Nicer story is yesterday's trip back to the airport. A glutton for new experiences I used Uber. A nervous wait for the car to arrive - the car on the app seemed to be waltzing around, and the arrival time danced between 2 and 7 minutes.

But I'd budgeted plenty time, and the designated car eventually rolled up. the driver was politeness personified, his only fault was complete dedication to his hand-held navigation device. Now my sense of direction is haywire, but even I more-or-less know the way to the airport: get on the expressway and folllow those little blue signs.

Sadly my driver was a slave to whatever guidance he was receiving from his handset, ignored the lower Silom access to the motorway system and drove cross country to Hualamphong before joining it. I saved us from leaving the expressway by Makassan and heading for solid, standing traffic only by shouting. He saved face by saying "OK, we can go your way, too". But bless him, a few kilometres further, he said "Sorry, thank you".

Then I was totally stunned. As we went approached the airport turn-off, he showed me his Uber app and swiped the journey as completed. "for the extra time", he said. So the last couple of kilometres were free: his treat.

Now, although i was disturbed that any Bangkok driver really had no clue how to get to the airport, I'm also heavily conditioned not to expect drivers to behave in such a considerate manner. And perhaps the drivers are required to follow whatever route their Uber app shows them: who knows?

So I'm totally sold on Uber: for how long though, I don't know ...