On Sunday morning we were driving in my mates restored BMW E30 to the Classic Car event at the Kaeng Krachan Circuit.  A combination of rain and roads being resurfaced mean't that his lovely white car was looking a bit grubby.  

It was 7:30 am and the event started at 9:00.   I pulled up Google maps to try and find a car wash.   We found one called Zero Car Wash so headed there and arrived at 8:00am.  There was no-one about at first and then a guy came out from the house next door and told us that they were closed.  We asked him if there was another one nearby but he didn't seem to understand that.  Then his wife came out to their outdoor kitchen and started getting breakfast ready.  He told us to hold on and went to talk to her.  She seemed pretty adamant that he should tell us to leave (I'm going to have breakfast ready in a bit, tell them we are closed!). 

He came back and rolled his eyes a bit then said hold on and started getting his gear together.  Then asked us to pull the car all the way in so he could get to work. 

Wifey shouted something about him being a fool and and he gave us another knowing look. 

Despite not speaking English and our Thai being limited we had a chat about cars, he wanted to know how much the E30 was so I told him it was bought as a driveable mess for about 60K and then spent about 250-300K getting it to the condition it's now in.  He seemed impressed by that.  I remarked how much I liked the custom wheels on his truck.  A shared love of vehicles was enough.   

When he'd finished cleaning the car (and he did a really great job), we asked how much.   He said 200 baht so my friend gave him 300.   The guy insisted it was just 200 and tried to give us both the extra 100 back.  Of course we insisted he keep it, and we left feeling happy to have had a nice chat with an obviously nice guy. 

And happy that we'd arrive at the classic car event in a nice clean car.  

Incidentally his wife was a bit of a looker too ????

I left a 5 star rating and review on Google Maps in case anyone else happens to be looking for a car wash down there.

 

I spent 5 million Baht on land, hi-lux and a house in Issan. Now because of my Thai BF I pay 5 Baht less for every sack of rice I buy for us and the entire extended family.

Nice one, op. I've come across those types (snobbish, uncaring wives of Thais) when 'out in the field' and being looked after by humble Thai chaps. Really wished you'd have taken the 100 back though. I know it goes against the grain and you want to show your appreciation, but try to look at it from the view of the guy.

6 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Nice one, op. I've come across those types (snobbish, uncaring wives of Thais) when 'out in the field' and being looked after by humble Thai chaps. Really wished you'd have taken the 100 back though. I know it goes against the grain and you want to show your appreciation, but try to look at it from the view of the guy.

 

I think you misunderstood me.  It was early on a Sunday morning, they were closed and she had just started getting breakfast ready.  They didn't need the 200 baht and he could have easily just said sorry we're closed.  But he wanted to help out, he also seemed to really like the car.  The wife was being just like any western wife in the same situation, she knew they didn't need the 200 baht and just wanted to have breakfast with her husband, not have him disappear off to clean someones car.   

I reckon they are a great couple and if I'd been able to speak fluent Thai I'd have had a good chat to them both.

 

I was pleasantly surprised MEA gave the farang the recent bill reductions.  i do wonder if they didn't have the know-how to identify the foreign owned accounts, but it was generous.

I had a slow puncture and took my car to B-Quik.

They immediately drove the car to the hydraulic ramp. Whisked the car up. 

Check the tyres and found a screw.

They removed the screw, stabbed the wheel to clean the puncture, then stabbed in a bung and inflated the tyre. 

All done in 5 mins.

 

They wouldn’t accept payment. 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Victornoir said:

Seancbk, this story says a lot about your own attitude, modest, friendly, not haughty, not pretentious, or giving advice...

And in return, the person goes out of way to make you happy.

It is Thailand that I know and experience on a daily basis. You too, certainly.

 

Thanks. I've been living in Bangkok 12 years and yes it is my experience on a daily basis too.

 

7 hours ago, moontang said:

I was pleasantly surprised MEA gave the farang the recent bill reductions.  i do wonder if they didn't have the know-how to identify the foreign owned accounts, but it was generous.

 

What about Thai owned accounts that are paid by Farangs?  I get my landlady's bill and pay it direct to the MEA. 
As far as they are concerned they are delivering power to a Thai and being paid by a Thai. 

However, why wouldn't they just give all customers the reduction.  I can't see why you'd be surprised by that.

15 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I had a slow puncture and took my car to B-Quik.

They immediately drove the car to the hydraulic ramp. Whisked the car up. 

Check the tyres and found a screw.

They removed the screw, stabbed the wheel to clean the puncture, then stabbed in a bung and inflated the tyre. 

All done in 5 mins.

 

They wouldn’t accept payment. 

 

 

 

 

 

why do you want to pay when it is free since Bquik exist ?

and don't worry, it is actually not free when knowing that any service at Bquik is overpriced compared to what it should be. They clearly have enough profit even when giving this very small gift that costs them nothing.