Observations from abroad - Thailand

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IF EVER THERE WAS A PICK UP JOINT, THIS IS IT!
I am not joking....but its hard to avoid it...especially being a young male traveller like myself. There isnt one corner that you can turn in Thailand where you will not be confronted by a pick up of some sorts...even if you were not looking for a one on the first place. 'You try to avoid them but you can't....its pick up after pick up after pick up!

Toyota and Isuzu were my particuar favourites but there were ones there to suit all tastes!

THE BEST SCAM EVER - THAILAND
I have to hold my hands up and say that I was got by the best conman ever while I was in Krabi! And when I realised I had been got I wanted to do nothing more than shake the mans hand for hes sheer inventiveness! Here is how it happened.....

I had just got off the boat from Railay Beach to Krabi and was on my way up town to catch a songthaew (local bus/group taxi) to the Bus station to get the next bus out of the town to Khao Lak! As I am walking up from the pier I have am being harrassed by tuktuk and taxi drivers wanting my business. I duely ignore them and keep walking. As I approach a street corner there are a group of people sitting on a bench....One guy asks me where I am going. Being polite I say

"Bus Station"and keep walking...."Do you want a tuk tuk"....."No Thanks"........."What bus are you getting?"........."The one to Khao Lak"
(At this stage I know I am giving him too much information so I turn to leave)
"Why don't you get the bus from here at 11am?"(1 hour 15 minutes away)

My bags are really heavy so I ask him if he knows how much it is. He says he doesn't but that he will find out for me........a phonecall follows.....he hangs up......."250 Baht".

I know the bus from the station is about 150 Bhat plus the 30 Baht to get to the station in the first place.....so I am paying an extra 80 Baht (1 euro 60 cent) to get the bus from here....

"250 Baht and there IS NOTHING in that for me....and just to prove it you only pay money on the bus...."

He is sounding pretty genuine at this stage...

I think it over for a second or two and as I am jolted back to reality by the weight of my backpack collapsing another rib I ask him how I go about booking a place on the bus.....

"If you want a place I can ring for you and get them to stop here for you at 11am as they pass......sit down for yourself"
"Cheers....Thanks a million".......another phonecall follows....he hangs up.....Its all sorted!

I sit there for a few minutes while a light conversation flows between himself, myself and the other few (locals) that were sitting around. Then he says that I still have over an hour to wait so that if I wanted to get some breakfast I could sit across at a restaurant and he would call me when the bus arrived. As there was one restaurant directly opposite with perfect views of your man in case he decided to do anything shifty I decided on eating at that one.

30 minutes and a fine breakfast later I am sitting reading a book when you man arrives over to my table and says "Hey....sorry man but I just got a call and all the 3 buses leaving today (from that point) are actually fully booked...you should maybe head to the bus station after all"

"Oh...ok so....I'll just pay"
"Sorry again....I can get one of my friends to drive you up for 50 Baht...that is only to cover the cost of the fuel"
Ah there is the scam I think to myself as that is about double what I should have to pay.
I decline...say goodbye and move out onto the street to catch a songthaew.
As I do, I turn around again only to see this man behind the counter of the restaurant and operating the till!!

The damned fecker was the Restaurant OWNER all the time! He had never booked me a ticket for any bus....All he did was to delay me long enough so that I would have breakfast at HIS restaurant!

Genius!

SAME SAME....BUT DIFFERENT
I can't even begin to explain this one...buts its all over the place in south east asia....so if you are travelling here you better get used to hearing it. It is pretty much used to descride EVERTHING!!!

"So whats the difference between this phone sim card and this one"....SAME SAME....BUT DIFFERENT (and no further explaination)

"So which cave is better to visit?...Is one better than the other?"....SAME SAME....BUT DIFFERENT (and no further explaination)

"Which curry would you reccommend? Is this one hotter?"....SAME SAME....BUT DIFFERENT (and no further explaination)

"Whats the difference between the 2 dollar a day bike for rent and the 5 dollar a day bike?"....SAME SAME....BUT DIFFERENT (and no further explaination)

I don't think I need continue!

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Comments

[Arnab]

amazing!
outstanding salesman!!