One thing that keeps the feeling of living in Thailand alive is transportation, which seems to take on a life of it’s own in this country. At one second, you’re thinking you never expected a cruise across town could be so much fun; the next, you’re seriously wondering if you’ll make it there alive, especially if you’re not the one driving.

That said, I love that kind of thing—which is why I should probably pack my bags and head back to America before I get myself seriously hurt. Well, that’s not really my style, so here’s 5 favorite Thailand experiences in case you decide you want to push the envelope too.

1. Driving a Tuk Tuk

Ah, the tuk tuk. Everyone loves a creaking, exhaust-spewing, noise-polluting tuk tuk. But how many visiting foreigners have actually driven one?

Well, I’m just gonna come out and brag and say I’ve driven two. The first was a drunken night in Bangkok, where a trusting tuk tuk driver agreed to let me drive his tuk tuk down the last street on the way to the bar. Let’s just say that he and the crowd standing outside looked pretty relieved when I climbed out of the driver’s seat.

My second tuk tuk experience was more like driving a big Hog with a wagon attached to it. A fellow traveler from Canada and I were making our way to the Laos border one morning when I got the driver to agree to this one, and I spent 20 minutes driving this bad machine across town. I almost killed us at one particular stoplight, but hey, who’s keeping track, right?

2. Driving a Longtail Boat

You want to see a crowd of conservative Thais pretend they’re not about to have a heart attack? Put a farang in the driver’s seat of their longtail boat on the way back from their peaceful lake holiday. I’ll tell you one thing, the longtail boat is not the most stable contraption on Earth—it’s a good thing the driver was sitting there giving me hell every time I started getting ambitious with the throttle or who knows what would have happened that day.

3. Sleeping on Top of a Boat

This was a pretty low key one compared to the rest. I took an overnight boat from Koh Tao to the mainland once and instead of staying down in my bed with all the other tourists, I climbed up top and sat by myself on the top of the boat. Watched the stars and look out over the moonlit water.

After a while, the Burmese boat workers came up and joined me—I guess I was sitting in their bedroom—nd they gave me a blanket. They didn’t speak much Thai—and no English either—but we managed some laughs before I crashed out.

4. Driving With 3 People on a Motorbike

Three people on a motorbike. There’s nothing like it. You’ll see families of Thai people driving like this all the time—you’ve got a dog, a wife, a husband, and a kid or two. Then someone’s holding a baby and the driver is on a cell phone. Haven’t tried that one yet, but I have been through a few motorbike-pool (as opposed to carpool) experiences in my time. Interesting to say the least.

5. Getting a Ride on a Motorbike Taxi in Bangkok

Finally, I recommend the motorbike taxis in Bangkok for a real thrill. Not only is it the fastest mission across town in that deadlocked grid they call streets, but it’s an amusement ride in its’ own right. Prepare to see some flashes from your life en route. For some, it’s a one-time-only kind of thing, but you gotta at least do it that once.

So that’s some of my experiences defying death in Thailand. Not for every Western stomach, but for me it’s been nothing but fun. Just to be sure, if you try any of these, you’re putting your life at risk, so you’re on your own there. That means I’ll sleep just fine if you don’t make it, knowing I told you so. So you can try it all you want, but take responsibility of your own decisions, folks.

Carpe diem.