Thinking on it more I think the reason it feels awkward is because why am I ordering other passengers out, controlling the car is the drivers job not mine he owns it after all.
Which leads me to thinking they want to make me “the bad guy”, like hey I wanted to pick you up.
I’m less adventurous. I only stick to the baht trucks that normally follow the “known” routes up and down Beach Road and Second Road. I’ve hired one twice to go to some Cabbages restaurant, but it took a while because I naively try to find one that’s empty. Although there are taxis, Pattaya is one place that I’ve never, ever, ever taken a taxi.