Traffic

Brrrr……it’s cold in Thailand. Recent news reports say that it’s the coldest it’s been in Bangkok for at least a decade. Overnight lows are in the low teens, and daytime highs area about +22 or so. I know, I know….it’s much colder where you are. But, I paid good money for this, and I think I should expect some heat, right? I want to sweat out all the toxins I’ve been putting in to my liver.

I’ve had a pretty lazy few days in Bangkok, again. Something about this city makes me just want to do very little. I wonder if it would be that way if I lived here? Perhaps it is the environmental influences. Most people in Thailand seem to work at a slower pace than, say, Hong Kong. It’s not a bad thing, by any means. But it is a noticeable difference in speed and energy.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the traffic here. Well, not just here in Thailand, but in Asia in general. I’ve made a few references to how I was a bit frightened about the traffic, before. But the more I see and experience it, the better it seems to me. Back in Canada, it’s common to hear people complain (and joke/tease) about bad Asian drivers. But, I am here to defend them now. I think that drivers that learned to drive here in Asia are taught a much different style of driving. Drivers here have a much more fluid style of driving, than in Canada. There is no aggression. Rules of the road are casually observed, not rigidly. Lane dividers? Who needs those?

Once someone is taught to drive on the streets of any Asian country, and then placed on the roads in Canada, its like a fish out of water. The rules are much more strict, there is a lot of road rage, and you see a lot of accidents. I contend that it’s the Asian style of driving that works best. People here are much more relaxed about the rules, and they are far more courteous about sharing the road. Sure, it’s slower, but it works a lot better. The fish analogy is actually pretty accurate. You see thousands of fish occupying the same small space, but you never see them crash into each other.

I have far more respect for Asian drivers now, than I ever have before. I have been a passenger in many a taxi here in Asia, and I've always felt safe.

I am now in Chiang Mai. I will be here until next Tuesday. This is my first time in Northern Thailand. I've heard nothing but good things about this city. I am looking forward to getting some great photos.