Does The 'snake' Man Have A Double?

[simon43]

Was it Scampy who coined him 'the snake man'? This is the begger with 1 leg who drags himself along the ground near to Nana BTS station.

Last week, I spotted him in his usual location in Sukhumvit. I then went on the BTS to Saladaeng, stopped for a bite to eat and then started to walk to Robinsons. Imagine my surprise when I saw exactly the same begger dragging himself along Silom Road!!

I'm sure it was the same guy, same clothes etc. So how did this hapless chap manage to get from Sukhumvit to Silom within 1 hour?? (Cynics will probably suggest that his driver drove him in his Mercedes...)

Simon

[farangene]

There is more than one "night crawler" near the BTS station.

If you get there early, the main one (has been there for at least several years) arrives on his motocy in decent clean clothes and then changes into his "work uniform" to begin his crawl shift between soi 7 and 7/1. His wife and young toddler daughter (look at Dad--what a role model!!) sit near the steps of the BTS at Soi 7 also begging

There is an another guy who also crawls a block away between Soi 5 and 7. I noticed that this 5-7 guy replaces the first guy sometimes on his regular route between Soi 7 to 7/1. I guess that is prime territory due to the BTS.

There used to be a crawling guy on Silom who would pour catsup or something red on his bandages for a little more visual effect.

You should see how fast these guys can move when a cop comes along.

[simon43]

Do you think they are 'shamming'? If so, they seem to have gone a bit far by cutting their legs off...

Simon

[farangene]

I suspect that it is very hard for anyone in Thailand with any type of handicap to get hired for most jobs. There is a guy who has some bad "burn" scars on his face who begs a lot on Silom. I talked to him a few times and he seems like a very nice person. I dont think that any of the beggers who use their physical problems caused the ailments just to become beggers.

I think the begging profession is where they can make money, so they do it. A little theatrics, crawling as if you cannot walk or catsup on your "wounds", probably plays a lot on people's sympathy and increases the pot considerably at the end of the day.