A Bangkok Taxi Ride is Always Interesting!
Okay, there seems to be a bit of a transportation trend here with my blog posts, but one thing that is definitely true is that all types of transportation in Thailand are interesting. So here is another post about Taxicabs, I won’t go into the complexities of the colour coding systems of the exterior paint jobs, this is more about what’s inside them.
I have slowly noticed that Thai taxi drivers love to individualize their cabs. I guess anywhere you go in life, people want to be different, and perhaps this desire increases when every taxi car in the city is a Toyota Corolla. As an aside, I’m sure there is some type of explanation for this, or a great opportunity for another car manufacture to open the door. I’ve heard it’s something to do with car manufactures giving permission for their cars or type of car, to be used as a taxi’s.
Yesterday I was in a cab that was kitted out with a sound system, and speakers that were probably worth more than the car itself. - And yes the driver did put in the obligatory “farang CD” as I sat down so I got to hear that song “Hands up” from the 80’s, which of course made me think of the Club Med commercial and not the heavy traffic on Petchburi Road -
Sometimes though, it’s more than speakers or interesting prayers painted on the ceiling, or amulets hanging off the rear-view mirror, that's when you’re in for a treat.
Not the live insect kind from “This post.”
A lot of Thai taxis come with their own unique pictograms indicating what amenities are inside as well as what they don't want you to do. Did I mention the signs that are posted showing what luxuries and conveniences await you (ahh... luxurious reclining seats)!
I’ve been in a minivan cab (which yes goes against the Corolla theory) but he had Karaoke, and drop down tv screens. However my favourite one this week was a cab that had a huge bobble-head horse permanently affixed behind the rear seats. It was a little surprising as this place is normally reserved for numerous cushions. Having a camera close at hand seems almost necessary to capture the moment. One thing is for certain, a taxi cab in Bangkok is always an adventure, if only in the abnormal.
