Your best Baht Bus story, scam, adventure, annoyance?

[SmellyFarang 57]

So we hop a Baht Bus from Jomtien to WS with the usual afternoon traffic and crazy moterbikes zipping around everywhere. I happen to glance down through the back window and notice the driver is not only “steering” with his knees, he has his head down and is intently concentrating on some mesmerizing task that requires not only both hands, but apparently his full, undivided attention that couldn’t be bothered with such distractions as actually looking out the windshield.

 

What is this urgent, fascinating task you ask? Apparently he decided that driving through heavy traffic was the ideal time to roll a cigarette.

 

Oops, we hit bump in the road and he’s spilled his tobacco.

 

He now has his head down BELOW the steering wheel while he meticulously picks up every precious shred of brown heaven.

 

Eventually satisfied that he has retrieved all his precious puff from the seat (but not before also carefully inspecting his shirt for any strays), he resumes rolling his cigarette. At least at this point he now has his wrists in periodic contact with the steering wheel while he completes the process and lights up with a true sigh of satisfaction.

 

Finally a brief glance forward to confirm he hasn’t hit anything too large yet. Life is good…

 

Meanwhile I’m frantically looking for a parachute...

 

Anyone with some fresh baht bus stories to add?

-Smelly

[ozijeff 9]

They never seen to 'hab change' even if you only require 10bt back.

[Pigalle 0]

They not know what change is me thinks I make sure i have hte right money to always piss them off

[LeoTex 29]

This has happened to me a few times;

 

Get on a baht bus that I waved down on the route. After going a little ways up the road, someone else waves him down. They go up to the window and ask questions and they jump in the back. The baht bus starts back up again and turns on the next Soi to head in a new directions while there are still people on the bus.

 

I start hitting the buzzer and he pulls over and I get off and walk away, while he is yelling that I owe him 10 baht. The other people just stay on the bus. I guess they wan't to go along to see where they wanted to go.

 

Keep walking and don't plan on paying.

 

LeoTex

[jacko 8,827]

This has happened to me a few times;

 

Get on a baht bus that I waved down on the route. After going a little ways up the road, someone else waves him down. They go up to the window and ask questions and they jump in the back. The baht bus starts back up again and turns on the next Soi to head in a new directions while there are still people on the bus.

 

I start hitting the buzzer and he pulls over and I get off and walk away, while he is yelling that I owe him 10 baht. The other people just stay on the bus. I guess they wan't to go along to see where they wanted to go.

 

Keep walking and don't plan on paying.

 

LeoTex

And the extension to that is........

The someone else who asks to be taken to a specific hotel, maybe just off the route but requiring the bus to backtrack... now baht bus is in 'taxi mode'..... So I say, 'if you do that, everyone here has to get off as they will be taken in the wrong direction', the Mr Someone decides politely and wisely, to get another, preferably empty, baht bus.

Driver will now throw a tantrum and call you all the names under the sun and probably throw you off!

Edited May 29, 2009 by jacko