Bike for Orphans

I had an interesting experience on Wednesday as I walked down one of the side streets near the Grand Palace. A well-dressed and well-spoken Thai gentleman approached me and asked a few questions, the usual ones often asked of someone carrying a backpack and camera, where are you from and where are you going? I had just read some warnings about a particular scam perpetrated on tourists and I have become a little cautious while in large cities (I can disarm when I go to the villages) and while he was talking my scam alert was on high but I like to see how they operate so went along. He showed me a series of 4 sites that I should see and drew them out on my map. He said you can take an auto-rickshaw and it should only cost 40 baht (30 baht equals $1 US). Just as he spoke, one pulled up (there are times I don't believe in co-incidences) and my well-dressed friend explained to the driver my desire to see the 4 sights and that I will only be paying 40 baht. The driver was also friendly and drove me to the first site. My scam alert went higher when he dropped me off at the first Temple. He told me to see it and he would wait for me to bring me to the other places as agreed. The Temple was under restoration and barely visible behind all the scaffolding. I went up to the construction manager and asked him about the Temple and also how long it has been under repair. He told me they have a 3-year grant to restore it and they have been here for a full year. I went back to the driver and asked him why he would drop me at a site that he knew would be under construction. He said he didn't know and I told him it has been in progress for a year and you must have known. He just smiled and said we can now go to the next site. We drove a short way and he dropped me off in front of a store. I asked him where we were and he said just go inside and I walked into a small men's clothing store. I had to laugh as the scam was now obvious, they charge a small amount to drive you to certain sites but make stops at various stores in the hope of getting a commission. I told the store owner that I had no interest in buying a suit and walked out. The driver was surprised to see me and simply asked me if I bought a suit? I told him I have no interest in buying a suit when it is almost 100 degrees outside and I am travelling on a bicycle. I asked him why he brought me there and he just said "I thought you wanted a suit." I told him I was not paying him anything for the ride and I started walking away. He ran up to me and said I owe him 40 baht for the tour and I said that he didn't bring me anywhere I wanted to go and the only thing I saw was some scaffolding and a clothing store, neither of which were of any interest. He was getting angry so I said why don't you just call the police right now and we can all discuss it with the owner of the clothing store, so I started looking around for a police. He quickly said we don't have to do that and walked away. I don't like not paying for things but these scams have to stop and the only way is for tourists to stand up and fight back.

This lady is feeling the heat.