Thai Drivers

I love Thailand - its a great country and Thai people are very nice people - I guess that's why I'm a missionary here! There are some Thai ways however, that irritate me beyond belief. One of those are the driving habits of the average Thai.

• they generally are in no rush to drive anywhere fast. Average speed that I find myself driving behind most Thai folk - 35km/h.
• solid lines - purely for show. When those who do go faster than 35km/h overtake their less speedy compatriots, they do so anywhere, at anytime. Oncoming traffic? Who cares - they can move onto the shoulder of the road!
• Traffic lights - purely for show and late night entertainment in the quieter towns. Motorcyclists especially, treat traffic lights, red ones that is, with total disdain. In fact, I almost took a motorcyclist out on my way home this afternoon as I went speeding through a green light and she went speeding through a red one.
• sometimes, especially at bigger, busier intersections where traffic police are always lurking, motorcyclists do stop and give rise to my biggest and most severe irritation - motorcyclists who squeeze in front of me whilst I am waiting for a traffic light to change, then proceed to take off dead slowly and speed up to 35km/h whilst my car's bumper hovers a dangerous 10 cm or so behind their back wheel (many is the time that I have been oh sooo tempted to give them a little nudge to help them along their way).

Some other pet irritations in the traffic;

• people on cell phones - their speed then comes down to 25km/h and they weave erratically across the road.
• slow moving traffic in the fast lane of major highways - there are even signs up telling people to keep the outside lane open for faster moving traffic - these are steadfastly ignored!
• big trucks that pull out into the fast lane in order to overtake slower moving traffic without so much as a glance, a warning, or any indication at all. Most times this happens, I am the only fast moving vehicle in the outside lane and if the the trucker and waited 5 seconds, he would have the whole road to himself and I would not have reduced the lifespan of my brakes and tires as much as I had in trying to avoid a collision.
• People who do not give you a gap to get into the flow of slow moving traffic, leaving you stranded and unable to "go with the flow".
• Traffic lights out of order and there is no order as it becomes a free for all to see who can get across. No taking of turns here - you just go - he with the biggest car and nerves of steel wins!
  

Driving in Thailand is an experience that has got to be seen and experienced to be believed. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "defensive driving" and those who think that mini bus taxi drivers in Johannesburg are bad..., ain't seen nothing yet.

Our June Newsletter

SNOOKER AND SHOPPING

The shopping done, loaded into the car, butter melting on the back seat, Nick wondered whether he should go straight home or pop into the hardware store first. There was a job that needed doing at the house – and had been for some time – and he needed supplies. He quickly weighed up the consequences of the melted butter versus the job being delayed yet again, and decided to head to the hardware store. Waiting at the cashier’s desk whilst she was struggling to get the purchases scanned, Nick started chatting to the cashier’s assistant/chief bag packer, whose name is Snooker (yes, as in the game played on a baize covered table and pronounced “Sanuk cur” in Thailish). After exchanging pleasantries, Snooker asked for Nick’s business card. Nick – being a nice guy – gave it to him, and sweetened the deal by giving him a tract too.

Imagine our delight when about an hour later we got a call from Snooker. He is keen – he wants to know more about Jesus because he is dissatisfied with life! We have since met with Snooker again and have given him a booklet about what Christians believe. We hope to meet with him on a regular basis, perhaps over lunch or a cup of coffee, perhaps even with a friend if his or a colleague, and talk more about this awesome God that we serve.

HOME ALONE

Nick was in Singapore and would be gone for a week. Trish was home alone – if you can call being left with three children “alone”. She was feeling a bit down, a bit discouraged, a bit lonely, even a bit nervous. We are still so new in this town – what would she do if there was an emergency? Who would help her?

Then there was a voice calling downstairs. Phii Nok had brought some supper for Trish and the kids. She stayed and chatted for a while. Then, as she was leaving, Khun Yaay brought little First to play.

Soon six other neighbourhood kids and their parents were in our garden having a whale of a time – running races, riding bikes, playing basketball, while Trish fed them savoury pies and chocolate cookies. Next morning none other than the vice-governor of the province (who lives 2 houses down) and his wife arrived to whisk the kids off to their home where they duly entertained and fed them for the morning – while the Bekker blessings destroyed their otherwise pristine house, Trish enjoyed a welcome break.

Home alone - maybe, but certainly with a God who supplies all our needs!