MacGyver must have been Thai

In what is now my new favorite example of Thai resourcefulness, Pee Took, the dad of the family I live with, had to replace the air filter for his new motorcycle. Here in the middle of Isaan the part wasn’t available and in Thailand, getting a part shipped out isn’t an option like it is at home. Pee Took’s only option was to drive all the way to Bangkok to get his part. But Thais aren’t the type to be told they can’t just make an airfilter themselves. Pee Took just bought a larger air filter, cut out the filter to the size of the one he needed, ripped out the dirty filter from his and replaced just the filter paper by gluing it in carefully, melting wax around the edges.

I just like picturing a customer’s face at an American auto shop when the mechanic says, “Well, Bub. Can’t do anythin fer ya here. Gonna take weeks fer we’ll get da part. What ya could do though is cut dis here filter up and seal ‘er in with wax.” Pee Took really enjoyed himself though and was quite proud the final product reminding me that he made it himself.