There was an encouraging story from Jakarta this week about a former tuk-tuk driver who has converted his vehicle into a mobile library. Sutino Hadi now spends his days driving to the poorer areas of Indonesia's capital where he is greeted by enthusiastic kids eager to get their hands on his collection of children's books. It's proven to be highly popular and apparently there are similar mobile libraries throughout the country.
One wonders if Bangkok's iconic tuk-tuks (samlors) could perhaps be put to similar use, if they can find anyone remotely interested in reading a book. A mobile library featuring road safety literature wouldn't be a bad option. When the kids grow up they might have at least some semblance of road sense, which many parents seem to be sadly lacking.
Although tuk-tuks are less popular than before, there are still thousands of these three-wheeled noisemakers whizzing around in Bangkok. Like them or not, they have contributed to the eccentric image of Amazing Thailand. Perhaps it's their ability to perform instant U-turns, sometimes with spectacular results. Then there is that uncanny knack of stalling at traffic lights, not to mention taking passengers to the entirely wrong destination. We must also not forget the sheepish grin at the end of the journey when the driver realises he is totally lost.
Tuk-tuks are certainly not recommended for visitors of a nervous disposition or those with a throat ailment. Being exposed to the steamy street fumes in Bangkok's gridlock is not exactly nirvana.
Mapping things out
One thing that is not recommended is to put a street map in front of a tuk-tuk driver -- there's a good chance it will cause total confusion. You might as well be showing him a Picasso painting or a game of noughts and crosses, as an English friend discovered some years ago.
Having just arrived in the country and not knowing the language, he drew a crude map for a tuk-tuk driver -- the intended destination was Hua Lamphong railway station. After some initial head-scratching, the driver grinned, apparently having worked out where they were going. He roared off and 15 minutes later, after several terrifying near misses, he pulled up outside a shop, but not a train in sight. The shop was selling toilet bowls.
Seeing his passenger's puzzlement, the driver pointed at the map and then the shop. It seems that after examining the lines and circles of the map the driver had interpreted it as a drawing of a toilet bowl and thought his passenger had wanted to buy a toilet.
The passenger eventually resolved things by making "choo-choo" sounds, which is perhaps what he should have done in the first place.
Helping hand
One of my favourite tuk-tuk tales features an Australian friend some years ago who was walking along Soi Ruam Rudi. He spotted an elderly lady trying to lift a sack of rice from the back of a tuk-tuk. Being a large fellow with considerable strength, he strode over to help the lady.
As he heaved at the sack it got caught up in the framework of the tuk-tuk which to his alarm proceeded to topple over onto its side. The situation was complicated somewhat in that the tuk-tuk driver was still sitting in his seat, but now found himself lying horizontal to the road. The Aussie eventually untangled the sack of rice and the tuk-tuk bounced back to an upright position with the driver still sitting in the seat, looking a little annoyed. At this juncture, the Aussie thought it prudent to flee the scene.
Good Samaritan
The following tale is the case of a tuk-tuk driver who acted above and beyond the call of duty. Many years ago a colleague was walking along Soi Langsuan when it was a quiet leafy lane. He was heading for work, but suddenly felt dizzy and fainted on the pavement. When he came round he was being helped by a tuk-tuk driver who had witnessed his distress.
The driver half carried him to the tuk-tuk, before going back to recover the journalist's watch which had fallen on the pavement.
They then rattled off with the ailing newsman slumped in the back. When they pulled up at traffic lights, the journalist who was still feeling groggy, was vaguely aware the driver had leapt out of his seat and gone round to the back of the tuk-tuk.
Wondering what the driver was up to, the stricken journo soon got his answer. He felt two firm hands on his shoulder and the Good Samaritan proceeded to give him a massage until the lights turned green.
They then raced off again before the ailing passenger was dropped off at the nearest hospital. Truly Amazing Thailand.
Historic guzzle
Today is April 7, not a date that rings many bells, but might resonate with some Americans, being US National Beer Day. It marks the day President Franklin D Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act in 1933 which effectively put an end to Prohibition after 13 long dry years.
Immediately after the signing. Roosevelt uttered the immortal words, "I think this should be a good time for a beer". So for any American readers, you can treat yourself to a glass of amber liquid today and not feel in the least bit guilty. You are celebrating an important moment in US history.
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