Thai Michelin Man

As one of the world's oldest and most recognized trademarks, Bibendum, or the Michelin Man as he's more commonly known, represents the famous tire company in over 150 countries, including Thailand. It especially makes sense to see him here as this country is the world's biggest producer and exporter of rubber. In Thailand, the Michelin Man can be spotted in front of tire stores and auto repair shops, as well as in a few Bangkok taxis. One of my favorite things about the Thai version of the Michelin Man is that he's sometimes depicted giving a traditional wai, the Thai greeting and gesture used to show respect.

Goddess in the Round

Entrepreneurs in Thailand often display images of the Thai goddess, Nang Gwak, in their places of business. Sitting Thai style with one hand gesturing to potential customers, you can find this beckoning madame in noodle shops, salons, markets, convenience stores, and of course, in taxis. To lure in passengers from every angle, this cabbie has a glass orb with nine Nang Gwaks facing out in every direction. By the way, the number nine is lucky in Thai culture.

Penang Teksi

I just got back from Penang, Malaysia. Before I went, I had no idea what their taxis would be like. Besides the fact that Malaysians spell the name of their taxis differently, it turns out that they're pretty similar to Thai taxis. As is the case in a majority of Bangkok cabs, many Penang teksis have a menagerie of lucky charms inside.

Duct Tape Taxi

Duct tape can be used to hold almost anything together, including the dashboard of this Bangkok taxi. Originally known as 'duck tape' because it is waterproof, it was invented by the Johnson and Johnson Co. in 1942 during World War II to keep moisture out of ammunition cases. After the war, 'duck tape' became known as 'duct tape' because it was employed in the booming housing industry in the US to connect heating and air conditioning duct work together. For additional ways to utilize duct tape and for more fun facts about this form of adhesive, check out the Duct Tape Guys.

Frilly Tissue Cover

Many Thais seem to be fond of frilly kitsch. Even tissue boxes here are regularly embellished with some sort of decorative overlay. The driver told me that his auntie crocheted this cover with ruffles specifically with his taxi in mind. I wonder if she could have made it any less masculine.

Vicious Visage

For those who believe in the ancient Chinese art of feng shui, one method of keeping negative energy at bay is through the use of certain powerful symbols placed in strategic locations. In this cab, the driver positioned a feng shui tiger sticker on his passenger door in an attempt to inhibit evil spirits from entering. Then again, the grim expression on the face of this cabbie is probably enough to frighten off even the most wicked spirits.

Cab Upholstery

When given a choice, most Bangkok cabbies would rather sport car upholstery made out of vinyl in bright colors, rich tones, and/or with patterns than plain gray cloth. Considering that many taxis in this city have hot pink exteriors, car seats with matching color makes perfect sense. And since designer name brands are so popular here, it's not surprising to see upholstery with Burberry's signature plaid.

Mr. Taxi Showmanship

If this taxi driver could choose to be any celebrity from the past, he would be Liberace. This cabbie has a penchant for wearing big rings and decorating his taxi with rhinestones and velvet accessories. The only thing that he's missing in his taxi is a Liberace-style candelabra.

More is Better

According to this Bangkok cabbie, you can never have too many plush characters on key chains, toy cars, and feathery hair clips. This driver is hoping to fill his entire taxi interior with these trinkets and doodads. In his opinion, more is better. This is apparently also his attitude when it comes to rearview mirrors.

Sticky Rice

It's rare to see Bangkok cabbies eating in their taxis, but every once in a while you catch a glimpse of a driver having a snack. When cabbies in this city get hungry, they usually pull aside and eat at one of the many stalls on the side of the street. Today in the cab, my driver had a basket of sticky rice, a staple in the diet for those from Northern and Northeastern Thailand. I asked him why he didn't have any somtum bpoo plaa raa, a standard accompaniment, and he told me that he didn't want to stink up his cab with spicy papaya salad that contains fermented crab and fish sauce.

Flower Peddlers

Drivers in Bangkok, including cabbies, enjoy a unique service that you won't find in too many other places. At certain busy intersections in this city, peddlers with phuang malai flower offerings strung on pipes or bamboo rods approach cars with their blooms. For 10 or 20 baht (less than one US dollar) you can buy a fresh garland of jasmine with roses or marigolds; not a bad price to express gratitude to the gods on the dashboard.

Siamese Shift

Among the kitsch and cheap trinkets found in Bangkok taxis, there are also many treasures to be admired. The other evening, I was completely blown away by this finely crafted gear shift decorated with traditional hand-painted Thai patterns and motifs. I've seen many exquisite artifacts and handicrafts in Bangkok cabs, but this has to be one of the most attractive car accessories that I've ever laid my eyes on.

Blue Light Special

A UFO has landed. And it's on the ceiling of a Bangkok taxi. The driver of this cab thought he would upgrade his vehicle with a big blue fluorescent light. The lamp comes complete with a variety of settings, including a flashing mode to warn passengers that aliens have arrived.

The Incredible Cabbie

Today, my taxi driver seemed inspired by the green hulk figure on his dashboard. As we maneuvered through Bangkok's heavy traffic, he would periodically roll down his window and yell at pedestrians, motorcyclists, and anyone else who would listen. There were a few occasions when I thought he was going to spontaneously bulk up and turn bright green.

Taxi Lotus

It's common to see images of lotuses throughout Thailand, not to mention the real flowers, so it was no surprise to see an illustration of lotus blossoms on a sticker plastered on a taxi window. The lotus has long been a symbol of spiritual enlightenment in Asia. And some say the flower represents human life: the plant first takes root in the mud, then it rises up through the water as it continues to flourish, and finally it sprouts a beautiful blossom. I wonder what kind of plant symbolizes those people who never seem to make their way out of the mud?

Don't Look Back

Notice anything missing in this taxi? One hint: it's the implement in the front of the car that the driver uses to see behind the vehicle. I asked the cabby about it and he told me that it had fallen off weeks ago and that he doesn't really miss it. Fortunately, he has a Buddha statuette on the dashboard and yan monk drawings on the ceiling to protect him when he accidentally backs up into cars and other things behind the vehicle.

All That Glitters

Most Thais are crazy about anything made out of gold. Never mind if the gold is fake and in the form of cheap gewgaws from China. My driver told me that his menagerie of faux gold talismans on the dashboard is supposed to attract wealth. But then he laughed as he pointed out his fake gold Swiss watch and told me that despite all of his efforts, he still can't afford to buy a real one.

The Marble Temple

Most Bangkokkians have a favorite temple, or Wat as it's known in Thai. For me, it's difficult to pick just one because there are numerous magnificent Buddhist temples in this city from which to choose, including Wat Po with its giant reclining Buddha statue and traditional Thai massage school, Wat Phra Kaew with its "emerald" Buddha image and association with Thai royalty, and Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, with its decorative mosaics that cover the surfaces of many of the buildings. Another temple that many Thais favor is Wat Benchamabophit. Wat Ben was constructed in 1899 and features an impressive Italian carrara marble exterior. I asked the taxi driver about his postcard of Wat Ben and he told me that it's his favorite temple because it was built by one of Thailand's best-loved monarchs, King Rama V.

Pray for a Knockout

One of the many dualities that exists in Thailand involves the contrast of a peaceful, laid-back Buddhist culture with an all out, knock 'em down, kick 'em where it hurts national sport of Muay Thai boxing. On Sundays, many Thais visit temples, but it's also a popular day for boxing matches. Thais generally don't see these two activities as being at odds with one another. In fact, some Thais make special trips to temples just to pray for the victory of their favorite boxer.

It's a Jungle Out There

Talismans believed to possess protective qualities are usually found inside cabs and other vehicles here, but occasionally you see charms attached to car exteriors. For drivers attempting to scare away evil spirits, menacing beast-like figures such as this King Kong mounted to the rear hood of the cab should do the trick.

Handmade Invocation

When it comes to sacred religious objects, one tends to think of meticulously designed articles made of precious materials. Of course, this isn't always the case. Holy items can be made of anything as long as the person who possesses the object believes that it holds some divine power. Even copy paper containing script written with a normal 2B pencil can become a holy artifact when it involves sacred Sanskrit text created by a Buddhist monk.

Lucky Car Windows

When you buy a new car in Thailand, one of the first things you do is invite a Buddhist monk to bless the vehicle with mystical yan drawings. The monks typically create them on car ceilings, but in this taxi the sacred symbols and calligraphic text are on the windows. I wonder if the driver of this cab will ever be able to wash the glass. All it would take is a few spritzes of window cleaner and all of the good luck would be gone.

Taxi Window Stickers

Many Bangkok cabbies are sticker happy. Who can blame them when phone companies, radio stations, and other organizations provide free decals to taxi drivers. And in Bangkok, stickers are easy to come by as there are vendors roaming the streets with huge carts selling every kind of design with an adhesive backing imaginable. The colorful graphics on the decals add an element of fun to the taxis, and there's a practical side to them, too: they help keep cab interiors cool as they block out the blazing hot Thai sun. Never mind that these cabbies can barely see out their windows to drive.

Light Fantastic

There are many types of Buddha images in Bangkok taxis, but this is the first one I've seen that has changing colored lights inside of it. According to the driver, the luminous colors are supposed to represent the hues of the seven chakras, or energy centers, in the body. But as the lights flashed different colors, it reminded me more of a discotheque than a spiritual aura.

Lucky Photo

Among the taxi talismans in this cab is this image of the driver's own bright pink taxi. To create a happy dreamlike feeling in the picture, the driver cut out a photo of his cab and collaged it on a background of sunflowers. In a city where a majority of taxi drivers rent their cabs, this cabbie is celebrating his ownership. I guess it's not that unusual for automobile lovers to hang up photos of cars, but in this case the taxi driver uses the picture to literally worship his cab and to ward off bad luck.   

Black Beauties

In Thailand, you see black beauties like these in gardens among plants, in mini shrines in shops and restaurants, and of course, in taxis. If you ask me, these kitschy figurines with their jet-black skin and hair, white dot eyes and fingernails, and cherry red lips are disturbing, especially since the prevailing attitude here is negative toward those with dark skin. But if I stop and consider that they represent an alternative form of the cat with the waving arm you see in Asian businesses, and that they're a version of the Thai goddess, Nang Gwak, then I feel a tinge less uneasy about them.

When Pigs Fly

As far as I know, the idiom "when pigs fly" doesn't exist in the Thai language. Maybe the meaning is universal, but I'm guessing that the driver of this taxi simply liked this piggy sticker and thought it would add panache to his dashboard. There's another Thai expression with a similar meaning that I like even better: "When 7-11 closes".  

License Renewed

When I got in the taxi today and saw the driver's taxi license photo with blue markings on it, I asked the cabbie about it. I figured that his kid probably did it or that it was some kind of joke. Instead the cabbie told me that he had recently grown a beard and mustache and got glasses and he thought he should update his photo. Why make a special trip to the Ministry of Transportation and pay them for a new license when you can do it yourself.

The Gambler

Most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand. But you'd never know it. Many Thais regularly gamble. Here boxing, soccer, snooker, cock-fighting and horse racing almost always involves betting. There's even an underground lottery and I have a several Thai friends that have a "bookie". Many Thai people also patronize casinos in Cambodia, Burma, or Laos just across the border. The cabbie driving this taxi with stickers of playing cards and dice on his window told me he often goes to illegal casinos. He offered to take me to one, but I decided that I didn't want to get into a potentially dangerous situation. Considering the type of characters that own these joints, I'd rather not gamble with my own life.

Thirsty Ghost

If you see an open beverage in a Bangkok taxi with a straw in it, don't assume that it's for the driver. It could be an offering to the gods. In Thailand, votives commonly include drinks. I asked the cabbie why he chose this particular yogurt beverage and he told me that it's for Gu Man Tong, the Thai ghost child who enjoys this type of refreshment. I looked around the taxi for a statue of the ghost kid, but I only saw images of Thai monks. So I asked him where he keeps the phantom and he replied that he's never seen him, but he hopes Gu Man Tong will appear one day and take a sip. As I rode along in the cab, I prayed to myself that this isn't the day the ghost will haunt the taxi.

Perfect Imperfection

In Bangkok taxis, even cracks in windshields can receive decorative treatments. The driver of this cab could have used utilitarian tape or clear glue to patch the fissure, but instead highlighted the crack by sticking suction cups in alternating colors over it. Perhaps this remedy could be viewed metaphorically as a lesson on how to deal with quandaries in life. Rather than hiding issues or throwing out problems altogether, we should learn to celebrate imperfections and turn flaws into something wonderful.

Rhinestone Cabbie

The Thai aesthetic calls for superfluous embellishments, frills, and garnishes. Here the notion of "plain and simple" is rarely considered an option. Accessorizing is a way of life for most Thais, and Bangkok taxi drivers are no exception. Most of them can't live without decorations in their cabs and a little bling in their wardrobe. The taxi driver in this photo is all about sparkles. Not only were his sunglasses bejeweled with rhinestones, but the cubic zirconia rings on his fingers also glittered in the sunlight and his t-shirt had shimmering sequins on it.