Houseguest

The Tuk Tuk

Doing a similar job to the taxi is Thailand's ubiquitous tuk-tuk (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก). So named because of the sound of their engine, these are motorized rickshaws and are popular amongst tourists for their novelty value. Without any luggage, 3 people can fit into one fairly comfortably - it's possible to fit more in but it gets a bit cramped. Fares always have to be bargained for, and it is sometimes possible to bargain tuk-tuk drivers down to less than the taxi flagfall of 35B when they make good value. Most times, they offer no savings over a taxi, except perhaps if you're good at bargaining and can speak good Thai. The initial price they quote is likely to be well over the going rate, but it's easy to bargain it down to a more reasonable one if you know roughly the equivalent taxi fare.

It's essential to bargain the price with tuk-tuks before getting in. If you only ask after the ride, it's likely to end in a request for an ridiculous fare which can obviously lead to an unpleasant situation.

Just like taxi drivers, the tuk-tuk drivers mostly come from the rural northeast of Thailand and don't have to undergo any training (some will not even have passed a driving test), so don't be surprised if they sometimes have no idea where your destination is.

As tuk-tuks are open-ended, they expose passengers to the high pollution levels in the middle of Bangkok's roads and offer almost no protection in case of an accident. There is theoretically a ban on new tuk-tuks as they are so noisy and polluting, but it doesn't really seem to be being enforced at present.

--from http://www.into-asia.com/Bangkok/tuktuk/

*The key to bargaining with these guys was to just set a price about 1/3 of what they ask and not budge. It never failed. They're mad fun to ride in at night when there aren't many cars on the road, but Bangkok during the day is just ridiculous with traffic and the amount of exhaust fumes you're exposed to in these things.

2 Wheels

Fun With Food

The ketchup came out a little faster than expected...


Corn sundae?

Sunday Walking Market

Bantawai Market

We Balllllin'

Dave and I dropped some G's at "Big C" which is Thailand's equivalent to Walmart. You know how we do. HAHA.

American Pacific International School

Where I will be teaching, living and loving life in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

(Click picture to enlarge)

"TEN TEN"

So while shopping in MKG shopping centre in Bangkok, I withdrew 10,000 Baht ($300 CAN) from the ATM, with the intent of that money lasting me for quite some time. Dave and Shawn obviously decided to blow it out of proportion claiming I was "bougie" or "a baller" for withdrawing "ten thousand dollars". Amongst the jokes they referred to me as "Tens".

A few minutes later, what do we see?

My newfound nickname:

YYZ to HKG to BKK

Operation Cloudhopper V3.0 has begun.

"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

- Henry Miller

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- Mark Twain