Driving in Circles

Most tuk tuk drivers seem to have just a loose knowledge of the geography of the area they work in and are not familiar with the sort of landmarks that Westerners normally use. Telling a tuk tuk driver a street name and cross street, for example, will almost always result in a blank expression.

However, because tuk tuk drivers nearly always know the names of local markets and pagodas (wats), it's a good idea to know which one is nearest to your home and give directions from there.

Don't expect others to remember exactly the destination that you want to go, especially if they pretend to know where they're going. It's advisable to plan your trip in advance, or use Google maps to guide you.

Don't be tricked into believing that pointing it out on a map will help; when it's read upside down and the driver is pointing vaguely somewhere, you'll quickly realize that many people can't read maps.