On a recent trip to Thailand, I went to Cambodia by land and upon return, crossed the Cambodia-Thailand border into Thailand at Poipet at about 17:00. According to my information, there are two trains a day from Aranya Prathet (6 Km inland from the border) to Bangkok at 6:40. and 13.55. I planned to stay in Aranya Prathet overnight and catch the morning train to Bangkok. I had a hotel booked at Suvarnabhumi the following night, my last before my return to the U.S. I still wanted to confirm whether the morning train was still operating. A call to the hotel, that proclaims to be run to "Western Standards" by a Thai lady, "who has been living in Australia for many years", was useless. It was like Abbot and Costello routine.
You want room today? You want fan room or aircon room?
Any room will do. But first I want to know if there is a train tomorrow morning.
You wan room tomorrow? Your name?
No I want a room tonight, only if there is a train tomorrow morning.
You want aircon room, fan room?
On and on it went I decided to take a bus to Bangkok. Instead of taking a tuk-tuk to the bus station in Aranya Prathet, I decided to try my luck at the border itself, as I had previously been appraoched by touts for a bus to Bangkok at 300 Baht. The train ticket would ave been about 45 Baht to Lat Krabang Station. That bus had already left though. I found another bus, a nice looking double decker bus. The bus catered to Thais travelling between Bangkok and the casinos in Poipet.
I managed to find out through the broken English of a lady who seemed to be the boss (owner's rep ), and another nice lady with much better command of English, that the bus could drop me somewhere near Suvarnabhumi (for 300 Baht) from where I could take a taxi for less than 60Baht. Sounded good. I got on the bus. I still did not know ow I would know where to get off, or whether the bus driver knew where to drop me off. I approached the boss lady, with my query. "English English! Why no speak Thai?" I said, I am very sorry. "I am solly? You come Thailand, you speak Thai" I gave up. Later on she came around with water bottles, but either by omission or commission, she skipped me.
A few moments later, a Thai gentleman was seated next to me. is English was rather limited, but he was quite friendly. He wanted to know if I was travelling alone, if I was lonely etc.
I asked the bus conductor for some water. He apologised and got me
I found out during our conversation that he was a police officer specialising in anti-terrorism. He told me that he would tell the driver where to stop and would also let me know before the stop.
Aster sometime, the bus conductor and the lady came to collect the fare. At first the lady asked for "300 Baht", then the police man said something to while I was taking my wallet out. At this point the conductor asked me for "200 Baht". I was dropped near a shopping centre in BangNa according to the policeman, but I still can't locate it on the map.
I am not sure if the Thai police officer (in plain clothes) asked them to give me a "deal" or to not overcharge me.
I ave taken many trips to Thailand and, like every other country, I ave met nice, helpful people and some, who act as if they detest tourists. I have read that "falangs" are looked down upon, more as a source of income than welcome guests, but I do not always get tat feeling. Of course, not knowing the language is one fault of mine.
I wonder what others have experienced.
P.S. The police officer told me that the taxi should cost about 100-120 Baht. Upon getting off the bus, I was told my people waiting at a BMTA bus stop, including a person who seemed to be a BMTA employee that it should cost about 150 Baht. He even hailed a taxi hanging around there. Instead, as advised by some nice Thais, although a person at the BMTA help desk laughed at me when I told him I wanted to take a bus. I took a bus to the "Public Transportation Centre" for 24 Baht. A taxi would have been more convenient, for sure, and even at 150 Baht, not that expensive, but I do like to explore other ways of getting around. I know, I can always take a taxi. I don;t have to ask people about how to get to my destination when I plan to take a taxi.