“There used to be some splendid duels on Bangkok’s roadsides, especially when it was raining. As you tried to bargain and the rain became heavier, for some reason the driver would never be quite sure of where you wanted to go. He’d sit there, scratching his head, making elaborate imaginary left and right turns with his hands with a frown on his face. All the while you were getting wetter and wetter and knew you were going to end up paying some ludicrous amount. And if you were wilting in the heat, the driver was not about to offer you a discount fare because he felt sorry for you.”
