More Evidence That Some Baht Bus Drivers Are Crazy

[edwardandtubs]

How do you wave your hand palm down, anyway? Is it a side to side motion or an up and down motion?

Thais will signal palm down. To signal palm up is rude...it's how you would call a dog.

I find the moto taxi drivers' habit of clapping their hands very rude. It's how I would get the attention of a dog. I've never seen them do it to Thais.

[jumnien]

How do you wave your hand palm down, anyway? Is it a side to side motion or an up and down motion?

Thais will signal palm down. To signal palm up is rude...it's how you would call a dog.

I find the moto taxi drivers' habit of clapping their hands very rude. It's how I would get the attention of a dog. I've never seen them do it to Thais.

Clapping the hands? Where I come from we always shout, "Here doggie, doggie" and wave treats. Cross-cultural canine-human interaction is very interesting!

[RICHFROMOZ]

Hey give them a break. They are just dumb-stupid-thais, nothing more, nothing less. They have a shit-job, their lives suck and any self respecting person knows how much like scum they are.

Back home retards would make fun of them.

[wpcoe]

I find the moto taxi drivers' habit of clapping their hands very rude. It's how I would get the attention of a dog. I've never seen them do it to Thais.

Although I tend to agree with your first sentence, I often see them clap their hands to "attract" (?) Thai customers as well as farang.

[edwardandtubs]

How do you wave your hand palm down, anyway? Is it a side to side motion or an up and down motion?

Thais will signal palm down. To signal palm up is rude...it's how you would call a dog.

I find the moto taxi drivers' habit of clapping their hands very rude. It's how I would get the attention of a dog. I've never seen them do it to Thais.

Clapping the hands? Where I come from we always shout, "Here doggie, doggie" and wave treats. Cross-cultural canine-human interaction is very interesting!

I was thinking of my whippets in a field. Maybe you prefer chihuahuas?

[threelegcowboy]

One time I was comming into Pattaya from the North bus station with a couple of bags. The one baht bus was almost full and I just got on as it pulled out of parking. It was on a multi-stop run around in Pattaya and I felt lucky to not having had to wait but still not having said anything to the driver.

The first stop the driver noticed me for the first time. He got out and ordered me off the bus. He collected his forty baht and drove off in disgust with most passengers still on the bus. Another bus came by and I got on with my bags etc and off we went and passed the first baht bus. I smiled and wavied and you could see the hate in his eyes. The first bus started honking and got the attention of the second baht bus driver. Just some quick words between them and my driver turned the corner. He thought I would want off but NO this was the best path to my destination. He went a bit futher and pulled over. I was told to get out. I paid my ten baht. I still could not help smiling.

He had just let me off at the place I normally rent a motobike. Ten steps away I rented my motobike and off to my hotel. So they played thier game but I WAS TOO LUCKY THIS TIME.

I don't understand this at all. Why were you thrown off TWO baht busses in quick succession? What did you do or say that offended them so much?

More Evidence That Some Baht Bus Drivers Are Crazy....did nothing to first driver except not confering with him at bus station. Second bus driver was given heads up that I was a bad customer.

[tropiccapricorn]

Wouldn’t it be nice if the bath-busses would again be encouraged to display the fare-sign

the one which says not over 10 bath ore something which seems to disappear out of many taxies.

An other thing is the fare itself. (Exempli gratia) from VT Jomtien to California (second road) is that 10 bath or more?. I do hate it to be at the discretion of the driver. No rules?

[Maigo6]

They are just dumb-stupid-thais, nothing more, nothing less. They have a shit-job, their lives suck and any self respecting person knows how much like scum they are.

Some Farang posters really appear to dislike Thailand and Thai people, do you ever go to Thailand ?

[Prakanong]

okokok.....her's another one:

we are four of us, getting out at Tim's Beer bar. 20 Baht for the driver.

Driver follows into the go-go bar, making noise. I tell him in Thai that we the fare is 5 Baht and that 4 tims 5 equals 20 and that there is no way ripping another Satang out of me. The girls around us start giggling and the driver gets red ears....running out of the bar.

priceless...

I found, If you treat the driver with respect he'll accept any amount of money you tender.

What I do is have the money ready, walk up to the passenger side window, smile, bow with my hands clasped together in front of my face and say, "Korp khun krap", which loosly translated means "thank you".

My response everytime, is to receive a beaming smile of acceptance as if from a friend.

I then hand over the 10B or more if I feel like giving a tip.

You bow and wai a baht bus driver when giving fare - been in Thailand 5 minutes have we?

He probably thinks you are a nutter or freash of the banana boat up the Chao Phrya

[edwardandtubs]

okokok.....her's another one:

we are four of us, getting out at Tim's Beer bar. 20 Baht for the driver.

Driver follows into the go-go bar, making noise. I tell him in Thai that we the fare is 5 Baht and that 4 tims 5 equals 20 and that there is no way ripping another Satang out of me. The girls around us start giggling and the driver gets red ears....running out of the bar.

priceless...

I found, If you treat the driver with respect he'll accept any amount of money you tender.

What I do is have the money ready, walk up to the passenger side window, smile, bow with my hands clasped together in front of my face and say, "Korp khun krap", which loosly translated means "thank you".

My response everytime, is to receive a beaming smile of acceptance as if from a friend.

I then hand over the 10B or more if I feel like giving a tip.

You bow and wai a baht bus driver when giving fare - been in Thailand 5 minutes have we?

He probably thinks you are a nutter or freash of the banana boat up the Chao Phrya

There's nothing more amusing than clueless idiots who thinking waiing at everyone is appropriate conduct in Thailand. After a couple of weeks they can then go back to England and make fools of themselves in Thai restaurants.

Edited May 28, 2008 by edwardandtubs

[PattayaParent]

I love it when it's raining and they won't stop to pick you up

[threelegcowboy]

Once in my early days I picked up a gal off of beach road at Royal Garden and caught a baht bus without talking to the driver. He rounded South and then down second. I rang the bell at Diana Inn and tried to pay 20 baht. The driver threw the note back and wanted 60 baht. I told him twenty. He threw the note back the second time.

I then steped back to observe the number on the truck. He came out of the driver side and around the back of the bus. I called for the security guy accross the road at Diana. The guard was conviently non observant. The driver then made his way to me and proceded to beat me about the head. I was able to block all three blows. The driver then gets in and drives off without any payment.

I went on to hotel like nothing happened.

I had bruses on underside of my arm for weeks.

[threelegcowboy]

I get in a baht bus on beach road. The driver opens a slidding window and asks where I am going. I tell him to go and i will ring the bell when I want off. He tells me to get out. To this day I look for those slidding glass.

[threelegcowboy]

In another city on a baht bus everything was normal until the young driver picks up a female passenger and has her sit up front. He then proceds to put the make on her for a long time. There were about 10 Thais in the back with me and we all watched as the gal resisted his moves. I dont know why she did not get out. It went on so long that all of us got disgusted and got out. We all got on the next bus and the first driver was still trying to put the moves on the gal.

[threelegcowboy]

In another city I get on a baht bus with my best behavior. I ride 1 kilo and ring the bell. The driver does not stop. I keep ringing and nothing happens. When he finally does stop I pay him without a confrontation. A year goes by and I get on the same bus. The same thing happens and the Thai passengers cant believe the driver is doing this. I get off at a traffic light and start walking off without paying. The driver gets out and yells something. I dont look back but keep walking.

TIT

[edwardandtubs]

I get on a baht bus and the driver is called Barbara. He proceeds to snort yaba from his own breasts and then does a goatse wink through the window at the passengers. I ring the bell in disgust but he proceeds to take me and the other 26 passengers to Nong Khai where he proceeds to beat us with his manly baton. I call the police but they are conveniently non-observant. I walk back to Pattaya with Barbara in hot pursuit shouting abuse all the way home.

[Ulysses G.]

You bow and wai a baht bus driver when giving fare - been in Thailand 5 minutes have we?

He probably thinks you are a nutter or freash of the banana boat up the Chao Phrya

I'm afraid that I have to agree!

Edited May 28, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[innovator]

Just got off a baht bus from hello. I picked it up at the Royal Garden. The driver was very angry because he thought that he was going to get a private, but I just got on the baht bus and slid over to the farthest point inside the cab. So, he started honking his horn at every single person from the Royal Garden clear out to North Pattaya Road and slamming on the breaks along the way as he attempted to fish for more customers to make up for the fact that he was not getting a private sucker for 200 baht. I gave him 20 baht as he was fuming by the time that I hit the bell as there were no other takers for his brilliant horn blowing. What a jack ass!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention that the speed of light barrier was broken several times along the way. I was hanging on with all four limbs for dear life.

[TomBrown]

Yeah some funny thinking from Baht taxi drivers out there.

Like others, many times I've had the Baht taxi drivers stop to pick me up, but once they see me walking to get on the taxi instead of going up to the window to arrange a fare, usually of 100 Baht upwards, they drive off again. Of course these taxis are empty of customers at the time.

Or getting on an empty Baht taxi and a little down the road it stops and the driver asks where I am going, then tries to arrange a 100 Baht fare. I always just get off and get another taxi leaving him still trying to get a fare.

Taxis driving in one direction and I'm going the opposite, but still they beep there horns anyway. Some have even stopped and waved to indicate that they are going this way, I just smile and point the opposite way which I'm going, thinking to myself; yeah but I'm going this way. Just doesn't make sense.

Drivers who are unable to read the road ahead and who don't have much clutch control. I'm amazed there are not more accidents from this. For example, even though the car in front is now stopping and the red tail lights fully on, the Baht taxi will continue at the same speed and in the last seconds apply the breaks hard, likewise, moving off again at a quick pace. This erratic driving has the passengers almost thrown about the back of the taxi. Sometimes it can be amusing, other times a hassle.

Taxi related; At Carrefour on Klang, the taxi outside asks where I want to go, I tell him Naklua, I'm told the fare is 150 Baht, as indicated by the big sign they have at the entrance to the shopping centre. At Tesco Lotus, North Pattaya, asked by the taxi outside where I want to go, and again the price to Naklua is 150 Baht, as indicated by the big sign at the Lotus entrance. When I ask why the price is the same from Carrefour and Lotus but with one a much larger distance to travel, the taxi guys just laugh, say something to each other then say to me same same Thailand.

Even tonight, going from Big C in North Pattaya to Naklua with the other half, the fare was 20 Baht (as it’s always been for us), 10 Baht each. However the taxi driver proceeded to argue that because I was farang I should be paying much more. When it was explained to him that we just got on his taxi as he was passing by, no arranged fare, he got all abusive and called me sticky with my money. Well he only got 20 Baht.

Another time, at the corner of 2nd Road and Pattaya Tai, I can get a Baht taxi all the way to Naklua for 10 Baht, they wait there for ten people then set off. Most times no problem, but one time I was the only one left on the taxi travelling down Naklua, so the taxi driver told me to get out before my destination so he could turn around and get back to the busy areas. As he shouted abuse at me, I didn’t give him anything. I hadn’t caused any problem at all to receive such abuse.

Walking past a queue of Baht taxis, asked if I want a taxi, nope, next taxi asking the same, nope, then the next and the next. I sometimes like their humour, but I don’t think they realise they’re doing it.

[thaiman]

You bow and wai a baht bus driver when giving fare - been in Thailand 5 minutes have we?

He probably thinks you are a nutter or freash of the banana boat up the Chao Phrya

I'm afraid that I have to agree!

Me Too

[tropiccapricorn]

Very regrettable is that Pattaya didn’t manage to install a halfway decent bus-service as apparently planned with those red, green and yellow lines. But when one is waiting for one (in scorching heat), within 15 min. or so, a bus should turn up (reliably and better maintained) and should serve the popular routes, like beach rode Where by the way I have never seen one.

With the 20 bath fare, I suppose, one could be reasonably happy. Of course that would mean to get rid of maybe half or more of the number of those bath-busses as always increasing the volume won’t work and that shift seems to be impossible.

[Chang_paarp]

Just got off a baht bus from hello. I picked it up at the Royal Garden. The driver was very angry because he thought that he was going to get a private, but I just got on the baht bus and slid over to the farthest point inside the cab. So, he started honking his horn at every single person from the Royal Garden clear out to North Pattaya Road and slamming on the breaks along the way as he attempted to fish for more customers to make up for the fact that he was not getting a private sucker for 200 baht. I gave him 20 baht as he was fuming by the time that I hit the bell as there were no other takers for his brilliant horn blowing. What a jack ass!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention that the speed of light barrier was broken several times along the way. I was hanging on with all four limbs for dear life.

I have had that driver. The only thing that works is his horn.

Yeah some funny thinking from Baht taxi drivers out there.

Like others, many times I've had the Baht taxi drivers stop to pick me up, but once they see me walking to get on the taxi instead of going up to the window to arrange a fare, usually of 100 Baht upwards, they drive off again. Of course these taxis are empty of customers at the time.

Or getting on an empty Baht taxi and a little down the road it stops and the driver asks where I am going, then tries to arrange a 100 Baht fare. I always just get off and get another taxi leaving him still trying to get a fare.

<< Snip>>

Another time, at the corner of 2nd Road and Pattaya Tai, I can get a Baht taxi all the way to Naklua for 10 Baht, they wait there for ten people then set off. Most times no problem, but one time I was the only one left on the taxi travelling down Naklua, so the taxi driver told me to get out before my destination so he could turn around and get back to the busy areas. As he shouted abuse at me, I didn’t give him anything. I hadn’t caused any problem at all to receive such abuse.

Walking past a queue of Baht taxis, asked if I want a taxi, nope, next taxi asking the same, nope, then the next and the next. I sometimes like their humour, but I don’t think they realise they’re doing it.

When I get "Want Taxi?" I look around and say "Ti Nai??"

I stand at Pattaya Tai and 2nd rd and ask the driver if they go to Naklua. Often it takes a few before one will say yes, by that time there is often a couple of Thais waiting for the one to go to Naklua. Only in the evening will they wait for a load of customers.

Had one go to the petrol station down Naklua Rd and decide that was as far as he was going. Did not pay, just got out and walked to the road to hail the next one.

Had a couple get upset because I go almost all the way to the market to get the songtow to Pong so the were very keen to turn around and go back to the safety of Russian tourists that think the fare is 100B.

Also had the occasional one that accepted a private hire while full of passengers, went down the road and turned to go the correct way for the private hire so get out there and not pay. I tell the other passengers not to pay too, if they are tourists I explain we just became excess baggage.

[edwardandtubs]

I stand at Pattaya Tai and 2nd rd and ask the driver if they go to Naklua. Often it takes a few before one will say yes, by that time there is often a couple of Thais waiting for the one to go to Naklua. Only in the evening will they wait for a load of customers.

Waiting near Thais and getting on the same bus they get on is definitely the best thing to do if. Either that or get on a bus that already contains other passengers. One can avoid all problems described in this thread if one follows this advice.