Traffic in Thailand

I just returned from the states a few weeks ago. Before I left I was feeling comfortable and had some second thoughts of returning. When I returned to Thailand in a relatively short period of time I felt this comfort in being in Thailand. Simply living in Thailand is very nice.

But having to go about the business of living in Thailand can be an extraordinary night mare. Granted we Farangs work on our learning curve. But there are still times when we are treated like (expletive deleted) only because we are Farangs. There is a percentage of Thai who will outright lie and steal from  Farangs because it is the "Thai Way". I specifically had an experience at immigration with that point, even with legal documentation to prove my point. Recently I had some Thai rental agent tell me what or how I was going to do something. I did the Thai way -  I told her that I refused to deal with her, I will find another agent, and would have a discussion with her boss.

Yes there are nay sayers in Thailand. There are also those people who stand up and say I'm not going to be a sucker and allow this crap to go on. However, that does not mean that I don't like Thailand and that I don't want to live here. I live here and I enjoy living here. But I am a human being that will not allow myself to be treated like a stupid sucker. Then again, growing up part of my life skills included street smarts.

Don't start a problem when there is no problem!

If nothing else we should use this forum as a learning tool. That can also include sharing problems and sharing solutions.

Previously there have been the nay sayers, who couldn't stop. Myself included, have told him/she/they to find a new forum.

Hello Bill,

Well said

Like anywhere there is good and bad , Having good connections and contacts along with my Thai Wife and Family is ALWAYS !!! HELPFUL !!!

I’m certainly appreciative of that Also most Thai people I know treat me well , Another blessing

Best Regards
Cheers
Bob T.
American Citizen / Retired Resident Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand

Sigh, RD, lighten-up there, sir! You've taken the point "out of context", again. I was simply referring to "bureaucracies", in general. I was not "ragging on Thailand", per se,   

However, where it comes to "Mass Transportation" infrastructure comparatives, Thailand has a looong way to go, in that regard, compared to Turkey.

Now, If you've actually been to Istanbul, then you'd definitely "get the drift", of my comparative point of view. Ok? Cheers,

Kruben is more then right, lighten up.

klingon, you are blessed to have a Thai wife who completely removes you from the challenges that many of us are faced with when living in Thailand. It's part of our learning curve, not yours.

In the mean time the subject is transportation!

Sorry klingon for my later statement, I didn't see your nice email. I'm man enough to admit when I am wrong as well.

I too have my Thai network, and that's part of my love for Thailand.

Hello,

I’m sabi sabi everyday

My response was solely for someone who went off topic , Which I previously gave my feedback on transportation:)  which someone again choose to go off topic.

This is an open form no rigid guidelines needed

In America we would say chill man chill

Cheers

Along with the cynicism someone mentioned earlier, I get very tired of the comments that Thais are poor and simple.  My friends are neither poor nor simple yet seem quite happy regardless. 

My problem the last few days has been my inability to pay for anything.  A family of four is visiting us from Bangkok and Mama won’t let us pay for any meals.  This morning I left two thousand baht with the cashier as a deposit for breakfast at my favorite restaurant, with instructions that my friends were not allowed to pay.  As we were leaving they returned my money and said Mama paid.  This happens in Bangkok when we visit and now in Chiang Rai with them staying at our house.  No matter what I try, this family won't let me or my wife pay for anything.

I am feeling left out that no one uses me as an ATM.  I did do a lot of driving the last couple of days as I was their farang guide through the mountains of Phu Chi Fa, Phu Chi Dao and Doi Pha Tang, near where we live.  I love driving in the mountains.

Hello ,

If your tired of hearing anything, Don’t respond that simple !! 

If it doesn’t apply let it fly
Your experiences may be different than others , Does not mean anyone is all wrong or all right !!!

THAT SIMPLE !!!

How does not responding relate to not hearing?  Is it OK with you if I express an opinion based on my personal experience which is different from the norm?

Sure have at it

Cheers ,

villagefarang wrote:

Along with the cynicism someone mentioned earlier, I get very tired of the comments that Thais are poor and simple.  My friends are neither poor nor simple yet seem quite happy regardless. 

My problem the last few days has been my inability to pay for anything.  A family of four is visiting us from Bangkok and Mama won’t let us pay for any meals.  This morning I left two thousand baht with the cashier as a deposit for breakfast at my favorite restaurant, with instructions that my friends were not allowed to pay.  As we were leaving they returned my money and said Mama paid.  This happens in Bangkok when we visit and now in Chiang Rai with them staying at our house.  No matter what I try, this family won't let me or my wife pay for anything.

I am feeling left out that no one uses me as an ATM.  I did do a lot of driving the last couple of days as I was their farang guide through the mountains of Phu Chi Fa, Phu Chi Dao and Doi Pha Tang, near where we live.  I love driving in the mountains.

VF ~ Remember several months ago, I asked you if everything was alright with you? There was a reason why I posed that question.

I've always liked you, and many of your previous "spot-on" perspective posts. However, lately you've become a real (unnecessarily) "contentious", confrontational blow-heart of a bloke, on these topic threads, anymore.  So then, what's up with that new behavioral pattern, on your part, sir?

It seems that you have made a 180-degree personality change, on the forum.  Seriously, why not take some "meditative" reflection time, away from the platform (for a change of venue), to take a looong-look @ yourself,.....for a fresh perspective. PLEASE!

Hi everyone,

Some posts from this thread have been removed. The topic here is Traffic in Thailand, i invite other members to share their expat experience about the topic.

Thank you.
Christine

Sorry link didn't work.

A spot-on reply post, sir! Hope you get a reciprocal response. Anyway, how are the highway traffic conditions, in the provincial neck of the woods? cheers!

For the most part traffic is not a big problem here unless you are unlucky enough to live near one of the bigger schools in town or have to drive past one.  As I said in my earlier post I quite like driving up here.  There really isn't anything about living in Thailand which I find stressful or difficult.

To be honest, I suppose I don't appreciate getting tar on my car from road resurfacing but I have a great shop I go to periodically which makes my car look new again.

Good to know Bob

Leigh

About Bangkok traffic: Here's my two bits worth in this forum. Warning: If you need to get to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) from anywhere in downtown Bangkok, make sure you give yourself a huge amount of time to get there. I thought three hours would have been enough -- Not so. Double that time at least, especially if you are traveling anytime near the busy part of the day; and forget about trying to make it to the DMK airport in any anticipated time on a Friday rush-hour evening -- Go way way earlier in the day on a Friday. So far, I've missed two flights. The very first time I did this trip, I went from downtown to DMK by taxi and I arrived at the airport in pretty good time in the late morning (under two hours), so that became my first guideline. Hmm . . . that lucky day created a misconception for me. Alas, missed flights are stressful, inconvenient and expensive. Better to err on the side of caution and spend half a day sitting around in the airport because you got there way too early rather than stressing out in an unbelievable gridlock. I once read somewhere that Bangkok traffic at certain times of the day is "the mother of all gridlock". This is absolutely true, especially if one is commuting by car. I've never experienced anything like it. I'd rather try getting on the back of a hired motorbike and zigzagging through the city streets to get to DMK on a busy day. On the lighter side of things, the taxi drivers I happened to be with were so relaxed and told stories, shrugged their shoulders and waved their arms in resignation to the other taxi drivers. This is all part of a day's work. You can't scream, "take another route" . . . There's nowhere to go. Enjoy the trip.   dcb   PS: Nowadays, even if there is a higher cost for an airfare, I try to book all of my short-hop and local flights out of BKK . . . all because of that "mother of all gridlock".  dcb

While long traffic delays are not uncommon we seldom spend more than an hour getting to DMK for a return flight to Chiang Rai.  Location of the hotel, access to the expressway, time of day, rain, holidays and movement of dignitaries all come into play.  I have never missed a flight.

So next week i am getting a flight at Don Muang at 10:00 am. My hotel is in Sukhumvit Road near Terminal 21, so what would be the best time to get a taxi for?

Hello,

I’m Retired in Nakhon Ratchasima But I’ve always traveled in and out of Thailand through Bangkok.

My thoughts are if you can get the travel time to to that particular airport  I’ve always arrived 3-4 hours prior to my flight no rush get there deal with luggage and ticket and there’s plenty of places to chill and eat while your waiting.

Safe Travels
Best Regards
Bob T.
American Citizen/ Retired Resident
Nakhon Ratchisma Thailand

I would probably leave the hotel at 6 am for an international flight.  If you go much later the traffic will start getting worse, depending on the day of the week.  It is not always easy to get a taxi but if you get in the taxi at 6 am you should be okay.

I would check with the hotel concierge.  They would have knowledge of traffic patterns in that area and how long it takes to get on the expressway, etc.  I usually fly locally and don’t need as much time as an international flight so arriving an hour and a half before the flight works for me.