Taxi driver vol.2

Nonetheless, I sit on the passenger seat of the share taxi. On the way from Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, to Samarkand. After all, It was found I could not move around without it either in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The driver asked me at the taxi station of Tashkent. Then, pushed me to take his taxi. For my question about the fare, he answered the price with the big digit numbers in local currency.
I didn't know the actual exchange rate and, above all, became so skeptical for the matter after the trouble in Almaty. I asked the other passengers on the back seat. They were offered in same fare to me. "Mr, It's a square price" they said with a smile.

So I decided to take it. Although no sign to pull out. Yes, a share taxi needed a full passenger. The sun rose up to the top of the sky now. I saw the young driver was hunting the last passenger with a rib broken small red parasol which might be his daughter's. He had looked for an hour wiping his sweat with towel and finally got it.
I had a time to cool down and calculated the fare once again. 5 Dollars for 350km drive? The damn expensive makes me insecure, and mud cheap either. Does he make a profit after deduct gas cost? It might be none of my business, though.

The taxi was brand-new Chevrolet. "Made in Uzbekistan" he said with proud. During 350km trip, he filled up the gas once. Then I got some hint for the low fare. The taxi stopped by the gas station which signed "METAN" I guess the car runs on "Natural gas". I heard a methane engine has low fuel consumption and CO2 emission. I remember Uzbekistan has natural resources.
Although I had no idea how's like the methane, the refueling was carefully done by a driver alone. Usually passengers were dropped off at the entrance of the gas station, then picked up at the exit.
Even driving without fastening seat belt is still common in Uzbekistan. In the meantime the refueling was done with care. It may so dangerous, I guess.

Taxi is speeding in semi-desert. Now the seat belt are fully released. Once it passed the county border post, the driver fastened it tightly, then released again. Me? Of course I fasten it.
In a city area, polices try to catch a speeders. A driver sets the speeding radar detector and alarm. Well, 40 years ago, Japan was something like that.

"Hey, We are entering to Samarkand region. You'll have a beautiful landscape in ahead. " The driver tells me. Before long, I see a big sign board of "SAMARQAND" on a hill side.
Oh, Samarkand! Ancient Silk Road's oasis is there.
We come into the city now. The young driver asks the exact address to every passenger and delivers one by one .
It's true Uzbekistan's share taxi runs 350km for 5 bucks. So 20 Dollars in total with 4 passengers. The I have pity the taxi driver for the first time ever in my life. I can pay little bit more.