Bangkok Tuktuk Driver: Scam Operation

Photo Credit: www.thailandtuktuk.net

At past noon, we finished touring the Grand Palace. I was waiting for my Mum in the exit gate while she returned the skirt which she rented for 100 Baht to the counter. Wearing shorts and sleeveless are not allowed inside the Grand Palace.

While waiting for her, a drizzle of rain started to drop. I looked at the sky. I instantly knew that a heavy rain was still to come because the sky was a carpet of dark clouds. We supposed to head to Jim Thompson House, a museum of traditional Thai Houses. The entry pass for Jim Thompson House was included already in the entrance ticket we purchased for Grand Palace.
So, we didn’t want to miss it for two reasons. It was another tourist attraction and we paid for it but the moment we stepped out from the main gate of Grand Palace, the heavy rain started to pour. Luckily, there was an empty Tuktuk, a three wheeled public transportation, adjacent to us. We hopped in to avoid getting drench.

We told the Tuktuk driver that we were heading to Jim Thompson House. I showed to him the entry pass to make sure we understood each other. By the way, the pass is valid within the day of purchased only.

Then he suggested going first to the Golden Buddha because Jim Thompson House was closed during lunchtime and besides entrance fee was not required to visit the Golden Buddha. So he drove and to our surprised, the driver could speak well in English though there were instances that we hardly understood him. He explained the general facts about Bangkok and promoted other local attractions.

Too bad, the heavy rain started to pour down after we entered the entrance (I believed it was a back entrance) to Golden Buddha. We ran to look for a covered area and ended in an open space with a roof. It was a busy place with a monk on the other side and many Thais were praying to the Buddha which was just situated opposite to the monk.

It was understandably busy because the next day would be the Thai New Year or Songkran Festival.

From the place where we were standing and hoping the rain would end soon, we had a glimpse already of the Golden Buddha from his head to chest only. It seemed that they were refurbishing the statue as there were traces of construction materials and wooden ladders. The heavy rained continued and there were other tourists who were stranded with us too. I believed they were headed to Golden Buddha also which I thought just few minutes walk from where we were.

It rained heavily for almost an hour and the water on the ground was around two feet high. So, we removed our shoes and rolled up our pants. Shortly, the Tuktuk driver was heading towards us. We were grateful otherwise we would be stuck there for another hour.

After we hopped in, we asked the driver to take us to a good Thai restaurant. It was passed 3 o’clock already and we didn’t have our lunch yet. Then he said something which we could hardly understand. Anyway, we said yes. To our surprised again, we stopped at a tailor shop that sells customized silk suits. Hmm... This was great, I murmured to my Mum though I was not really keen to shop and it was not part of our itinerary. We were still thankful to the Tuktuk driver for taking us to the shop. We hadn’t known that kind of souvenirs and customized suits were available until he took us there. After few minutes, we came out and eventually the driver took us to a Thai restaurant.

It was almost five in the afternoon and we knew that we missed already the opportunity to visit the Jim Thompson House. So, we decided to go back to our hotel by taxi but the Tuktuk driver bargained for 200 Baht fare including the charge for touring us around from Golden Buddha, tailor shop and restaurant. Honestly, we thought, if not cheaper, it would be the same cost for taxi fare. So it was fair enough to take Tuktuk instead of taxi.

The Tuktuk driver asked us for two more favors, to visit two more shops before heading back to our hotel. This time it was a jewelry shop and another tailor shop. He in fact insisted for more other shops but we firmly refused. Well, we really appreciated his gestures for showing some part of Bangkok but it started to irritate us. We had more detours than expected.


I supposed to pay him with an extra tip, in fact considering to double it, but I realized I didn’t bargain which they normally expect. They set the price high enough that when the customer haggles, they still get the right price with profit. My hunch then was that we were overcharged (of course!).


In the end, I ended up paying the amount of 200 Baht that we agreed. Later we came to know the reason why the driver insisted to make several detours and stopovers to various shops. Every time the Tuktuk driver will take tourists to these shops, they receive incentives and rewards. It can be in kind such free petrol, some vouchers, and so on.


So, on your future trip to Bangkok and your Tuktuk driver insists to follow his itineraries instead of yours, beware!

Marhaba Services

Photo Credit: www.dnata.com


First time experience can be fun and exciting but for others, it is a nightmare and a torture of nervousness.

This is exactly what my Mum felt during her first trip to Dubai. It was a mix feeling of joy and anxiety because it was her first experience to travel abroad and to travel alone.

I was confident that she would find her way just like she used to do on her trips before but my confidence turned into worry on the day of her arrival. She was lost for almost two hours in the airport.

Luckily I sent her a sim card and we managed to monitor her location inside the airport.

So if you have first time visitors in Dubai, it is best to avail the Marhaba Services. I actually regretted why I didn’t arrange the same for my Mum.

Marhaba means welcome in Arabic and they offer a ‘meet and greet’ services in Dubai International Airport. They will assign staff to assist your visitors either for arrival or departure.

For premium Marhaba Service which they refer as ‘Diamond Service’, it offers full escort service to the guests.

I should have saved my Mum’s uneasiness if the Marhaba Services was arranged for her.

No worries Mum, on your next trip!

Desert Safari Experience is worth the Puke!

When in Dubai, don’t miss desert safari or else you miss half of the fun in your vacation?

A must for anyone who is visiting Dubai, this adrenalin rush activity will take you to the midst of the desert to witness the beautiful sunset. Standing in the golden landscape of sand dunes will keep you awestruck. It is indeed a magnificent creation of nature. Really Awesome!

Desert Safari is usually a convoy of 4x4 wheel drive which departs the city at around past three in the afternoon and they will drive you across the desert. To make the most out of this adrenalin pumping experience, it is recommended not to take heavy meals at least an hour or two before safari. Some passengers with faint heart will puke and feel dizzy during the dune bashing excursion. Others simply cannot tolerate the thrill of feeling the car being toppled or plummeting from the sandbank or the sudden spins.


I always prefer to have a veteran safari driver because they are expert in maneuvering their drive wheel and it makes safari experience more thrilling. Drivers will swirl and bash the sand dunes. Sometimes if they want to show off their skill, they will take sudden twirls along the sandbanks. You can’t help but think that the car will tumble.


It is great if other passengers share the same adventurous spirit as yours, then the driver will be free and daring as he can be without any inhibitions if passengers will faint or puke. It will make your desert safari experience an exhilarating and fun.


After that dune bashing show off, you will head to the camp site that is located in the mid of a barren desert and you can enjoy complimentary activities such as henna painting, shisha (also known as hookah or Hubble bubble), Camel rides, traditional costumes (which you can wear for photo purpose) and sometimes motorbike rides. Welcome refreshments along with fresh dates are served also.



Dinner is a scrumptious buffet served with local dishes like kebabs (meats in skewers) and shawarmas. Then it is followed by the pinnacle of the night which is the belly dancing. I experienced desert safari many times but I always looked forward belly dancing with anticipation. The guests will gather around the dance floor that is covered with a fabric similar to a carpet and the edge is surrounded with pillows of sand bags.


From my observations, people who witness belly dancing are always blown away with its gracefulness and sensual moves. Later the belly dancer will ask the crowd to join her in the dance floor. This activity reminds me of the communal dance in the old-world.

Desert safari is really worth an experience.




Cebu Pacific Air


Five domestic flights for 2 weeks in Philippines. It was a short vacation with more time spent in the airport.

Because I was travelling in a very tight budget, all my flights were catered by Cebu Pacific Air. The rates were very economical with various options in the flight schedules.



I actually like their branding and marketing concept. It reflected a casual and sporty aura starting from the tshirt uniforms of the ground crew and flight attendants but this should not be an excuse for the staff grooming and bearing.


Indeed Cebu Pacific Air doesn't depict a monster corporate outlook but a well groomed and tidy crews are expected in any airline industries. Flying with Cebu Pacific Air so many times during that period, I noticed that the grooming standards were not consistent.


Don't get me wrong. I liked travelling with Cebu Pacific Air. I admire their creativity such as playing a question and answer game with some Cebu Pacific Air tokens as prizes. It was a great and innovative way to entertain bored passengers.

However, I think what disgraces the Cebu Pacific Air is it misses the value of punctuality. Most of the trips I had were delayed. I can understand that they no longer serve snacks or meals during the trips to cut the cost and keep a low airline fares. But being delayed for most of the flights, it is a nightmare.



Flying with Cebu Pacific Air was a great experience except for the flight delays.



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