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Bangkok Warning or Danger Tips by Myndo

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Myndo   
Wherever you go, there you are.


Real Name: Corinne
Lives In: Basel, CH
Member Since: Mar 25, 2004
VT Rank: 116

 
Tuk-tuks: Bangkok, go prepared
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  • Written by Myndo on Mar 5, 2006
  • Bangkok Travel Guide
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  • Bangkok Tuk-tuks
  • Tuk Tuks and scammers
  • by Myndo
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  • I am not the first nor the last here to write this.
    The very minute you hit the road in Bangkok and have a look at your map (where are we going next?), you will have someone friendly come to you and offer help. These friendly people are ofte directly related to tuk tuk drivers or shops. They will say anything to get you have a trip with a tuk tuk with stops at many tourist shops.

    Mostly this sounds like this:
    "Where do you want to go?" ... "Oh, Wat xyz, that is closed today (or until 2 p.m. or whatever) because of a Buddhist holiday" - Don?t believe it. They don?t close their temples or museums because of that. Always believe your guide book on that and not what people tell you. We were told this 3 times in one day, and it was never true.
    On it goes: "But, I would propose you go to this Wat instead, that is very nice. I can get you a tuk tuk to bring you there. They make special price today because of Buddhist holidays "(or world fair, or because only it is Wednesday or whatever). "They will bring you there for only 20 or 40 Baht.".
    Yes they will. But they will also bring you to a jade shop, a yeweller, a Thai silk shop, a souvenir shop, a .... I think you got it.
    It also does not matter if you really buy something in these shops. They get their commission by just bringing you there.

    One more thing that is quite typical for Bangkook is the yewellery scam.
    They try to persuade you that you can make money by buying yewels cheap in Thailand and then reselling it at shops where you live.
    Don?t do this! For once you have no idea what the colorful stones you are offered are really worth if you are no expert. As a normal tourist you won?t even be able to distinct them from fake stones or even glass. Second: you won?t be able to resell them at home (not even at the addresses they may give you, they are not real either). Also don?t trust in any certificates they may show you- paper is patient.
    If there was money in it, they would not need to rely on tourists to do the trade.

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    Comments for Myndo about Bangkok
    jwmlee Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:28 UTC
     This sort of scam operates all over the world. Had lots of it in Sri Lanka.
    Rachel972 Sat Feb 2, 2008 16:20 UTC
     When they told us "because it's Chinese new year" we didn't believe, because we had read about these scams. But it really was Chinese N.Y, not that places were closed - but full of Chinese vacationers.
    SLLiew Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:40 UTC
     Nice tip about your experience with tuk tuk touts. Part of the BKK experience for farang and tourists.
    Fra.da. Fri Feb 23, 2007 17:47 UTC
     Great tips! I really like your travel pages :) I'll be back often! Francesca
    See More Comments

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