Hangin' with the Locals

Through my various connections here in Thailand I was able to score a private tour w/Paul Collins of Best Tuk Tuk Tours. He took me and Marie (one of my 'connections') on a great, custom-made tour of some things most 'farangs' (foreigners) don't get to see and some they do.

Paul is so knowledgeable about the history of Chiang Mai. His parents are both from the US but they met here in Thailand. His father is a minister (just celebrated 50 years in the ministry!!) and has lived in Thailand for 30 years. Paul was born and raised here, so he has dual-citizenship and speaks English and Thai fluently. It was tripping people out to see this so obviously white guy reel off all of this info in excellent Thai. His Thai is so good, one British lady asked him how he learned to speak English so well! 

Besides all of that he answered all of my silly questions too, like, Do the monks wear underwear under their robes? (No); Why don't Thai people use toilet paper? (They think it's unclean so they wash down there with water instead); How do they dry themselves down there w/out toilet paper? (They don't.)  Eeeuw. Why don't they dry their hands after they wash them? (Same reason they don't use toilet paper.);  How do the girls riding side saddle on the motor bikes not fall off? (They're born with Velcro on their butts.)

Living on Thai time.
 

Click here for the history of the Tuk Tuk