scoobydoo Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 Hah, I'm from Peterborough, more roundabouts than just about anywhere else, apart from Milton Keynes that is of course. They are replacing a lot of the roundabouts in Doha with traffic lights, don't think too many Doha residents ever figured out how to make roundabouts work properly. you have my sympathy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huumlaar Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 My taxi this afternoon turned to early into the wrong company drive way, so backed out, and drove 100 meters down the road in the face of on coming traffic, which politely moved aside. Four lane highway, a motorbike flashed his lights, no one beeped their horns once. That's what makes driving here so easy, Thai's just "blend" into the situation without worrying that it's madness. Do it in Australia and you'd be beaten to death with a car iron, and justifiable too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 huumlaar, This is the point I am trying to make, to an outsider or a non driver Bangkok may seem like a nightmare of a city to drive in, but in all honesty once you are used to it, it is probably the friendliest and easy cities of global metros to get around, one of the times the "Som Nam Na" attitude is advantageous. I am not just saying this as a "Thai Apologists" I have driven in many major cities in all 5 Continents of the world and for me Bangkok is by far the easiest one to negotiate. Traffic does look like chaos at times and as bad as Thai driving is perceived the politeness between fellow road users allows the city to keep moving. I realise I sound like a demented fool making these comments but for me it works, which is all that matters at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 I enjoy driving in los....far less belligerent than the uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 I enjoy driving in los....far less belligerent than the uk I take the piss when in the UK, I have a Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Thai, Singapore, Chinese and South Korean Driving Licences, no way do they see my British one. Last time I was there earlier this year I got myself an Audi TT, a nice little go kart and got an NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) for doing 135 MPH in a 50 zone over the Snake pass, I love that road, so I sent my Lawyer to court with my Qatari licence, they had no clue how to deal with it, "Your Client is in UK and needs a UK Licence" sorry your honour my client is a non UK resident and has been in the UK less than 6 months and is entitled to drive on any licence from a former British colony. Needless to say at 5 months and 3 weeks I sold the Audi and got the hell out of UK back to this madhouse. In Thailand I have had some classics, usually getting a 1,000 Baht fine down to 100 Baht but they day I was accused of Drink Driving under the influence of whisky was the best. Somehow I passed the sobriety test, paid the 500 Baht fine and as I was leaving informed the Sargent, it was not whisky sir I have been on the vodka, he just laughed at me told me to be on my way and don't crash on the way home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 snake pass is a great road. first road to become impassable at winter!.......was riding a mtb around ladybower a few months ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 I have ridden / driven the snake pass 100's of times, it used to be a great road to open a bike up on, I still remember the day that myself and a GSXR1100 parted company at 150MPH+ on that road, how I walked away from that one i will never know, Sunday Afternoons at Matlock Bath those were the days . Earlier this year I made the mad dash from Gatley, South Manchester across to Dronfield in Yorkshire where my Niece runs a pub, Boring A6 through stockport, past lyme park then onto the snake all the way, I made the run every sunday, dangerous road hell yes but once you knew it a joy to drive on. There are only two others in the UK that can compare, the first being the Head of the Valley's Road through the Brecon Bekons, one time on that road I was pursued by a Police Helicopter for 15 miles, somehow I got away, the other is the Isle of Man Mountain Circuit, fark you need a full lobotomy to race there, but kong being kong was up to it. I had a little incident at the Bottom of Barrogarrow on a GSXR750, I did not walk away from that one, four weeks in Nobles Hospital before allowed to travel back to UK. Barrogarrow is an amazing section of track, the top there is a hump back bridge, if you hit it at 150 MPH you land and can get around the slight left at the bottom, it in my case you try to take it at 165MPH you miss the turn hit the curb then into the hedgerow and dry stone wall, Sky, Ground, Sky Ground, Sky OUCH my best crash ever. In Thailand I have my Ducati 916SP, ridden it a few times from Nong Khai to Korat through Khao Yai national park but you have to watch out for the suicidal monkeys, nowadays I just do track days at Bira. I miss speed (velocity not amphetamines) I miss alcohol and I miss Cocaine, been there, done it and got away with it, now I just prefer life and get my kicks out of watching Emmerdale on ITV Player with a cup of Tetleys, sad but true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexi Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 The old A6 Shap road on the way to Carlisle is pretty good also - very quiet with long straight sections ....that was a few years ago.Now there are so many speed cameras around here that its just not worth the risk to put your foot down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 OMG Northern English roads especially around the Lakes area were my playground. I used to do road rallies when they were popular back in the mid 80's. meet up at some pub in Kendal at 1 AM then be given 1 hour to plot and bash your route, my marked up OS maps are amongst my proudest pocessions faring priceless and I miss my RS1800, could blow the ass off a Lotus TT or a Chevete HSR 2.3. For some reason Ford decided to drop an 1800CC Cosworth Twin Cam engine into a MKII Escort, OK, Bilstein front suspension fully turreted rear end suspension and Baby Atlas back axle, Fark that motor could shift and handle. I lost her on a daytime stage rally in Hexham forest one of those "Holy shit gone in too hot moments" pace notes and vomit everywhere, I misjudged a downhill right-hander and rather than staying on the dirt took an 80 foot short cut drop, the car was a total wreck but we both walked away from it. I have had one or two "How the hell did I get away with that" incidents in motor sport, the only real cost was lost houses and divorce, OK I financed the car by taking out a loan on property and lost the car and the house and then the wife, she knew I was an adrenalin Junkie but loosing the car and then the house was too much for, in retrospect I was lucky I got rid off her cheap and now have a better life in Thailand. Given the same choices over again would I have taken the same risks? HELL YES, we only live once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted August 23, 2013 Report Share Posted August 23, 2013 recently drove nong khai to chiang khan....some epic curves the road hugs the Mekong most of the way...btw dronfield is in Derbyshire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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