to the top of the Liver Building for a great view of the city and take a closer look at the statues of mythical liver birds which adorn the top.
EPISODE 22; Bali & St Johns
Between the continents of Asia and Australia, the Indonesian island of Bali is a deeply religious and mystical land. The day of our journey is auspicious indeed it’s Buddha’s birthday and there is a full moon. Traditional Balinese dancing is precise, and the costumes are spectacular. We are treated to a morality tale, and later a beautiful interpretation of an epic love story. Our driver Made takes us to his home, and the only item that isn‘t blue appears to be his monkey. After a journey which also includes a palm reading, bartering, basking water buffalo and a cock fight, (without the carnage), we watch the sunset, join in evening prayers and give thanks for the day.
Next we're off to St John's with our cabbie Tom Hollett. This $100 ride begins at dawn on Cape Spear, Newfoundland the most easterly point in North America. We're next off to Historic Signal Hill and at packrat Juanita’s we experience a museum of maritime memorabilia.
EPISODE 23: Bucharest & Channai
In this episode we meet up with our cabbie Octavian in Bucharest, Romania’s capital city. He guides us past former dictator Ceaucescu’s indulgent House of the People, then to the old church where bells were rung to celebrate the malevolent leader’s death. Once again consulting his oracle, Tavi reluctantly agrees to take us to the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, aka Count Dracula. Along the way we meet the King of the Gypsies and Tavi makes beautiful music with a synthesiser-playing petrol pump attendant.
Next we're off to Channai. Under the British it was called Madras. After a too close for comfort encounter with a snake charmer, we visit Marina Beach and watch the fishermen brave the swells of the Indian Ocean to bring home their catch!
EPISODE 24: Banjul & Glasgow
On the Atlantic coast of West Africa, The Gambia is the smallest country in the whole continent ,and our driver Sekar takes us from one end to the other for this $100 ride. We drive through the capital city of Banjul to Georgetown, where the European slave trade decimated families for centuries. Today the importance of family is emphasized again and again from a local wedding to a fundraising concert by Jaliba, to Sekar’s own promises to his children. We partake in the local custom of touching a live crocodile to bring good luck!
Next stop Scotland. Scotland has been a part of Britain since 1707, but fiercely holds onto its own identity which includes one of the world’s oldest instruments, a mesmerizing array of tartans, perhaps the world’s most famous whisky, and one of the most incomprehensible dialects of the English language. From bagpipes to Braveheart, on this $100 ride, Mad Mick McKnight shows us the many extremes of Glasgow and the surrounding Highlands.
EPISODE 25: Bilbao 7 Montreal
In this episode our driver Juan Carlos (not the reigning Spanish King), shows us Casco Viejo, or old town, a rare and funky hanging bridge which ferries passengers every six minutes, and the city’s most popular attraction the -Museo Guggenheim. Completed in 1997, architect Frank Gehry’s magnificent creation is either bold, beautiful, metallic or monstrous, depending on your viewpoint. Not only does the Guggenheim attract tourists worldwide, it has also triggered a renaissance of Basque art and culture. To complete the trip, we experience Jai-Alai, the fastest ball sport in the world, watch some dancers celebrate a monsoon, and sample pintxos a delicious Basque snack.
Next we're off to Montreal which is the second largest French-speaking city in the world. Here we visit St. Joseph’s Oratory with our driver Andrij, where many faithful climb the stairs on their knees. We sample gooey concoctions from beaver tails and learn their meat is also a delicacy.
EPISODE 26: San Francisco & Marrakesh
Packed onto a peninsula on the Pacific Coast, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful and engaging cities in America. Our driver Ally insists we bypass typical tourist sites like Fisherman’s Wharf, but relents long enough for a glimpse of Chinatown and the fortune cookie business. After stopping for lipstick, we tour Tire Beach, a graveyard gallery of old buses and Ally teaches us the finer points of city driving including horn etiquette!
Next stop is Marrakech, It’s summertime in Morocco, and the fabled oasis of Marrakech is sweltering in the north African heat. Charif our driver takes us along the hippie trail of the 60s from the air-conditioned comfort of his cab. In the Medina, the old city, we experience the Morocco of antiquity which includes a Berber market selling donkeys. On our way to the Atlas Mountains, we stop at a kasbah where the pace of life is zen-like, and at a bustling market which dispenses both prescriptions and prickly pear treats.
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