Comments on: An Officer and a Gentleman

By: Pete, FrogBlogger

Pete, FrogBlogger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:46:30 +0000

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…

By: Hoo Don

Hoo Don — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:22:30 +0000

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.

By: martin in bulgaria

martin in bulgaria — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:26:46 +0000

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?

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:51:40 +0000

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

By: Pete, FrogBlogger

Pete, FrogBlogger — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:18:54 +0000

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.