So there I was, in a TAXI, grumbling under my breath because I’d just been conned to go aaaaaaaaall the way from Sukhumvit to Srinakarin just for a friggin’ MOVIE.
It all started because a friend of mine was lazy to get out of his house and insisted that I go to his place (which turned out to be in the hicks – gawd) instead.
“Why does this fool live aaaall the way in Srinakarin anyway,” cursed I. “That’s like, thang changwat (external province/country-side) already~!! BAH~!!”
My TAXI driver, a man who looked to be in his late-thirties was a particularly chatty one. As usual, he started with the typical questions, as I mentioned before HERE.
“It’s quite late already; why are you going to Srinakarin?” he asked.
“Erm, my lousy friend told me to come to watch a movie,” I said.
“All the way to Srinakarin just for a movie~?!” he asked
, incredulous.
“I know, he’s so annoying,” I said. “I mean, just look at where we are~!! Look, there’s a JUNGLE over there~!!” I pointed out to a group of trees on an empty lot. “You’ll never see THAT in Sukhumvit~!! This is thang changwat already~!!”
“This must be a very SPECIAL movie~!!” he commented and laughed.
“Yea, I guess…” I said. “He likes to buy a lot of
DVDs.”
“DVDs~!!” he exclaimed. “I bet you it’s nang po’ (porn)~!! BWAHAHAHA~~~!!!” he laughed, slapping his knee. “Don’t you think so~??”
“Erm… I’m pretty sure it’s NOT porn…” I answered, scratching my head.
“You’re not Thai, are you? Phuut thai mai chat~!!” (Your Thai isn’t very clear).
I said no, and he added, “I am not Thai either. I’m from Laos~!!”
This piqued my interest, because as far as I can remember, I’ve never met a Laotian TAXI driver before (or maybe I did, but I just didn’t realize it – because many of my Laotian acquaintances are extremely fluent in Thai you wouldn’t even NOTICE they’re not Thais).
“Which part of Laos are you from?” I asked.
“You know Nong Khai? I’m from near Nong Khai,” he said.
“Your Thai is perfect,” I commented, and he said, “Well, many Laotians can speak Thai VERY WELL. There are many similar things between Thais and Laotians. Like food… You know somtam
?”
“Oh, I LOVE somtam~!!” I said.
“We have somtam too… and khao niew (sticky rice)~!!”
“Very similar to Isaan food,” I said, “Isaan food is my favorite Thai food.”
“Do you think I look Thai?” he asked, and I said, “Oh hell yea~!!” (OK, so I didn’t really say “hell yea”, but y’all know what I mean~!!). “I wouldn’t even guess you’re not Thai~!!” I added.
“See, that’s the good thing… we look Thai and sound Thai that Thai people won’t even know we’re actually NOT Thai…” he said. “It can bring us many benefits…”
“Like how?” I asked.
“Some Thai people look down on us and call us ban nok (country-sided/unsophisticated). Even when they come 
to visit Laos, they freely make fun of us right in front of us. Some of them don’t realize that we understand Thai language perfectly.”
“So how is that a good point?” I was confused.
“Well, we can always shock them by suddenly turning to them and speak to them in perfect Thai, saying ‘Keep your voice down; we Laotians understand what you’re talking about!’ HA HA HAAAAAAAAAA~~~” he guffawed, looking very satisfied with himself.
Never judge a book by its cover~!!
Read PART 1 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
Read PART 2 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
Read PART 3 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
Read part 4 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
Read part 5 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com
sukhumvit 
bangkok 
thailand 
I like reading human interest stories and you are very good at it like in this one and a first hand account at that. I enjoyed it, thanks. 
