Driving a Motorbike in Thailand (Video)

I found this video on YouTube. It’s designed to show the dangers of driving a motorbike in Thailand.

So many tourists who’ve never ridden more than a bicycle hop right on a 115-125cc motorbike here and drive all over heavy traffic tourist areas like Phuket, Pattaya, Ao Nang and Chiang Mai. Over four years I’ve seen some horrible accidents involving motorbikes. Really, the most extreme accidents you could imagine. I’ve seen brains on the highway coming out of a girls head. I’ve seen many people dead in the road as a result of motorcycle accidents here.

I’ve even had a friend crash one night and end up needing a couple brain surgeries to take pieces of his cranium out of his brain. This happened in Ubon Ratchathani. There were cats walking around the patients in intensive care. While in the hospital that first night I saw a few people die… including a young child.

They say during this movie that in Phuket, Thailand an average of one person per day dies in a motor-vehicle accident. I’d say that’s about right. It’s wrong, but it’s accurate if you know what I’m saying.

Anyway, here’s the video:

Driving Motorbikes safely in Thailand

Bangkok Governor Hopeful Falls Into Canal in Bangkok

This got a small photo and brief caption on the front page of The Nation online newspaper today (25 Sept) and I’m glad I caught it. Just kind of funny. No article, just this…

Leena Jungjanja is pulled out of Saen Saeb Canal Wednesday. She fell from the Pratunam pier into the canal while campaigning there for her race for the Bangkok governor’s seat.

Thailand is NOT All That Corrupt!

Isn’t that remarkable? I know it sounds like a ridiculous statement but I have proof to back it up.

Yes, really. Transparency International posted this corruption index that ranks countries on their levels of corruption and Thailand is nowhere to be found in the worst 90 countries!

Out of 180 countries mentioned, Thailand is just 96th. That’s bottom 50%. If you look at the map the countries that are darker red – like dried blood are the ones that are most corrupt. Those tending toward yellow are less corrupt. The country in white (Greenland?) didn’t have any data.

Now, if Thailand is ranked in the better 50% on corruption what does that mean for the rest of our world? The map makes it pretty clear.

Notable highlights…

UK beat USA
Japan beat USA
Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland and Belgium beat the USA.

Somalia is worst most corrupt country in the WORLD. Myanmar (Burma) is 2nd!

Cambodia is 15th.

Laos is 26th.

Philippines, 38th.

Canada is a great big cold place but not very corrupt.

Australia is the only warm place that is not that corrupt. The other countries that rank well are located in the really cold regions. This means two things.

1. Corruption puts money in people’s pockets. These people move toward the warm weather.
2. Australians with money aren’t smart enough to move toward warm weather.

Joking, joking – I think the Aussies are about the friendliest, coolest bunch I’ve met here in Thailand. Sorry to joke at their expense. Anyone else want to interpret the results?

Here is full list:

Global Corruption among Countries of the World, 2008

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