Monday, April 12, 2010

Lifestyle : Bangkok


Plenty of Taxi
You will instantly notice that there are plenty of taxis plying the streets of Bangkok. Individually owned and comes with an array of colors – but mainly yellow top and green bottom. You can easily get a taxi during peak hours and even on raining day. There will be many taxis queuing to pick passengers at shopping malls even during the unholy hours at night.

Nice New Taxi
Most of the taxis are Toyota Corolla (Altis) and there are usually new, clean and smell good. There are some bone-shakers around but they lose out to newer taxi - who would be insane to flag down an old junk. However when there is a queque system (at airport or Mall) then unlucky Passengers may not have a choice (so embarassing if you refuse the cab infront of so many passengers waiting in queque) but to ride on old junk.


Courteous and Friendly
Thais are generally friendly and courteous. They “Wai” and greet you – Sawardee Karp – when you enter their taxi. Most Drivers will say - Khop khun Barp – Thank You - when you pay them. Please do not forget to tip your Driver with the loose change (round them up - keep the change). Most will help you with the luggage without having you to beg or plead with them. Many Drivers understand simple English and can get you to the right location without hassle.

Honest & Cheap Taxi
Taxi Drivers are generally honest. Most will use the meter – starting at Baht 35 – without asking. It is so so so so cheap compared to Melbourne, New York or London. Bangkok is infamous for traffic jam and some Drivers – on their own initiative – may decide to take a longer route to avoid traffic jam. Please do not be angry - it’s just not cool to lose face in Thailand – but enjoy the different scenery Bangkok has to offer.

No comments:

Post a Comment