How long have you been doing this?
I came here in May of last year but I was in Suan Luang for a few years before that.

What is your job description?
I come here by 6am every day and finish by 7:30pm. I check up on things like if any bikes need to be repaired or re-equipped. For the boats, I have to make sure that they won’t sink into the middle of the lake. Customers pick the bike that they want first, then I’ll ask for their ID card, driver’s license or mobile phone to guarantee that they won’t leave with my bike. Actually, anything that is valuable will do, even a house or car key. It also helps that customers come back and return bicycles here; so as not to leave them somewhere in the park. Then I’ll write out the ticket, which includes their starting time, what they’ve left as a deposit and the number of their bicycle. Once they return the bike, I’ll charge them according to the time of return. It’s B20 per hour. For the boat, it is pretty much the same deal except they don’t have to leave an ID card or mobile number ’cause it’s difficult to lift that boat and I don’t think someone would carry the boat out of the park.

Has any bike or boat ever gone missing?
No, never in my charge.

What would you do if something went wrong?
If you mean accidents, I have my first aid kits. If it’s something I can’t take care of, I just point out where the nearest hospital is. We don’t cover their injuries. If the bike is falling apart, there is an in-house technician.

Any funny things happen to you?
Some people don’t know which hand brake corresponds to the front or back wheel, so many times people squeeze the wrong brake too hard and end up falling on the ground. This happens a lot, especially on weekends. The busiest time is Saturday and Sunday evenings when some people have to wait for an hour or more.

What do you do when there are no customers?
There’s plenty of work to do—no time to get bored at all. I have to clean the bikes; or I just read my book.

What is the charm of this job?
The smile of customers, especially when they’re having fun cycling in the park. That makes up for the whole tiring day.