A songtaew is a covered pick up truck with two benches (song = 2, taew = bench) in the back.
In some cities they act as buses, or communal taxis where people say where they want to go, the driver agrees or not, they agree on a price and then the person jumps in.
Songtaews are also the transportation that can get you to places that buses and mini buses don't go. For example, up and down the Thai/Burma border.
People can sit on the benches, on the floor between the benches, hang off the back, or sit on top with the luggage. At one point I counted 20 people either sitting in or hanging off the back with probably 8 to 10 more sitting on top. The songtaew goes maybe about 40mph, slower in the mountain parts where the road comes and goes. When it goes through a village it honks the entire time to let everyone know it's arrived. People then come running out and jump in or on and the driver continues through the village, honking, until we get back to the mountains, potholes and cows. To stop the bus you press a little buzzer and the drivers stops. It's extremely uncomfortable, really slow, and really loud, but it's cheap and it's the only option if you don't have a car.
October 14: 6 hour songtaew ride from Mae Sot to Mae Sariang (Should have been 5 hours, but the driver took the songtaew/passengers to do his errands and catch up with friends, so it took 6)
October 15 - 21: Mae Sariang Training
October 22: 5 hour songtaew ride from Mae Sariang to Mae Sot
October 25: 6 hour songtaew ride from Mae Sot to Nu Po Refugee Camp
October 26 - November 1: Nu Po Refugee Camp Training
November 2: 6 hour songtaew ride from Nu Po Refugee Camp to Mae Sot
November 4: 6 hour bus ride from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai for a 3 week Burmese course.
Air conditioning, full, comfortable seats that recline, a separate area for luggage, only 4 stops, a toilet on the bus, free water and snacks and possibly even a blanket? This is going to be luxury.
From the Thailand Burma Border Consortium - http://www.tbbc.org
(Thailand = gray, Burma = green)
I'm sure you always remember to buckle your seat belt!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the bus ride...
Interesting blog. That truck looks like something ouit a movie. Must have been a quite a ride! Thanks for the map. My geography is poor. at best.
ReplyDeleteI am even more appreciative of the birthday greeting you sent me-given the schedule you had.
i'm looking forward to reading your next blogs.. Beth in Chaing Mai!