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Take a ride on the wild side in Thailand's Tuk Tuks
Thailand's Tuk Tuks are famous world wide as the snarling polluting 3 wheeled taxis that cruise Bangkok and many regional Thai cities. In Bangkok a short ride in one of these high speed coffins is an exhilating thrill for some, a nightmare for others. If you get caught in one of Bangkok's traffic jams in a tuk tuk you are really going to experience the choking smog of the city's streets. You might also have a lot of fun!
These days a taxi is a better choice in Bangkok as all cabs are metered and the fare is ususally cheaper than the prices demanded by tuk tuk drivers. However in many regional cities where there are no taxis, tuk tuks remain the preferred way to get around town. One way or another however make sure you take the opportunity to take a tuk tuk ride - you'll have a real blast and it is an experience you won't forget!
A Tuk Tuk on the prowl
Step on to any busy street in Bangkok and the tuk tuks swarm around you like noisy locusts, often calling out "tuk tuk" and trying to entice you in for a ride. If you are tempted expect to immediately be asked to pay an outrageous price to go to your destination. Try to beat the price down then hop in!
Don't be suprised if a tuk tuk driver loses interest in you or refuses to take you to your destination. If it's too far or simply too close to the end of the shift the driver will just take off and leave you.
The New and the Old
The tuk tuk's heritage is of course the humble samlor (rickshaw), although rickshaws have by no means disapeared from the streets of towns and cities all over Asia.
Banned from some cities and confined to the back streets of others, the rickshaw is much slower and much less polluting than the modern tuk tuk. But quite a pleasant way to get about town if the traffic is light.
This tuk tuk is on show for tourists
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