The Tuk-Tuk is the subject and object of much controversy; it is recommended as a mode of transportation in Bangkok for only short hops. The drivers are portrayed as dishonest, charlatan-like characters who purposely make detours to force tourists to frequent shops who will give them a kickback just for stopping. The vehicle itself is a cause for consternation due to the fact that it contributes to an already unbearable level of pollution in the city and elsewhere. The air conditioning you will enjoy is natural: when the tuk-tuk moves, so does the air around it. Voila, you are now conditioned. The majority of the drivers have absolutely no idea as to what you may be telling them; they understand words that denote destinations, and are amazingly accurate with numbers.
If you’ve never been driven anywhere in a tuk-tuk, you are definitely missing one of the most charming methods of transportation the city has to offer. Chuck and I enjoyed them immensely because of the dizzying speed with which the drivers move, and we hired them for longer distances than the norm. At the trip’s mid-point, we ended up purchasing face masks to alleviate some of the soreness that was developing in our throats.
One of our most vivid experiences was with the tuk-tuk driver who took us to Jim Thompson’s House ; he turned out to be a very articulate young man, whose English was lightly accented but delightfully understandable. He was willing to take us wherever we wanted, and we agreed with him that at some point, he could stop by one of his "tourist traps" and we would spend a few minutes there so that he could earn free gas for his vehicle.
While we toured the house and visited the gardens, he patiently waited for about ninety minutes or more; a smile was always on his face, which is rare with these drivers. He and Chuck began discussing sports, and he put me to shame with his knowledge of the football and baseball biggies. He wanted to go to America at all costs, and said he’d need to find a good job to enable him to do that; thus he was still in school studying. A particularly revealing moment of the trip came when a beggar walked toward the tuk-tuk while we were stopped at a light, and the young man reached into his pocket to give him alms. And he did it very simply and without much fanfare.
In fact, one of the stops in Bangkok we made to help him out turned out to be quite a find; I found a celadon vase with an embossed lotus leaf unlike any I had ever seen. We both purchased silk jackets that were on sale for US$10.00. A set of gold embellished porcelain dishes could have rivaled the beauty of Lenox or Limoges. We passed on that, although it was very tempting. The saleslady with whom I dealt was extremely professional, quick on her feet, and the calculator never left her hands. Once an object was selected, she’d instruct her staff to wrap it with the utmost care. Sorry folks, I don’t remember where this place is, nor its name. But, chances are that if you hire a Tuk Tuk somewhere along the street which leads you to the Oriental Hotel, you might get lucky and get the young man pictured below!