Yesterday I experienced the famous conniving and crooked wheeling-dealing of Bangkok taxi drivers.
It startred with the Eastin Bangkok hotel (a very nice one at that) just outside the centre of the city. We asked a bell boy could he get us a taxi to go to Kao San rd. It should have cost 75 batt he quoted us 350. We laughed and went outside the road. Within a wag of a dog's tail a blue taxi pulled up. We asked how much. This time he said "10 batt with one stop myster". Again trying to do us. This time instead of the obvious price inflation trick he was going for the infamous tour of all the tailor shops trick that takes half the day. The driver making commission for everyone we set foot on. We laughed and moved on. The third guy we asked would he put on the meter for us. He claimed it was broken. These guys obviously hung out with Paul Daniels. All this in the space of 3 to 4 minutes. We decided to get away from the hotel and make our way to one of the main road. On the way a Tuk Tuk (three wheeled motorbike) quoted us 200 batt and another showed us a book of young girls that he said would massage us and give us a good time. Five minutes later we got an older man who agreed to put on the meter and actually knew where we wanted to go. Happy days. We ended up giving him a sizeable tip for his honesty and integrity. But he wasn't perfect. Half way through the ride he asked us if we wanted him to arrange ladies. We declined. And amazingly, half way through the fare he fell asleep at a red light and started snoring. He burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughin when we shouted at it him and he woke up. It was hilarious.
We have to get a taxi tonight to the tailor shop to pick up some clothes we are having tailor made and then to the airport tomorrow. Will be interesting to see if we get there on alive, on time with any money!
