Song Taew

Song Taew is another form of transportation that can give you the sense of feeling that you’ve been to Bangkok, or Thailand for that matter. But the problem is you must happen to be on a street where it operates.

Literally, “Song Taew” means “Two Rows.” As you can see, there are two rows of seats facing each other.

Looking more closely, you will see the vehicle is just a pickup truck w/ a tall roof added on, the tailgate taken away to pave way for a hanging step, and of course a bell for passengers to ring when their stop comes which is arbitrary.

People who get to benefit from Song Taews are those living further from a main road, or those having a business to do there, the latter of which could be you. Most of the times, the two-row pickup trucks operate within secondary streets, ancillary lanes or sub roads, however you’d like to call them.

In Bangkok, when you see the word Soi, you know that it is a street, lane or road dependant on a main one. One major road, like Sukhumvit or Silom, can have a lot of Sois. You could probably use the word “block” loosely to define an area between one Soi and another. But, remember Sois can be a lot smaller than roads that cut a block boundary.

So it is the Song Taew that serves as a vein for commoners in a Soi. For most of the Sois, no public bus would bother to go in as it is not worth it. Then, forget about mass transit systems like the skytrain or subway.

Now, you as a tourist might be wondering if you’ll ever get to experience this Thai mode of transit. Don’t worry. There can be a few possibilities where hopping on one is the way to go:

- going to apply for visa extension at the Immigration Office
- on your way to a magazine-recommended restaurant
- visiting an expat friend at her quiet condo
- getting back to your hotel/guesthouse/vacation rental

etc.

It is more often than not that the above places are far far away from a main road. Take Sathorn Road, and the one in the photo will get you right in front of the Immigration Office in Soi Suanplu, Sathorn Road.

Joe

P.S. It is not advisable to stand at the back like the guy on the right....but who am I to say? You're here for a fun-filled time, aren't you? Thank you very much for checking this out. This blog is, however, no longer where I am in life now. So, if you’re interested, please visit my new abode: http://happyjoeintheworld.blogspot.com/ This one expands beyond Bangkok, Thailand, in a pursuit of contentment. Hopefully, it will be something everyone can relate to. Thanks a lot! Joe