Thailand – Motorcycle Taxis
Getting around in Thailand is not very difficult. I often suggest when you are new to an area that you have someone write down the name of the hotel, address, or area on a card in the local language. Although sometimes you find people that can’t read, it usually helps.
Motorcycle taxis:
Ok, so it is common to have these taxi’s (Tuk Tuks) beep their horn when you are walking. *BEEP BEEP* They are just offering their taxi services.
*BEEP BEEP*
Nice, aren’t they?
*BEEP BEEP*
However, should you flag one down, be aware that you represent $ to them. (Actually, with the exchange rates the way they are, they hope you represent €.) Set a flat fee quote to go where you want before you get in. Some people suggest that using a meter is better but since these Tuk Tuks don’t have meters, the question is mute.
“Oh that museum/temple/palace is closed today…â€
You often hear that from a “helpful†driver. He is more than willing to take you to a different temple though. As near as I can tell, this is part of a big scam. This is how it usually plays out:
“The Palace is closed today but this other temple is good. Less touristsâ€
At the alternate temple you just happen to meet a guy that speaks damn good English because he is a Doctor and studied in the US. He’s visiting a friend that is closing his export business this week and is selling his stock! (Wow, what a deal!) So you get the name of the place he suggests.
If you get the name of the store, your driver will take you there. (He gets paid by the store to bring you there) If you don’t want to go to the special export store, the driver will often suggest a few shops you should go to that happen to be near the temple. (Gosh, go figure!) In fact, he may tell you that he gets money for gas if he takes you there. (Oh, now you like him because he is honest…just wait)
So, one way or another you end up at a store. “Just one, then take me home†you say, thinking that it’s no problem for you to shop a little and help the guy out. (HAHAHA!)
So, one store leads to another and the driver has now promised that the trip is free! (This just gets better and better!)
Last store. You told him only one and you’ve been to three now. You didn’t really need a suit made (you had that done already) and the rugs just wouldn’t fit in the backpack. He looks disappointed but you insist on going back home.
“Umm…I’m out of petrol†he says as you roll to the side of the road, “I call my friend. You take other Tuk Tuk home†With that he parks the cab and proceeds to sit under a nearby tree. From the look on his face, it’s going to be a while.
You realize that he drove you just far enough away from the last shop so they don’t see him strand you. (That’s probably bad for business although you didn’t buy a rug so why care?) And here you are walking the streets again, four miles from where you originally got picked up and with no idea where to go.
*BEEP BEEP*
- The minds of the weak - November 4, 2011
- Missing 1k status… - September 15, 2011
- Self drive or cab it? - September 15, 2011
