Okay, I have found my new favorite way to get around. Ever. (Well, until hoverboards are invented.)
Behold the humble tuk-tuk!
As Wikipedia defines the term:
The tuk-tuk (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก or ตุ๊กๆ in Thai) is the Southeast Asian version of a vehicle known elsewhere as an auto rickshaw or cabin cycle. It is a widely used form of urban transport in Bangkok and other Thai cities, as well as other major Southeast Asian and South Asian cities.
How I define it is: Three-wheeled, hoverboard-like hellion of the traffic-choked fleshpot!
But yeah, it’s kinda like a motorized rickshaw too. The driver sits in front and one or two farang adults or three somewhat skinnier Thai adults, or up to (we-swear-to-Cthulu-saw-this-today) five schoolkids sit in back. The tiny gas-powered motor putters to life and pulls the whole contraption into traffic.
It is, as you might guess, awesome.
Let’s go on a tuk-tuk ride together, shall we?
First there is the measured buildup, sidling along just faster than the various pedestrians.
The other tuk-tuks swarm about us, waving and smiling.
Notice how the metal filigree between driver and passngers looks exactly like a bedframe? That’s just one part of what gives the experience its Hey-I-just-put-a-motor-on-my-couch-want-to-go-for-a-ride? feel.
Fun Fact: the tuk-tuk’s name is onomatopoetic. It’s tiny two-stroke engine sounds just like—
But look! A tuk-tuk-size opening in the traffic . . .
The sudden acceleration (or “dash of death”) between other, much larger vehicles begins! Any of them could crush us without a second thought! It’s like riding a poodle into a stampede of t-rexes!
But then a stretch of open road is spotted . . . and we make the jump to tuk-tuk hyperspace!
The dizzying crescendo! Your teeth are rattling like a pearl necklace in a blender!
And then, suddenly, the screech of brakes and blinding glare of brake-lights!
Ahhh, we are at our destination. And, um, why are the brake lights inside the passenger cabin? That’s just odd.
But there’s no time to ask. It’s time to pay the man the negotiated fare. (Crap, forgot to bargain again! Guileless, childlike farang.)
Goodbye, little tuk-tuk! We shall meet again, like the next time I need a medium-length ride in motorized transport and don’t have luggage.
More about Thailand soon!
Update: Here’s what we did today, as recounted by Justine.
November 30th, 2006 03:03
Love the name. Tuk-Tuk! It makes me think of the lovely characters of Oz. I had no idea that auto rickshaws existed.
November 30th, 2006 03:22
Hm. Our Nova Scotian dwarf land-manatee really likes the tuktuks, although he doesn’t want to ride in one, because he thinks it would make him smell bad.
Watch out for the tuk tuk driver who takes over your life. You know, “oh, would you like some shirts? Some silk?” Or maybe they’re not doing that so much anymore?
November 30th, 2006 03:49
It is like being in an episode of the amizing race
November 30th, 2006 06:26
I want to ride in one, it will now be my dream and goal in life. I swear, it will be.
November 30th, 2006 06:39
There’s a great chase scene involving these in Ong-Bak: the Thai Warrior.
November 30th, 2006 06:55
cool!!
I can sort of picture you leaning out of the tuk-tuk to take some of those pictures, while Justine tries to get you to calm down. Judging from her blog, she’s not so enthusiastic about tuk-tuks
Kim
November 30th, 2006 07:09
that is AWESOME.
I must have one of those.
Where do you buy them? lol
Oh yeah scott have you seen the Mythbusters episode where they try and build a hoverboard??? Very entertaining, I watched it in New York this weekend.
So, Scott, any possibility of you coming to Philly to do a signing/talk/general appearance to the loving masses? Specials just got in at our school library and there’s a 15 person waiting list already….
November 30th, 2006 08:26
i need one of those!!!!! your enthusiasm is really showing through, scott, you should be like oprah and buy everyone a tuk-tuk!
November 30th, 2006 11:41
Neat! I want one! Maybe I can talk my parents out of the minivan we own…..hmmm.. Lol!
November 30th, 2006 14:52
Awesome picspam. I know all about tuk-tuks from The Amazing Race. See, reality TV CAN be your friend.
December 1st, 2006 06:03
the whole bed thing makes me think of chitte chitte bang bang… so i have to ask, how were the fish under the sea?
December 1st, 2006 10:59
HA
I want one.
December 1st, 2006 12:08
those look purtty darn cool!
December 1st, 2006 13:38
LUCKY! i am going to Thailand this summer for a missions trip. You are very lucky to be able to see all that cool culture stuff. those car-things look fun too. i wish i had one….
December 1st, 2006 13:55
those are so cute! im thinking first car material….
btw, loving your books. ha. i typed in boos. ha. thanx for the writing its….awesome.
December 1st, 2006 14:05
Fun! I want one (as my first car, that is)!!!
-Amber
December 1st, 2006 14:30
Topaz, why did you sign it Amber? Imposter, stay away from our tuk-tuks!
December 2nd, 2006 04:50
Tuk-Tuk’s are amazing, they’ve got them imported down to Guatemala, they’re yellow and red there though, as far as I know… They’re super fast and not for the elderly, that is for sure. And they’re supposed to fit only 4 people, including the driver… Yeah…. It can really fit 7, if you’re suicidal. Which apparently I was down in Guatemala, because I did that. However, I did not die, and I also rode in a bus, with my knees curled up to my chin. Backwards. And the only seats were wooden kid’s seats… it was interesting.
December 2nd, 2006 15:10
Better than powered skateboards lol?
December 2nd, 2006 18:00
I went to Guatmela last spring! I didn’t get to ride any buses or Tuk-Tuks though..
December 3rd, 2006 03:31
I didn’t see it in operation, but there is one of these in front of a Thai Restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The restaurant had the punny name of “Thai me up”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jvstin/44353526/in/set-969410/
December 5th, 2006 23:33
i have TOTALLY been to that restaurant…
January 11th, 2007 08:02
I had been content to play rickshaw jam online until I decided I wanted one then off I was googling motorized ricksahws. I found your blog. I enjoyed your entry tuk-tuk! and having gone between your blog and website I have lost all track of time. Never read your books, I am intrigued and will seek post haste. I wonder if I can buy a tuk-tuk on ebay.
January 18th, 2007 04:01
Hey people if it’s a Tuk Tuk you need then email me with speed. We have Tuk Tuks for sale and street legal in the US, need I say more.
January 26th, 2007 06:48
tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk!
January 28th, 2007 14:54
Steve, I WOULD email you, and I WOULD say “sign me up!”
I would.
And then, when I got my tuk tuk all new and sparkly and shiney and reeking of new tuk-tuk smell, I would zoom about the suburbian streets of Illinois, drive my friends to school, take last minute road trips to anywhere I wanted to.
Me and my tuk tuk.
I would feed it and love it and care for it and call it George.
I would.
If I had a drivers liscence.
And if I wasn’t two years to young, I would go and get a drivers liscence, and then sell all my non-vital organs so I would have enough money for tuk-tuk.
I swear to Cthulu, God, and Spongebob that I would.
March 31st, 2007 16:08
Steve, Well? When the hell you going to publish that Web-Page, it still says your building it.
Lots of people are interested and you have the great web-site name…but where and when are you?
Still in Bangkok waiting to get home,
Bob
April 2nd, 2007 11:13
Oooh. That’s cool.
April 12th, 2007 04:25
My husband wanted me to go on one of those death traps in India and I consider a complete victory that I managed to stay off them.
They scare me.
And the screwed up part is that I’m the rollercoaster enthusiast in the family. My defense? “Yeah, but rollercoasters have seatbelts!”
April 23rd, 2007 23:45
where can i buy a new tuk tuk in thailand, for my own private use, regards ian
July 7th, 2007 12:21
Yo people- the tuk tuk is here. In USA. Yes seeking EPA approval now, DOT is done. Can I post the USA website as to where and how to get them, let me know.
They are the MOST EXCITING RIDE EVER !!!!!