Brunch with Battutah
Tuk tuk taxi - Thailand
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 11 February 2008 in Transportation and Portfolio.
The name comes from the sound of the engine. Tuk tuk tuk.
The driver told me he would take me anywhere I wanted free of charge. But first he had to take me to a number of gem and suit shops around Bangkok. I didn't have to buy anything just hang around for awhile inside. He would be given free gas coupons from the shops for taking me there. I suppose he would also be given a commission if I did end up buying something. He was a personable rogue so I agreed with the charade just for the fun of zipping through the traffic in the Tuk Tuk.
You do suck up quite a lot of pollution though. And I came away with 3 suits and 4 sapphire rings I didn't need. (Just kidding). If you ever visit Bangkok, I would recommend using caution when taking this mode of transport. Set the price for a ride before getting into the taxi. The drivers are involved in every scam in the book.
e. from New York, NY, United States
Wow, that's adorable! :) I think you got into a good scam. :)
11 Feb 2008 5:14am
@e.: Thank you, e.
martie from Okinawa, Japan
Perfect picture! And what fun! I recently saw that these tuk tuks have a cult following in Tokyo -- with some Japanese actually purchasing them and bringing them here. I don't know if they hire themselves out or not, but they sure did look like they were having fun. I love the vibrant colours in this photo -- and what a happy guy the driver seems to be!
11 Feb 2008 8:00am
@martie: Thanks, Martie. The driver was a pleasant rogue. The tuk tuks are shipped all over the world these days as fun tourist transport.
givethemhell from Germany
I never took a tuk-tuk when I visited Bangkok with my mother in the Seventies. I guess we were scared of being outsmarted by the drivers.
The driver on your photo has a bright smile - not to be trusted!
11 Feb 2008 8:09am
@givethemhell: Absolutely not to be trusted. Thanks for the comment.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Fantastic photo, people open up to you, that's a gift...to Am3's advantage ;)
11 Feb 2008 8:40am
@Lorraine: That's a nice comment, Lorraine. Thank you.
Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands
A taxidriver offering free transport? Anyway, looks like a nice guy, and his tuk-tuk seems to be polished for the occasion of this joyful picture!
11 Feb 2008 8:41am
@Illuci: Free ride from a taxi driver is too good to be true. Thank you, Erik.
Steven from Montreal, Canada
That's a great story and an even better photo! The colors and reflections of the vehicle are amazing and I love the background, well done!
11 Feb 2008 9:04am
@Steven: That's a great comment. Thank you, Steven.
@Helma: Thank you, Helma.
Teresa Durães from Montijo, Portugal
very nice shot. Did he pose to you? Lovely colors
11 Feb 2008 9:19am
@Teresa Durães: Yes, he was kind enough to pose. A very friendly man. Thank you, Teresa.
Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States
I did the very same thing on my first visit to Bangkok! LOL! I quickly learned that the price for a tuk tuk ride goes down the further you walk away from the driver! ;0)
11 Feb 2008 9:19am
@Craiger: Yes, bargaining is necessary. Thank you, Craiger.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
They wouldn't make a life otherwise; the competition is crushing!But..the more they smile, the less trustful they are!On the other hand...they can be at times so persuasive, that you finish paying more than it was worth, just because you have a heart!
I like the shot and the cheerful face of the driver. And....this is a good looking Tuk Tuk, which is not always the case.
11 Feb 2008 9:35am
@Japanalia: Great comment, Gabriela. Yes, I can see how one would end up paying more simply because they are so personable.
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
this is a brilliant capture of tuktuk.i like it!every detail is captured perfected by a cooperative driver who would pose for you..lol.did u have to tip him for smiling for your camera?
11 Feb 2008 9:46am
@tyan: I didn't. By this point, we were friends. Thanks, Tyan.
@dpm: Yes, scams within scams. It was a very roundabout way to get where I wanted to go. Thank you, dpm.
henri from paris, France
A paris c'est très règlementé, mais les taxis jouent sur la longueur du trajet et peuvent arnaquer le touriste qui ne connaît pas la ville en lui faisant faire un grand tour ;-)
11 Feb 2008 10:16am
@henri: Cela ressemble à des conducteurs de taxi partout dans le monde. Merci, Henri.
@badala: Many thanks, Badala.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
I wonder what kind of gas mileage these tuk tuks get.
11 Feb 2008 11:48am
@Viewfinder: It's about 30 miles to the gallon, I believe. Thanks, VF.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
C'est vrai qu'il faut toujours se battre avec les chauffeurs de tuk- tuk partout en Asie, car leur premier but est de nous emmener dans les boutiques ou ils ont des commissions mais bon! c'est la règle du jeu à connaitre... passé cela c'est tellement génial de parcourir les villes de cette façon, au coeur de l'effervescence urbaine asiatique. Et puis en fin de compte il sont bien souvent sympathiques ces drivers, comme le sourire de celui-là le montre !!
11 Feb 2008 1:07pm
@Evelyne Dubos: Merci beaucoup, Evelyne.
Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, QC, Canada
Colorful photo and captivating smile, too captivating as we can learn from your text. Once you understand the rules of the game it's fun, I suppose.
11 Feb 2008 1:28pm
@Wolfgang Prigge: You are right. Thank you, Wolfgang.
@Eleftheria, 9 years old,: Thank you so much, Eleftheria.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
I wondered if it would be more funny or dangerous to drive with such a device: but your story tells all :-)
11 Feb 2008 4:00pm
@MadScientist: Thank you, MS.
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
Nice shot of this Bangkok transportation. And thanks for the warnings.
11 Feb 2008 4:49pm
@Stunner: Thanks, Stunner.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
That is what taxis here should be like. In the summer.
11 Feb 2008 5:40pm
@Michael Rawluk: I agree. More fun. Thanks, Michael.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
It is a most colourful and exotic type of shot... including the oily smile. Makes me think of that song "One night in Bangkok"... including his Buddha sticker in the windshield.
11 Feb 2008 5:48pm
@amy: Thanks, Amy. Excellent comment. I like the term, "oily smile." Glad you noticed the Buddah.
@armin: I thank you for that, Armin.
MJ from Delaware, United States
bright colors, bright smile... great shot, and interesting fact....Thanks
11 Feb 2008 8:37pm
@MJ: I appreciate that. Thank you, MJ.
@Yasuri: Thank you.
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Very nice and colourful capture. I like the pose.
11 Feb 2008 9:09pm
@standley: Thank you, Standley.
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
So what was your worst experience of being taken? ;-)
A nice composition with color and display windows.
11 Feb 2008 10:22pm
@Steven: My experiences were all pleasant. Thank you, Steven.
Camiller from Lisboa, Portugal
With such a friendly and nice smile should be hard to resist. Great photo, Michael.
11 Feb 2008 11:04pm
@Camiller: Thank you, Camiller.
Graça B. from Lisboa, Portugal
They are great in business! :))))
You catch a nice smile and the colors are beautiful.
11 Feb 2008 11:07pm
@Graça B.: Many thanks.
@Brites: Thank you, Brites.
Frankie from Boxmeer, Netherlands
A colorful and funny image. The hapiness of the taxidriver is really amazing. Well done.
11 Feb 2008 11:53pm
@Frankie: Yes, he was a happy man. Thank you, Frankie.
@pedro alexandre: Thank you, Pedro.
Earnest from Oklahoma, United States
Highly interesting as usual and a great photo.
12 Feb 2008 12:51am
@Earnest: Thank you, Earnest.
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
Wonderful capture, Michael. The tuk tuk looks so bright and shiny in that light. Great detail, colours and framing. I like the personal story, too. All this reminds me of the tuk tuk rides I took many years ago when I visited Thailand.
12 Feb 2008 1:10am
@Andrew Gould: I'm glad it brought back memories. Thank you, Andrew.
@bill: Thank you, Bill.
Photonscribbles from Pune, India
ah, now i know why they call it tuktuk. U mite b aware that in India we call them Auto Rikshaw.n I love riding in autos, u can feel the breeze from all sides soothing ur face, and they usually are economical at most parts of India. Sometimes some ten people adjust in one auto and travel;)
15 Feb 2008 7:27am
@Photonscribbles: The tuk-tuks are also descended from the rickshaw. There is a pleasant breeze. Thank you for the interesting information.
