tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post590735271178997653..comments2023-11-29T09:02:41.478+00:00Comments on Flies in your Teeth: Bikes in Thailand (ราชอาณาจักรไทย)Gary Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05163380727432573785noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-34553034946067277712010-06-11T16:10:44.055+01:002010-06-11T16:10:44.055+01:00Great photos Gary!Great photos Gary!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06606446271603142230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-28512174479978694802010-06-11T11:54:11.568+01:002010-06-11T11:54:11.568+01:00Tim - Thanks, your explanation is much better than...Tim - Thanks, your explanation is much better than anything I would have written. In case anyone was wondering, Tim is my brother and is fluent in Thai. That is how he can chat to people at traffic lights!<br /><br />Bob - If you get the chance, you should visit Thailand. You would love it. Did you mean renting a scooter in Thailand? I have seen quite a few westerners riding scooters, especially in the tourist areas, so I am sure I could rent one here. You are correct about the traffic flows though, but at least they do drive on the right side of the road, which is the left!Gary Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05163380727432573785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-71187183647474085422010-06-10T16:24:53.939+01:002010-06-10T16:24:53.939+01:00Gary:
one day I hope to be able to see this with ...<b>Gary:</b><br /><br />one day I hope to be able to see this with my own eyes. In the meantime I will be content to see through your camera. A scooter is just a tool to get around.<br /><br />I'm not sure, as a foreigner whether you would be able to rent a scooter or not. It would take a while to get used to the traffic flows<br /><br />bob<br /><a href="http://www.wetcoastscootin.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Wet Coast Scootin</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05258612401956399482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-17619618323153290662010-06-10T03:11:39.051+01:002010-06-10T03:11:39.051+01:00@Mike...
I think the high number of bikes is more...@Mike...<br /><br />I think the high number of bikes is more to do with the price of the vehicles and not the petrol. The cost of a new scooter is about 40,000 Baht (around 1000 US$) but cars are much more expensive, and out of range for many people. You can pick up second-hand bikes for next-to-nothing, and there are repair shops everywhere and that keeps maintenance costs low too. I live in Chiang Mai (city in northern Thailand) and getting around town is so easy that a bike is really all you need. Downside is riding a bike in the monsoon season (ie, now), which lasts about 3 months - you really can get soaked to the skin in an instant, but then again the rain is about the same temperature as a bathroom shower in the UK :-) People talk to one another on bikes too (at traffic lights etc) - it's great fun!Tim Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15560821807241207276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-57650338442630914992010-06-10T02:45:42.230+01:002010-06-10T02:45:42.230+01:00Willy - nearly everybody in Thailand looks happy -...Willy - nearly everybody in Thailand looks happy - it is part of the culture that people smile at you. It makes a refreshing change from the west when nearly everyone looks unhappy!Gary Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05163380727432573785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-66636528527451844712010-06-10T01:38:44.176+01:002010-06-10T01:38:44.176+01:00Though it may be somewhat dangerous, most of the f...Though it may be somewhat dangerous, most of the faces look happy. I guess that counts for something.Willy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865633242705849475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-42596991753944006892010-06-09T11:55:48.964+01:002010-06-09T11:55:48.964+01:00BB – Starting them young and safe – the best way. ...BB – Starting them young and safe – the best way. When my children were young and I took them in the car, I wouldn’t start the engine until they all had their seat belts on. This has stuck with them right until now and they still put them on as soon as they get in the car. <br /><br />Geoff – Thanks. Side-saddle looks very scary to me. I would never try it! I saw a few big bikes, but not many.<br /><br />Canajun – Thanks. I agree with you. Freedom is a great thing, but perhaps it is too free here. In a crash, the infants would stand a chance. I took a close look at some of the crash helmets and most of these are made of thin plastic – useless in a crash.<br /><br />Rob – selling things from the bikes is really cool and cheap for the vendor.<br /><br />Sonja – scary, yes!<br /><br />Oz – I totally agree.<br /><br />Mike – I am not sure why there are so many bikes. I will try to find out and post another comment with what I discover.Gary Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05163380727432573785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-39464338981550714862010-06-09T03:12:30.916+01:002010-06-09T03:12:30.916+01:00Is it the price of gas/petrol that causes all the ...Is it the price of gas/petrol that causes all the motorcycles and scooters? I've seen videos of this in Vietnam too. It's very interesting to see. Thank you!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11946652999166458805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-15375074468890074712010-06-08T04:57:43.215+01:002010-06-08T04:57:43.215+01:00Very interesting. It is neat to see so many bikes...Very interesting. It is neat to see so many bikes, but not thrilled to see small kids with no helmets.<br />Thanks.Ozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01781519114239212489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-68125256043231456182010-06-08T02:58:52.005+01:002010-06-08T02:58:52.005+01:00Good captures! Somewhat scary though...Good captures! Somewhat scary though...SonjaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12389245948579828531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-13499587923838043672010-06-08T02:36:34.227+01:002010-06-08T02:36:34.227+01:00Wow, I love to see motorcycles as functional tools...Wow, I love to see motorcycles as functional tools as well as toys. Great stuff!Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08333275632735645379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-12123340825411359412010-06-08T00:04:53.181+01:002010-06-08T00:04:53.181+01:00Great photos Gary. I must say I'm conflicted b...Great photos Gary. I must say I'm conflicted by this. On the one hand it's nice not to see the heavy hand of the nanny state regulating every day activities like they do in the west, but still, seeing an infant with no protection on a motorcycle makes me shudder.Canajunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17529505799866207528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-80809508198948910002010-06-07T21:39:07.807+01:002010-06-07T21:39:07.807+01:00Great photos Gary!
Funnily enough, I have a side-...Great photos Gary!<br /><br />Funnily enough, I have a side-saddle photo that I took in Bali which I was going to post at some stage. Terrifying to watch, isn't it! Did you see any big bikes there? I know of at least one Blackbird although they tend to be owned by expats.Geoff Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041523109817248619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3505434595026982929.post-49651364495084252512010-06-07T20:52:52.445+01:002010-06-07T20:52:52.445+01:00My grandkids want to ride with us all the time, we...My grandkids want to ride with us all the time, we only take them a short distance on slow rides, with a helmet, long pants, jacket and sturdy shoes. I am old enough to make those choices and understand the consequences, they are not.biker babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13472957923070962416noreply@blogger.com