 Tony ready to leave Trafalgar Square on August 31st |
the hall, Tony's pronunciation was excellent. "My Chinese takeaway orders when I get home will never be the same," said a delighted Tony afterwards. Tony's itinerary for this memorable journey in addition to his TV appearances hopefully will include calling in at Chengde, one of China's largest imperial gardens, Shenyang, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic age some 7500 years ago, Sipung and its picturesque green mountains with their magical clear blue waters and a visit to the capital city of the Silin Province, Changchun. Tony also hopes to be able to drive to the famous Ice City of Harbin. Just as excitingly, Tony will be "working" in his TXII. His plans include joining in local life in the places he travels through. One of his "jobs" will be to pick up a Chinese honeymooning couple as a fare! "I also intend - if possible - to visit people's homes and to join in their socialising. If that means going to the local dance, then I'll be there," said Tony. What about fuel? Any problems getting diesel in China? "There are lots of service stations around Beijing," Tony explained to Call Sign, " and not over-expensive at around 7p per litre (32p a gallon)...!" Tony also asked Call Sign to thank his technical back-up man throughout the trip, John Rula. "Without his expertise and mechanical know-how, the project would be substantially more difficult," Tony explained. Nicki Websper, LTI's Sales and Marketing Director told Call Sign: "We are delighted to be providing what is regarded to be the best taxi in the world, long admired for its durability, safety and accessibility. The 'black cab' is a true icon of London and something which is instantly recognisable, not only in the UK but also across the world. Tony's journey will be an amazing trip, the only thing is that I wouldn't like to be the one paying the fare at the end of it...!" Call Sign cannot think of any other "taxi" capable of making a trip of this type. More news from Tony next month as we follow his progress... |
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On Saturday August 31, DaC driver Tony Arnold (F03) left Trafalgar Square
for what will almost certainly be the longest and most unusual trip ever
carried out by any taxi driver anywhere in the world. Tony hopes to drive
from China through Russia, Siberia and Mongolia before entering northern
Europe and heading back to the UK. "I am really looking forward to this trip," Tony told Call Sign from the SwissOtel in Beijing where he was resting. "I've only been in China for a few days, but the people are just so friendly and I feel very much at home. The Russia, Siberia and Mongolian sections of the trip also sound fascinating and I also would like to go as close to an ice cap that I can. There are some in Iceland, I believe. These next three months are going to be so special." Tony will be carrying out numerous PR exercises for Chinese television as he makes his way across the country in his trusty TXII. His TV appearances will include one from Beijing's Tiananmen Square and it is expected that an estimated television |
audience of up to 300 million will be watching Tony and his London taxi
during the TV programmes. The complete trip will be filmed by television makers Pearson Broadband for the bi-lingual television series to be shown on Chinese television because the Chinese Government are committed to helping people with their English in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games. It is not known whether English TV will eventually pick the series up, but there would certainly be a demand from at least 2200 Dial-a-Cab drivers to see it. Perhaps Tony can get hold of the videos for us! Tony arrived in Beijing after almost 21 hours of travelling and admitted that he "...felt rather knackered!" But within a week, Tony had already made three appearances on TSTW Chinese TV (Travel Satellite Television Communications). He also had the unusual experience for a Dial-a-Cab driver of making a 5-minute speech in Chinese with some help from a multi-linguistic Chinese guide who wrote the speech phonetically. According to the rapturous applause from those in |
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 Tony arrives at Tiananmen Square on September 2nd |
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 Tony visits Beijing's Oriental Plaza |
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