Travelling Around In Chaing Mia

Cabs... Yellow Cabs may be what you are familiar with as a swift and popular means of transportation.. you see them drive around almost simultaneously on the streets of New york,Boston, Banjul and a host of other cities.. In Thailand However, there are several modes of transportation, but when it comes to automobiles,while walking on the streets of chiang mai,(which is the second largest city in Thailand), the most popular means of travelling is the motorbike. Many people choose it because it is regarded as the best way to get around during traffic congestion as it is small and easily navigated.

But the one that really caught my attention is the "songtheaw" it literally means "two rows") this explains why it has a bench like structure on the inside, also known in English as a baht bus,it is a passenger vehicle in Thailand adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi.Songthaews are used both within towns and cities and for longer routes between towns and villages, many students use it to go to their placements, Sunday night markets(which is really popular), the ever exciting Night Bazaar's this is mostly for people who like shopping or maybe just walking around and enjoying the night breeze.




As a study abroad student using this form of transport is prevalent, so it is always interesting to get into conversations with songtheaw drivers, the chatting sessions are usually about yourself,where you come from,and sometimes what your studying and so this opportunity is used to test your Thai language and proficiency. I particularly enjoyed one of the drives back from the Robinson Mall, so i flagged down one of the rides,gave my residential map to driver and he looked at it weirdly so i figured he couldn't read the map, i decided to speak my newly learned Thai so i described the place and he was like "Krab krab" i assumed he understood what i said then i said 'Tao Rai Kha'?(how much is it) nueng Khon(for one person) and he said Nueng roi Har Sib Baht(150 baht), i tried saying "Lot Dai Mai kha?(can you please reduce the price? then i bargained and eventually got to a hundred baht, with a sigh of relief and got on the songtheaw. On our drive home he talked about how he wanted a new car and that the one he had was old and weary, then we got into the introduction and it was a good way of killing the approximately 15 minutes ride back to the Dorm.
Eventually i arrived and said the customary Khob Khoon Kha(which means Thank you), he beeped his horn and drove away, it was an exciting ride and experience,and i urge anyone coming to Thailand to endeavor to hop in for a ride,I'm sure its going to be a unique and exciting experience
Pob Gan Mai Kha (see you soo) =)