The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories

You know you've been in Thailand too long, when.....

The expat's perspective on life in Thailand is constantly changing (evolving, even).

One minute I think I have it all sussed, only to then find I'm just as confused as when I first arrived.

I've been living in Thailand for quite a while now, and there are a few things I catch myself doing now and then, that make me realise how far I've come to adapting to a completely different way of life.. A way of life that is becoming more familiar than the one I left behind.

So just for a laugh, here are five things that let me know that maybe, I've been in Thailand too long:

1. Getting stopped by the cops (when you've committed a heinous crime, like switching lanes) and winding down the window, unphased, with 200 baht ready in hand.

2. Saying 'kub / kub / kub / kub / kub', even when you have no idea what the Thai person is talking about.

3. Walking into a 'Western' fast food place, looking at the overhead menu, working out how much cheaper you can buy a Thai dish for, and walking out, hungry.

4. Whilst driving, spotting the motorcyclist pulling out in front of you, thinking, 'if you get in my way mate, that's your problem'.

5. Swearing that you'll never ride on the back of a taxi motorcycle ever again, and then finding yourself on the back of a motorcycle taxi, life flashing before your eyes, swearing, 'I will never ride on the back of a motorcycle taxi ever again'.

There are hundreds more.. What let's you know that you've been in Thailand too long?

Chinese Tourist Brawl Captured in Pattaya

I was out for a beer with my mate Steven Cleary in Pattaya last week, when we stumbled upon this drunken brawl occuring between two sets of rowing Chinese tourists. I think they'd obviously been enjoying a few too many Chang's, as they were all extremely keen to fall over / get down to business.

The guy with the sleeveless vest, who ends up on the floor early on in the clip, was certainly the instigater from what I could tell; and his little friend did a stirling job of getting him out of trouble at several points.....

The trouble continued for quite some time... we left when a couple of middle eastern lads came along and tried to break it up, themselves getting involved in the handbags when a few of the Chinese 'who had their tails up' weren't having any outside intervention, but no-one was hurt...

Me and Steve had a bit of a giggle though...Well, what can you say.... ! It all goes on in Pattaya!

 

Flooding in Bangkok Continues

The plughole that is Bangkok has had too much water to handle lately, and the floods endlessly continue, with little sign of respite. I think this has been a baptism of fire for the current PM, Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, who has fared fairly badly during the whole drama....

Proving that 'style' definitely triumphs over 'substance' in Thai politics, she appeared early on at some of the poorer flooded neighbourhoods of Bangkok, sporting a fetching pair of 15,000 baht Burberry boots. If that isn't bad enough, she was also slated for using the same sound bites she used three months prior to win the election... 'thai people must stand united,' 'we must be strong in the face of adversity, 'watch out for that bloody massive crocodile swimming up soi 5' etc

(pic above - street in Sai Mai, which was not flooded two days before this photo was shot... The bloke on the bike does eventually 'go for it', although it took him about 10 minutes of deep consideration!)

So Bangkok remains a complete mess for the time being; last year the protests and army, this year widespread flooding... What the bloody hell is gonna happen next year?

(Side note: I wonder, for all the Abhisit haters... Do you think Abhisit might have handled this whole affair a little more competently?)

 

Out and About in Central Bangkok

Had a day in town, walking around parts of central Bangkok, taking in the general atmos.

Oh yeah, we know what goes down in them places eh fellas, nudge nudge, wink wink etc

Eeek !

The Infamous 'Thai brother-in-law'. Thoughts.

We all have one don't we? Why is it so commonplace for there to be a 'black sheep' brother in many Thai families?

The black sheep Thai brother-in-law..... usually a bit of a handful... basically, the boy who refuses to grow up... The main problem? Booze of course.

Your average black sheep bro-in-law will get through a bottle of something strong most evenings; he'll be out and about and regularly playing around / punch ups etc.... About once a month he's sporting a shiner, or he's being chased / hunted by some local gang, from somewhere.

Many times he causes rows inside the family, and he is usually on the take... I remember a friend telling me they'd  nicknamed their brother-in-law 'sam loy,' being that, this is the amount they were dishing out every night...

So........ why is the black sheep Thai brother-in-law like this, when so many other Thai guys are so well turned out?

My guess, is that he probably has one or more sisters ... they have waited on him hand and foot since he was knee high to a Buddha... .. plus, at home, he's been able to go, say and do as he pleases most of the time.

But the root cause of this type of misguidance???? surely it has to be laid at the feet of the fathers...

Many, being considered the bread-winner, are largely absent ... sure, this is sometimes unavoidable, but other times, it's simply because they can be...

Side thought: I do think that Thai 'nightmare' bro in laws can get judged very prematurely, which may perhaps hasten their descent into 'badness'...... especially so when in the eyes of the Thai family, whose expectations are so high, only exemplary behaviour is acceptable (Western families are a little more forgiving 'early on', I think).