Reflections : Bangkok:On Being Taken for a Ride

I read the sign,even before leaving the taxi:"Say No if someone offers to take you buy jewlery."
Considering myself a savvy shopper ,and jewlery not being on my shopping list ,I did not pay it that much attention and headed towards the mall's entrance.It was still around ten in the morning ,and the concierge in the hotel said shops would open around that time.
A guy approaches me and speaks in a combination of english and thai and a few gestures :
"MBK close,opino at two'oo ..holiday, holiday,not open ..only Thai centa opino..."
I was not inclined to believe him,but the shops that had windows on the street were actually closed.However,I decided to see for my self.I walked forward,and another guy who was walking by and who seemed to be minding his own business also said :"close..close..only thai centa opino..Buddha holiday today.."Things started to make sense now,since innocent passers by are all agreeing on the same thing.The first guy pops up from somewhere and says :"You want taxiiiii to Thai centa?"
Well,I was not about to waste anytime in a three day vacation ,and I did not want to betray my husband,who was attending his one-day conference, by going to the touristic places on my own,so shopping was the only thing I can do without regretting his company.
So I agree to the taxi and thank God that people are this helpful,they stop me a taxi and tell him to take me to the much-recommended Thai Center.He agrees to take me there for 30 Baht only though the meter sarts at 35!Wow,these are genuine people.
Not feeling completely at ease with all the interogations I was put under by the taxi driver,who by the way was the only one who spoke relatively clear english,I told him I was meeting my husband there in Thai Center.The guy was shocked,for some reason:
"Yooo hubend Thai centa?how he go?"
"With Thai friends."
Somehow I felt he did not believe me.And somehow,things did not feel right.
I started feeling that I will be taken for a ride somehwere along the way,and I did pray,in the back of that taxi,that it won't be that bad.At the same time,it did feel intriguing and I wanted to know and experience first hand how will they try and trick me,I also did not want to show him that I was scared,and I made use of the opportunity of being able to strike a conversation with someone from the street who could speak a bit of english.
I asked him about these white thumb print paintings that I've seen in two taxis so far.I thought they had to do with some sort of religous beliefs.They design different patterns on the inner roof of their taxis using prints made by dipping their thumbs in a white material.I was right.He showed me a picture of a young Budhhist monk,and from what I understood,they do this to honor the Lama,and to show him that he owns their property not them.Very nice,but later on I wonderd,doesn't religion teach him to be honest as well?
He offers to wait for me outside and to take me back to the mall when I finish,and I insist that he shouldn't since I will leave with my huband and his friends who have a car with them.
Anyway,we get to the place and I give him 100 bahts,he hands me over the rest of the money and says do you have ten baht ?I say no and he says "never mind never mind!"So I assume he'd given me eighty,and without looking I leave,only to realize that he'd only given me sixty and was about to rip me off ten more!
Going inside,the feeling of being tricked is a certainity now.This is not a mall at all.It's a huge hall and there's a big stand where they're serving drinks .A lady in a grey uniform approaches me and immediately offers to take me around.
"What are you interested in" ,she asks,"diamonds,rubies,emeralds?"Then it hit me that they think I'm the rich arab who will buy everything off their shelves and go,and that's why everyone was desperate to help.
"I don't want any of that stuff,I was told I can find clothes and toys here."
"Yes,yes I show you thai silk"
We pass through an even bigger hall,which has hundreds of counters selling all kinds of jewlery and precious gems.I check out the prices ,and they are not cheap at all.I wouldn't be able to compare prices of gems,but at least gold of much higher quality can be bought in Jordan for much smaller prices.Thai silk section is a diappointment,only a few designs and silk fabrics,nothing to catch my attention.I did like some pieces of souvenirs that I bought,worth less than 20 jds.And when I wanted to leave,the lady insisted that my Taxi would be waiting outside inspite of the fact that I told her I paid him and asked him to go.And I did find him outside.Of course to me they all look the same.But this guy had red glittery nail polish on some fingers,and dark blue on others.So,very confidently I walk towards him shouting.I discovered I can speak Thai:-)"Why you lie to me??why you say MBK close?"
"No,me no lie,I say some shops close"
"Well anyways,you will take me back to MBK now,and I will only pay you 20 bahts because you already took 40"
"No,madaaaaam,noooo,I lose moneyyyy,I take 40 now"
"No,you said 30 first time,you already took 40 now you only take 20!"
He drives along,and somewhere along the way,he turns back to me and says:
"I take you to MBK for free!"
Huh!I think to myself,this is not about 30,40 60 bahts or about a free ride,60 bahts is something like 1.2 Dinars,which is reasonable for a long drive in this traffic.But I did not want him to feel that he can fool me,otherwise I don't know how much I will be tricked into spending."How come?"I ask.
"You know,in front MBK,you go with me to shop,you looko there,you no buy,you looko and they give me coupons for gas,I walk 50 kms with coupon.ok?better than money for me..ok?you no buy ..nothing!"
I certainly was not planning to spend my day with him,nor was ready to plan my time according to his schedule.I felt we are about to be going steady!I tried to be as firm as I can:"No,my husband did not meet me in Thai center,he called me and said he will meet me back in MBK.I don't want to go anywhere else."
"But only few minutes before..."
"No!"I say,and I intensify my prayers that he will take me to where I want ,and that I will not end up slain on a Bangkok pavement.I also make sure I sms my husband the taxi number ,in case of emergency!I'm a coward?so what?The arabic proverb says:"Alf jaban wala allah yer7amo!Being called a coward a thousand times is better than having people wishing mercy for one's soul"
Well I got there safe and sound,paid him the 20 bahts and left.Twenty jds short ,but with two irregular pearl necklaces and two matching earrings!Not a bad deal afterall !