There are many reputable tuk tuk drivers in Bangkok, but occasionally you come across one that you can't trust. Some offer rides for an unbelievably low price to drive you around the city, but then they stop at tailors and gem shops along the way to collect gas coupons from the proprietors. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some try to overcharge foreigners. And if you're headed to a famous Buddhist temple, some tuk tuk drivers may tell you that it's closed due to a national holiday and then try to take you to another destination desperate for your business. Sometimes it's difficult to spot an unscrupulous driver, but the owner of this three-wheeler is clearly warning potential customers that he's up to no good.
Today, kids all over Thailand are celebrating their youth. It's National Children's Day known in Thai as Wan Dek. It's a chance for Thai kids to do everything they love: eating ice cream, playing with balloons, going to the zoo, riding bikes, and taking tuk tuk rides with no parents on board.
When I spotted the image of this colorful butterfly on the back of a tuk tuk today, I assumed that the driver has an appreciation for this creature. After all, Thailand has over one thousand species and there are some incredible butterfly farms in this country where one can view them. As it turns out, however, the symbol has little to do with either of those facts. The driver considers himself to be a "butterfly" and he uses the English word to describe himself as such. He is single and free and apparently flies from one mate to another.
