Bangkok Warning or Danger Tips by thedouglas

Tuk tuks are great fun! and an essential Bangkok experience. Be aware of touts stopping you with amazing good English, on their way to somewhere close, who are happy to grab your Lonely Planet - and circle highlights etc., - and hail a coincidentally passing tuktuk, negoitiation a 20Baht ride around the whole city! You will be about to start a real journey via travel shops, jewellery stores, tailors, silk factories etc. - happened to me once, and I just said, NO, will pay you plenty fair fare to take me where I want to go. Negotiate the prices, and, if there are more than one passenger, ensure that the price is for the whole fare, not PER PERSON. If they try it on at the other end, raise your voice (assertively, not aggressively), and point out that the negotiated fare was...... , pay and leave. Saving face is most important to them. They will often have a little wry smile, and leave with no trouble at all. Remember that these are poor people, who drive government vehicles, and survive by their wits, and witless tourists. Don't take it too seriously, as any of us who travel to Asia have much more money and resources than these fellows.

I have found that many of the tuktuk drivers in Thailand are amazingly smart and resourceful - and I admire them. Have cultivated a few relationships with them, and the wheeling and dealing stops immediately. They will actually give you very honest and loyal service - and wait for you anywhere. Ours found me in the street near the hotel one night looking for some pills for my ill husband - insisted on taking me to nearest 7Eleven, and refused to accept money.

You simply can't go to Bangkok without experiencing the traffic in a tuktuk! - and the experience of getting to know one of these guys can be great.

Cheers and safe journey to all.

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Went to Bangkok with my 19 year old blonde daughter - leaving husband at home. After all of his talk about the politeness of Thai people, and the need for dressing modestly, I learned that these young males are just like any other red blooded males in the world! She always dressed modestly - well, in shorts and T-shirts - nothing at all which might be perceived as immodest by our standards. She actually felt uncomfortable many times in the street and markets - groups of young males catcalling, Thai, Chinese and Indian men - some of whom were glared at by the "mama" to little avail. To some, I just smiled, nodded and said "she's beautiful isn't she?!", which had little effect either. Its very nice to be appreciated, but it was really quite uncomfortable.

The males did not have the open visual enjoyment to themselves - many ladies of varying ages complimented her on her attractiveness.

Not that offense was really taken most of the time - but I wondered if the girls should seriously consider wearing a bandana for subsequent trips. I have heard about blonde appreciation around the world - but this was somewhat over the top.

Interestingly, when we returned as a family, there was no such open male sound effects in the presence of my husband. Little did they know that I am so much scarier than he is!

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If you visit Patpong as a family, as we did, be aware of the lack of sensitivity most of the door and roaming touts will demonstrate to the tender years of your brood! My kids were 18, 16 and 13 - and some of the touts approached my husband, but backed away when they saw or he gestured to the kids - BUT most of them had no concern - my poor old son had been hearing jokes about ping pong bars - and was a bit confused initially - but no more! If you move around as a family - put dad up front to fend off the onslaught of well meaning roaming advertisers!

Funny experience we had when we were on our own was tout offering to pick up my husband after I went to sleep! I assured him I was a VERY light sleeper!

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We laughed lots at this sight at Khao San Road. How captive can you be? - lined up to get some money, and these quiet little ladies come around poking their wares in your face - every so silently and so very persistently! Any time you are stopped, you are more vulnerable to their approach - and you need to be just and persistent in your headshaking if you do not want to buy. Beware if you do buy - they will never forget you!

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There is probably a book to be written about ways to make money in Thailand - but this one really took the cake - for that day anyway! When my daughter and I went across to Wat Arun, I told her this was a great spot to be blessed by a monk - which we did. The very next thing we saw were the templates of traditional Thai dancers - which she immediately went to - told you must pay for this - few steps further was the man with the snake! You want photo with snake? - what was the relevance of this, I wondered?? Nothing I spose, just a way to make a few Bt! We passed - plenty of snakes in Australia!

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We always use Bangkok as a base when we travel in SE Asia, and leave a lot of luggage at our hotel. If you are using budget airlines (and probably ANY airlines at the moment), the luggage limits are enforced. We saw plenty of people being fined - some who were quite angry and abusive - for having well over the 20kgs allowed on these airlines.

I have had to be be quite creative with my carry on luggage at times. This is definitely recommended for travel at the moment, unless you don't mind paying for the excess.

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Ferries generally stop at piers where there are people waiting to get on or off - so, always be sure you are at the back of the boat, signifying your intention to alight - and BE QUICK! - the stop is fairly brief, the boat bounces off the pier on the tyre buffers, and you need to watch your footing, and jump on and off, to ensure safety.

Additional warning for when you are close to the back of the boat is the shrillness of the pierman's whistle! Maybe my hearing is overly sensitive!

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