Pet Peeves about bangkok

[unit731]

The wet moist ring around the base of my glass/bottle of Heinekin while sitting at Golden Beer Bar watching humanity walk past.

 

Opening the window facing Sukhumvit from upper floor of Nana Hotel and hearing that darn rooster (again).

 

Those two (different) guys selling fake Rol*x watches, while sitting sipping my wet drink at the Golden Beer Bar.

 

Trying to figure out which way I am traveling on the Sky Train.

 

Sitting at Soi 7 Beer Garden and having every woman look at me as if I am an ATM machine.

 

The imitation Village People in Chiang Mai.

 

Getting that "Nip" off my shoulder afer visiting the crocodile farm in Chiang Mai.

 

Trying to figure out exactly what I am eating.

 

Soi Dogs.

 

Figuing out how much of the Viagra pill to break off/apart.

 

Gals with fancy cell phones ringing at the inappropriate times.

 

Having an empty tootepaste tube and no scissors!

 

Paying my hotel bill at end of stay.

 

Getting on plane when leaving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gadfly]

I was thinking of you as I navigated Saigon last week. You would hate it. Compared to Saigon, Bangkok's a picnic for motorcycle traffic. Firstly, almost all the traffic is motorcycles or scooters rather than cars. Secondly, there are few pedestrians. Thirdly, the Vietnamese are even worse than the Thais for neglecting to stop at traffic lights (I think I never saw 100% stopping). Lastly, especially at rush hours, they are all over the pavements without shame, swarming all around you as you walk. And, to top it all, they beep their horns every 10 seconds.

 

You won't see any posts here from me on Saigon. I was there about 15 years ago, and I can't imagine that it got better. It's not good for nightlife, but I enjoyed Hanoi better than Saigon.

 

The pollution is a problem here, but if you stay away from the roads (say, Lumphini), it is not so bad, and you can go running - at least I can. I assume that is a non-starter in Saigon.

 

Bangkok would be doing itself a big favor if it got rid of the two stroke motorcycle engines. I really don't like motorcycles at all.

[bibblies]

Actually, I would say it's not so bad.

 

Saigon is noticeably cleaner than Bangkok. There's definitely more civic pride - hardly any litter to be seen, plenty of green parks, not so much pollution evident in the streets. The noise is worse but maybe I stayed in flimsier-walled hotels than I would normally stay in.

 

The people are sharper, business-wise, but still very pleasant with it. Restaurants are good (I noticed bottles of wine were MUCH cheaper than they would be in Bangkok), service is good.

 

Girls are, if you like the whiter-skinned look, maybe prettier. The average bargirl is better looking, I'd say, than the Bangkok equivalent. The only problems are that there are many fewer of them and, of course, the laws are not sanuk-friendly. In practice though, I had a good time and didn't feel like I was in an oppressive police state. I didn't notice any police while I was there, walking around (and I walked everywhere).

 

I would even say I felt there was a desire to improve tourist numbers (that probably wasn't the case 15 years ago). At the airport, officials were very friendly. The number of them available to serve at immigration certainly put Bangkok's huge immigration queues to shame. I didn't see any 'Vietnamese only' lanes staffed by officials doing nothing while they let farangs stew (another Bangkok peeve!)

 

Property laws are, I think, now more foreigner-friendly than Thailand and, unlike Thailand, they've been getting friendlier recently, not more xenophobic.

 

Perhaps the main thing that brought me back was that I couldn't speak the language. I don't like to feel helpless for long periods of time and I happen to be familiar with Thailand already. If I went to Thailand and Vietnam today knowing nothing, I'm not completely sure which I'd like better...

[bibblies]

"My own pet peeve is the way that Thais walk"

 

The King should demand that all thais move with a purpose.

Actually I said that one, not Torneyboy.

 

It's kind of pissing me off that no one else seems to agree. Maybe no one else walks for any period of time?

 

I find it infuriating a couple of times every single day.

 

It's an Asian thing. Indians are as bad. But Europeans and Americans have awareness of other people.

 

Thais, when walking with someone else, will always spread out so they're all walking in a line blocking the pavement.

 

They will not notice anything around them. Even if they're alone, they will not move to one side like a farang would, sensing the foot traffic is busy. In short, they're fucking useless! I've only ever had a Thai move over to one side when that Thai has been walking with a farang who, typically, has the consideration and awareness to realise that someone else is itching to pass.

 

[Orangutan]

bibblies,

 

Couldn't agree more...observe many farang mumbling under their breath, and some out loud about it.

 

-O

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

Yep, that walking pisses me off as well. I tend to walk very fast and very often I get stuck behind one or more Thais who are more often than not totally oblivious to the fact that I am right behind them.

 

Sanuk!

 

[cavanami]

We need to start a new sport...Bowling for Thais!

 

Just knock them out of the way. like a bunch of bowling pins :grin:

[CTO]

<>

 

I hate that! Thought I was alone.

[Bar4]

bibblies,

Couldn't agree more...observe many farang mumbling under their breath, and some out loud about it.

-O

 

Me too - I mumble "kwai" just loud enough for them to hear and they tend to move out of the way. Doesn't make me any friends though!

 

[Flashermac]

If I ever murder anyone, it will be a group of Thais "walking" along the pavement in their typical bovine meander. It could quite possibly be a woman who takes her children for a stroll - both of them aged 3 to 5 and on each side of her, completely preventing anyone else from moving at a pace faster that a sick snail and making it impossible to pass her. After thirty plus years I STILL GET FURIOUS AND HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SWEAR AT PEDESTRIANS IN BOTH THAI AND ENGLISH!

 

When I used to ride buses, I don't know how many times I missed them because of some moron shuffling along and keeping me from reaching it before it left the stop.