1. JAN—FEB2013Tháng01-02HCMCVIETNAM
Issue 03 — JUNE & JULY 2015
Travelling Solo: Five
Things To Know
Page 32
Four Cocktails To
Beat The Heat With
Page 56
Plan Vacations With
A Smartphone
Page 92
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2. “You’re going by taxi,” sked the
lady, “That’s 200 Baht! Take
songthaew 8. It costs nine Baht.”
That was one of my first
songthaew experiences in Khon
Kaen, Thailand. When translated,
songthaew means ‘two rows’,
named by the two benches
hammered into the modified
pick-up truck. Each seats 12 and
about eight more standing.
Main bus stations contain route
information of songthaew
services, but locals usually ask
the songthaew drivers directly.
While it doesn’t offer first-class
comfort, the songthaew’s system
of operation is convenient. They
are similar to buses, except that
there are no designated stops.
Commuters flag it down when
they see one, and alight by
pressing a bell. The driver then
promptly stops along the road.
Fares are mostly fixed. It’s
five Baht for children, six for
students, and nine for adults.
After six pm, everyone pays a
flat rate of nine Baht. Drivers
can take you to your exact
destination when there are no
other passengers on board, but be
prepared to pay slightly more.
The songthaew is a win-win for
those who are game to try an
alternate form of transport. You
get to your destination for less
than a tenth of a taxi fare, and
venture to smaller roads and
villages known only to locals.
TWOROWS
APARTMastering one of Thailand’s lesser-known
public transport systems
By ---------Vincent Lok
Songthaews are
similar to buses,
except that
commuters can
alight whenever
they want along the
specified route.
ISSUE 03 JUNE/JULY2015 BARCODE SINGAPORE
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