If your headed to Phucket

Post by **Bump** » December 3, 2006, 10:10 pm

This is the second incident involving Tuk Tuk drivers there in the past two weeks, might want to consider a different form transportation in that area.

From Thaivisa:

[quote][quote]I have a friend who is a local chef here in S. Phuket. He went to a friend

Post by **beer monkey** » December 3, 2006, 10:59 pm

The Perils Of Toooo Much Alcohol.

Maybe he lost his wallet before he got in the taxi, lets face it if he was that drunk he would'nt of known anyway,thought it was the driver and accused him. Just a thought.

Don't know about anyone else but don't think i could fall asleep in the back of tuk-tuk or similar even pissed as a fart, and especially without keeping a hand on my valuables.

Post by **Bump** » December 3, 2006, 11:11 pm

That as it seems was certainly related to the first one. The one thing I can say along with many others back when I was out and about, it was just not semething you did not have to worry about, drunk or sober. I would have never let that happen in Pattaya even six years ago. There just is a huge difference in the tourist locations and good old Issan.

You guys who are out and about these days, is it something you need to worry about now?

I know Udon has changed has it changed that much?

Post by **beer monkey** » December 3, 2006, 11:26 pm

a few years back in pattaya when riding the baht buses and the usual fare was 5 or 10 baht per person around the normal route(beach road -and around second road-back down beach road) i got fed up with being charged 20 baht as i am a Farang, so just started giving the driver the correct charge (which is displayed in the back ???)and just passed the coins through the window and the abuse and threats you used to get of some of them was shocking, so started walking most place's or sometimes just gave in and paid over the set fare.
Tuk-tuks drivers in bangkok always seem ok and you can have a laugh with them.

So its something i would think about when in pattaya but not bangkok.

Post by **dizbuster** » December 9, 2006, 10:06 pm

I think Beer Monkey has probably got it right and the guy received a beating because he gave the Thai fella the inpression that he was accusing him of stealing his wallet.

Although I am new to Issan, I have been to Phuket many times using tuk-tuks all the time and I have never yet had any problems, including many times being well plastered !! For me, if you don't have an attitude then they tend to make allowances for the fact that you've been drinking, after all they see it all the time. But what I have also seen and felt it is totally unnecssary, is falang "attitude" towards Thais and in particular the tuk-tuk guys. They have got a bad reputation which I believe is a little unfair, as I have met and know a lot of drivers who have been very polite to me and also very helpful. People hear about the bad reputation, go on the defensive and are then disrespectful to the tuk-tuk drivers.

I must admit, I am a bit old fashioned and when I read about these incidents that old adage "no smoke without fire" always comes into my mind.

Post by **mackayae** » December 9, 2006, 11:04 pm

My neighbor is a tuk tuk driver and I have nothing nice to say about him or his friends who are mostly tuk tuk drivers. They are usually drunk and obnoxious. However most of the tuk tuk drivers I have come across in the street have been very nice people. My father-in -law is a tuk tuk driver and is a quiet and humble man. However this is Udon and not Pattaya or Phuket. At least not yet. People are people; some are good and some are bad.

Post by **Bump** » December 10, 2006, 5:40 am

There has been a lot of discussion on Thai visa as to the baht bus drivers in Pattaya very consistent as to what is said here. I would agree being abusive to a driver is not the smartest thing in the world.

However I do believe that tourist areas are different then Issan locations, probably due to more exposure to farrangs. I have also in other posts mentioned that I have seen changes in Udon's Thai population as well with the increase in the number of Farrangs.

My thoughts on these two incidents sounds like mistakes made on both sides. However, that does not justify putting two people in the hospital.

I have Thai friends as well, but I also recognize that Thai people have preconcieved notions of farrangs, that they are very status conscious, nationalisitc and sometimes just down right prejudice. It is something to keep in the back of your mind if your going to argue with one.

As an example I have now been parking a bike at Lotus for four years three times now one attendent has told me to move my bike after it was parked, only to find on my return the same place occupied by a Thai. Well I Mia Bpen Lia'd it twice the third time I left it exactly where it was, told the guy to call the cop and went and did my business. The bike was exactly where I left it, the cops were not called and the guy hasn't got on my case since.

Did I ask for that no, I always treat them with respect and courtesy and I don't drink. Just because you have a few Thai friends don't think that all Thai's are going to treat you in the same manner. They come in all shapes and sizes just like he rest of us humans.

Thais are one nationality that I am very cautious about for one reason they have spont a good deal of thier lives sucking in the anger and when it lets go it really lets go.

Tourist areas are places where you really got to have your act together, things can go from bad to worse in heart in them, be careful and have fun.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » December 10, 2006, 11:24 am

Good advise!Alot of the taxi drivers are isaan guys thaat have left their families in the village while they ''focus'' on making money in the tourist area.It is all about getting as much ''now'' as they can,not community relations.They know how much these ''rich'' falangs throwaway on the girls and booze!There is a seething resentment about the falang complaining about 10-20 baht with them as it is an hours pay!Argueing with them is really anirresponsible act if one is concerned about their health

Post by **beer monkey** » December 10, 2006, 3:52 pm

whilst strolling down a soi off sukhumvit in bangkok i over heard this between a farang with TG, and a couple of taxi meter drivers......they wanted 1500 baht to take the guy sight seeing around bkk all day, sounds a fair deal but the guy was trying for a bit cheaper and was shouting in broken english which came across the wrong way that he can get cheaper somewhere else, and then he just walked off, so the drivers are shouting out "Hey you want cheaper, why not no take cheaper lady" with a bit of name calling thrown in, now that could easily go the wrong way depending on the farang but he just kept walking and they just kept shouting,must admit i was having a little chuckle about it , it sounded funny to me, but he no laugh.