Bourdain doesn't realize that the tuk tuk drivers take them to places where they will get a kickback, well, maybe he does realize it, but his producers pay big money to these guys.
Once in Bangkok, on a Saturday, I wanted to go to the weekend market, Chatuchok (sp), by tuk tuk. The driver persisted in telling me that the market was only open on Sunday and he would take me to a market that was open. I knew this was nonsense and a scam. When I couldn't get him to take me where I wanted to go, I told him to stop and let me out. Suddenly, he changed his mind and said he would take me to Chatuchok. I got out anyway and took a regular metered taxi.