The other morning whilst waiting,with my wife,for a songthaew to take us the 2.5Km into Nathon a taxi pulled up.Now I immediately knew there was something wrong when he was smiling!

Usually they want Bht200 for the journey which is why we don't use them.

"Get in 50 bahts"

Inital reaction was to weigh-up the possibilities:

1. He had just been to see a doctor and having been given hours to live was trying to accumalate as many good marks in the Big Book before dying or

2.He had stolen the taxi and was trying to make a few bob before capture by the ever alert local police.

Thai friends we have told think the heat has finally got to us;but it's true.

Can anyone suggest a more rational explanation?

The other morning whilst waiting,with my wife,for a songthaew to take us the 2.5Km into Nathon a taxi pulled up.Now I immediately knew there was something wrong when he was smiling!

Usually they want Bht200 for the journey which is why we don't use them.

"Get in 50 bahts"

Inital reaction was to weigh-up the possibilities:

1. He had just been to see a doctor and having been given hours to live was trying to accumalate as many good marks in the Big Book before dying or

2.He had stolen the taxi and was trying to make a few bob before capture by the ever alert local police.

Thai friends we have told think the heat has finally got to us;but it's true.

Can anyone suggest a more rational explanation?

Maybe, just maybe a light bulb flashed in his head with this thought, I'm heading this way anyway,why not make some petrol money.Nahhh makes too much sense.

Could have hust got back from temple & did his good deed for the day.

Could be you'r so good looking, he just couldn't help himself.

The other morning whilst waiting,with my wife,for a songthaew to take us the 2.5Km into Nathon a taxi pulled up.Now I immediately knew there was something wrong when he was smiling!

Usually they want Bht200 for the journey which is why we don't use them.

"Get in 50 bahts"

Inital reaction was to weigh-up the possibilities:

1. He had just been to see a doctor and having been given hours to live was trying to accumalate as many good marks in the Big Book before dying or

2.He had stolen the taxi and was trying to make a few bob before capture by the ever alert local police.

Thai friends we have told think the heat has finally got to us;but it's true.

Can anyone suggest a more rational explanation?

Maybe, just maybe a light bulb flashed in his head with this thought, I'm heading this way anyway,why not make some petrol money.Nahhh makes too much sense.

Could have hust got back from temple & did his good deed for the day.

Could be you'r so good looking, he just couldn't help himself.

there are some happy taxi drivers out there ,so im told ,ive never met one

last time i took a pre-arranged taxi from lamai to nathon,

for the agreed 300 baht,

the driver had the meter on, for what reason i don't know.

it read about 120 baht for the trip.

it is quite possible that if taxis were reasonable they would have a lot more customers,

thus make more money,

and not clog up the roads touting and tooting at 5km/hour.

probably too logical.

Odd, on the occasional visit to Samui I have yet to get ripped off by a songthaew taxi driver. I open my mouth, ask how much and always get the Thai price. And friendly service. Guess its the weird dichotomy of a local island accent coming out of the mouth of a politely dressed farang woman.

there are a few taxi drivers in chaweng that are chrging at the "right" rate. some are een using a meter.

I have spoken to one of them. he was a former barman at the green mango and he said that becuase he is fair tourists pre order him and take him for longer rides and even send him other tourists. when tourists are surpirsed he just hands them his card with is phone number and asks them to call him when ever they need a taxi.

he claims that since he has been doing this he is making a lot of cash and has a lot of return clients.

maybe others will soon follow.

maybe others will soon follow.

mate , now I know your drinking the kool-aid .