Saved By A Thai Hotel Traffic Guide

[maxman71]

I was staying at the Intercontinental Hotel a couple of weeks ago, and got up early on Sunday AM and went to cross Sukhumvit to get a cup of coffee right across the street from the hotel.

This particular section of Sukhumvit has three lanes going one way, and one lane which is closest to the hotel sidewalk, going the opposite direction.

I had forgotten about this 3 lanes one way and 1 lane going the other way setup, and only looked for on-coming traffic in the 3 lanes.

I began to step onto Sukhumvit when the Thai guy who guides cars in and out of the hotel driveway, grabbed my arm and pulled me back; a small truck wsa going in the 1 lane closest to the sidewalk and if the Thai guy hadn't pulled me back, I would have been creamed.

I initially thanked him profusely, then went and got my coffee, being somewhat in a state of stunned and shock. It occurred to me as I got my coffee, this guy could have very well saved me from serious injury, if not death.

So I got my head out of my rear and went back to him, thanked him again and gave him several thousand baht, and notified the hotel of his good deed.

I was just wondering, was several thousand baht enough???

And, before we as a collective group on TV rag on some Thai person for whatever, be advised there ARE very decent and caring Thais here.

[montereyjp]

Let me be the first to say that was way to much and I am he sure was as stunned as you where when he held you back from stepping in front of the truck. I am also sure this.alert traffic guard saves several.farangs a day as that section of the Suk is indeed strange with traffic going in three diff direction so to speak. 200 to 500 would of been enough but I am very careful when giving Thais money because in some cases they will actually be offended. But you have opened an interesting thread which I am sure will produce lots.of different opinions. Btw, if there is not a stoplight I always use a walkover......

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[Satcommlee]

Wow, he may have saved you from serious injury but I'm sure didn't expect a single baht from you.

A tip for such a good deed should reflect your finances.. He would have done the same for a Cambodian beggar and received nothing.

If you could afford to give that tip then it's not a problem, is it? but his salary is probably around 6000 - 8000 baht a month, so put that into perspective.

I certainly wouldn't have expected anything except perhaps a cold beer at the local bar.

[ricklev]

Excellent decision and you should have no regrets!

[MrRed]

Happy that he saved your life,not sure about the money gift though surely a new whistle would of been sufficient.

[smokie36]

A very merry Xmas for one Thai at least!

[maxman71]

Thanks for the inputs; I have no regrets in giving him 3,000 THB as I figured that would represent about 2 weeks salary for him and he seemed greatful to receive it, and a little surprised. I can afford it and even if I only had gotten a minor injury if he hadn't pulled me back, it would have disrupted my travel and work plans for the next day.

Something similar happened to me in Macau in 2006; I had gotten out of a taxi at the Ferry Terminal to head back to Hong Kong after a biz trip in Zhuhai, mainland China. I paid the taxi driver and put my wallet back in rear pants pocket...or so I thought.

When I went to pay for my ferry ticket, no wallet. I figured it fell out of my pocket and was still in the taxi. The wallet had about HKD 8,500 in cash + credit/debit cards. I had played blackjack at the Sands casino a few days before and won about USD 800 doing so and all that cash was in my wallet.

So there I am, this balding, middle-aged white dude scrambling around the Macau ferry terminal looking for someone to help me out and trying to figure out how I was going to manage getting back to BKK with no cash and credit/ATM cards. People were very kind and got me iin touch with a Chinese Ferry Terminal Customer Service lady. She took me down to the Ferry Terminal Police Station in the basement and told the receptionist cop I had lost my wallet.

He told me to go to this desk in the inner office, and as I walked towards it, there was this other cop sitting at the desk and a middle-aged Chinese guy in normal street clothes standing in front of it...AND my wallet with all its contents spread all over the desk; the cop was taking inventory of it. EVERYTHING was there; cash, credit/ATM cards and all.

The Chinese guy had found it on the curb where I had gotten out of the taxi. I concluded when I put my wallet in my back pocket, it didn't make it in and landed on the curb as I was getting out of the taxi.

Anyway, needless to say I was totally blown away. The Chinese guy who found it didn't speak english so the cop translated for me. After thanking him profusely, I offered him a HKD 1,000 reward, which he initially refused as the cop explained to me he did it for future "good luck". I realized there was the "face" thing going on and then suggested he could take the reward and give it to someone like a family member or a friend that was in need. He then took it.

So, I naturally went on my way and partied like a rock star back in Hong Kong that night, courtesy of Sands casino and a fine Chinese gentleman who returned my lost wallet in one of the most notorious cities known for drugs, money laundering, counterfeiting, gang activity, etc....

[PattayaPhom]

You acted perfectly, many wouldn't bother. Your alive and the guard is no doubt very happy to be rewarded

[bendejo]

Nice gesture, personally I would have considered bringing him a coffee.

You gave him a week's wages at least, must have knocked his socks off.

[Trembly]

You acted perfectly, many wouldn't bother. Your alive and the guard is no doubt very happy to be rewarded

Indeed. If you can afford it, why on earth not? Probably made his and a few other people's day. Keep the cycle of good vibes going.

[macksview]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

[Briggsy]

Watch out for Lad Phrao Road in the rush hour. Same thing applies.

If this saves anybody's life, feel free to send me money. I won't have a problem with 'face' or anything like that.

[macksview]

Watch out for Lad Phrao Road in the rush hour. Same thing applies.

If this saves anybody's life, feel free to send me money. I won't have a problem with 'face' or anything like that.

dont buy whiskey,spend it on the kids

[inthepink]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

Great idea - belittle and patronise people that help you.

Personally I would just have thanked him. I wouldn't give money to a hotel employee who did the same in the West and I think it's a little bit odd to do so here.

[scorecard]

You acted perfectly, many wouldn't bother. Your alive and the guard is no doubt very happy to be rewarded

Indeed. If you can afford it, why on earth not? Probably made his and a few other people's day. Keep the cycle of good vibes going.

Agree totally.

But I wonder if there's an additional action that would be apropriate, ask to see the GM of the hotel ask him why the hotel has not, years ago, put up a large clear sign to warn unsuspecting travellers of this danger.

[partington]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

deleted my post-sorry, was bad-tempered flame.

[Briggsy]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

I would imagine the purchase of Laos (or lao) would cost a lot more than the 3,000 reward he received. There is quite a bit of land involved.

[plopmeister]

I was on WS t'other night with my night's BF. In front of us a farang tourist pulled his hand out of his pocket and a small roll of notes fell out without him being aware. Faster than I can say Jack meoff she swooped in like a swift swooping thing, scooped it up and handed it to him. All she got from him was a grunt...but you should have heard the noise the seagulls made around her!!!

Well done mate on making the effort to go back and reward your saviour.

[macksview]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

Great idea - belittle and patronise people that help you.

Personally I would just have thanked him. I wouldn't give money to a hotel employee who did the same in the West and I think it's a little bit odd to do so here.

personally,i would not have given him money just thanked him,but the OP gave him money

[macksview]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

I would imagine the purchase of Laos (or lao) would cost a lot more than the 3,000 reward he received. There is quite a bit of land involved.

yes,spelling,i did not use thai script in this thread,i should have said thai whiskey,point taken

[macksview]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

deleted my post-sorry, was bad-tempered flame.

nothing wrong with bad tempered flames,if people see fit,some may agree,some disagree,but to speak one's mind logically,is one benefit we have as people.

yes,what i said,may have sounded condescending to some,but if i gave money to some one,i hope it would be spent on the right thing.

[Briggsy]

the security guard helped you,you helped him financially,the only thing i would have done was asked him if he had children,and if he did i would have said to him,to buy food for his children and not buy lao.

I would imagine the purchase of Laos (or lao) would cost a lot more than the 3,000 reward he received. There is quite a bit of land involved.

yes,spelling,i did not use thai script in this thread,i should have said thai whiskey,point taken

I used one word of Thai script in another thread in apposition after the English word and it was removed by the mods. So, it is fortunate you did not use Thai script or the same misfortune would have befallen your post.

Apologies for my facetiousness

[ravip]

Excellent decision indeed on both occasions. You should have no regrets at all.

Showing your gratitude to someone who has helped you without any obligation is indeed a very humane gesture, immaterial of the social status.

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher