Apart from on the continent of Africa where road traffic deaths are depressingly high, Thailand has the second highest mortality rate on the roads in the world after Venezuela. Every year, more than 30 people in every 100,000 are killed on the roads whereas in the UK the figure is 10 times less than this! Sadly, I’m not surprised as the standard of driving in Thailand is generally appalling! I am told there are some laws in place to minimise the accident rate but most drivers ignore these and certainly the police don’t appear to enforce them. As a result, drivers career on the roads exactly as they please and for as long as they please. Driving up north to visit Nokky’s family seeing such incidents is a common sight
We passed this carnage just seconds after it happened
I would be amazed if there were no fatalities
In the cities, it’s not much safer either, largely due to the motorcyclists, many of whom are delivery drivers hell bent on earning their commissions by driving as fast (and as recklessly) as they can. It can be truly frightening at times and especially at night time when many of the rear lights of said vehicles don’t work.
On the way to the Isaan province, we stopped off for a night in Bangkok where Nokky had her planned UK visa interview. It’s been almost a year since we last visited the nation’s capital and it was so good to see life gradually returning to this once vibrant and colourful city.
The enticing smell of street food once again pervades
and the soon to be buried underground electricity and telecoms cables continue to defy logic!
The largely agricultural province of Isaan is, though, a totally different world where time seems to stand still. Rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see,
old men busy themselves with making things
whilst the women of the village do what women all over the world do best!
But things are slowly changing.
This man, whose family who have grown rice and tended cattle on this land for generations
has decided to give up farming and move into real estate development. So, as a first step, the diggers and earth movers have moved in
in preparation for the construction workers to build yet another apartment block or row of dull and lifeless looking offices. Progress? Debatable but certainly good for Nokky’s brother and his team who are doing all this initial work!
Another couple of days here and then the 9-10 hour drive back to Hua Hin. Deep joy!
R.
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