Comments on: Tuk Tuks, Samlors and Songthaews http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/ putting together life's jigsaw in North East Thailand Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:32:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: CCTV worcestershire http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/comment-page-1/#comment-16220 CCTV worcestershire Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:49:17 +0000 http://www.thaisabai.org/?p=11040#comment-16220 Hiring a car is essential, it also takes a worry out of how you're going to get around and see the things you want to see. I love Thailand, one of my favourite places in the World. Hiring a car is essential, it also takes a worry out of how you’re going to get around and see the things you want to see. I love Thailand, one of my favourite places in the World.

]]> By: Hoo Don http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/comment-page-1/#comment-12523 Hoo Don Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:44:27 +0000 http://www.thaisabai.org/?p=11040#comment-12523 Leosia I have never had any problem before with tuk tuk or samlor drivers. I ask the price before I board and if I think I'm being ripped off then I'll either try and negotiate or politely turn the ride down. I do try and make sure I always have plenty of small notes and change on me to pay them, I'll even buy a couple of packets of cigarettes to ensure I do have change. I've never been a big fan of Bangkok and your metal bars reference makes me even less liable to be. Thanks. Leosia I have never had any problem before with tuk tuk or samlor drivers. I ask the price before I board and if I think I’m being ripped off then I’ll either try and negotiate or politely turn the ride down. I do try and make sure I always have plenty of small notes and change on me to pay them, I’ll even buy a couple of packets of cigarettes to ensure I do have change. I’ve never been a big fan of Bangkok and your metal bars reference makes me even less liable to be. Thanks.

]]> By: Hoo Don http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/comment-page-1/#comment-12522 Hoo Don Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:38:06 +0000 http://www.thaisabai.org/?p=11040#comment-12522 Talen, Wi's village is about 3 km from a small town but around 65 km from Udon Thani. That makes hiring a car quite important. Talen, Wi’s village is about 3 km from a small town but around 65 km from Udon Thani. That makes hiring a car quite important.

]]> By: Leosia http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/comment-page-1/#comment-12516 Leosia Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:16:20 +0000 http://www.thaisabai.org/?p=11040#comment-12516 Actually I don't think the issue is about whether it is right or wrong to argue the price once it has been agreed (although I agree it's not a smart thing to do in Thailand). I once saw a situation where a taxi driver tried to claim that a customer (a tourist) agreed to pay 1,000 baht for a journey from Thaniya Plaza to Siam Square. The meter cost would have been around 45 baht. He even threatened to call the police, saying he had to pay part of this money to the police anyway. I was in the taxi with the group - all the customer had done was take money from his pocket to check he had cash, and he had 1,000 baht. The taxi driver took that as confirmation of the fare. The issue is the willingness of taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers in Thailand to resort to violence in order to scam their own customers or to sort out a simple disagreement. Taxi drivers in particular often carry long metal bars under their seats and are only too willing to use them if they get into a simple disagreement. Imagine that in Singapore or Tokyo! That's the issue - and Buddhism has got nothing to do with it. Thailand does not practice Buddhism. It "pretends" to practice Buddhism. If you want to see the real thing in action go to Taiwan, Japan or Nepal. Actually I don’t think the issue is about whether it is right or wrong to argue the price once it has been agreed (although I agree it’s not a smart thing to do in Thailand). I once saw a situation where a taxi driver tried to claim that a customer (a tourist) agreed to pay 1,000 baht for a journey from Thaniya Plaza to Siam Square. The meter cost would have been around 45 baht. He even threatened to call the police, saying he had to pay part of this money to the police anyway. I was in the taxi with the group – all the customer had done was take money from his pocket to check he had cash, and he had 1,000 baht. The taxi driver took that as confirmation of the fare.

The issue is the willingness of taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers in Thailand to resort to violence in order to scam their own customers or to sort out a simple disagreement. Taxi drivers in particular often carry long metal bars under their seats and are only too willing to use them if they get into a simple disagreement. Imagine that in Singapore or Tokyo!

That’s the issue – and Buddhism has got nothing to do with it. Thailand does not practice Buddhism. It “pretends” to practice Buddhism. If you want to see the real thing in action go to Taiwan, Japan or Nepal.

]]> By: Talen http://www.thaisabai.org/2010/01/tuk-tuks-samlors-and-songthaews/comment-page-1/#comment-12513 Talen Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:04:40 +0000 http://www.thaisabai.org/?p=11040#comment-12513 Martyn, yeah, the village is just on the edge of town the same ride in Nakhon Phanom to the family house in the village there would be quite a bit more. Martyn, yeah, the village is just on the edge of town the same ride in Nakhon Phanom to the family house in the village there would be quite a bit more.

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