StreetSmart's posts with tag: taxi drivers
 So there I was in a TAXI on a sunny day inside Sukhumvit 24.
My driver this time was a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with closely-cropped hair.
When we passed a high-end pet specialty store, the driver said to me, "Nhu, nhu... look at that dog fashion shop~!! Even dogs have better clothes than humans~!! Ha! Ha! Ha!" he guffawed, somehow finding the whole situation comical.
"Oh, I used to have a poodle before who hated wearing clothes," I told him.
"That's good, it's cheaper," he nodded. "My dog actually likes wearing clothes~!!" he laughed again. "Guess how much a dog dress costs~!!"
I was about to open my mouth and guess a price, but was beaten to the punch. "150 baht~!!!" the driver exclaimed. "150 baht~!! I can have a nice dinner already with 150 baht~!! HAHAHAHAAAA~~~!!!" he laughed heartily.
"But y'know, my family takes our dog everywhere we go," he continued, "even up North, when we go to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai~!!"
"Reeeeeeally~~??" I exclaimed.
"Yeap," he said. "Even to the Doi Suthep Temple (pictured below left). See, dogs aren't allowed to ride the cable car up to the temple, so we tell him to go up the stairs (pictured below right) and wait for us there."
 
"WOW, so smart~!!!" I commented, and the driver giggled happily (I could tell the man was a true dog-lover~!!).
"And you know what, soooo... many people really like our dog, he's popular everywhere~!!" he claimed.
"But you know what's funny?" he asked.
"What is it?" I asked back.
"My dog hates farangs~!!!! HAHAHAHAAA~~~~!!!!" he laughed uproariously. "Farangs always think he's so cute and want to play with him, but he doesn't even let them touch him~!!"
"Oh, how come~??" I asked him.
"Hmmmm... I myself don't know," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe... farangs just smell different~~!!! BWAHAHAHAHAAAA~~~!!!!" he laughed like hell, slapping his thighs.  sniff sniff
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~!!
Read part 6 of the "Conversation With A TAXI Driver" series here~!!
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com  sukhumvit  bangkok  thailand
|  |  Gas prices~?? WHAT gas prices~??
The love affair between Sukhumvittites and their vehicles is still in full throttle.
And it ain't hard to see why.
The BTS Skytrain's stairs are just WAY too steep and sweat-inducing.
And being squeezed like miserable sardines in a can with your nose stuck in a fat, hairy, sweaty farang's armpit isn't exactly heaven (*wrinkles nose*).
The public buses take FOREVER to come.
Worse, waiting for them shortens your lifespan by a year per minute (I still don't understand how some can actually catch some zzz's in the bus, pictured right).
And let us not forget that the drivers are all addicted to speed (and I'm talking about the one that comes in pills).
Motorcycle TAX Is are cheap, fast and convenient. However, you gotta be a certified local to even attempt to ride one (read how to ).
Besides, imagine getting aaaaall dolled up for a date (we're talking about blow-dried hair and high-heeled shoes here), only to be greeted by a date on a motorcycle, offering some sour-smelling, hairdo-flattening HELMET.
That's just like an invitation for a stiletto to be planted in the brain.
TAXIs are mighty comfortable and cheap (*NOTE: TAXI prices will increase soon~!!). Plus, the drivers sure are a cheery bunch.
However, they're just so... so... SO uniform. No personalization AT ALL.
And imagine the horror on your dear date's face if you somehow, someway end up with a driver like THIS:
And do we even have to talk about the tuk-tuk~??
NOBODY takes the tuk-tuk on Sukhumvit anymore except if they are:
1). The tuk-tuk driver
2). About to die unless they get to a hospital pronto and there’s no other form of transportation available.
3). A clueless, gullible tourist wandering around without a reliable tour guide (or have not yet come across Street Smart Sukhumvit).
4). A customer of the "Crystal Lounge", being driven around in a flashy crystals-studded tuk-tuk, pictured below (take a peek at this supa dupa blingin' shop ).
Na-uh, to make sure no one will lose face, it's BEST to have your own vehicle.
Something that looks like zis:
Or zis:
SAFEST CHOICE:
 
vroom vroom
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com
sukhumvit bangkok thailand
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL PIC FOR A BIGGER VIEW.
|
Sukhumvit sky is so schizophrenic nowadays... Is it the pollution~?? Could it be due to global warming~?! Or maybe the window filter's the culprit~?!?! These two panoramic pics were taken only minutes apart~!!
Look at the difference in sky color~!!
 
(I personally like the purple one~!!)
**************************************************************
Here's another example of schizophrenic display:
 Erm... so are you guys REALLY still open~?!
Why is the inside lookin' so DAAARK~?!
**************************************************************
So I was in a taxi, yea~?? Then I noticed that my driver had exceptionally PRETTY hair:
Close-up shot:
How the hell did he achieve such shine~?? Such bounce~?! In THIS humid weather~?!
Is it becoz he sits inside a climate-controlled TAXI all day long~?! (*green with envy*)
**************************************************************
And speaking of taxis, here's another oh-so-delicate driver:
Notice how dainty his white gloves are~?? Those are waaay more fashionable than the homemade "UV protection" I encountered ~!!
**************************************************************
Take a close look and READ:
Do not WHAT~?!?! And WHYYYYYYYYYY~~~~~~?!?!
**************************************************************
*All attempts to understand will be futile.
Worse, it might drive you insane.
This is Thailand.
Don't try to understand.
JUST ACCEPT~!!
I SO totally accept~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 10 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 8 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 7 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 6 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 5 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 4 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 3 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 2 here~!!
Weird (and Amazing) Stuff Found in Sukhumvit PART 1 here~!!streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com sukhumvit bangkok thailand
Snooker star Stephen Hendry drunkenly drove a taxi along one of the most dangerous city roads in the world (guess which ROAD~!!!). The Scot admitted he bribed a cabbie in Bangkok to let him get behind the wheel. It happened on a boozy night out with fellow snooker star Mark Williams. Hendry, 39, said it was "the craziest thing" he had done and " totally out of character". Hendry, seven times world champion, said he was dared by Williams - both were drunk. He said a dozen cabbies refused his offer of cash to let him drive. But finally, one took his offer and he drove drunk along Sukhumvit Road - Bangkok's main thoroughfare and known as the world's busiest. He said: "Mark Williams dared me to do it. "We hailed about a dozen and they wouldn't let me, so we were creating an even worse traffic jam than you would find, even in Bangkok. "Finally, we found a guy and paid him a few baht - the Thai currency - and he sat in the back and let me drive it back to the hotel. It sobered me up. I was concentrating harder than I ever have in any match. "Looking back, I laug h but if anything had happened, my God, I don't know." He also revealed in a Radio Scotland interview that his wife Mandy and his manager Ian Doyle have never got on since Doyle banned him from seeing her when he was a teenager. Road safety campaigners yesterday slammed Hendry. Neil Greig, director of the IAM Motoring Trust, said: "There is no excuse for drink driving. It should never be used as a challenge or some kind of life experience to try. "He has been very lucky." **************
Original news article can be read HERE~!!
A million thanks to Noel for giving me this link~!! muy caliente~!!streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com sukhumvit bangkok thailand
| | Poor Nana. Its notorious reputation has overshadowed everything else that the whole area has to offer.
Mention that you're going anywhere near Nana (Sukhumvit 3), more often than not you'll get snickers and raised eyebrows from the TAXI driver. Some would even turn oh-so-helpful: "You buy Thai lady in Nana? I take you good place, OK~!! Cheap and clean~!! Very beautiful Thai lady~!!"
Of course, it doesn't help Nana's case that the area is synonymous with naughty things, namely:
Counterfeit goods
 
Cheap sex (and its substitutes)
[These guys standing around will accost any foreign male who crosses their path with various offers, such as, "Thai lady, sir~? 50 baht only~!!" (I guess the STDs would be a "free bonus", then~??), and "New special DVD, sir? Very good quality, no mosaic~!!" They will also flash various palm-sized pictures not fit to be mentioned here].
Worse, when you type "Nana Bangkok" on YouTube, this is what you'll get:
(yes... various mentions of very evil and sinful places... and did you notice that all the VDOs were recorded at NIGHTTIME~?! Tee-heeeeeee~~!!!)
But Nana ain't all that bad (or scary). If you can get past its Sodom and Gomorrah exterior, you'll find that Nana has its own distinct personality because it is a melting pot of several unique cultures rarely seen anywhere else in Bangkok: African, Middle Eastern and South Asian.
So, in order to do Nana justice, I took these pics during the DAYTIME, since Nana's (uncountable) nighttime portrayals have unfortunately tipped the majority's opinion against this very special and lively enclave in Sukhumvit.
So let go of the rosary, let the kids see the computer screen and enjoy the pics~!! Who knows, maybe one of these days you'll even pop into Nana~?? (But uh... better grow a thicker skin first before you do that - just a suggestion).
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL PIC FOR A BIGGER VIEW (and info).
VIVA NANA~!!
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com
sukhumvit bangkok thailand |
 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
Street Smart Sukhumvit is depressed. And it's all got to do with three things: the rain, an old lady and the whole freakin' world.
This is what happened:
So there I was, deeeeeep inside Sukhumvit 39, coming out of a condo and grumbling under my breath because it had rained earlier ("It's only February, for Pete's sake~!! It's not supposed to rain yet~!! I haaaate getting my feet wet~!!").
The condo's friendly security guard approached me and asked, "Do you need a TAXI?" I said yes, and he asked, "Would you mind if an old lady rides with you?"
"EH~?!" I didn't expect that. "What old lady?"
He pointed to the guardhouse where a tiny old woman was sitting. "She needs to go to the pak soi (mouth of the soi) to the main Sukhumvit Road. Can she come along?"
"Oh, sure!" I said. He thanked me profusely and went back to the guardhouse.
I finally got a close look at the old lady - carrying a handbag in one hand and a red plastic bag in the other, she was extremely old and frail, with silver hair held back with bobby pins. She was wearing a soft pink blouse and holding tightly to the guard's arm for walking support. My heart went out to her.
"Nhu, are you sure I can ride with you?" she asked me with a tiny voice. Her face, though deeply wrinkled, had a cheerful and open expression.
"Yes, sure, no problem," I assured her.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Thonglo," I said.
"Oh, good," she commented. "My house is in Sukhumvit 67, so I can just get off at any bus stop."
I smiled at her and the guard said, "I'll get you two a TAXI."
Now, to those unfamiliar with Bangkok's TAXIs - TAXIs are very plentiful in Bangkok... unless of course:
1). It's the Songkran holiday (in which Bangkok becomes a ghost town, thus making finding a TAXI more impossible than winning the lottery).
2). It's raining (then the usually jolly, warm and considerate TAXI drivers turn into money-grubbing, whiny spoiled brats pickier than Tom Ford and Naomi Campbell combined).
Five (count 'em |
|
