What can’t you do at 7-Eleven branches these days? Recently we learned you’re able to send parcels or get your clothes dry-cleaned at its outlets. We hope leaving a pet in a store’s care before going on vacation is next. That got us thinking about other everyday things in Bangkok that have evolved over time. After painstaking armchair research, we’ve dug up some trivia that should give you new appreciation of common sights — or at least be an edu-taining holiday read.
7-Elevens
Then: The first Thai 7-Eleven outlet opened on a corner of Patpong Road on Jun 1, 1989, after CP All (then C.P. Seven Eleven) was granted a licence to operate the franchise in Thailand. The original owner, Southland Corporation, grew from an ice company in Dallas, Texas, into a convenience store chain operator. While 7-Eleven is 24/7, its name refers to its original opening hours (7am-11pm). By the time it arrived in the Kingdom, Slurpees and Big Gulps had already been introduced.
Now: 7-Eleven originated from seven stores in its first year to 8,351 stores nationwide at the time of writing. Besides getting a quick bite to eat, you can do many things at 7-Eleven from buying booze to purchasing insurance plans to petting soi dogs. The stores essentially look identical, but certain outlets have special characteristics. The branch at Tara Square, for instance, is dubbed a model for “greener” 7-Eleven stores due to its LED, skylight and solar cell panels. You can eat a meal as though you’re in a fast food restaurant at the outlet in Prachasongkro Soi 23. A store in Nan is brown instead of the usual orange and green, blending in with the old neighborhood in which it’s located. Most importantly, you can get your khao phad krapao fix at any 7-Eleven.
Public Buses
Then: This affordable mode of transit has actually evolved from a horse-drawn carriage business by Lert Sreshthaputa in 1907, operating from Yotse Bridge to Pratunam Pier. Due to high demand (and probably complaints regarding smelly horse dung), he replaced the animals with Ford cars and extended the route. Later, three-wheeled vehicles equipped with two benches that could hold 10 passengers were introduced. These early buses are said to be one-third the size of today’s. As Bangkok progressed, many more bus operators came into existence.
Now: In 1976, the government decided to merge all bus services and p
ut them under the control of state enterprise Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), which provides buses for people in Bangkok and its five adjoining provinces. As of Jul 2013, there are 3,509 BMTA buses in four colours, with starting fares of B6.50. BMTA operates 114 routes, serving about three million people each day. Currently, passengers riding air-con buses number 140 and number 76 can enjoy free Wi-Fi.
Motorcycle Taxis
Then: According to the Oct 1983 issue of Thailand Business Magazine, the first motorcycle taxis began operating in Soi Ngam Dupli. It was a case of necessity — about 500 families were living as deep as 1.2km into the soi and couldn’t afford taxis or tuk-tuks. Some were robbed while walking home in the evening. A handful of people took it upon themselves to give their neighbours free safe rides home on their motorcycles, and were offered money for their kindness. In Jun 1981, a motorcycle club was formed by a group of sailors living in the soi. People paid two to three baht per ride to get in or out of the soi. The concept caught on, and in 1982 the city police greenlit the use of motorcycles for carrying passengers, cementing the beginning of motorcycle taxis.
Now: There were over 104,000 registered motorcycle taxis in Bangkok alone in 2014. They often gather to wait for passengers in front of major sois or near BTS/MRT stations. These gathering spots are called win in Thai — there are approximately 5,000 of them in Bangkok and adjoining provinces. They serve as knights in shining vests for people who want to travel deep within a soi — and also last resorts for people who are running late for an appointment (but don’t care too much about their hair). Their spare helmets may smell funny, but they know every nook and cranny of the city better than the map on your smartphone.
Tuk-Tuks
Then: In 1957, Japanese automaker Daihatsu introduced its three-wheeled mini-trucks and the model later became a prototype of the iconic Thai tuk-tuk. In 1960, 30 of these trucks were shipped to Thailand, replacing rickshaws, which had been banned in Bangkok. These early tuk-tuks started their service in Yaowarat, after being altered, equipped with a roof and seat to make them more suitable for carrying passengers. The original manufacturer later halted production of these trucks, resulting in an absence of spare tuk-tuk parts, which meant Thai garages had to begin creating the parts themselves.
Now: As of 2010, there were about 7,400 tuk-tuks in Bangkok. They have evolved into a symbol of Thailand, along with such national staples as tom yum goong, muay Thai and ladyboys. No visit to Thailand is complete without a tuk-tuk ride, although popularity among the locals seems to be on the decline. They are turned into toys, bought by tourists as souvenirs. Tuk-tuks are manufactured locally and exported to other countries. Solar-powered tuk-tuks have also been invented.
ID Cards
Then: The earliest official form of identification for Thai people originated in 1914. It served as a passport of sorts for people who wanted to do business outside their area. But it wasn’t until 1962 that Thais were required to carry an ID card. The first generation of Thai ID cards looked like a leaflet with eight pages. People between the ages of 16-70 were required to carry the cards.
Now: The cards have shrunk from a three-by-four-inch four-fold brochure to a blue smart card that fits in a wallet. Each Thai is assigned a unique 13-digit number, and each digit is encrypted with personal information. For example, if the first digit of your ID is 2, it means your parents didn’t obtain a birth certificate at the office district within 15 days from the date of your birth. We’re just thankful we don’t have to carry a big paper to show at the door to the club.
Taxis
Then: In 1923, Phraya Thephasadin and Phraya Pichaicharnlit co-founded a company called Taxi Siam with 14 Austin cars, charging 15 satang per mile. But the fare proved too expensive and the business eventually folded. After World War II, in 1947, taxis were reintroduced charging two baht per kilometre. The car of choice this time around was Renault, and the concept stuck. A taxi meter was first introduced in 1992. Until that time, passengers had to negotiate the fare with the driver before starting their journey (actually, that doesn’t sound much different from now).
Now: There are about 100,000 taxicabs in Bangkok now. Green and yellow taxis belong to individual drivers, while other colours mean drivers are members of certain taxi cooperatives. But passengers can always circumvent problems by using various taxi-summoning smartphone applications such as GrabTaxi and the newly launched All Thai Taxi, which promises never to reject a passenger.
