A Baht Bus Tale

[scotsman]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

[gburns57au]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

Go on....get away with ya....ya wudda still had your hands in your pockets.....

[britmaveric]

Well originally Baht Bus driver was running up the road to fetch the MIB and my mate smashee had thoughts of doing a runner. However my other mate Andy stood there and didnt move. The driver thought better of leaving smashee behind and came straight back.

MIB - basically said need resolve it between the two of them or down to the station. (obviously the driver and my mate didnt want to go to the station, so 2K was settled upon - well actually 1985 )

Edited February 6, 2006 by britmaveric

[Artisan]

I will agree with Mr. Burns from Oz. These guys exist in abundance and will throw their money around as if there is no tomorrow.....drinks, tips, bar fines, whatever and then quibble over a paltry 5 baht. Please don't reply with it's all about principle...the graveyards are full of men with principles.

All your comments about Diesel are true, but the stuff about spending money on bars fines, tips and drinks, Is in a bit of different league, as I don’t wish to shag a bath bus driver!!!!

Have a nice day

"Icecubes"..all I can say is "my kow chy" to your post.

[icecubes]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

How far do you think you would have got.

100 yards down the road???

I can assure you if the bath buss driver didn’t attack you.

You would have then been picked up at your hotel or where you dwell by the police.

With in minutes, because every shop or bar you passed would have just grassed you up to the police. (he went that way).

And yes you would have paid for the window.

Nothing you can do when they have you by the balls.

Please remember you are dealing with the Quality people of Pattaya. ( baht bus drivers)

Have a nice day.

[JSixpack]

However, assuming that the 'official' fare is 5 baht then the thing that I don't understand is why, 13 years ago, when the price of diesel was 4 baht per litre, this fare was 5 baht.... and now, when the price of diesel is nearly 24 baht per litre, the fare still remains at 5 baht!

For the simple reason that the cheating of the farangs vastly subsidizes the cheap fares and the excess number of buses on the road. Without the farangs being ripped off (I include the charters and the "misunderstanding charters", the fares would rise--and the number of buses decrease--to an economically justifiable level for everyone. Note that in this case that the cheating is unofficial (not to mention racist), since there is no regulation mandating higher fares for farangs; hence if a farang pays only the Thai fare, he cannot be arrested or prosecuted. Farangs are pretty much responsible for the entire absurdity, but most of them are clueless tourists, so the situation will never change. It's a lucrative monopoly that corruption keeps in place.

Another source of revenue is that the drivers often don't return change to the Thais either. A Thai who regularly uses the baht buses soon learns to carry exact change. But it's really the farangs that are the cash cows here.

I hope that you get my drift all of you who need the extra 5 baht more than the driver.

Beside the point, and merely a justification for cheating, theft, and extortion, but anyway a lot of that extorted and stolen extra money goes into pockets deeper than those of the driver. Even an extra 5 baht from every farang amounts to a respectable sum at the end of a good day. But often it's more than 5 baht; it's 15 baht or 85 baht or more.

Edited February 7, 2006 by JSixpack

[Artisan]

JSixpack, your response was succinct, very accurate and straight to the point. Thank you, I enjoyed reading that.

[JSixpack]

JSixpack, your response was succinct, very accurate and straight to the point. Thank you, I enjoyed reading that.

I appreciate the graciousness of this reply, a quality seen much less often than one would wish in discussion forums such as this.

Edited February 7, 2006 by JSixpack

[libya 115]

I used to pay 5 baht all the time; however every now and then, there was an ugly incident where the driver demanded 10 baht. I decided to always pay ten baht for every trip and thus avoid all the aggro' and bad feeling.

There are some good taxi drivers out there, but there are some real crazy psycho's as well. There is hardly a farang in Pattaya who has not had a bad experience with a baht bus driver.

Regards; double pricing; there are a few crazy drivers who demand ten baht, even from Thais!

[haha]

my 2 cents...

a lot of problems that occur because of differences in cultures.

a couple of stories...

1) I remember a few years back, I broaded a bus in bangkok going to pattaya. on the bus were some pakistanis sitting behind me. as is my habit, I brought along a bottle of water. well, anyway, during the trip, one of the pakistanis asked me for a drink of water from my bottle. I replied, no, I didn't want to share my water with them. their reply was - what is wrong with you???!!!! to refuse another person water?

I thought to myself - where are they coming from? ahh. I see. in their country, people share water freely. in my mind though, I was thinking - I didn't want to get someone elses germs in my water.

2) I used to live near a muslim neighborhood here in bangkok. there were beggars all over. anyway, I walk down pass these beggars all the time, but I never give them anything. so, one day, I notice these 2 bystanders standing next to the beggars. as usual, I walked pass them without giving them any money. the next thing I know, these 2 bystanders start screaming at me in thai asking me why I don't give the beggars any money. why am I so cheap? basically I got scared, and ran away. the next time I walk pass the beggars, I see those 2 bystanders again looking at me like they want to kill me.

like before, I went into my meditative mode to try to understand what was going on here. my brain told me that in their culture, they freely help each other with their spare change. and were basically trying to intimidate me to do the same. in my mind, I was thinking - I worked hard for my money. I can spend it any way I want.

conclusion: my guess is that sharing is so much an integrated part of their existance that to not do so is taboo and being selfish. these other cultures probably raise their children to believe that they must help everybody in need outside their families. when they see people outside their culture (foreigners) not sharing like they have been taught to, then, we must be bad people.

once we foreigners have been judged as bad people, then, the obvious logical step is that we must also be evil people.

I get this feeling this may be part of the problem between muslims and the western world.

sounds a little like communism.

in the states our communism is in the form of social security and welfare. ...government-based. whereas the muslims form of communism is family-based. between parents and children and the immediate villagers.

getting back to the baht bus tale, I think the baht bus guys may not be greedy. they are just thinking in terms of their form of communism.

..that the more money you have, the more you are expected to contribute. that's how they have been taught.

to them, we foreigners are cheap, selfish, and bad people. but to us, they are crooks trying to scam us. etc.

cultural shock.

..then again. maybe I'm totally offbased. whatever.

I think I'm getting a headache. time for a beer.

[alexth]

Get yourselfs motorbikes , the guys in the gas station won't scam you

[Noel]

my 2 cents...

<SNIP for brevity>

2) I used to live near a muslim neighborhood here in bangkok. there were beggars all over. anyway, I walk down pass these beggars all the time, but I never give them anything. so, one day, I notice these 2 bystanders standing next to the beggars. as usual, I walked pass them without giving them any money. the next thing I know, these 2 bystanders start screaming at me in thai asking me why I don't give the beggars any money. why am I so cheap? basically I got scared, and ran away. the next time I walk pass the beggars, I see those 2 bystanders again looking at me like they want to kill me.

like before, I went into my meditative mode to try to understand what was going on here. my brain told me that in their culture, they freely help each other with their spare change. and were basically trying to intimidate me to do the same. in my mind, I was thinking - I worked hard for my money. I can spend it any way I want.

conclusion: my guess is that sharing is so much an integrated part of their existance that to not do so is taboo and being selfish. these other cultures probably raise their children to believe that they must help everybody in need outside their families. when they see people outside their culture (foreigners) not sharing like they have been taught to, then, we must be bad people.

If the same two 'bystanders' were there the next time you passed, to my mind the odds are that they were pocketing the money given to the beggars.

[p414]

I have not used the baht bus for app. one year.The last time I did i gave 5 baht from royalgarden to tops.No complaint.

A friend of mine was staying with me a fortnight ago.[lady 61 yo]She got a baht bus from the blind massage in Jomtien to royal garden..Fare 10 baht....3 times.

Re windows. I had a front windscreen replaced for 2000 baht.

The more farangs readily pay extra fare the sooner the incorrect fare will rise. I am thinking of samuii and phuket where prices seem to be on a par with europe.

As for graveyards full of men of principles...

They are alongside men of no principles who will pay anything for a peaceful life/death.

[bkkmadness]

If the story is exactly as Brit had accounted it then there was no need to pay anything for the window.

Also, why do people pay more than a 5 baht fare for a bus? Are the baht bus drivers particulary tough or something as it seems most people are scared into paying the extra money for fear of being attacked or something.

[Pattaya_Fox]

Get yourselfs motorbikes , the guys in the gas station won't scam you

HA Ha joke of the day??

[Rinrada]

my 2 cents...

<SNIP for brevity>

2) I used to live near a muslim neighborhood here in bangkok. there were beggars all over. anyway, I walk down pass these beggars all the time, but I never give them anything. so, one day, I notice these 2 bystanders standing next to the beggars. as usual, I walked pass them without giving them any money. the next thing I know, these 2 bystanders start screaming at me in thai asking me why I don't give the beggars any money. why am I so cheap? basically I got scared, and ran away. the next time I walk pass the beggars, I see those 2 bystanders again looking at me like they want to kill me.

like before, I went into my meditative mode to try to understand what was going on here. my brain told me that in their culture, they freely help each other with their spare change. and were basically trying to intimidate me to do the same. in my mind, I was thinking - I worked hard for my money. I can spend it any way I want.

conclusion: my guess is that sharing is so much an integrated part of their existance that to not do so is taboo and being selfish. these other cultures probably raise their children to believe that they must help everybody in need outside their families. when they see people outside their culture (foreigners) not sharing like they have been taught to, then, we must be bad people.

If the same two 'bystanders' were there the next time you passed, to my mind the odds are that they were pocketing the money given to the beggars.

Yep...Beggers "Meng Daas"

Re fav subject...ha bt buses...Last time we (wife & her mate)jumped on one from Markland soi1 ) to the Royal garden as usual I handed the guy 15 bt. but he shouted back that I had given him too much.

Pointed to wife and mate .."them 2 also" and he just smiled and said OK...a quick wave and he was off.....thats how it SHOULD be and no tantrums No upsets and a cool heart to start the day.....plus I felt GOOD about a song theo driver.....

[Pattaya_Fox]

my 2 cents...

<SNIP for brevity>

2) I used to live near a muslim neighborhood here in bangkok. there were beggars all over. anyway, I walk down pass these beggars all the time, but I never give them anything. so, one day, I notice these 2 bystanders standing next to the beggars. as usual, I walked pass them without giving them any money. the next thing I know, these 2 bystanders start screaming at me in thai asking me why I don't give the beggars any money. why am I so cheap? basically I got scared, and ran away. the next time I walk pass the beggars, I see those 2 bystanders again looking at me like they want to kill me.

like before, I went into my meditative mode to try to understand what was going on here. my brain told me that in their culture, they freely help each other with their spare change. and were basically trying to intimidate me to do the same. in my mind, I was thinking - I worked hard for my money. I can spend it any way I want.

conclusion: my guess is that sharing is so much an integrated part of their existance that to not do so is taboo and being selfish. these other cultures probably raise their children to believe that they must help everybody in need outside their families. when they see people outside their culture (foreigners) not sharing like they have been taught to, then, we must be bad people.

If the same two 'bystanders' were there the next time you passed, to my mind the odds are that they were pocketing the money given to the beggars.

Yep...Beggers "Meng Daas"

Re fav subject...ha bt buses...Last time we (wife & her mate)jumped on one from Markland soi1 ) to the Royal garden as usual I handed the guy 15 bt. but he shouted back that I had given him too much.

Pointed to wife and mate .."them 2 also" and he just smiled and said OK...a quick wave and he was off.....thats how it SHOULD be and no tantrums No upsets and a cool heart to start the day.....plus I felt GOOD about a song theo driver.....

...well come on then...give us all the baht bus number so the we too can revel in the honesty of this fine fellow.

[scotsman]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

How far do you think you would have got.

100 yards down the road???

I can assure you if the bath buss driver didn’t attack you.

You would have then been picked up at your hotel or where you dwell by the police.

With in minutes, because every shop or bar you passed would have just grassed you up to the police. (he went that way).

And yes you would have paid for the window.

Nothing you can do when they have you by the balls.

Please remember you are dealing with the Quality people of Pattaya. ( baht bus drivers)

Have a nice day.

If the baht bus driver attacked me then he would have been in trouble with the mib and i can lookafter myself. If what you say is correct then there is no justice in los. If the window had cut his hand or arm then the baht bus driver would have had to pay for his injures as he caused the accident in the first place by driving away with the mans arm still waiting for his change. I would stand up for myself anywhere when I know I have done nothing wrong and would not pay for his window.

[Pattaya_Fox]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

How far do you think you would have got.

100 yards down the road???

I can assure you if the bath buss driver didn’t attack you.

You would have then been picked up at your hotel or where you dwell by the police.

With in minutes, because every shop or bar you passed would have just grassed you up to the police. (he went that way).

And yes you would have paid for the window.

Nothing you can do when they have you by the balls.

Please remember you are dealing with the Quality people of Pattaya. ( baht bus drivers)

Have a nice day.

If the baht bus driver attacked me then he would have been in trouble with the mib and i can lookafter myself. If what you say is correct then there is no justice in los. If the window had cut his hand or arm then the baht bus driver would have had to pay for his injures as he caused the accident in the first place by driving away with the mans arm still waiting for his change. I would stand up for myself anywhere when I know I have done nothing wrong and would not pay for his window.

The lad could have moved his hand/arm away from the window (nobody as far as I am aware has said that his hand was trapped in the window). He hit the window and broke it, whether he tapped it or thumped it he smashed it and therefore he had no option but to pay.

It`s alright saying that you would stand up for yourself, of course you would, but common sense has to come into the equasion. You are in a foreign country and under the circumstances which have been outlined about this episode the lad had no way out but to pay....or he would have been in further trouble.

[gburns57au]

If the biggest problem I had in the world was over an extra 5 baht to a BB driver....I would consider myself in serious trouble...

5 baht aint that important to me.....

[bkkmadness]

The lad could have moved his hand/arm away from the window (nobody as far as I am aware has said that his hand was trapped in the window).

Your right man, Brit said it was only 1/4 of the way open so not trapped at all. I assumed he was trapped coz I see no other reason for someone to have to punch/tap out the window.

Edited February 8, 2006 by bkkmadness

[britmaveric]

The lad could have moved his hand/arm away from the window (nobody as far as I am aware has said that his hand was trapped in the window).

Your right man, Brit said it was only 1/4 of the way open so not trapped at all. I assumed he was trapped coz I see no other reason for someone to have to punch/tap out the window.

BKK - well he was angered because the driver was pulling away and he still wanted his change back. He tapped the window in order for the driver to stop moving. Granted anyone knows Beach Rd close to the beginning of Walking Street comes to a crawl as traffic is making the left turn, so a person walking could outpace a baht bus stuck in that sort of traffic.

[Noel]

The lad could have moved his hand/arm away from the window (nobody as far as I am aware has said that his hand was trapped in the window).

Your right man, Brit said it was only 1/4 of the way open so not trapped at all. I assumed he was trapped coz I see no other reason for someone to have to punch/tap out the window.

Perhaps he got his finger stuck in the tap and brought the sink along with him?

[icecubes]

If this happened to me i would have walked away and not paid for the window as it was his fault for driving away with your arm still in his window waiting for your change

How far do you think you would have got.

100 yards down the road???

I can assure you if the bath buss driver didn’t attack you.

You would have then been picked up at your hotel or where you dwell by the police.

With in minutes, because every shop or bar you passed would have just grassed you up to the police. (he went that way).

And yes you would have paid for the window.

Nothing you can do when they have you by the balls.

Please remember you are dealing with the Quality people of Pattaya. ( baht bus drivers)

Have a nice day.

If the baht bus driver attacked me then he would have been in trouble with the mib and i can lookafter myself. If what you say is correct then there is no justice in los. If the window had cut his hand or arm then the baht bus driver would have had to pay for his injures as he caused the accident in the first place by driving away with the mans arm still waiting for his change. I would stand up for myself anywhere when I know I have done nothing wrong and would not pay for his window.

The lad could have moved his hand/arm away from the window (nobody as far as I am aware has said that his hand was trapped in the window). He hit the window and broke it, whether he tapped it or thumped it he smashed it and therefore he had no option but to pay.

It`s alright saying that you would stand up for yourself, of course you would, but common sense has to come into the equasion. You are in a foreign country and under the circumstances which have been outlined about this episode the lad had no way out but to pay....or he would have been in further trouble.

Correct Mr. Fox, he would have paid for the window and then gone to hospital for treatment to his severer brain malfunction.

IMO I always feel the people who defend the bath bus drivers so strongly

are the very people who don't live in Thailand or don't use the service or

so called service on a regular basis.

They probably use a motorbike or car to move around pattaya.

As ive said before you use a baht bus to travel from Nakuila to say Jomtine twice a

day for a month then you will have some understanding of this fine service in Patttaya

Bet you would all loose your temper in a few days, or pay some stupid rip off fair just to keep the peace. ( so much for principals)

Beep beep. Rip off.

Ps the comment by one poster about the baht bus driver saying ( you pay to much )

I think if you had looked a bit closer you would have seen it was not a Baht bus but a

Guy who was just lost in town with his pick-up and you all jumped in the back!!!!!

Have a nice day.

[alexth]

Get yourselfs motorbikes , the guys in the gas station won't scam you

HA Ha joke of the day??

Why would this be a joke, Fox? It's easier, cheaper and quicker

[Mighty Mouse]

Get yourselfs motorbikes , the guys in the gas station won't scam you

HA Ha joke of the day??

Why would this be a joke, Fox? It's easier, cheaper and quicker

It's a joke because the guys in the gas station do scam you.

There is a line up of motor cycles getting petrol. The pump operator never resets the meter between filling one bike to the next. He charges what he thinks appropriate.......appropriate for him that is.

If you bitch about paying and extra 5 baht for a baht bus ride, you should not be recommending being ripped off by gas station attendants as being acceptable. There is no difference.