Thailand Blogs – August 2010 Review
Soi Dogs and The Bucket Truck Man
The Only Way is Up – Thailand’s Coconut Monkeys
Baby and Python – Food For Thought
The Lady Boys of Bangkok
An Officer and a Gentleman
Driving in Thailand looks a very dangerous occupation. Bangkok taxi drivers take to the roads in a daily game of Big Mango Roulette. When I landed at Suvarnabhumi airport in December I had not pre booked a flight to Udon Thani, I gambled on there being seats available. With all flights fully booked I opted for a taxi ride north rather than the cheaper but much slower bus service.
A taxi ride in Thailand is a rollercoaster ride that Disneyland would be proud to host. A nose to tail high speed journey for most of the route, my pleas of ”slowly slowly” and “mee welah mark” were met with a contented grin. Approaching Khon Kaen the taxi drivers teeth disappeared behind closed lips after a police officer relieved him of 300 baht for an obvious speeding offence. The remainder of our journey was at a more leisurely pace.
I have never owned a driving license and at my age now I do not ever expect to do so. Wonderful Wi took an intensive driving course two years ago and she takes the helm for our journeys around the North East. Wi’s driving prowess has risen quite remarkably over the past twelve months and I have every confidence in her abilities, but it’s what’s coming the other way that causes me concern. What’s coming the other way and whether we have the insurance to cover it.
Whenever we rent a car I can never get written insurance in English and that always worries me. Wi seems uncertain herself about our exact insurance cover and usually explains that in the case of an accident we would pay only the first 5000 baht. Any attempts for an insurance low down with the car rental personnel always seem to end in a language mix of incomprehensible broken English and Thai. I really would like to know the ground rules of hiring a car in Thailand.
In my previous post I looked back on my recent holiday by inviting questions from readers and friends. One of the questions I received asked me what one tip or piece of advice I would give to someone travelling to Thailand. My reply was mainly that you should always show the utmost respect for the King of Thailand. This advice is covered in greater depth within a recent post from Talen author of Thailand, Land of Smiles. If you are about to embark on your first trip to Thailand or you are an inexperienced Thailand visitor, I would strongly recommend you read this article. Any new visitor to Thailand should be aware of certain rules and etiquette and this post gives out some very sound advice.
Last month I wrote a blog titled Mad Mick And The Magic Roundabout which was based around my hometown Swindon and one of it’s more colourful citizens Mad Mick, a 40 something still active punk rocker.
One of my regular readers, Pete Garwood the man behind the ab fab Frogblog Thaidings has I know been keen to see a photo of gentle giant Mad Mick.
Madder than a march hare and crazier than a sealed bag of wasps in a sweet shop, Beyond The Mango Juice proudly presents a giant and a gentleman, Millwall FC fan, the very lovable Mad Mick.
A taxi ride in Bangkok or a walk down a dark alley in Millwall, it’s your choice and sleep well with it.
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5 Responses to “An Officer and a Gentleman”
I read somewhere that accident insurance was a relatively recent innovation in Thailand. Previously the richer party compensated the poorer, paid hospital bills etc… or some such vague system along those lines. Seemed a bit iffy to me, especially as not so long ago an uninsured friend of a friend was bumped off her scooter by a 4×4 and seriously messed up. The driver promised to foot some considerable hospital bills, but the last I heard he had failed to do so.
When I’ve hired cars in Chiang Mai the waiver has always seemed a bit high, but what the hell – it’s a reputable firm, and I trust them. I’ve been lucky so far. A French mate hired a car from the same place and was sideswiped – damage was minimal, the responsibility was down to the Thai driver and he accepted it was entirely his fault, the car hire firm boss actually drove out to take a look, and apart from the inconvenience of losing a couple of hours, my French mate didn’t end up paying a baht.
Completely irrelevant, but for your edifification, the Thai for “slowly slowly” is “cha cha”. I only know this because there is an excellent masseuse in Chiang Mai’s Loi Kroh who hails by that nickname. I won’t be goaded by any flippant further remarks on this topic, so don’t ask.
If Mad Mick ever makes it to Bangkok, it’ll be the only place in the world where he’ll hear cries of “Hello hansum maan!”. I say this from the relative safety of a thousand miles or so between us as I write.
Riding in the car, with a Thai driver or driving yourself(fearing whats coming and what is surely passing,) it’s like parachuting out of a plane and hoping it opens , driving or riding in Thailand is hoping you get there in one piece or at all. As for insurance, they have so many levels of coverage here, #1, #2, #3, #4,all with different price and coverage, I can never get someone that speaks good enough english to tell me the difference , all I get is bery gode , or ok , or not bery gode . I just say give me bery gode . and leave it at that . Fotunately, I have never had to find out how gode.
When I get behind the wheel , before I start the engine, I say all the Hail Mary’s ,Our Father’s and cross myself and pray , and knock on wood, hang my lucky rabbits foot around the rear view mirrow , take a deep breath, make sure my Thai Amlut is in sight, and I’m off. Malcolm
Mad Max look’s just like my ex- Father -In _Law , God rest his ugly soul. ha ha
Mad Mick and Millwall just seem to be made for each other, I can only judge from your acounts of him and his mug shot though.
Driving in foreign countries is something many have to experience to believe – and somtime live to tell the tale. Thailand is no exception. There should be a ‘Bad Driving’ guide to countries – would be great for a bew blog.
Here,we have insurance here, but 99% of the time it is just third party – I had to pay the full amount for a car I crash a few years ago here on that basis – It was a shame it wasn’t a Lada I might have been able to avoid it att eh time then.
Mad Mick in Bangkok, has he got a wife?
Thanks for your information on car hire, I’m still confused but now realize that puts me in the same boat as everyone.
Pete – If I can’t make any cha cha reference then I think I’m knackered as far as any return comment goes.
Malcolm – Wilai always beeps the car horn 3 times as we pass the temple on our way out of the village, she then starts muttering some kind of prayer to Buddha. On our return it’s very much the same. I think I’ll buy an amulet with a lucky rabbit carved on it.
Martin – I really like your idea of a “Bad Driving” guide to countries – perhaps it’s something you could work on.
Mad Mick won’t be setting foot in Thailand, Millwall is about his limit. He’s not married but he really is a smashing guy and quite a gentle person although a little mad.
No problem HD, make any reference you like but it’s one of those cases where whether or not I reply, I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t
Thanks for the linkback comment by the way. I want to do a post with a few blog reviews soon, you’re on the list…