When we go anywhere (which hasn't been many places so far) we have either a map or a card with the address written in Thai, which we show to the driver and off we go. You see in Bangkok they don't have 'the Knowledge' as they do in London - there are enough people on mopeds here without having a load of trainee taxi drivers whizzing around trying to read a map! In fact I wonder just what the qualification is to become a taxi driver. The only criteria I know for sure is that you have to be Thai - no foreigners - which is totally different from many other places like New York! I am not sure that you need to be able to drive.

Driving in Bangkok has to be experienced to be believed - cars pull out and cut you up all the time, mopeds and motorbikes weave in and out of the cars, buses just stop, unleashed dogs run out into the road, as well as the sheer volume of traffic. But the amazing thing is nobody ever seems to get annoyed, they just take it for granted. Lisa and I were in a taxi the other day when we were really badly cut up by a pick-up coming out of an adjoining road, and we both commented on how colourful the language would have been had we been in the UK.

I can't make my mind up as to whether the Thais are the best or worst drivers that I have ever experienced, the level of attention required to avoid an accident must be amazing! I was wondering if someone could make an arcade game out of the situation! It could involve speed, navigation, dodging bikes and dogs, and extra points for calmness.

After dropping Jacob and Isabel off at school this morning, I hailed a taxi to come back to Bangkok Garden. The driver seemed to have a good idea where to go but wasn't totally sure, despite being shown two maps. Anyway, off we went and joined a stream of slow moving traffic. After about five minutes of going hardly anywhere, the driver decided to change lanes. He indicated and started to move, but not surprisingly the driver in the car right next to us did not let him. What happened next left me shocked and slightly saddened - my driver 'tutted', twice!

Posted on 2 September 2003.

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