When it comes to life there are always small, seemingly insignificant things that we take for granted. Here are 5 small aspects about daily life here in Hua Hin that often go unnoticed by myself as they are things I encounter just about every day but are actually great.
- Countdown on traffic lights – I love knowing how long I have to wait at a red light. Depending on the amount of time I can check my messages, see if anybody likes my latest instagram pic or consider the meaning of life and whether all human endeavour is ultimately futile. Also, I can see how long it’s going to be green and make a judgement as to whether or not it’s worth putting my foot down. Who doesn’t feel a smug satisfaction when you make it through with one second to go?
- 7 – Eleven – Who doesn’t love 7 – Eleven? I can go and buy a snack, a drink, some nappies, some fruit, some wine, an ice-cream or a slushie at any time of the day, even the middle of the night. The ham and cheese toastie will forever be a guilty pleasure of mine.
- The Bumgun – One of the things I hate about going back to the UK is having to use bog roll. What an unhygienic method of cleaning yourself after a poop! I feel like I need to take a shower too.
- Not Wearing a Crash Helmet – I’ll always put my crash helmet if I go on the main road, but if I’m popping round to get a ham and cheese toastie I love the feeling of riding a motorbike with no crash helmet. It makes you look cool too.
- Petrol Stations – At petrol stations here they fill up your tank, wash your windows and give you a bottle of water. You don’t even need to leave your vehicle. Awesome.
Of course, there is always an opposing force. If you are having a really bad day these are the kind of things that can push you over the edge. Here 5 small things that westerners find annoying about Thailand.
- Having to Use Your Passport All the Time – You need to use your passport everywhere, in places that have nothing to do with air travel and going to another country. Places such as the bank when I want to make a transfer to another account. It’s like ‘I’m sorry, did I accidentally walk into the airport? I do apologise.’ The clue is in the name of the document pass port. It’s used when you want to pass ports.
- People with Whistles – I’m not entirely sure what blowing a whistle is meant to achieve, other than just to be really annoying. If a car park attendant is blowing a whistle whilst directing me I’m far more likely to crash into a shopping mall, which renders it completely useless.
- Woefully Poor Service – I’ve had several instances where I’ve gone into a retail outlet to buy something and left empty handed as it’s just too difficult to buy what I want. I tried to buy a computer desk and chair, of which there were many on display. Sadly I was left alone and made to feel very unimportant.
- Putting Sugar in Everything – Please stop putting sugar in your amazing cuisine, we don’t need it. It causes obesity, heart disease and sadness.
- Constant Mopping – Wherever you go there are people mopping. I’m not quite why they don’t wait until places are closed and there are no feet around. It would make it much easier and the floors wouldn’t be slippery.
