If you happen to spot a figure wearing a tiger skin robe in Bangkok, don't assume that it's another ridiculous trend in this city of fashion victims. Rather, these guys in animal print garb are Thai hermits who live, study, and meditate in forests or caves. Known in Thai as Phra Lersi, these ascetics usually practice traditional medicine and white magic. Bangkok cabbies keep images of Phra Lersi in their taxis to protect themselves from evil spirits. Or perhaps the statuettes represent the taxi drivers themselves who spend a considerable amount of time alone in their cabs away from their family and friends.
- 35 baht for the first 12 km, 4.5 baht per km from 12 - 20 km, and 5 baht per km over 20 km
- Average fare in city - 75 baht
- Surcharge for taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport - 50 baht
- Average fare to central Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport - 150 to 220 baht (including surcharge)
- All expressway charges and tolls paid by the passenger
- Estimated number of car taxis in Bkk - 100,000
- Estimated number of taxi drivers in Bkk from NE Thailand (Isaan) - 70%
- Percent of female taxi drivers in Bkk - .3%
-Religion of majority of taxi drivers in Bkk - Theravada Buddhism
-Religion of minority of taxi drivers in Bkk - Islam
- Other religious practices - worship of Hindu Gods, Taoism, Spiritual Animism, Christianity
-Make of most taxis in Bkk - Toyota Corolla Altis
-Taxi colors - orange, bright pink, purple, red, yellow, bright green, blue, white, red and blue, purple and yellow, pink and green, yellow and green, red and white
- Yellow with green taxis are often individually owned, while every other color taxis are owned by taxi companies
- Bkk Taxis have yellow and black licence plates
- Dial 1677 in Bangkok for lost items in taxis
- Dial 1584 for the Bangkok Taxi Passenger Protection Center
If you happen to spot a figure wearing a tiger skin robe in Bangkok, don't assume that it's another ridiculous trend in this city of fashion victims. Rather, these guys in animal print garb are Thai hermits who live, study, and meditate in forests or caves. Known in Thai as Phra Lersi, these ascetics usually practice traditional medicine and white magic. Bangkok cabbies keep images of Phra Lersi in their taxis to protect themselves from evil spirits. Or perhaps the statuettes represent the taxi drivers themselves who spend a considerable amount of time alone in their cabs away from their family and friends.
