Fixing it up

The backs of tuk tuks are all open so we had chain link fencing welded on and a lockable gate put on the back so we can lock our stuff up in it. We also want to be able to sleep in the back if we're by a nice waterfall in a forest and there's no hotel.

The speedo and petrol gauge they put in turned out to be purely cosmetic so we have no idea how fast we're going or how much fuel we have - we ran out yesterday. And the jack turned out to be a wheel brace. We've also had to have it rewired and have a shock absorber installed. But now it's ready to go. I'll give you a tour soon.

While we were waiting we helped some monks access the sewerage system.

Buying the tuk tuk

We put the word out with the tuk tuk drivers that we wanted to buy a tuk tuk. Most seemed willing to sell us their tuk tuk unless they had really spiffy customisation. We had found out you could get a new one from Udon Thani in Thailand for US$2000 but importing it was a further complication and expense.

After a while a bit of a bidding war started with people bringing us tuk tuks for as little as $600, but they seemed a bit crappy. Also most of them only had 600cc engines and the only really good one we had seen was 500cc. Eventually we found this one with an 800cc engine we negotiated building in the back, replacing the dash display, the spare wheel and jack, and the deal was struck.

This picture was taken at Nam Phou, the fountain in the middle of Vientiane.

Why tuk tuk?

When we were thinking about how to get around in Laos we considered the bus, motorbikes, car/truck/van. We wanted to be able to stop and see things like protected areas on the way which is difficult by bus, it's hard to carry stuff on bikes and you're very cut off from the world in a car. So a tuk tuk seemed like a good compromise. You can talk to the person next to you at intersections. Also, if we write it off it's less of a loss.

But I hadn't realised how hard they are to drive. I hope this wasn't a big mistake. Every time the wheel hits a bump it lurches scarily and you have to hold the handlebars really firmly to stop it wandering all over the place. And on dirt roads it's extremely rattly and jarring.

This picture was taken in our garden. The tuk tuk cost 50,000 thai baht (about US$1400) including caging in the back so we can lock it.