Tuk-Tuk mafia

The Tuk-Tuk mafia

All around the world there are Tuk-Tuks ripping off tourists. However they're now not always getting their own way as tourists turn to mobile apps to order taxis. 

We had a particularly distasteful experience on arrival at Ella.  The station car park was full of tourists ordering taxis using their Pick Me app. We decided to go for a beer and wait until the chaos had died down. 

We left the bar and asked a Tuk-Tuk for the price to our guesthouse. We'd already checked the price on Pick Me and surprise surprise, they quoted double and wouldn't budge at all.  We said no and ordered a taxi on the app. 

When our taxi arrived we couldn't believe our eyes. Our Pick Me driver was surrounded by at least 5 Tuk-Tuk drivers, who in local language were intimidating, if not threatening him for taking their business. He was visibly scared and refused to take us.  He explained he was one of the few Pick Me drivers in the area, and local Tuk-Tuks were very angry with this new taxi alternative. We decided not to force him to take us because that could make the situation worse. 

One Tuk-Tuk driver came round for more intimidation. Not that he cared, but jabbing my finger towards him, I said that I didn't like his behaviour and I wouldn't take a cab with such nasty individuals like him. 

We did get a Tuk-Tuk further down the road but beat him right down on price. By that time we were having none of it. I think the strong 8.8% beer helped give me the taking 'no shit' stance. 

So if you do visit a country with Tuk-Tuk drivers, check the price on your taxi app and beat that cost down. 

Many tourists are now choosing to rent Tuk-Tuks to travel the country themselves. It's just a case of getting used to driving the contraption and preparing yourself for a slow and polluted journey.