My second day in Bangkok began as normal1 2, I woke up late (I got tired out from the first day) had a late breakfast (brunch?), put on my skimpiest clothing and headed downstairs to work the street. My goal for the day was to explore. Wandering around, I noticed a signboard for a coin museum nearby. I headed towards it3. While walking, I met a guy taking photos on the street. We started chatting.
We must’ve looked extremely clueless because a “friendly” Thai guy approached us. He engaged with us and spoke really good English4. At the time, I did not realise that this was the beginning of a scam – looking back it was fairly obvious. They have this down to a recipe and as I lay it out one will understand how they draw you in5.
STEP 1: THE APPROACH
Thai guy approaches us – very friendly, engaging and speaks really good English. He tells us about unique temples in the area – these temples had certain characteristics which could not be found anywhere else. I’m thinking, “Wow, what a nice guy – this is really travelling. I’m getting real insider tips from a local. Super helpful” He hails a “random” Tuk-tuk that just happens to be passing by. He doesn’t appear to know the driver. They speak in Thai and he tells the driver to take us on the three temple tour.6
STEP 2: THE DRIVE
Only I board the tuk-tuk, the other guy probably knew what was up7. The driver starts driving away. He asks for 50 THB for the three temple tour – I negotiate for 40 THB8. He agrees and we head on our merry way. We head to the first “temple” it appeared to be someone’s house. There was some really cool Buddhas and the air was thick with incense.
STEP 3: THE MONK
I walked around and was approached by another Thai guy. So many friendly people. He was super friendly and kept on complimenting me, I felt like the coolest dude in the world. We chatted and he confirmed I did the right thing by going on the three temple tour. Interestingly, as I was about to leave he mentioned something about a Bangkok “fashion week” and how there was some government incentive to promote it. Apparently, tuk-tuk drivers could get diesel vouchers9. All I had to do was go to the fashion fair.
STEP 4: THE FAIR
I left the temple and headed back to the tuk-tuk. As I left, I saw another two tuk-tuks pulling in. Making conversation as I usually do I chatted to the driver when he mentioned the fashion fair. I was like, “Ah cool, this must really be a big thing – everyone knows about it.”
Along the way to the next temple, we stopped at a dingy suit place. I walked inside, the place was full of hookah smoke and there were two middle eastern/Indian guys there. Without a word, they started taking my measurements10. This felt a bit weird, I didn’t want a suit so I just walked out.
The driver then took me to another place, and then another one. Exact same thing happened at each. I just walked in, they started measuring me11.Once, I spoke to a tailor. I asked if I could try a suit, and he said, “No, no trying. Only buying12“. I walked out. With each visit to another shop I could see my driver getting more frustrated – he wanted me to spend more time in each shop. Weird.
STEP 5: THE PAYOFF?
Eventually, he dropped me off at another temple and told me to go sight-see. I went around the temple for ~ 20 min. When I came back he wasn’t there. I waited probably another 10 min before deciding to leave and head back to my hostel (which was nearby thankfully). I didn’t see my driver again which sucked because I hadn’t even paid him his 40 baht13.
- Or as normal as could be when you’ve left your job to start backpacking around the world with only a concept of a plan, your savings, and some biltong in a broken suitcase. ↩︎
- We’re jumping around here purely because there was a lot of things I have forgotten from my trip. As I live life and inspiration strikes I jot down blog post ideas. ↩︎
- The signboard, not the museum – who is interested in coin museums. Yuck! (definitely me actually…) ↩︎
- That should’ve been the first giveaway. ↩︎
- Or maybe I am too trusting :/ ↩︎
- I mean, this must be really famous all the tuk-tuk drivers know it. ↩︎
- He didn’t warn me though because he was a b*tch ↩︎
- The guy that approached us also gave an indication of the price we should pay for the tour, 50 THB for an hour. Of course, I had to negotiate it though. I am me. ↩︎
- Super nice of the Thai government, I wish South Africa had programmes like that. Who would it go to though? The taxis? ↩︎
- 12″ ; ) ↩︎
- 12″ ; ) ↩︎
- I’m paraphrasing but that was the gist of it. ↩︎
- I never got to go to the coin museum though: ( I did learn how to spot these scams though and was wary of them. Coincidentally, I managed to spot it again the next day. ↩︎
