Bangkok – staying near the Khao San Rd
We left the Howard Square Hotel in two taxi’s as between us we had so much luggage we almost needed a bus!! It took about 15 minutes to get two taxis organised that would agree to take us the 30 minute journey to the Khao San area. Taxi drivers in Bangkok seem to have a bizzare aversion to actually taking you where you want to go. We did manage it eventually and against my better judgement I allowed Tehya to travel with the girls in their taxi – she was so excited I did not feel I could say no. The first taxi left with the three girls inside and Gavin and I were left at the side of the road still trying to get one to agree to take us. When we finally arrived at the hotel Villa Cha Cha there was no sign of the other taxi – we booked in and paid the room deposit, drank our welcome drinks and started to completely freak out. Gavin got out the laptop and we tryed to Skype their mobile phone – with no answer I had started to shake when they walked in through the entrance to the hotel. Their taxi had gotten lost a few blocks away and had had to try to find it’s way back…..we have experienced some pretty extreme taxi rides in Bangkok.
A good example of a stressfull taxi ride would be the one we had experienced the night before collecting Oonagh from the airport. Wenwent to the taxi desk at the airport arrivals exit and were given a ticket and designated a taxi. He agreed to put it on the meter and we loaded up Oonaghs bags and got comfortable (Gavin in the front and us three girls and Tehya in the back). As he pulled away from the airport I noticed that the meter was not on – I told him and he ignored me at first. Gavin also told him to put the meter on….the driver shook his head and said set price 500 Baht (we also have to pay the 50 Baht airport service charge and the 70 Baht road tolls. Add this all up in pounds it would total about £13 – a metered taxi ride costs a maximum of 260 baht, we know we had done the journey four times before. We said no we had agreed to meter and he refused. I asked him to pull over and he refused. I aksed him again and he ignored me and continued to drive so I shouted at him “pull over the car” – Gavin and Becca also started to shout at him to pull over and he got really angry and put the meter on. The rest of the journey he put his radio on – off the station so it made a terrible noise (really loudly) and drove like a crazy man. After a while he said he did not know where the hotel was and said he wanted to pull over and let us out (the traffic had gotten pretty bad), I could remember the way to the hotel and I was able to direct him there. He was so mad that we knew the way when he finally pulled over he barely let us get our stuff out of the car before snatching the cash and driving off!! Becca, Tehya and I experienced a similar incident the night before that. Gavin stayed at the hotel as he was still unwell with the cold he had picked up while at Jon’s house. We went out for food and on the way back got a taxi who agreed meter before we got in and then tryed to refuse once he was driving – I was just pushy and refused to negotiate. He then drove at nreakneck speed through really bad traffic and I ended up shouting at him and getting really angry telling him to slow down as I had Tehya in the car……..beware the Bangkok taxi driver!!!
We were so chuffed with the new hotel Villa Cha Cha – the swimming pool and garden area are very pretty and well looked after and there is a very relaxed atmosphere. The rooms are very small but really comfortable – we got two twin bed rooms and the beds are massive and so lush to lie on. There is cable TV and a fresh new shower room that is a real funky blue colour. We spent the afternoon taking turns to go out and check out the stalls selling clothes and relaxing in the rooms.
Gavin and I had a stressful time when we took Tehya for lunch and got approached by some crazy English idiot. We sat quietly eating our food at a street side cafe that also sold beer. We had moved from one seat to another as Tehya was not feeling 100% and she wanted to get out of the sunshine. He lent across the space between our table and leered how “much for the little girl”? I looked over my shoulder and just said “you are not even remotely funny” and turned my back. Gavin asked me what was said and I told him – the same man got annoyed and started to make snide comments which we ignored. Gavin started to get stressed and I knew it was only a few minutes before he blew his top, so we got up and started to leave. The guy then offered again twice very loudly “how much for the kid”? At the end of the day you can get approached by fools and idiots where ever you are in the world and the probability is most likely increased somewhat in places like Bangkok – it made us feel even more protective of Tehya and even more on guard to ensure her well being.
Categories: Thailand
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