You can't do much reading about visiting or living in Thailand without running across the word "songtaew" (sometimes written as two words - song taew). I had to stop and look it up the first time I read it too, thinking it was a bus - and in many ways it is; it's just a more casual type of bus. I think they're not only fun but great exposure to locals and local life and ride them as often as possible.In many places throughout the kingdom you can hop into the back of one of these covered pickup trucks with benches along the sides in back( over the wheel wells) and ride. The trick is to know when to push the button to let the driver know where you want them to stop and let you off. After you get out you go up to the window and hand the driver your fare - usually 10 baht.
If you're able to get the driver to understand you you can ask before boarding to go to a specific place, but by doing so you've hired the vehicle as a taxi and the rate will go up to whatever the driver thinks you're good for - often 100 baht or more. If you're someplace smaller - like Pattaya - don't pay more than this, and just politely wave them off if they won't lower their price. 95% of the time they'll take the 100 baht. If the price is reasonable and worth it to you (and on some days it certainly is, depending on my schedule and how I'm feeling at the time) you've just hired a driver!
Be especially aware of other riders sitting next to you, as there are countless stories of pickpockets working solo or in teams on these rides, especially when they're crowded.
A local might be able to explain the routes to you, but I'd encourage you to bring a pocketful of "mai pen rai" along if you're honestly thinking of getting from Point A to Point B in a hurry without a hitch. If you've got time for an adventure, though, they're a wonderful way of getting around.
If you're with a local, do not miss the opportunity to ride them as often as possible.
3 comments:
BaoBao,
I have never been quite sure how this is pronounced but I gather it is some akin to song-too. Let me know how close I am to your understanding.
As they don't have these in BKK, my main stopping off point, they're not in my common vocabulary (spoken as if I actually speak Thai ... not!), so have never been that comfortable with my pronunciation.
Cheers and keep 'em comin'
Keith
I've heard it as SONG-thao (SONG as in sing a song and thao as in "how") with the first syllable a mid-tone and the second being a low tone, and as the same pronunciation but with the both syllables being a mid-tone that rises and neither being emphasized. I think the second is more common. Maybe someone else will chime in.
there are 100s of routes of them in BKK too-all red, but in suburban areas, too far out of the tourist-zone (well-not that long ago there was even 1 on Silom-nr 1272). They have fixed routes and are mainly in sidesois. Fare is 6 or 7 bt-varies a bit with length.
In country-Thai they serve routes where a big bus might be too big. On the islands fares are much, much higher-upo to 100 bt for fairly short rides even.
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