More on Thailand

Posted under Thailand 2008

Well, after all my gloating on our perpetual sunshine, the heavens broke loose the other evening and gave us a thunderstorm. Lots of lightening and a five minute downpour. I don’t know if the rain just turned to steam and evaporated or what, but the ground scarcely got damp.

Must tell you about the transportation here in Thailand. The roads are in relatively good condition, but quite narrow and very twisty. The road is divided by a solid line, which appears to mean nothing. There are no stop signs or yield signs and very few traffic lights. Now on this traffic system, there must be a Brazilian motor bikes and scooters, as well as trucks, taxis, tuk-tuks and the usual cars and pick-ups. Now the bikes and scooters are used as a means of transport by tourists, a way to get to work for the locals, and a family sedan for the locals without a car. It is certainly not uncommon to see three adults traveling about on a scooter, and I have seen a mom and dad and three children a number of times. Of course, no one wears a helmet of any kind. The cars and trucks are just that, and are used for car and truck type things. Now none of these modes of transportation appear to be older than five years and I wondered if perhaps they did not allow vehicle traffic until five years ago. This seemed unlikely, as there does not appear to be too many used ox carts about either. Then I remembered a taxi ride from Patong to Kata, and thought that the vehicle life expectancy is maybe five years. This seems more likely, but will require further study. It is interesting to note that not only are the vehicle drivers required to hurl themselves down the wrong side of the road, with reckless abandon, but as an added handicap, they have installed all the driving equipment on the wrong side of the car.

Now I previously mentioned the solid white line in the approximate center of the road, and have come to the conclusion that it is to be used only as a basic guide. You are quite entitled to cross the line at will. On a blind corner you should also reduce speed slightly when passing. Now as there are no stop or yield signs, traffic just merges as it meets. No fuss, no bother. Now imagine, if you will, dumb schmuck tourists throwing themselves in front of oncoming traffic, while gazing stupidly in the wrong direction. When this happens, as it frequently does, traffic grinds to a halt while the guilty party scurries across the road. As this is taking place, the pleasant nature of the Thai people really becomes apparent. No waving of fists or fingers and no laying on of horns. Just patience and a pleasant smile. New York it aint.

More to follow.
T