Driving in Bangkok. Am I mad?

Two short bus journeys in Bangkok this weekend reminded us of the single, most important piece of advice to anyone visiting Thailand.

I can't stress just how important this piece of advice is.

Not joking, this could save your life.

If you consider only one thing before visiting Thailand, this should be it.

Ready?

When a driver flashes their lights, it means STOP! DO NOT COME! I AM COMING!

In The UK (I thought everywhere), flashing your lights is a sign for you to come. It is saying I will let you go, In Thailand, it's the opposite.

You're welcome.


Anyway, should you drive in Bangkok?

 

This video, titled "Don't drive here" might answer your question. It's not like that everywhere in Bangkok, but it gives you an idea.

This weekend I took the bus twice, one around Lad Prao road. The driver went straight through a red light at break neck speed, with the passengers swinging all over. The bus was then greeted by an angry policeman. He stopped the bus, he and the driver had an argument. The driver then handed over what looked to be (maybe not, who knows, don't sue) two crisp 100 baht notes. The bus carried on.

My second bus journey went past Jatujak market, coming from Victory Monument. The traffic is horrendous around JJ. The cars cars were bumper to bumper. The bus was full. Yet, the driver insisted on trying to weave in and out of the cars. At one point, the bus was at a 90 degree angle, covering three lanes of traffic. We arrived at our destination no quicker than we would have if he drove straight. He did however manage to piss off at least 50 different drivers.

So, should you drive here? At your own risk!

Rihanna offends Thailand.

Rihanna recently visited Phuket and did some things that (let’s be honest) many tourists visiting Phuket do, so what is all of the fuss?

She first uploaded pictures of her with a Slow Loris, an endangered species. These photos were reportedly taken on Bangla road in Patong. Secondly, she tweeted quite graphic details about a sex show (one using ping pong balls. Confused? Use your imagination).

The reason it caused uproar in Thailand is bad publicity. Thais hate to lose face, this is well documented. So, Rihanna tweeting this to 30 million plus followers is a lot of face losing.

We know, Thai people all know, most people around the world know, that these things happen in Thailand. Many Thais however, bury their head in the sand.

 Blah blah, I’m not listening, these things don’t happen in Thailand, la la la.

That sort of thing.

Of course, the more level headed have been playing this down on forums. It happens, whatever, get on with it.

What will happen now?

The sad thing is, this is an opportunity for change. Call me a pessimist, but it won’t.

One positive has happened already, The tweet with the slow loris has led to two arrests. Story here.

Hopefully, this is not the end. This is a huge problem, all across South East Asia. The illegal trade in animals is common, and a horrible trade at that.

This is their chance. They can use this as a point of change, make an example of the two arrested but don’t stop there. Push it through, keep it going. End this trade.

Now. The sex show.

What? Thailand has sex shows? No we don’t! How dare you! That’s very un-Thai!

Come on, they are common, we all know this.

The problem is, they make money. People are profiting from allowing these shows, or doing exactly what some Thais do, turning a blind eye.

Take a walk around Walking Street in Pattaya, stroll down Patpong/Nana/Soi Cowboy in Bangkok or wonder around Patong in Phuket. You will be approached with men with menus, and not your average restaurant menu. Again, use your imagination. 

Fact is, these are popular. Despite the scams, despite the warnings, despite the complete and utter tastelessness, they are popular and will remain popular.

This won’t change, we all know it. I hope it does, but it won’t. It makes money, so it will remain.

Why my pessimism?

Go back not too long, Lady gaga visited Thailand. She tweeted about how excited she was to buy a fake Rolex and visit a lady show after landing in Bangkok.

Thais were angry, the ministry of tourism were angry. Fake Rolex in Bangkok? How dare you!

The anger faded, news changed, people forgot about it. What has changed since then?

Fake Rolex sellers banished from Bangkok? Not a chance. Visit most markets or take a walk down Sukhumvit road, you’ll be offered some.

This is not meant to offend Thailand, Thai people or anyone in fact. These things happen. Either stand up and make a change, or accept it when someone tells the world about it.

Don’t bury your head in the sand.

Carrying your passport in Thailand, yes? No? Maybe? Don't know?

I have to. 

I don’t have to.

 Just pay the police if they stop you.

 Don’t be stupid, I’m not carrying my passport in Thailand you ****.

Not unusual for Thailand, you will hear different rules from different people.

The Law

The law actually states that a foreigner (alien is the term they use, I prefer foreigner) must carry their passport upon their person at ALL times when in Thailand.

The Reality

No one does.

So, that’s cleared that up.

More and more stories are coming out about police actually taking this law into action. Random police checks on foreigners are becoming more and more frequent, especially in Bangkok. More specifically, Sukhumvit. The Asok junction, soi 21 and soi 23 seem to be popular. However, one story we will focus on happened around Sukhumvit 33.

A young Englishman, smartly dressed was on a night out on his first night in Bangkok after arriving for his job (a well paid, professional job). It was before midnight and he was travelling home in a taxi, this taxi was pulled over. The police sent the taxi on its way, keeping the young, bewildered foreigner.

Now this dispels the myth that the police target drunk, scruffy foreigners and are looking for easy money.

He was asked to produce his passport, which he did not have. He was told to wait on the kerb, while the police officer pulled over more taxis. Eventually, an hour later, he was handcuffed to a friendly Cambodian man. Together with 6 other non-Thais, they were taken to Thong Lor police station and kept in a cell. He had no idea what they were doing; he didn’t even know you were supposed to carry your passport.

About 3 hours later a police officer produced a ‘ticket’. This said he was being fined 500 baht. He paid the fine, signed the form and was sent on his way, around 4 AM.

This would be a bit of a nightmare for the seasoned expat, let alone someone brand new to the city.

Maybe you can talk your way out of it, maybe you can pay a smaller fine before the journey to the station. How was he to know? The police didn’t seem to be in the mood for negotiating.

One off? Won’t happen to me.

Wrong.

Less than a week later, another new expat (from the same place of work, believe it not!) was stopped, this time while walking in Asok at around 9PM. He was forced to pay a fine of 500 baht direct to the officer and sent on his way.

Our Advice.

Carry your passport. We know it’s a pain, you could lose it, whatever. In reality we know that most people won’t, I myself don’t.

After these latest stories however, I made a copy of my passport that fits inside my wallet. This should be sufficient in the unlikely event I get stopped (it’s still extremely rare that you would be stopped, just a huge coincidence that these latest stories happened to these people).

At least make the copy, it’s really not worth the hassle!

Any other stories? Let us know.

Hopefully you learnt something new today!

Coming soon:

Your no nonsense guide to living in Thailand.