Baht Bus Bemusement
Entry posted by PadTheLad
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[size=4][font=arial]Can anybody explain to me how the baht bus system works? [/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial]Every time I go to Pattaya I make full use of the baht bus circular route - by which I mean that i jump on any baht bus with passengers on it which stops for me on Beach Road or Second Road. As you all know, these wonderful open songthaews generally rotate in an anticlockwise direction from the Dolphin roundabout, down to the Beach Road, right along to the Walking Street entrance, then up Pattaya Tai Road to the traffic lights, then, if I'm lucky, they turn left and continue the full length of Second Road back to the Dolphin and resume the circuit. [/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial]You can ring the bell and hop off wherever it suits you - by your hotel, at a favourite bar beer, or at the corner of Soi 6 for example. All for a mere 10 baht fare! But sometimes the bus chooses to take a different route, for instance by turning right off PAttaya Tai and heading over the hill towards Jomtien, or by going straight on from second Road at the Dolphin, and steaming off towards Naklua.! I have to ring the bell in confusion and jump back down to earth, pay the driver and try again. [/font][/size]
How can I tell, before boarding the bloody thing, in which direction the driver intends to go? There don't seem to be any direction boards on them, and it's no use my trying my Thai Thourist phrase book on the hapless driver.
And when I want to venture further afield, how can I choose a baht bus which specifically intends to head off for Jomtien, or Naklua, or the aircon bus station for Bangkok at the top of Pattaya Nua, or the outer wildernesses of the Dark Side up Pattaya Klang. Is there a secret code which I need to learn? Is there a master plan lurking in some smoke-filled office which I might copy?
Please please please help me, or I will have to resort to hiring some pretty little girl for a short time to take me along for the ride - and that could be expensive.!
[size=4][font=arial]Every time I go to Pattaya I make full use of the baht bus circular route - by which I mean that i jump on any baht bus with passengers on it which stops for me on Beach Road or Second Road. As you all know, these wonderful open songthaews generally rotate in an anticlockwise direction from the Dolphin roundabout, down to the Beach Road, right along to the Walking Street entrance, then up Pattaya Tai Road to the traffic lights, then, if I'm lucky, they turn left and continue the full length of Second Road back to the Dolphin and resume the circuit. [/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial]You can ring the bell and hop off wherever it suits you - by your hotel, at a favourite bar beer, or at the corner of Soi 6 for example. All for a mere 10 baht fare! But sometimes the bus chooses to take a different route, for instance by turning right off PAttaya Tai and heading over the hill towards Jomtien, or by going straight on from second Road at the Dolphin, and steaming off towards Naklua.! I have to ring the bell in confusion and jump back down to earth, pay the driver and try again. [/font][/size]
How can I tell, before boarding the bloody thing, in which direction the driver intends to go? There don't seem to be any direction boards on them, and it's no use my trying my Thai Thourist phrase book on the hapless driver.
And when I want to venture further afield, how can I choose a baht bus which specifically intends to head off for Jomtien, or Naklua, or the aircon bus station for Bangkok at the top of Pattaya Nua, or the outer wildernesses of the Dark Side up Pattaya Klang. Is there a secret code which I need to learn? Is there a master plan lurking in some smoke-filled office which I might copy?
Please please please help me, or I will have to resort to hiring some pretty little girl for a short time to take me along for the ride - and that could be expensive.!
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