Tuk tuks

A tuk tuk (also known as a tri-shaw) is a cross between a motorbike and a small car. It's a three-wheeled vehicle with handle bars for steering and gas and brake pedals like a car has. The driver sits in the front center, and passengers in the back seat; I believe they are all for hire, but I can easily imagine them being a step up from a motorcycle as the family mode of transport (with regular frequency I have seen a family of four crammed on top of a single motorcycle; and it's distressingly common to see the parents with helmets and the children without). They clog the streets here, and come in a variety of colors, though the vast majority are either green or red. The proud owner/drivers of tuk tuks use their vehicles as a medium for personal expression - they often have a statement of some importance to the owner on the back ("I'm a Buddhist and I'm proud to say that" in a thick italic script, or "You never know when death will come for you, so make each day count" with added graphic of the grim reaper - possibly an unwitting expression of the risk a passenger takes even getting in a tuk tuk?), plus various decorative elements on the passenger seat, on the exterior sides, hanging from the rear view mirror, and even on the rivets that attach the carriage cover to the body of the vehicle. Sometimes they'll have a custom paint job - I've seen pink, gold (the color of a monk's robes), and even metallic purple - sure to catch the eyes of potential customers. And I have yet to see a driver of a tuk tuk wear shoes. A pair can usually be spotted placed neatly to the side on the floor next to the gas pedal. I have yet to ride in tuk tuk, though I think today is the day - Vinu and I have errands to run and shopping to do, but no car with driver available. I'll report back if the experience is memorable.