We've all done it - bought the souvenir from abroad, which once opened at home, results in thoughts like "what the hell was I thinking?"
For me, nothing came remotely close to topping the Thai tuk-tuk carefully crafted out of a Singha beer can.
I'm going to attempt to dissect, for your amusement, how I could end up buying such a souvenir, and massively overpaying for it to boot.
Bangkok's Khao San Road is filled to the brim with souvenir stalls. It is impossible to see every t-shirt design, let alone every form of cheap souvenir on offer, regardless of how many times you visit.
After several months of island-hopping in the south, I returned to the capital with the company of two new Canadian girl friends, Josie and Catherine.
It was their first time in the city, and like most women, they loved to shop!
One night, we took a taxi to a night market situated within a red light district.
According to Lonely Planet, the market had become more of a tourist draw than the strip clubs.
First, we ate dinner at a restaurant across the street, and then we stormed the market.
Not surprisingly, it it was stocked with much of the same cheap stuff found on Khao San Road.
I came across a few small magic tricks and began playing around with them, wondering if I could manage to master each if I actually bought them.
When I asked the guy for the price of a few, he threw out a figure so high, it was worthy of a laugh.
I knew the tricks were probably worth one tenth of his suggested price, but didn't yet have the faith in my bargaining skills to get him so far down. I walked away.
Then, I came across the Thai beer can tuk-tuk and thought it was the coolest thing!
A souvenir that could remind me of my favorite Southeast Asian beer AND the colorful Thai tuk-tuks. The perfect combination, I thought.
Upon asking the price of such a fine piece of art, the man responded with a figure in the area of $20.
Ha! What does this guy take me for, a fool? It was a cheap piece of aluminum - weighed next to nothing, sculpted out of a beer can.
I held it in my hand. It was as light as a feather. I knew it was cheap. The sales guy knew it was cheap.
I countered his offer, probably throwing out a figure close to $5 (which was still too much). He detested, and knocked some Baht off his original price, leaving it still far too high.
I fondled the tuk-tuk again, as though the more I felt it up, the more I would be convinced that it was a wise and worthy investment for reminiscing about Thailand once home.
I threw out another amount, and the guy again detested. Tiring of the negotiation process, as usual, I agreed on his rate.
I think I paid about $14. t seemed like a lot, but I did bargain, and it did come with a sturdy cardboard box to protect it from being shipped half way around the world. How considerate!
The next morning, walking from the hostel to Khao San Road with Josie and Catherine, we passed by a sidewalk display of 50-100 Thai beer can tuk-tuks.
Asking price -- $2
Fair post-negotiation price? Just $1.
Andy Hayes says
That is SO tacky. Well done :-)
Traveler says
OKAY - my last day in Australia - I was perusing the crap at The Rocks in Sydney and needed to blow what was left of my dollars.. and ended up settling on a propeller plane made out of a Victora Bitter can. WTF?!? I actually had that thing sitting around my house until just this past May when I moved and decided it was high time to throw it out (purchased June of 1998). Hehehe. :)
Dave says
haha, whoa, so you're saying there's a good chance I'll be holding onto my Thai tuk-tuk for a decade?
The scary thing I've gone to so much effort for it already, I can totally see myself taking it with me to wherever I move next.
Dave says
Thank you Andy, I try. :)
BlakesJourney says
MBK CENTER! I got a mug from that place, I loved it so much. I like shopping a bit too. Thailand is a great place to do it. God, we bought so much stuff there. Plates, photos, shirts, photocopied books (lol). What I really love about thailand, and is so characteristic of the type of tourist that frequents it, are all the used book shops. I adore the idea of finishing a book on some beach and swapping it out for another. Love it! I think I read more during a 6 week period in Thailand than in my whole life combined (shamefully... seriously).
I never picked up a beer can tuk tuk, though. It would be a good memory because it doesn't fade or wither.
Nice pic of Pat Pong. I can't believe that's at night. It is at night, right?
Blake.
Dave says
I think the bookstores in Thailand, esp Bangkok, are hard to beat! I read the biography of Anthony Kiedis "Scar Tissue" there, as well as several others.
Yes, the market photo was at night, and thanks for reminding me it was Pat Pong. :)
Jason says
Dave, that is a great funny short story. I wonder how many times I have over paid for local gifts to bring back home.
Dave says
Given the amount of time you'll be traveling, I can't imagine you won't buy something you'll later deem silly back at home. :)
Boris says
This is brilliant!! Wish I would have seen that the last time I was in BKK. I wonder if they do a Chang version? A much better beer in my opinion :)
Dave says
So you like to "ride the elephant" as a German guy I met liked to say? :)
Dave says
So you like to "ride the elephant" as a German guy I met liked to say? :)