Welcome home, she said.

Sorry about my absence. Since my last post I have departed Manila and changed homes. I am a retired US Marine and we used to say, “Four Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves equals a fire.” Funny how much stuff gets lost and stolen when you move.

Am back in Thailand now and want to comment about their driving. Was on my scooter/ motorbike yesterday driving on the shoulder of the 4-lane road with cars and trucks passing me. This is all normal and good but what then I see not one but several motorbikes coming at me on ‘my’ shoulder of the road. Yes dear reader, those riders were driving against traffic on the shoulder of a highway. The Thais call it ‘chill-chill’ lifestyle. I call it out of control passive aggressive behavior.

Minutes earlier when I was about to execute a left hand turn (it was a ‘blind’ turn) onto a four lane road that cuts through town. I guy suddenly appears a few feet in front of me and makes a right hand turn into (me) and oncoming traffic.

I actually collided once with a guy who was trying to pass me on the right when I had signaled for was making a right hand turn. He must have been absolutely flying and had gotten into my blind spot before I ever even knew of his existence.