Kudos to the motosai taxis in Pattaya
asiastock / Shutterstock.com
Today I want to write a nice story about the boys and girls, who regularly take us from A. to B. with their motorbike taxis in Pattaya.
Here in Pattaya they are often present in large numbers at the shopping centers, but otherwise you will find a stand on almost "every corner of the street". In my neighborhood there are 3 nests within a short walking distance, which I sometimes use myself and my wife uses them to have all kinds of errands done, such as picking up food at a restaurant, going to the post office, paying electricity bills, etc..
It is an excellent service that they provide. I know stories that you sometimes read about speeding (kamikaze), ignoring traffic rules, paying too much, but I have never experienced it myself. On the contrary, I would say, with some recent examples of their services I want to show that in general things are going well with those drivers.
Flooding
A week or so ago we had another heavy rain shower, which caused a lot of flooding. The rain stopped and I set off with my scooter to the pool hall. The road, which I normally take, was closed by about 60 cm of water, so I took a shortcut, but unfortunately I also had to deal with rainwater that had not yet been removed. Too much for my scooter engine, because after plowing through water for 200 meters, my engine stalled. So walk with the scooter in hand to the nearest 7-Eleven, which was situated higher. I was not alone, with me there were 20 others with similar bad luck.
The drivers of motorbike taxis, who have their base there, were busy helping the unlucky ones. I was also helped and after about twenty minutes my engine started again. But Soi Buakhow was also flooded and again I went through 30 to 40 centimeters of water. Again the engine cut off and despite help from the boys from motorbike taxis, now finally. Scooter parked and continue to Megabreak through water up to almost knee height.
Back home later in the evening with a motosai and the next morning - my scooter had already been delivered to Megabreak - still no engine damage. No problem, two taxi boys took the scooter to a motorcycle workshop and an hour later the scooter was neatly delivered, purified of the dirty rainwater in the interior of the engine. Cost 800 baht!
I thought to myself, you must be out of luck somewhere in a city center in the Netherlands. Where can you find a workshop that repairs your motorcycle just as quickly?
Vassamon Anansukkasem / Shutterstock.com
Keys
During tournament evenings in Megabreak it tends to get very cozy later in the evening, of course with the necessary beers. The limit for me to go home with my own scooter is three beers. If I drink more, it automatically becomes a motorbike taxi, which is available 24 hours just outside the hall. A number of those guys know me by now and when they see me they already know that there is work to be done. They deliver to my home without having to tell me my address. The next day I take the same route of about five kilometers to pick up my scooter again.
Like once last week. Neatly brought home at about 4 am and the next morning I walk back and visit a restaurant on the way. There I notice that I have left my keys at home. Call home to bring the keys to Megabreak? Not an option, because I don't have my phone with me. Then drive home with a “strange” taxi driver and then take the keys to Megabreak? I didn't feel like that! No, walked on to Megabreak, approached the guys at the taxi stand and one of them drove alone to my house - after all, he knew where I lived - and brought me the keys. What a service, isn't it?
Money
A while ago an English friend let himself be taken home by a taxi motor, because he was quite drunk. When he arrived there, he pressed money into the driver's hands and disappeared into his house. The next morning he reached into his pocket and found a 500 baht note. However, he was sure that he also had a 1000 Baht note the day before. He racked his brains, but made no connection to the cab ride.
During the day, a taxi driver came to him in Megabreak and handed him the 1000 Baht note. He told me that my friend paid with it, but didn't get the chance to tell me that it was of course too much. He was praised by my friend and still got paid correctly with a hefty tip.
Finally
As far as I'm concerned, tribute to the corps of motorcycle taxi drivers. The above are not shocking events, but I thought it was nice to tell you. Do you have a fun or perhaps less fun experience with a motosai? Let us know via a comment!
I never use the motosai taxis myself. I have never been in NL myself. ridden with a moped. I see them in soi 7. Among others at the Pandora bar. It is neatly kept track of which of the drivers is next for the ride. And they are quite busy. And frankly, the men are always friendly. Incidentally, I once heard that many ladies who work at the bars live together with the relevant motosai boys. Does anyone know if there's any truth to that?
Thank you very much for your story gringo, that makes a person happy.
And ideally those hand and span services of the motorcyclists.
I myself never dare to use a motorcycle taxi because as a tourist you want to be extra careful and when I see the ladies sitting with 2 legs on one side, so nice.
Personally I would rather have one leg on each side but maybe that is not done in Thailand
2 legs on 1 side is easy if you wear a skirt or dress as a woman
If you just wear (short) pants you can sit as you want.
as a 71-year-old I sometimes take that motorcycle taxi and even with my suitcase between the driver and myself and don't worry those men and women can drive a bit! I feel very comfortable with that
it is NOT motosai but motosike that comes from the Thai bastardized word motorcycle to motosike haha
Phonetically it is 'maaw-dtôoe-sai'. But there are several ways to write it phonetically. The reason why I think it's better to end it in 'sai' is because consonants at the end of a word in Thai are very soft or not pronounced (generally). So a Thai person will probably never pronounce it as 'motosike' unless they corrupt it back to English themselves. To the average Western person it will sound much more like 'motosai' because the 'k' sound is not pronounced.
But just on topic; I totally agree. I've never had any problems and you can often laugh with them if you try to speak a little (Western) Thai. All over the city for next to nothing. That said, I've sometimes avoided a driver because I didn't trust him to be sober.
I am also completely satisfied with the use of the motorbike taxi. Indeed friendly and helpful.
I often take short trips with the boys in the neighborhood for groceries or to the main road for the Bahtbus. And I use Mister Noo for long distances because very reliable in terms of driving style and price.
But now about the service.
When I was late with paying the water bill (on 7/11) a year ago, I had to go to the head office. I had no idea where that was. I showed that receipt to the first boy at a stand in Jomtien, he didn't know either but just stopped another passing motorbike taxi to ask. And took me 7 km away to that office. When he got there he offered to arrange it. Within five minutes he was back outside with proof of payment and money back!
Six months ago I finally came up with the bright idea of having the water bill collected automatically! And so went with Mister Noo to the head office. Mister Noo speaks enough English to understand what it was about. Once there he spoke, fortunately, because I soon found out that the ladies behind the counter unfortunately spoke too little English to follow my story. We received a form that had to be signed by my bank. Mister Noo managed to find such a branch in Naklua and did not forget to stop along the way to make the necessary photocopies at a shop.
That was a funny moment, by the way. We didn't have much time because the head office of that Water Company would close at 16.00:15.30 PM and it was now about XNUMX:XNUMX PM. When he stopped in front of the Copyshop and said 'Copy now', I understood 'Coffee now' and thought What?? should he drink coffee first???
It was very busy at the bank and we had to wait far too long for that signature. We kept looking at each other, shaking our heads and apparently both thinking the same thing: we would never be back at the Water Company in time… Finally Mister Noo intervened, which I found very special. He managed to accost someone to demand that a signature should now be obtained!
All in all, it all worked out thanks to him.
We've been great buddies ever since. Whether I need to arrange something difficult or buy plants that cannot be found, Mister Noo always has the solution.
Indeed: Tribute to the motorbike taxis!
I have now been to Bangkok a number of times, the motorbike taxis are really great! Dangerous, because fall, oh oh. shorts on. but the service is great every time!
Most Thais are like that. I have been on the side of the road with my (very old) car several times, twice with a flat tire and someone always stopped to help and stayed until I could drive again or a mechanic even got a tuk-tuk and several times a motosai taxi. Never asked for money.
This is Thailand at its best, and also the reason I miss “my second home” so much.
I also have only good experiences with this form of transport.
People there are very helpful, especially towards the elderly.
Beautiful country isn't it, the loss is getting bigger by the day.
For all those who are here now, enjoy it as much as you can.
Regards, Joseph
If you rarely ride or ride a motorcycle, the motosai's handling may seem dangerous. The drivers have often been driving since childhood, have a great sense of balance, are far-sighted and take calculated risks so that they rarely experience accidents. If you ask the driver to take it easy, he will certainly take that into account.
Totally agree. Had good experiences everywhere with those boys and sometimes also ladies drivers.
In the story, I think Thb 800 is quite a lot by Thai standards. But hey, that's Pattaya... Upcountry you might not pay more than half or less for this problem. Anyway, as long as you are helped.
I have also regularly used the motorbike taxi in Bangkok.
Good driving behavior, no risk taken by them…
Always polite and helpful too.
I miss that here in NL…
We also have a regular courier who delivers and arranges things for us.
I can't go to the post office by car for Thb 50 (10 km round trip) and he doesn't have to, always give more. He is also always helpful with other chores.
Once had 2 flat tires and there you are, but he came with his pick-up, wheels off and returned half an hour later.
He also always knows someone who is happy with an old fridge, TV or radio when we buy something new.
And make no mistake, the men work hard, often don't look good, but still make a nice salary every month. At least those 4 that I know a little better.
Years ago I took a taxi from my hotel in Bangkok to Pattaya. The ride was still along the old Sukhumvit road to Pattaya. When I arrived at the reception of my hotel (Lek Villa), I discovered that I had left my carrying bag with all my personal belongings (a pack of euros and Thai baht, passport, plane tickets, etc.) on the back seat of the taxi. Luckily I had kept the taxi company's name tag in my shirt pocket.
This was called from the reception. He called the taxi driver in his car. Apparently a meeting place was agreed in Thai. The hotel bellboys called in a motosai and explained everything to him. This motosai, completely unknown to me, returned 50 minutes later with the intact bag!
And he had to drive a long way back, since the taxi had already left half an hour earlier.
I gave the man 500 baht. Distrustful friends said that the motosai could have disappeared with all my belongings, but I don't believe this given all the other positive stories I read about this!
Generally no negative experiences/stories about the motosai drivers, mainly due to the fact that they are known within the clan where they work and the leader of their clan doesn't want any negativity about his group. Tipping these motosai drivers is certainly appropriate if you know that it is not easy to buy into such a motosai clan (read: street corner where they leave). In order to obtain the well-known and typical motosai jacket, one has to buy in (25.000 THB and more is not abnormal to obtain the jacket) …. once one is allowed to wear the coat one can start working/earning… of course first to pay off the debt one has incurred to buy oneself (and most of you know the interest rates for such illegal loans) !!!
Nice story and nice comments above.
I myself also take a lot of motorsais, especially in Bangkok.
The drivers are treasures of people, very polite,
always willing to solve your problem.
They are very skilled.
They also have a lot of respect among themselves.
They know the city like no other and don't haggle
like the tuk-tuks.
Unfortunately, I have experienced it myself: motorsai's are dangerous
not because of the Thai drivers but because of the falang…
For example, I am a hundred kilos and the danger here is
that my weight puts the driver (about 50 kilos?) at risk,
especially if he drives at a walking pace, he can lose his balance.
Stupid but true.