Driver turns tuk-tuk into food truck
While businesses slowly reopen in Thailand, not all are back to normal yet, especially jobs that depend on tourism.
In Chiang Mai, a tuk-tuk driver sold som tam from her ride to make ends meet.
She was not getting enough passengers
Source: สํานักข่าวไทย TNAMCOT
Due to lacking tourism in Thailand, certain jobs aren’t earning as much as they normally would. A tuk-tuk driver depends on tourism for a steady income.
Because of this, tuk-tuk driver Rachaporn Moonthongkam decided to turn to cooking and converted her ride into a mobile som tam cart since she wasn’t getting enough customers for fares.
Source: สํานักข่าวไทย TNAMCOT
Miss Moonthongkam reportedly used her government relief fund to buy herself equipment for her business. She took out the tuk-tuk’s passenger seats and made room for mortar and pestle. The vendor charges ฿30 per dish but ฿10 more for additional toppings.
She told TNA MACOT that she makes ฿200-300 a day from selling som tam. However, she currently pays a ฿7,000 monthly loan for the tuk-tuk, and the amount she earns just barely gets by.
Many others turned to alternate jobs
Miss Moonthongkam is not the only one to make use of government relief funds while switching to temporary careers.
Image credit: naewna
In Rayong, a woman used her relief funds to sell durians from the back of her van.
Image credit: Doi Harnphanijaroen
Also in Chiang Mai, a hotel chef ended up operating his own street food cart with the help of the relief funds.
There are others who have also used the government relief fund to help others during this time of need instead.
While official plans to lift domestic travel bans soon, international travel bans may stay in place until the 30th June, or when the emergency decree plans to end.
When there’s a will, there’s a way
It comes as a shock to most people to no longer be able to do what they know best. While these temporary jobs may not earn as much, you have to live on what you can.
Until things go back to normal, all you can do is stay strong and adapt for now.
Cover image adapted from: สํานักข่าวไทย TNAMCOT
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