Japan on Friday released economic figures for the month of September revealing the thirty-sixth consecutive month of economic decline. That's 3 years on the trot. At the same time PM Koizumi and his cabinet are being hamstrung by party power bases and the traditional banks in reforming the financial sector. While there was a brief period of optimism last month that Japan was on a significant rebound, much of that has evaporated. Stalemate time in Japan yet again as vested interests hang tenaciously onto their competitive advantages.

The discreet charm of the Bangkok Motorcycle Taxi: One of the hidden advantages of working in Thailand is the relative efficiency and affordability of the public transport system. It demonstrated itself again yesterday when, with the main Sukhumvit/Ploenchit thoroughfare from my abode in Sainamthip to the Hilton was chokkas with traffic ("rot thip"). Without a thought I strolled down to the local motorcycle taxi street corner hangout, negotiated a 40 baht (less than USD$1) fare, jumped on the back with laptop in hand, and in 10 minutes was in the Hilton foyer, compared to around 30 to 40 minutes if I had opted for the car taxi.

Motorcycle taxis are the competitive advantage of the Bangkok public transport system. They can ride on the footpath, through tiny soi-sois, do u turns on a baht coin, and speed between lanes of stationary Mercedes, Volvos and all the rest. One of the great highs of Bangkok life for me is speeding between two lanes of stationary traffic, watching all the wing mirrors being retracted down the road in front of my advancing trusty steed.

Yes, Bangkok has their latest Skytrain like the various new monorails and light rail systems in Kuala Lumpur. But it's the motorbike taxis that are Bangkok's strength. For example, try to find a way to get to your meeting from your hotel in Kuala Lumpur on time without being hassled to book an overpriced hotel limousine or being quoted illegal inflated flat rates by standard teksis (not counting trying to find one that actually stops for you which is another story completely), and you're outta luck. Kuala Lumpur's public transport system is stymied by the awarding of contracts for the different systems to various cronies. Of course they very rarely connect with each other (the systems, not the cronies), so public transportation in Kuala Lumpur usually involves taking 2 different modes, plus extending waiting and walking times (and if it's the arvo - usually in the rain). It is of course beneath Malaysian dignity to license motorcycle taxis in sparkling modern Kuala Lumpur, but it sure would make the place a nicer place to park your posterior in for an extended time.

Of course there are rules for taking motorcycle taxis in Bangkok. Make sure the guys know you are a regular or the quoted price will be inflated. Try not to wear your Gucci suit. Mumble a bit of Thai language. ...any Thai. They probably wont understand it anyway as they originate mainly from the Laos-language influenced areas of Eastern Thailand like Issan. That way you get closer to local price rathen than farang quotes. Costs are usually around or up to 50% less than the air-con meter taxis, though they wont go too far from home. You need to know your destination or at least know enough Thai to spell it out. Unlike the dying overpriced tuk-tuk breed, motorcyle taxi drivers probably know Bangkok less than you, having come down from the rice farm a few days earlier. Thankfully, for efficiency's sake, they usually don't know the traffic rules either. Tuck in your elbows and knees unless you like taking out car radio arials and wing mirrors with your bodily extremities, and get close and personal with your drivers back. Hang on to your brief case to guard against other motorcycle purse snatchers, and have a comb handy at the end.

Follow these simple rules, and it's Easyrider revisted for you...