Money talks in Bangkok
We’re stuck in traffic in what many consider to be the most congested city in the world. Bravely, I had decided to drive through Bangkok and into the national park of Khao Yai – a most spectacular natural area of waterfalls, mountains and wild life about 3 hours north east of the city.
“Good job we opted for the sat nav. with the hire car”, I said to my wife. But it’s not like my familiar UK Tom Tom where you can actually see where you’re going! My better half has driven in Bangkok before and skilfully guides me through the maze of traffic helping to avoid the tuk tuk’s, bikes, buses and cars that seem to come from all directions.
“Take the next right” the GPS instructs, but the map shows a major right as the second turning.
“ First or second right? “ I enquire of my wife.
“er, er ...first” she says.
“No, no, second” she changed her mind! But too late we’re about to head in the opposite direction back into the melee of traffic.
“Blast, we’ve gone wrong”, so I stop and start to do a u- turn. Then this traffic cop jumps out from behind a bush and calls me to pull over.
“Oh ****, we’re going to get a ticket”, I blurt out to my wife.
“ Don’t worry, I’ll sort it. Give me your driving license”
My wife, being a seasoned Thai driver, jumps out of the car and disappears into the glass traffic control booth at the side of the road. A few seconds later and the traffic cop is actually stopping the cars to let out us out onto the road so we can get back on track.
“What did you say to him?”
“Not much , just paid him 500 baht to avoid complicated paper work and an hour’s delay.”
I subsequently learned that this is normal practise and we actually paid over the odds. Then my wife is of a very generous nature.
