Jake: On the Road to Better Days

Jake the Tuk-Tuk Driver (formerly Jake the Party Hound) waits for a fare outside the Hualamphong train station.


Well, I have good news to report about a troubled Bangkok street dog who appears to have worked out his issues and improved his outlook! The last time I profiled Jake the Party Hound, he was passed out in the back of a tuk-tuk after a night of alcohol-fueled debauchery. Earlier, when I first introduced Jake on this blog -- with a photo of him sleeping off a wicked hangover -- some folks actually thought it was a dead dog lying on the sidewalk!

I'm happy to report that since then, Jake has eschewed the hedonistic lifestyle and adopted a much more stable outlook towards life in general. And, in a wonderful stroke of irony, Jake has been gainfully employed for the past six weeks -- as a tuk-tuk driver! The friendly fellow is pictured here waiting for a fare outside of Hualamphong train station, a high-traffic area that's bustling with locals and tourists in need of transportation. Tourists in particular enjoy riding with Jake because he never cheats them and always provides a running commentary on sights around town as well as current events in the news.

Jake tells me that one of his favorite things about driving a tuk-tuk in Bangkok is that you get to meet a fascinating array of passengers who provide a cross-section of society that's available in few other occupations. According to Jake, sometimes the passengers exhibit bizarre behavior, like the American tourist who climbed onto the roof of Jake's tuk-tuk while they were traveling at a high rate of speed down Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Other passengers have brought along some rather unusual cargo: One elderly Thai woman purchased a King Cobra at Chatuchak Weekend Market, only to have it slither out of her bag and coil itself around Jake's leg during the trip home! Luckily for Jake, the cobra had recently been milked of its venom, and wasn't in the mood to attack. (Nonetheless, Jake subsequently declared his vehicle a "No Reptiles" zone!)

I told Jake that he should think about starting his own blog detailing the behavior of his passengers -- until he does, I'll continue posting his updates here. In any event, I am very happy to see Jake doing well and headed in a better direction.