Going Places: Rarely seen traditional means of transport

Before the modern sky train and subway train systems, before ride-hailing apps and highways, and before fully automatic cars and bullet trains took to the streets and tracks, humble and traditional means of transportation were common all over Southeast Asia.



Many centuries ago, our Southeast Asian forefathers would either travel by foot or ride on the back of an animal, like a water buffalo or an elephant, to reach their destination.

Today, there are chances to see people travelling this way, though opportunities are few and far between and tend to be limited to remote rural areas.

“We still see people riding an animal, like a horse or a buffalo, in some areas upcountry, albeit rarely. That is why, whenever I see such a scene, I decide to take pictures,” Tina, a travel vlogger tells Thai PBS World.

“In many rural areas, you can still find these old practices among villagers, especially when they are going to the farm and transporting some items while traversing paths that wheeled vehicles may find difficult to cross. I must admit though that it is rare.”

Water travel

One interesting feature of Southeast Asia is that every country in the region is connected to a waterway. The islands of Indonesia and the Philippines are surrounded by water. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, meanwhile, are interconnected through the Mekong River and the Gulf of Thailand.

“Before motorized transportation, locals would traverse these waterways to go about their daily lives. Locals and tourists used boats and ferries to island hop, fishermen and women made their living riding the water, and goods were constantly transported across and along the Mekong River.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

“Different types of boats were used in every country, each depicting the culture and heritage of the place where they came from. They included long-tail boats that could carry up to 30 people. These multi-colored boats have intricate carvings and designs,”

Tina adds.

Do we still see some of these long-tail boats in Southeast Asia today?

“There are still long-tail boats in some coastal communities in the region today. In some cities, however, long-tail boats can still be seen, although no longer as a form of transportation but as tourist attraction, cultural show, or as a spectator sport,” she explained.

Off the road

There are still traditional forms of transportation that remain popular in Southeast Asian roads. The classic example is the tuk tuk, which has become one of Thailand’s iconic symbols.

“Plying the streets of Thailand, the tuk tuk has an open-air passenger cabin added to the rear of a motorcycle. Its compact size makes it ideal for a tropical climate and allows easy maneuverability,” one tourist in Bangkok observes.

But while it is still thriving, there are now routes in big cities where a tuk tuk is not allowed, like on major highways and expressways.

The becak of Indonesia is not as lucky as the tuk tuk.

The becak is a descendant of the hand-pulled cycle rickshaws with a passenger cabin attached to a bicycle. It comes in varying styles around Southeast Asia.

“It first appeared in Indonesia in the early 20th century, as an affordable, accessible, and efficient vehicle for short distances.

Pulled by a human, becak connected residential neighborhoods with traditional markets, train stations, and city centers. Soon, however, it began to be seen as a symbol of backwardness and was soon phased out and prohibited from entering major roads in the country,” a local explains.

Thailand’s version of the becak is called the samlor.

“The number of samlor that we see now has also dwindled,” says Sirintira, a Chiang Mai-based designer. We no longer see the samlor in most Thai cities, except probably in Chiang Mai. “The samlor is still commonly used by locals for short journeys,” she added.

The Philippines is associated with the jeepney, but there is one traditional form of transportation sorely missed by many locals: the calesa.

“The calesa was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish and became one of the earliest modes of public and private transportation in the country,” says Alberto, a secondary school teacher.

“The calesa is a horse-drawn carriage. It is a two-wheeled inclined cart drawn by a single horse. It is made from a combination of metal and wood.”

“But it is very rare to see a calesa now along the streets. They are only used now as tourist attractions and are only found in colonial-era sites in the country.

Some of these vehicles have already become rare, and seeing one these days remind us of simpler times, as they have become enduring cultural and heritage symbols,” Alberto concludes.

(This article is part of a series about the vanishing cultural traditions in Southeast Asia)