Deaths So Far During Songkran Holiday.

[Vombatus]

It seems an expression was used that was one step up from banana!!!

Monkey

Mai khao jai !

[Prakhonchai Nick]

You will have to use your imagination Coco - in the context of what I wrote

[Vombatus]

You will have to use your imagination Coco - in the context of what I wrote

In the context of what you wrote "fcuked up" would fit

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Ah but would it relate to bananas......................Don't answer that!

[Vombatus]

Ah but would it relate to bananas......................Don't answer that!

Anything from "fantastic" to "Third World" would seem to fit.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Indeed!

[Vombatus]

Indeed!

Another 'non-answer'  !!!

[Prakhonchai Nick]

I do not wish to incur Admin's wrath.  Perhaps the latter would fit the bill.

[Admin]

I do not wish to incur Admin's wrath.  Perhaps the latter would fit the bill.

3rd world country.
I thought somebody may be offended by it.
Maybe I was too fast.
Apologies.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

I think most members (Nookie might say  -except Jimbo) are made of sterner stuff. You can never please everyone Admin

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Perhaps a little off topic, but the never ending water throwing which led to the use of the phrase Third World Country, has led me to look into the various meanings of the term. Some members might appreciate this  response I found:

What make Thailand a Third World Country?  (perhaps should be the subject of a separate post)

1) some people that have power in Thailand only care about themselves; they are not prepared to invest in a first class educational system that would be necessary to have people that can make Thailand a 'first world' country. I teach in a university in the first world and there are hardly any Thai students compared to the huge number that come from China - also the Chinese students study a lot more diligently than the Thai students who seem to spend most of their time with other Thai students cooking food for themselves and their friends and generally avoiding studying.
2) Thailand's culture places a great deal of importance on 'sanook'. If hard work gets in the way of sanook then sanook wins. Maybe this is OK in some ways but to be a first world country people have to be prepared to work really hard (as well as being educated).
3) Thai culture is quite fatalistic meaning people take the attitude that 'what will be will be'; karma. In a first world country people work to make their destiny and don't leave it to fate.
4) Thai people like to criticise people if they 'kit mak'. Unfortunately, to build a first world country and keep it as a first world country quite a lot of serious thinking is required in terms of planning and in Thailand thinking seriously about things is uncool.
5) Kon Thai chob gin kanom - I mean financial snacks. With so much corruption it is hard to invest in the economy to make it grow because so much money has to be spent to make politicans, police, army happy so they don't take away a businesses licence or make some other problem for business.
6) Thailand isn't a meritocracy - living in Thailand all about who you know - how can friends help you. All countries have some of this but in first world countries there is more opportunity for genuinely talented people to get to the top of society without being born into an important family. In a first world country people generally get jobs and are promoted based on merit/skill/talent rather because of who they know.
7) In Thailand the military is very powerful. A country can never be a first world country if the military is so strong that they can remove a democratically elected government.
Maybe you are not like this but many Thai people do not like to receive advice and suggestions from foreigners about the problems that they need to solve to become more successful. Rama V employed many foreigners to help modernise Thailand but nowdays the view of many is that the only people who should look at and discuss Thailand's problems are Thai people.
 

[nookiebear]

Very interesting Nick,very true too

[isanbirder]

An interesting description of Thai culture.  It makes it all the more remarkable that the number of fatalities this Songkran is so far lower than previous years (to get back to topic!).

The sanook and non-confrontational aspects of Thai culture are high up among the reasons why most farangs like living here.  Turn Thailand into a 'first-world' country, and I guess we wouldn't like it any more!

[nookiebear]

I dont think the traffic this year along the 24 has been nearly as heavy as the last 3 years!

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Just wait till the weekend Nookie. Everyone will be returning over 2 days. Many made a whole week of the holiday so travel was staggered from last Friday till Tuesday.