Want a tour of the streets of a Thailand city? Just hop in a Sau-Tak. A red pick up with an open -ended top. Breezes cool you off as you drive through this warm and tropical northern city, as you stick your head out the back to smile at traffic that pulls up right to your bumper.
As mopeds weave in and out you hold your breath, feeling like you are in a video game, most motorists getting a little too close for comfort. As traffic speeds by you wonder how you will merge into the lane. The answer? You just go. And somehow you find yourself comfortably in the flow. Some of these red trucks are shiny and new, while many are spray painted with time and miles. With wide windows on each side you can take in the sights. From orange-wrapped monks to rainbow- colored fruit sold on narrow sidewalks. So much to see you can barely take it all in as you speed by.
And if a Sau-Tak seems a little to mainstream, hop in a Tak-Tak. A covered moped with a wide seat in back. We squeezed in for a ride home from the open market since it was something I've always wanted to do. Going a little slower you peak into the lives of locals living simple, but fascinating lives.
Before you ride either of these vehicles you "haggle" with the driver over a price telling him where you want to go. Since we only know how to say "hello" and "thank you" in Thai we pointed to our map and held out our Baht. Our wrinkle, tanned driver would nod at the currency and smile at these silly foreigners who were giddy with excitement for another amusing ride.
