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Articles Tagged ‘Sky Train’

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BTS And Parts of MRT Closed In BKK

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

It’s 6pm Friday and Bob just called that he couldn’t get on the skytrain at Nana to get to Asoke.  All of sky train closed down. And this morning the subway was closed between Asoke and the Thailand Cultural Center where I was supposed to go this morning to my dentist so I took a taxi.

Expecting something no good to happen tonight.

Posted in Bangkok, Thailand, World Watching And Politics | No Comments »

Skytrain Tuk Tuks Cycles & Boats

Tuesday, August 6th, 2002

The SkyTrain is an air conditioned jam-packed elevated transportation system financed by the World Bank that can scoot you quickly from one part of the city to another but for some reason, probably due to corruption, is in the red. A subway system is under construction.

My favorite way of travel across the city is by boat on the Mae Nam Chao Phraya (river). The boat is very long and low…about 60 seats-four seats across…with a driver at the front end and the signaler wit han ear- splitting whistle at the back end. The boat speeds past the dock and at the whistle of the signaler suddenly shoves the boat into reverse. Then in response to continued short whistles the driver teases the roaring boat back and forth until it bumps up against old tires nailed to the docks. The boat never really stops still while the riders hop across to the boat deck (or off.) Another long shrill whistle we are off to the next dock. For some reason this macho maneuvering is endlessly entertaining for me…and I would love to drive one of those boats but I suspect i trequires more practice than I would be willing to give it. There are many different boats on the river at any one time ranging from long tail boats (boats with a 12 foot long metal �tail� extending from the motor with a propelleron the end to large slow dinner cruisers.)

Tuk tuk’s are called tuk tuks because of the horrible noise this vehicle makes. It is a three wheeled motorcycle/rickshaw hybred similar to the ones in India but in Thailand are often decked out with bright plastic seat covers, multi colored lights that get your attention at night andother decoration. Usually it is better to take another mode of transpo…they can be relatively expensive and you often end up at a rug shop so the driver can get a gas coupon in exchange.

For short distances you can take your life in your hands and take a motorcycle like many of the locals. The kamikaze driver will weave in and out of traffic fearlessly for half a dozen blocks down the road for only 10 baht. The driver is helmeted; the passenger goes bare and rides behind–most often with little to grasp. The Thai women look quite comfortable riding side saddle with trusting hands holding a child and the day’s groceries.

For destinations far and wide and nowhere near the SkyTrain you can take a metered taxi. Then there are crowded buses we haven’t even begun to fathom. Traffic is a perpetual gridlock.

Pollution
Many people, especially policemen and others who are out on the street most of the day wear a white surgical mask. Others hold a folded handkerchief over their mouths and noses and still others pull up a scarf or other piece of clothing to filter out the black smoke. Word is that a day in Bangkok is like smoking a half a pack of cigarettes.

Posted in Bangkok, Thailand, Transportation | Comments Off on Skytrain Tuk Tuks Cycles & Boats