Final thoughts on Thailand
Language butchery by redhotknitter on 18.3.06 @ 18:19
Rich just reminded me to send my final thoughts on Thailand.
First the traffic rules.
1. There are no rules. Rich says there are suggestions. I'd surmise that they are more like ideas. Stop signs exist. Stop lights exist. No one really pays attention to either.
2. Lanes are also just a suggestion. You can have a one lane road suddenly turn into three. Rich and I found ourselves in the middle of a (normally) two-lane road with three lanes of traffic passing us on each side. If not for the Thai man standing next to me in the middle of the road, I would have thought the end was near. However, he was totally relaxed, so I figured we were okay.
3. Which brings us to: crossing the street. Crossing the street is taking your life into your hands. Remember the video game frogger? We played the human version. It involved cars, buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles.
4. Motorcycles. I called them the motorcycle mafia. Why? They rule the roads. They weave in and out of traffic and onto sidewalks with complete disregard to people and vehicles around them. They all work to get to the front of the traffic line and zoom out by the hundreds. Even when you think the way is clear, you must always watch for motorcycles. And there are motorcycle taxis. Rich wouldn't let me try them as I have only been on a motorcycle once in my life. Rich says in the 80s there was a role-playihng game called Car Wars. The slogan of the game was taken direct from Bangkok: If you don't like the way we drive, stay off the streets, the sidewalks, and the lawns!
5. Tuk-tuks. They are three-wheeled contraptions without mufflers or emission controls. They seem to be driven by teenages or old men. Neither with valid licenses. It is the new version of the rickshaw. You have to haggle the price before you get on or you will be taken for a monetary as well as smelly ride.
6. Turn signals are optional. Enough said.
7. The horn is used to say hello. To say Here I am. Usually not to say, get out of my way. It is a nice, if noisy, rule.
8. No need to hail a taxi. There are taxis and tuk-tuks everywhere. And they are cheap. If you need one for longer, hire a driver. Ours cost about $5.00 per hour and was well worth it.
9. When in Bangkok, use the Skytrain. It is clean and airconditioned and a day pass costs about $2.50! It will take you to many 7+ story malls. You can shop and skytrain all day long.
I can't think of any other rules.
I'm am, for the first time in my life, shopped out. This is Rich's version of bargaining in Thailand:
Rich: How much is that?
Seller: 500 baht.
Rich: What is your best price?
Seller: For you. Very best customer. 450 baht.
Rich: Okay.
Aimee's version:
Aimee: How much is that?
Seller: 500 baht.
Aimee: 500 baht? Too much. What is your best price?
Seller: For you? You my best customer. 450 baht.
Aimee: How about 300 baht?
Seller: Oh that is too little. 400 baht.
Aimee: 350 baht. Final offer.
Seller: (thinks it over). Okay 350 baht.
Lesson learned: Rich hates bargaining. I love it. Rich thinks I'm cheap. I think its a game. The sellers will not sell for less than they can afford. They are happy and I'm happy. I agree with Rich that it is an ineffective way to buy stuff, but it was sure entertaining. I bought a lot of stuff, got a lot of massages, and ate many great meals. I can't wait to go back!
We loved Thailand and would highly recommend it to all. It is a beautiful country with friendly, happy people. The heat and humidity are wearing, but it was a nice relief from the rainy cold of Eugene.
Final note: High Tea at the Oriental Hotel. In general, the meals we ate were very inexpensive. Both of us could eat and have beer for under $10.00. We had a meal at the Indian restaurant in the Holiday Inn one night that was pricey (we thought) but then we went for tea at the Oriental. Mind you, I knew it would be expensive, but worth it. When else are you going to be able to go to a world-reknowned for its service and have tea? We had tea with three stories of culinary delights. Scones, finger sandwiches, and chocolates galore. We ate ourselves sick! All for the low price of 2900 baht (about $70.00). Not the very best price, but well worth it.
Aimee
First the traffic rules.
1. There are no rules. Rich says there are suggestions. I'd surmise that they are more like ideas. Stop signs exist. Stop lights exist. No one really pays attention to either.
2. Lanes are also just a suggestion. You can have a one lane road suddenly turn into three. Rich and I found ourselves in the middle of a (normally) two-lane road with three lanes of traffic passing us on each side. If not for the Thai man standing next to me in the middle of the road, I would have thought the end was near. However, he was totally relaxed, so I figured we were okay.
3. Which brings us to: crossing the street. Crossing the street is taking your life into your hands. Remember the video game frogger? We played the human version. It involved cars, buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycles.
4. Motorcycles. I called them the motorcycle mafia. Why? They rule the roads. They weave in and out of traffic and onto sidewalks with complete disregard to people and vehicles around them. They all work to get to the front of the traffic line and zoom out by the hundreds. Even when you think the way is clear, you must always watch for motorcycles. And there are motorcycle taxis. Rich wouldn't let me try them as I have only been on a motorcycle once in my life. Rich says in the 80s there was a role-playihng game called Car Wars. The slogan of the game was taken direct from Bangkok: If you don't like the way we drive, stay off the streets, the sidewalks, and the lawns!
5. Tuk-tuks. They are three-wheeled contraptions without mufflers or emission controls. They seem to be driven by teenages or old men. Neither with valid licenses. It is the new version of the rickshaw. You have to haggle the price before you get on or you will be taken for a monetary as well as smelly ride.
6. Turn signals are optional. Enough said.
7. The horn is used to say hello. To say Here I am. Usually not to say, get out of my way. It is a nice, if noisy, rule.
8. No need to hail a taxi. There are taxis and tuk-tuks everywhere. And they are cheap. If you need one for longer, hire a driver. Ours cost about $5.00 per hour and was well worth it.
9. When in Bangkok, use the Skytrain. It is clean and airconditioned and a day pass costs about $2.50! It will take you to many 7+ story malls. You can shop and skytrain all day long.
I can't think of any other rules.
I'm am, for the first time in my life, shopped out. This is Rich's version of bargaining in Thailand:
Rich: How much is that?
Seller: 500 baht.
Rich: What is your best price?
Seller: For you. Very best customer. 450 baht.
Rich: Okay.
Aimee's version:
Aimee: How much is that?
Seller: 500 baht.
Aimee: 500 baht? Too much. What is your best price?
Seller: For you? You my best customer. 450 baht.
Aimee: How about 300 baht?
Seller: Oh that is too little. 400 baht.
Aimee: 350 baht. Final offer.
Seller: (thinks it over). Okay 350 baht.
Lesson learned: Rich hates bargaining. I love it. Rich thinks I'm cheap. I think its a game. The sellers will not sell for less than they can afford. They are happy and I'm happy. I agree with Rich that it is an ineffective way to buy stuff, but it was sure entertaining. I bought a lot of stuff, got a lot of massages, and ate many great meals. I can't wait to go back!
We loved Thailand and would highly recommend it to all. It is a beautiful country with friendly, happy people. The heat and humidity are wearing, but it was a nice relief from the rainy cold of Eugene.
Final note: High Tea at the Oriental Hotel. In general, the meals we ate were very inexpensive. Both of us could eat and have beer for under $10.00. We had a meal at the Indian restaurant in the Holiday Inn one night that was pricey (we thought) but then we went for tea at the Oriental. Mind you, I knew it would be expensive, but worth it. When else are you going to be able to go to a world-reknowned for its service and have tea? We had tea with three stories of culinary delights. Scones, finger sandwiches, and chocolates galore. We ate ourselves sick! All for the low price of 2900 baht (about $70.00). Not the very best price, but well worth it.
Aimee
