Hi again.

Lets talk about driving around Chiang Mai. 

Hiring a car or a moped is a great way to get about and allows you freedom of coming and going as you please.  Relying on Taxis and Tuk Tuks is another good way of getting about especially if you are unsure of where you are going and also for taking the stress out of travelling around.  Be carefull the Tuk Tuks tend to have two prices like many things here.  One for the Thai and one for the Foriegn visitor.

Tuk Tuk drivers will also tend to take you to places that are of interest and have some great offers but will not take you to all the other great places that have great bargins.  This is due to shops paying the drivers 5% or a back hander for bringing you to their shop and you buying things from there.  The usual story is that this shop is cheaper than everywhere else and good bargins.  Yes that is true that there are great bargins to be had, but you will find beter bargins a couple of shops down, but these are places that do not give the Tuk Tuk driver a percentage or a backhander  So hiring a moped is a great way to get about the place.

Being extra careful is what you need to be when you are driving about.  If you come to a cross road you can turn left even if the lights are against you as long as there is nothing coming from the right.  At trafic lights you will see that the twin lane turns into multi lanes as mopeds sqeeze between cars getting to the front of the queue and then when the lights change there is a mad rush for everyone to get ahead of the person infront.  Over taking by the way is done on both sides and in alot of cases, on the hard shoulder.  Many cars tend to hug the outside lane, as though they have never seen the first lane or think that it is for pedestrians.  this causes many cars to play dodge-ems winding in and out of eachother, and other moped users who are faster than you over taking with about 5 cms between you and them.

The worst part and this is where you need to have your eyes open at all times.  Look ahaead at all times, especially at side roads.  cars and bikes will not sop and check the traffic and will shoot out infront of you when you least expect it.  I have just had this experience.  i drive a Suzuki 400cc Low Rider Twin and I am the most carefull driver going.  I had a car pull out in front of me, I had no where to go so I ended up hitting the 4x4 that pulled out.  The bike was badly damaged and I found out very quickly that the body is not designed to bounce on tarmac.  I was in the right and the 4x4 was not, but this is where as a foriegner things can be very difficult for you.

You will make a report and everyone will admit that, Yes they were in the wrong, but the actual police report will say that you were in the wrong.  Being wise to things like this I had someone that I knew who spoke English and Thai come to the scene and to the police station and translate everything for me.  They tried to say that I was in the wrong and that i would have to pay compensation.  After alot of discussion we managed to get to the real truth.  Now you could fall victim of this as you will not be able to understand what you are signing at the police station.  So my advice is to always have a travel agents contact number with you who you have found that speaks good ebnough English so that tyhey can translate everything for you.  Do not sign anything or admit to anything until you get someone. 

You will find that not many police will speak English, and the Thai will always stand beside another Thai even if they are in the wrong.  I love the Thai people but there are things that they will do against a Falang (Foriegner) and one of them is to get as much money as they can.  I have an e-mail address on my website of which you can contact me on and let me know if you are coming here.  If you are let me know where you are staying and your arrival day and I shall leave my phone number for you to carry around with you if ever you need help with something of this nature, and I shall contact someone who will be able to come out and help you through this type of process.

So driving here is great fun but my advice is to always be ready to make sudden manouvers when you least expect it. 

Have fun driving around Chiang Mai and the North, do not drink and drive and where that helmet.

Have fun.

Until the next instalment

Hi Everyone.

What does one write about that going to hold your interest and make you want to come back again and again.  Everyone is talking about everything so creating a specialist subject it getting harder and harder to do. 

So the question is who is planning on coming to Thailand for a holiday?  What do you think you can expect to see and do in Thailand?  What are the good things and bad things about this country?  What to watch for when you are here.  When to barter and when not to barter.  There are many things that I think could be of interest to you, the reader, especially if you want to come to Thailand.

It really is a fantastic country filled with some of the kindest people in the world, but there are some bad ones as there is in any country around the world. 

Coming from England myself, I fell in love with this place and have lived here for two years now.  I am not only a teacher of English, Teaching degree from Canterbury in Kent, I also have my own internet business supplying furniture and many other items worldwide, I am also  starting to organise trips and excursions for those who wish to come to Thailand at great prices.  Not only do I do all this but I shall through this blog advise you of some of the pros and cons of being in Thailand, what is needed and when.  Things to do and not to do and of upcoming festivals and the ones not to miss.  I can advise you on hotels and resorts to stay depending on what type of holiday you are looking to have and give you the real prices.

One of the many things here in Thailand is the two prices that are here.  There is one for the Thai People and one for the Foriegn Visitor, known as the Farang (pronounced Falang).  Many of the people who come here to Chiang Mai love to see the fantastic carvings and many different exciting items that are on offer.  Many of the items have prices on but do not be fooled by this, as this is a price tag just for the visitor to see.  A Thai National will not pay the same.  So I can also help you not only have a great time, see some unbelievable sights, meet some great people and most importantly meet the real people that not all tourists get to meet, I am able to help you save money on those gifts aswell.

If you are someone who wants to buy alot of things I can arrange great deals and discounts through my very large contact circle and even help you with the shipping costs.  Agaian there are many different prices and knowing who to contact is not easy, many people end up paying treble the shipping compared to the real shipping prices that are available if you know who to contact.

So over time I hope to build a blog that will help you as the tourist, not to only learn more about this beautiful and fascinating country, but also help you to save money in many areas, tell you the good places to stay and eat, help take the stres out of your holiday by helping to organise excursions and day trips during your stay, even organise a moped for you at cheaper rates than what is made available if you were to approach the hire companies.  By the way, you do not need a licence for a 150 moped here, but care is needed when driving and a helmet is now becoming law.  Though you will see many people who do not wear helmets, the police do have spontanious check points and the fine is 400 THB(about 12.20 usd). 

There are many things to know and I shall over the next few weeks build this Blog with more and more information for you.  If at anytime you wish to have more information, advice or tips, go to my website (a link will be placed on this blog somewhere) and e-mail me from there with your enquiry and I will get back to you with all the advice and tips within 48 hours.

I loof forward to seeing you here on a regular basis and I hope that through this Blog I will be able to help give you an insight to a great place and the also introduce you to some really nice people of Thailand.

Until my next installment.  Thanks for dropping by

Ricky

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