Thailand Day to Day

Driving in Thailand

Driving in Thailand is not the terrifying experience one is led

to believe in some travel guides, especially if you venture out

away from the cities.

Driving is on the

left, unless you

are on a

motorcycle where

bi-directional

travel adjacent to

the sidewalk is

accepted in some

areas out of the

cities. This is, of

course, both

sides of the road.

You can turn left at a red traffic light when it is safe to do so,

but only left.

Apart from that, no more is necessary than the concentration

required on driving safely that you would use at home.

You won’t find a self service fuel station but you will get a

smile from the pump attendant. It would not be customary

to tip them though. Most fuel stations have good facilities by

way of toilets and a shop. In the major towns, fuel stations

may have a coffee shop and a restaurant too.

Tuk Tuk and Taxi Travel

Tuk Tuks are three-wheeled, open sided scooters and a great

way to get around Bangkok and other cities.

Always fix the rate before the journey if you can but most

journeys will be less than 150 Baht.

A taxi will be a little more but again check the rate before

travel. A meter taxi is always better than one without.

Drivers of both modes of transport may try to persuade you

that they know a good place to buy a suit or that a 24 carat

store is a great place for a detour.

This is all part of taxi travel culture and the drivers may get

a commission from the store for taking you there (usually a

few litres of fuel). The 24 carat shop is filled with expensive

jewellery and you get a tour of the factory to see how they

are made. If you do not want to buy expensive jewellery, it is

still worth a visit to see them and there is usually a section in

the shop with some very good value quality souvenirs at

economical prices. Just allow plenty of time and join in the

fun.

Haggling

Thais generally expect some negotiation from tourist buyers

and you can obtain a good discount if buying more than one

item. Shops rarely discount other than the already

discounted price and also food market stalls generally do

not.

Other market stalls in tourist areas will discount, jewellery

and suit shops will to some extent too.

So it is always worth a try and can be a bit of fun too. Use

50 per cent as a starting point and usually that will be

returned with a smile and the offer of a discount for buying

more than one. Great for T shirts but not much use for a

wedding ring.

You will know when you are getting near the agreed price as

the vendor may say in Thai tham mai dai. This means

‘cannot’. If you say dai back and the price does not come

down further, then that is probably the lowest price you will

get. You could try walking away and going back but anything

further will depend on whether the vendor is desperate to

get a sale.

Always smile when haggling as it is good manners.

The Wai

The Wai is an essential part of Thai culture and is used as a

mark of respect. It is a greeting used for both hello and

goodbye. The name Wai is a fairly recent designation but the

tradition goes back thousands of years.

The Wai is carried out by placing of palms together, putting

hands with fingers at the tip of the nose and bowing slightly.

As we say, it is a mark of respect so there are other ways of

Wai-ing and this depends on your social status, the higher

status meaning a lower bow too. For everyday use the

mentioned method will be fine.

The lower social status will Wai first. This also means the

younger person.

It is considered inappropriate not to acknowledge a Wai, so

Wai back or bow your head if your hands are occupied.

It is not customary to Wai if you are paying for services, for

instance a shopkeeper or Taxi driver. If they Wai to you,

again just bow your head. However, if they do more than

serve you, by giving directions or take care of the children in

the shop, then it is perfectly acceptable to thank them with a

Wai as you leave, again a show of respect.

Some more Day to Day coming soon.

Thailand Day to Day

Driving in Thailand

Driving in Thailand is not the terrifying experience

one is led to believe in some travel guides, especially

if you venture out away from the cities.

Driving is on the left, unless you are on a

motorcycle where bi-directional travel adjacent to

the sidewalk is accepted in some areas out of the

cities. This is, of course, both sides of the road.

You can turn left at a red traffic light when it is

safe to do so, but only left.

Apart from that, no more is necessary than the

concentration required on driving safely that you would use at home.

You won’t find a self service fuel station but you will get a smile from the

pump attendant. It would not be customary to tip them though. Most fuel

stations have good facilities by way of toilets and a shop. In the major towns,

fuel stations may have a coffee shop and a restaurant too.

Tuk Tuk and Taxi Travel

Tuk Tuks are three-wheeled, open sided scooters and a great way to get

around Bangkok and other cities.

Always fix the rate before the journey if you can but most journeys will be

less than 150 Baht.

A taxi will be a little more but again check the rate before travel. A meter taxi

is always better than one without.

Drivers of both modes of transport may try to persuade you that they know a

good place to buy a suit or that a 24 carat store is a great place for a detour.

This is all part of taxi travel culture and the drivers may get a commission

from the store for taking you there (usually a few litres of fuel). The 24 carat

shop is filled with expensive jewellery and you get a tour of the factory to see

how they are made. If you do not want to buy expensive jewellery, it is still

worth a visit to see them and there is usually a section in the shop with some

very good value quality souvenirs at economical prices. Just allow plenty of

time and join in the fun.

Haggling

Thais generally expect some negotiation from tourist buyers and you can

obtain a good discount if buying more than one item. Shops rarely discount

other than the already discounted price and also food market stalls generally

do not.

Other market stalls in tourist areas will discount, jewellery and suit shops will

to some extent too.

So it is always worth a try and can be a bit of fun too. Use 50 per cent as a

starting point and usually that will be returned with a smile and the offer of a

discount for buying more than one. Great for T shirts but not much use for a

wedding ring.

You will know when you are getting near the agreed price as the vendor may

say in Thai tham mai dai. This means ‘cannot’. If you say dai back and the

price does not come down further, then that is probably the lowest price you

will get. You could try walking away and going back but anything further will

depend on whether the vendor is desperate to get a sale.

Always smile when haggling as it is good manners.

The Wai

The Wai is an essential part of Thai culture and is used as a mark of respect.

It is a greeting used for both hello and goodbye. The name Wai is a fairly

recent designation but the tradition goes back thousands of years.

The Wai is carried out by placing of palms together, putting hands with fingers

at the tip of the nose and bowing slightly. As we say, it is a mark of respect so

there are other ways of Wai-ing and this depends on your social status, the

higher status meaning a lower bow too. For everyday use the mentioned

method will be fine.

The lower social status will Wai first. This also means the younger person.

It is considered inappropriate not to acknowledge a Wai, so Wai back or bow

your head if your hands are occupied.

It is not customary to Wai if you are paying for services, for instance a

shopkeeper or Taxi driver. If they Wai to you, again just bow your head.

However, if they do more than serve you, by giving directions or take care of

the children in the shop, then it is perfectly acceptable to thank them with a

Wai as you leave, again a show of respect.

Some more Day to Day coming soon.