It takes more than the ability to recite the full 65-syllable name of Bangkok or nimbly jaywalk at every opportunity to qualify as a true Bangkokian na. There are nuances (and nuisances) in everyday life that only a true Bangkokian can pick up on. Think you’re a Bangkok buff? Take our quiz to find out how local you are. Answers will be revealed at the end. No cheating!
1. We have a map showing four MRT stations on the left and their corresponding symbols on the right. Can you match them up correctly? What? You didn’t even know that MRT stations have their own symbols?
2. When a taxi cab driver turns his wang (vacant) light on, what could he possibly mean?
a) “I’ll drive pass by you even though I clearly see you’re waving at me.”
b) “I’ll ask you where you want to go first and then lie that I’m running out of gas if I don’t want to take you there.”
c) “I’ll ask you to agree to a jacked-up flat fare for your ride, even though my car is supposed to run on a meter. If you say no, I’ll just drive away.”
d) All of the above.
3. Which one of the following supermarket drinks is considered an offering of choice to give to a supernatural entity?
4. You have four coins in your wallet: one B1 coin, one B2 coin, one B5 coin and one B10 coin. How many Buddhist temples do you have right now?
a) What you talkin’ about?
b) What do Thai coins have to do with temples?
c) Four.
d) Zero.
5. Which of the following can you can come across while walking on a pedestrian crossover?
a) Beggars.
b) Dogs.
c) People selling stuff on blankets.
d) All of the above. Preferably not all at the same time.
6. Which one of the following items no child, or adult, should play with?
7. What time should you go into a movie theatre when your ticket says the movie starts at 5pm?
a) Be on time. Duh.
b) It’s Thai time so you should be fine even when you’re more than an hour late.
c) 5:15pm so you don’t have to sit through the commercials and trailers before the actual movie begins.
d) Be an hour early because you’re a professional movie-goer.
8. Mini-crossword: Bangkok’s Daily Quirks Edition.
Everyday phenomena wows non-Bangkokians, but locals no longer raise an eyebrow. Instead of spelling them out for you, we’ve devised a mini-crossword to help you decode them.
Across
1. This homeless animal is likely to be sleeping in front of your local 7-Eleven. It doesn’t guard the store like Cerberus, though, the poor thing is just there for the blasts of cold air that come out every time someone goes into the store. We would surely do the same if we were them (two words, six letters).
2. You can meet this notorious animal while running at Lumpini Park. It doesn’t look friendly. Pet them at your own risk. Its name in Thai is considered super offensive (two words, 13 letters).
Down
1. These guys can be found at malls, office buildings and condos. They make you feel like a VIP because they salute you, even though you don’t hold any military rank (two words, 13 letters).
2. This type of floral arrangement has a variety of uses in Thai society. It can be given as a gesture of welcome to visitors at the airport, offered at a shrine as a token of worship or even hung over the rear view mirror in a car (one word, seven letters).
3. It’s supposed to be a space on which pedestrians walk on. However, it feels like an obstacle course for Bangkokians sometimes because there are many things on it from pile of garbage, food vendor, telephone booth to motorcycle (one word, eight letters).
9. Thais have a thing for cute stuff and many Bangkok mascots front various causes, events and organisations. Can you correctly match these cuties with what they represent?
What they represent:
1) Police
2) World Kidney Day
3) FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012
4) Thailand Anti-Corruption Expo 2010
5) Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra
10. Here are five statements about different modes of transportation available in Bangkok.
Fill in the blanks with the correct type of transport from the box below.
Motorcycle taxi | BMTA bus | Chao Phraya Express Boat | Tuk-tuk | Songtaew
1. A ............................. is an affordable way to get around town. You can brag to people that you came
in a very large vehicle with many seats and windows.
2. A ride on ............................ is another affordable way to explore Bangkok (and meet hot foreigners).
They don’t allow you to re-enact any scenes from Titanic, though.
3. Get on a ............................ only when you’re in a hurry and no longer care about your hairdo.
4. A ............................ is basically a modified pick-up truck with roof. Passengers usually sit in the back, but you can sit at the front with the driver if you know how to charm him.
5. If you’re a tourist, you must get on a ............................ to really complete your Bangkok experience.
Those who are gifted with height may not feel comfortable sitting in the back seat though.
1. 1b, 2c, 3a, 4d. Nine MRT stations have unique symbols that derive from their nearby landmarks. Silom station is represented by a silhouette of King Rama VI monument. Lotus represents Lumpini, referring to Lumpini Park. The roof of Plai Nern Palace on Rama VI Road is the symbol of Klong Toei stop. The roof of Kamtheing House Musuem on Asoke is the symbol of Sukhumvit. 2. d) 3. d) Red Fanta reportedly became the offering of choice because it resembles a blood offering. 4. c) Each Thai coin has a picture of a major temple printed on its tail side. 5. d) 6. b) Zebra figurines are said to have become popular offerings at shrines because they signify safety and protection. It may have something to do with the fact that Thais call a pedestrian crossing tang malai (zebra way) due to the black and white colour. 7. c) 8. Across – 1. Soi Dog, 2. Monitor Lizard. Down – 1. Security Guard, 2. Garland, 3. Sidewalk. 9. 1d, 2a, 3e, 4c, 5b. 10. BMTA bus, Chao Phraya Express Boat, motorcycle taxi, songtaew, tuk-tuk.ANSWERS:
