I want to open a new topic where we can share with everyone something that has really got up our noses today - and is part of the 'joy' of living in Thailand.

If I may begin:

I went for lunch at may-yah restaurant today and parked the truck outside on the road parallel to the kerb. There was a small vehicle in front of me who left a minute or two later - leaving a gap - suitable for something like a Honda jazz but nothing larger. I sat eating in a window seat amusing myself at a pick up trying to squeeze into another space a few metres back from my car - after about 15 attempts they gave up and drove off - then they saw the gap in front of me and thought they fancied their chances. The only way to get a pick up in the space would be to pick it up on a fork lift and place it in there. After around 20 attempts at forward and reversing they thought they had succeeded and got out. A crowd of Thais was watching in amusement and I was a little worried so went to look also. Sure enough their car was touching mine (although I have crash bars) and I screamed at the woman how the hell did she expect me to get out when there was half a centimetre gap between the vehicles? They got back in and tried again for another 5 minutes then eventually realised it just wasn't going to happen and drove off. Just as another pick up saw the gap and we entered round two. This guy wasted no time - parked at 45 degrees and left it - again making it impossible for me to get out. Fortunately when i finished lunch and went to my car the driver also appeared and moved so I was able to get out.
Is it selfishness or just plain stupidity that is the problem - I wonder sometimes.
Rant over - and yes I feel better now

Paul

Just shunt them out the way, I presume thats what the bull bars are for

Welocme to Thailand. TIT

First, you must realize the Thais don't know how to drive, let alone park their car in a proper manner.

Second, 99.9% of them never took a driving test, either written or behind the wheel. They just paid off some guy at the testing office and he handed them their permit to kill or damage another persons body or car.

Third, they don't care about your car. They are just in a hurry to get some place to sit down and eat or drink. They rush for what reason?

Fourth, most of them can't read or write so, how would they be able to pass the written test. Ah da........

The funney thing about the Thais when they drive, they are watching to see who is watching theme. They don't even watch the road.

Like I said, welcome to Thailand.

As both a car driver and a motor bike rider over here, I find the motorcyclists the most frustrating. When they just pull away from the side of the ride of the road, without so much as a look over their shoulder, or a care for what's behind them or about to pass them. It leaves you in the position where you either have to brake hard to avoid them, or veer out into the next lane, (into the vehicle alongside or just behind you). Meanwhile they roar off down the road, oblivious to the havoc they've just caused behind themselves!

Agreed many of the car drivers can't really drive. If you watch them on a steep hill with bends (I know there aren't many round here), they suddenly lose their momentum. I realise why now. They're changing gear, and hunting for the next gear down, but haven't yet found it yet.

......... whilst chatting on the phone and watcing the latest dvd on their dashboard - grrrrrrrrrrr

And some folks say cell phones don't kill. They sure have here in the US. My only hope is one day the companies get thier come uppance.

I am about to think drinking and driving might be better than driving and talking on the damn cell phone. Give you three guesses who got hit by a vehicle that the driver was talking on the cell phone. using another posters commentGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Did I mention driving and cell phones don't mix.

My pet gripe is when I park the car leaving enough space for me to get out, then come back and find a motorbike up close back and front.
Mind you a police friend tells me it is common for an old bike to be put close behind a farangs car, so he doesn't see it, and bangs it. Apparently they can earn 2-3,000bht a time like this.

I have learned to check front and back after i have been parked somewhere - and if theres a bike there it gets moved - usually into the middle of the road. If they havent got a brain its there problem not mine!

Cure fro this one roll out on the street and leave them same things happens when you have a big bike you park correctly and every piece of junk has blocked in when you get back, I move them out of the way and don't put them back. Give the same as you get

Todays rant is the ignorant Danish(I think) guy who sat next to me in the bar whilst I was enjoying my meal. He sat so close I could hardly move to eat my food and then he started to smoke - which is just darn right rude. Then he turned and asked me if I would sit somewhere else as he wanted his wife to sit next to him (in my chair).
The look I gave him would have stopped a tank and his wife saw this and went to sit elsewhere.
just rude - downright rude !

Paul, is this going to be a regular daily slot??

Just wondering how the things that gripe you over there compare with the things that griped you off back in blighty...

Well the cause of that rant could have happened anywhere, so its not just part of the "joy" of living in Thailand. So that perhaps partially answers your question Sean.

Must have forgotten (thankfully for his sanity) about the "joy" of living in the UK I reckon.......

Now that's something I have yet to find!

So true; next Friday beckons strongly.....no no thats the Heathrow "experience"....next Saturday

Sorry guys, off topic here. Just curious about blighty. I know it refers to the UK, but where is blighty derived from?

Ignornant American...