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Waiting for the right bus number for a Bangkok commute
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kip BTS ride for it's about time to give a try the number-coded Bangkok’s public buses.
For first-timers, commuting in Bangkok may sound awkward and nerve-wracking for fear of being misled or yet lost. The language barrier is the obvious obstacle with the majority of Thais not adapting to English as a second public language.
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Slide that door for the next 711 encounter
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Take for example when paying at 711 counters (with a sliding door), few counter attendants could only handle conversational English with tourists or non-Thai speakers race. I guess there’s difficulty incorporating some English pronunciation into the language due to the disparity in speech patterns. Yet again being front liners, it's high time Thais be at least trained in Basic English interaction apart from their given warmth of service and calm disposition to connect better with other races.
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The real test begins once on a bus, and hope the conductor understands English.
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City plying bus drops on its designated stops, a prolific order
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On a bus en route to another district we took this morning, a Thai bus conductor asked about our destination. Panic struck us as we were at loss for words instead we showed the text message with the address. Immediately, the elderly woman drew the ticket dispenser to dispatch the ticket. She understood we were tourists and assured us in a simple non-verbal gesture that she'd drop us at the right station. The conductor despite being an elderly woman in her 50’s seemed happy, contented, and well adapted to her physically tasking job The #40 bus took the turn to another avenue starting from the tip of Sukhumvit Soi 71 en route to Ramkhanghaeng (Ram hang) where we were instructed to locate the agency.
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Skyway acts like city canopies in the stretch of Ramkhanghaeng from the brief rain.
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Ramkhanghaeng is an avenue named after the famed great ruler dating back to the around 12th century. He initiated the foundation of the language now known as Pasa Thai. The language has its own unique speech patterns and writing based on the old Sanskrit. Knowing this means Thailand is a tough country refusing colonialization with the preservation of an original language and a culture that clings to its own thus not necessarily embracing English as a generally used language.
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Color-coded taxis in Bangkok can tell which driver speaks English
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With the help of a tip, we alighted to a bus stop in front of the premier university -the Ramkhanghaeng University after the elderly conductor dutifully facilitated the passenger's discharge. Bangkok bus only stops by stations to pick up or unload passengers and the practice helps ease out the merging traffic, especially in this area where the majority of commuters are students.
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A sigh of relief in the lobby of the language center
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One bargain sweatshop along Ramkhanghaeng pavements
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Assortments of bookstores, gift shops, coffee shops, internet cafes, and sidewalk vendors assemble in between 711 or Family Mart prevailing from every street alleys or Soi. After locating the right alley, we finally located the building, a three-story Language center among the cluster of apartment rows. Thai staff greeted us in signature hand clasps led us to the 4th floor to meet the rest and the main lady who could finally speak English in a natural and proficient voice. When we heard someone talking in undeniable Pinoy tongue that's when we came across the Filipino teachers. And the rest of the conversation centered on the chances of getting a teaching job in Thailand.
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A soi or alley in Ramkhanghaeng leads to recesses of more shops and dormitories
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