Baht bus driver attacks farang with lump of wood

[wombat 5]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Edited December 7, 2005 by wombat

[LeoTex 29]

The person that was attacked wasn't by chance named 'fishingtime'? He has disappeared and I'm sure a lot of us are worried about him.

[Eneukman 1]

Thought about that as well when I read the headlines of the story. It does make you wonder though what the guy would have done if a farang had tried paying him 5 baht and just walked off after he had demanded 10 baht.

 

And no, I do NOT want to restart the 5 baht or 10 baht argument again.  ;D ;D ;D

 

Alan

[FalangKeyKnock 0]

a haha,

 

Just this evening, I got off a baht bus, payed 5B, and started walking. Well the driver didn't seem to be pleased and he started yelling at me. I figured, walk away, he's not going to get out of his car. The traffic was going at the exact same speed as I was walking so he kept shouting at me for about 20 meters. I got fed up with it and turned around. Then this farang-bashing story popped in my head and I got really scared.

 

(i'm not trying to bring up the B5-10 argument either, but I'm kinda living here for a while, so I'm trying to be as Thai as I possibly can, usually I pay B5 and they're content)

 

maybe i should don a helmet while taking da bus.

[Code Monkey 0]

I read on the Nanapong site ages ago that a longterm resident used to pay the driver 5 baht and walk back along the way the bus had just come for a few metres. This way, if the driver was upset at only getting 5 baht, he wouldn't be able to follow you and pester you for more money.

 

Seems a logical way to avoid an on-going argument as the driver is unlikely to get out of his bus but is likely to trail you if you start walking with the flow of traffic.

 

Seems even easier to just pay the 10 baht and walk in any direction you want!

 

Like the other posters above,  I am not interested in raising the stupid 5/10 baht bus fee, but I just know someone is going to kick it off big time soon!

 

ps I hope FishingTime is ok too.

[TabMule 1]

Late one night last November I caught a baht bus up to the Dynasty Resort where I was staying. The driver invited me to sit in the front with him. We agreed a price of 100 baht which is about the same as I have paid on dozens of occasions. Arriving at the Dynasty Resort the driver pulled up and demanded 150 baht. I told him I thought we had agreed 100 baht as the fare. Being aware of the need not to appear angry, which was easy as I was was confused by his demand, I attempted to talk with him. Without warning this guy started shouting at me and produced a gun from under his seat. I was out of the bus and into reception quicker than a BG's order for a ladydrink.

 

I figured reception was the safest place to be. The guy followed me into reception (minus the gun) and started remonstrating with the girl on reception. Having visions of unmentionable things happening to me I kept quiet and eventually the guy calmed down and left.

 

Nothing was ever said to me by the staff at reception during that stay and subsequent stays and I can only presume it was an isolated incident as I have never heard of this happening before or since.

 

I have no way of knowing whether the gun was real or not, whether this guy was a rip-off merchant who preyed on farang's or whether I have the sort of face that invites trouble.

 

During all my visits to LoS I have never had a similar experience over a bahtbus fare. I don't really care whether I am charged 80 or 100 baht as it's only a small amount of money. I have thought about my reaction to his demand many times and I am sure I showed no aggression only questioning the driver in a polite manner.  

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Gabor 296]

I had two accident with bbus drivers. Once some guys ran without paying at the same place, where I dropped out. The driver shouted with me to pay, because they are my friends and beated my chest with his fist. To no effect I explained I never saw those guys before in my life. So I went inside a supermarket and he left.

The second one was the similar story. We agreed for a price and at the hotel he demanded a half more. After some arguing ( I was calm and polite ) I was banged on the glass wall and he throttled me. The hotel staff saved me and my TGF anyway paid him the rest of the money. Some time I feel to shoot them in scruff without any hesitating.

[vanilla73 10]

i never had a problem, but then i rather go with a motorbiketaxi, its faster and i always make up the price before going, ok i know it can be dangerous going with a motorbiketaxi (crash)  but if u always going to think and worrie about risks and possible things that could happen in life, u would loose your mind before anything possible will happen, living on the edge right ::)

[tom_pitt 0]

What gets me is how unpredictable baht bus drivers are. I mean you never know when you get in if there's gonna be a hassle. Once I took a fairly long ride, gave the guy 10 baht and he gave me 5 baht change. Once I rode for about 500 meters and the guy told me loudly that only students pay 5 baht. If they were consistent, I could just gird my loins before disembarking.

I wonder, do they own their own vehicles? If not, are they getiing ripped off themselves by the owner or some bbus mafia?

As long as I'm asking questions, how do you say "Please don't take advantage of me."

A friend told once to say "Ai ki gong," but that's pretty strong, even said with a smile.

[Gabor 296]

Usually when I am arrive and white and looks lamer I have a temporary henna tatto on my arm in thai language:

"I am farang, but not an idiot. "

Mostly works and gives some smiles  

[Top_Cat 16]

Good idea Gabor about the henna tatoo.

 

Hope you can read Thai though because I'm sure the locals would have a smile if it said "I am falang c**t".

 

Or something similair.

 

T.C.

[Guest]

Gabor,

   Where do you come up with a tatoo like that?  Sounds like a real gas!

   ""I am farang, but not an idiot. ""

 

--WISteve

[flying__pig 0]

be carefull  out there guys,its a jungle sometimes

[Gabor 296]

WISteve, I am asking an englishspeaker bargirl to write me down the sentence to a piece of paper and on the next day at the beach are plenty henna tattooers.