Rescue 911--Chiang Mai

20:19

While eating bad Pad Thai at a local cafe frequented by white people, a tuk-tuk pulls over to the curb in front of us.

20:20

I pour rice vinegar on my Pad Thai to give it some oomph. Steam begins to rise from the tuk-tuk. Driver gets out to look at tuk-tuk more closely.

20:20: 31 seconds

Tuk-tuk driver looks visibly anxious. I watch tuk-tuk driver start walking away rapidly. I see flames coming from engine compartment.

20:20: 37 seconds

Restaurant security guard runs away. Krista and I walk away rapidly and the rest of the restaurant follows us. Tuk-tuk driver returns to his vehicle and attempts to drown flames with a bottle of Sprite. The attempt to put out fire with a bottle of Sprite fails.

20:20: 54 seconds

Flames are getting bigger. Smoke rises from the tuk-tuk. Where is the security guard?

20:21: 1 second

Security guard appears with a bucket full of water (normally used for flushing squat toilets) and douses the flames.

20:21: 3 seconds

Fire is out.

20:21

Police arrive to find a steaming tuk-tuk. They inspect tuk-tuk carefully and talk to the driver and security guard.

20:23

An ambulance arrives. Wow, they are really thinking ahead!. Traffic becomes snarled.

20:24

Ambulance leaves scene. Another tuk-tuk arrives and parks in front of the burnt tuk-tuk.

20:25

Rope is tied between the two tuk-tuks. The lead tuk-tuk tows the disabled tuk-tuk away.

20:25: 21 seconds

Everyone returns to their seats and resumes eating.