Your comments about how they drive over here is spot on - it's an achievement just getting home without some kind of incident some days - it's totally crazy - most of it caused by speeding drivers and empty headed Drunk or Druggy drivers.
Don't sweat the small stuffl! That would be such a wonderful change from the way it is here in the states. Every little tiny thing that goes wrong pisses people off to the point where they just want to punch you out. So I will be definitely looking forward to that change when I move to Thailand🙂
Just got back samui today after 3 weeks . That bar 10 bt is a little scam. But no matter, we could live and eat cheap if we wanted, but we easily got through 6000bt a day ! 3000 on a good meal £80 pounds. Always get a 4x4 to drive bikes so dangerous, just so people know around 10 people get killed on the roads mostly on bikes a week, on the island, yes, 10 people. I see 2 bad crashes in 1 hr, and the people would definitely have been dead on the ring road to lamai last week. And as you know how many people you see covered in bandages every day , broken legs arms you name it ,very dangerous. But we love samui .. Great vid 👌 thank you ..
The roads are defo dangerous and should be treated with caution and respect, they ain’t no joke that’s for sure! How many of you were there, on that budget? The 10 baht beer we did actually go back and get, it worked with I think a small 2 baht tax on the bill or similar, the only thing was they kind of pressured you with the food menu and made you feel like you should be ordering more after. We only stayed for one beer out of principle 😏
@josh.onthemove just me and the wife . We found we could easily get through 6000 bt per day . Never really sure were the money goes. The thai's are great at extracting money from us all . But we know this ,so it's OK 👍
I used to cry on the back of my bf's moped on those roads. So scary 😭😂 saw a dead body on the road once, after an accident that just happened. Not nice at all😢
Hi Josh. Seen many of your videos and like them all, and in particular this one (for some reason?) I'm from Sweden and have lived here for almost 18 years. Seen most parts of Thailand... There are more "downsides" than this...but the "upsides" compensate for it !! Come to Hua Hin! Weather, and everything much better here!
Thanks for the comment mate. Definitely more upsides than downsides although I’ve not spent nearly as much time here as you so you’d likely have seen more! Looking forward to being back in HH!
Great vid and nicely put together with great advice and awarness info. I love Thailand never a dull moment but you have to be flexible and often go with the flow but hey whats the rush .. you soon slow down the pace and de stress...just have to learn to say ..no thank you ..alot haha 😂
Thank you Felipe 👊🏻. Agree with everything you’ve said, I had road rage back in the uk before my first trip to Thailand in 2018. Now, gone completely wherever I am 🤣🙏🏻
As a motorcyclist for 54yrs both off-road and street can't count the times I've seen the ground. Found 60% my mistake but 99% Speed Always Biggest Factor on all parties involved. Not sure why you would go to south east Asia And still want to drive like a westerner Lots of speeding lots of passing when you're on vacation or retirement? Great to see you wearing a helmet .
top stuff mate ! I left a comment before just wondering: Is immigration pretty laid back when it comes to doing 3 months in - dip out to neighbouring country for a long weekend - and three months in again? Or can It be touch and go seemingly taking advantage of the tourist visa reset? Seems to be a grey area but ok at the moment.
Thank you mate. For the most part you’ll be fine, forums would agree too, personal experiences have been fine with this, and speaking with a lot of others here, they’ve been fine with it. It’s a grey area when searching for solid info on it all but assuming you’ve not been consistently taking the piss for ages, they’ll be sound. Especially if you’ve not spent more than 6/12 months in the country 👍🏻
@@josh.onthemove amazing mate, really appreciate responses from people on the ground. Will I have any issues trying to get a condo in say Bangkok, Phuket, Ko S. etc for 6 months or so? They just say "available for long term" but no specifics. Won't have a visa so wondering if that is an issue? (Last question I promise pahaha)
@@mattlambros2431I missed this message, you’ll have no problem finding a condo although in the high season in Samui, Phuket etc it will be a little more difficult so it’s worth enquiring before. No visa requirements for the long term rentals 🫡
Honestly I found Koh Samui to be the safest place to ride the bike. The Thai people are some of the nicest people anywhere but put them behind the wheel of a car, truck, scooter or any other vehicle and it becomes the latest episode of the fast and furious. Absolute madness!!!
@@grahamfraser5938 haha the fast and furious part made me lol! Agreed on both. I found Samui to not be too bad to ride but the road conditions I thought were worse than other places
Here we go again, for this Toilet you need a Map and an Elevator, some Roads look like Cross-Country for Cars and Bikes. You have to pay Attention to almost everything, crazy. Its defenitely nothing for Wheelchair-People, i think the Heat is not really an Issue, if you get used to it. But its easier to enjoy if you are able to walk. Enjoy your Trip and watch out for Snowstorm. 😅
It defo would make it a lot harder. I’ve been paying more attention and I’ve seen some more wheelchair accessible hotels & malls recently with elevators and ramps. It would be possible, but your experience would inevitably be limited.
ive rented scooters out on loads of island but didnt in koh samui the traffic roads and pedestrians are a nightmare ,went over that road/hole on way to fishermans village in a Taxi at night with the massive dip youve shown in the video certain death for a bike rider if you hit that at speed
Thanks for the comment, I understand why a lot of people wouldn’t want to ride in Samui. Once you’re off of the main ring road, the roads aren’t the best here you’re right and I defo wouldn’t want to hit that at speed 🫠
Gee Thailand is bad, I am in Karon for my umpteenth trip, i would never ever ride a motorbike in Thailand, the toiletpaper is not an issue and we have rotten roads in Australia and drinking water is very cheap and available everywhere, but the bars and massage shops are hazardous, so easy to drink, so easy to meet very friendly ladies so easy to get carried away with hedonistic persuits. It is paradise with a few minor thorns. I love it.
The worst thing in traffic is still young guys are motorbikes driving around with a mobile camera and don’t look out and follow the traffic when they are driving. That’s bad behavior.
You overtook a car on the inside, that's one of the most dangerous things you can do on a motorcycle (I've been a biker for over 50 years). One of the most funny things I noticed during my 13 years of living there was many women turn their mirrors in so they can look at themselves 😂, I honestly think they believe that's what they are for.
@@stephenwalker5253 in Thailand that’s standard procedure mate, it’s actually more encouraged in the left lane on bikes than overtaking on the right and also, without being a cocky twat, that’s called undertaking 😉😅. Thanks for the comment mate and you might be right about the women 🤣
The only thing that I feel a little uncomfortable is using public toilet with the bum gun. I always use toilet paper so I don't know how I handle that bum gun. Other than that, I don't drive or drink alcohol and tap water and have self control so I have no issue.
As an Englishman, if you have any type of drivers license, you should well know that it is an Offense to overtake any vehicle on the left. So, your own driving skills are lacking and cause incidents and accidents!!
Here's some sound advice: ONLY use a motor scooter in an emergency! Every time you get on one in Thailand you are putting your own life in DANGER! The BOLT cars are Dirt Cheap and 1000% safer. When you are walking Anywhere outside, watch your step or you'll trip on something for sure! Be polite to All Thais as when you are in their country you will be expected to act Correctly!
I understand what you’re saying but I think this is a bit scaremongering too. Not saying you’re deliberately doing that, I know people personally that have experienced very bad situations on motorbikes here. It’s just everyone should make their own informed decisions. I don’t think everyone should ride a scooter in Thailand but I also don’t think no one should. You’re right about walking and being polite, that goes a long way 🙌🏻. Thanks for the comment
@@josh.onthemove I get that Josh, but the scooters are Deathtraps! Just look at the numbers...Thailand is Tops when it comes to motor-scooter fatalities world wide!
@@josh.onthemove I see whole families on scooters at once...like 5 people! Four people on the seat with a new-born infant if the basket! At least keep the babies off of them! No wearing helmets either.
Be a little wary of the "Thai's don't do road rage" etc attitude Josh, many a Farang (including a good friend now gone sadly) have done something wrong or just silly in the wrong place/context and paid dearly. Thai smiles can be deceptive and a high percentage of the populace are hard as nails in comparison to westerners.
@@josh.onthemove the first time I experienced the sheer carnage of the roads I loved it. Don’t walk with earphone in, triple check before you cross anywhere and it’s happy days. At least their roads aren’t full of pothole likes ours too 😂
Incredible how many people walk with their back to the traffic. Christ people give yourself a chance, do you really want Thai drivers coming at you from behind.
don't sweat the petty stuff...........and don't pet the sweaty stuff! i have no problem using the bum-guns, i find it more hygienic to be washing rather than smearing (bit too graphic there, sorry 555) i always carry a small pack of tissues as well as the tiny amount they give you in the public toilets for drying is totally useless! on my way out tomorrow, love flying Emirates, Dubai is a great airport for a stopover✈✈✈
Please do concerned to your bike...especially the thai road. True..it's fun and fantastic.🔷♦️ Thai driver has no traffic discipline as much as western....‼️‼️ motorcycle might caused accident quickly. It's too dangerous and not worth the risk,isn't it?⁉️
And about traffic discipline.... among other things... what irritates me and scares me is the habit of driving against red light... They don't respect it and try to "win" a few seconds. Anything can happen in busy intersections, and it does!!! And maybe 50 % of the motorbike drivers wear a helmet!!
Definitely an issue and something people should respect/ expect, it doesn’t bother me all the time being honest. I try to look at the traffic out here as water, everybody flows in and out from all directions and there’s no definitive structure to it, it helps me to think like that, don’t know if it makes sense 😅
Your comments about how they drive over here is spot on - it's an achievement just getting home without some kind of incident some days - it's totally crazy - most of it caused by speeding drivers and empty headed Drunk or Druggy drivers.
Don't sweat the small stuffl! That would be such a wonderful change from the way it is here in the states. Every little tiny thing that goes wrong pisses people off to the point where they just want to punch you out. So I will be definitely looking forward to that change when I move to Thailand🙂
Just got back samui today after 3 weeks . That bar 10 bt is a little scam. But no matter, we could live and eat cheap if we wanted, but we easily got through 6000bt a day ! 3000 on a good meal £80 pounds. Always get a 4x4 to drive bikes so dangerous, just so people know around 10 people get killed on the roads mostly on bikes a week, on the island, yes, 10 people. I see 2 bad crashes in 1 hr, and the people would definitely have been dead on the ring road to lamai last week. And as you know how many people you see covered in bandages every day , broken legs arms you name it ,very dangerous. But we love samui .. Great vid 👌 thank you ..
The roads are defo dangerous and should be treated with caution and respect, they ain’t no joke that’s for sure! How many of you were there, on that budget? The 10 baht beer we did actually go back and get, it worked with I think a small 2 baht tax on the bill or similar, the only thing was they kind of pressured you with the food menu and made you feel like you should be ordering more after. We only stayed for one beer out of principle 😏
@josh.onthemove just me and the wife . We found we could easily get through 6000 bt per day . Never really sure were the money goes. The thai's are great at extracting money from us all . But we know this ,so it's OK 👍
Very well produced. Great info, thanks very much.
Thanks for the comment Paul 👊🏻
Happy to have found your channel - love the insights and helpful takes! Awesome content mate. Cheers!
Thank you mate!
I haven't drank tap water for at least a decade in the USA!
That’s dedication!
@@josh.onthemove
Nope, just common so many chemicals in the water sense. :)
You can't turn down a 10 baht beer 😅
It took many practices before I mastered the occasional refusals 🤣
I used to cry on the back of my bf's moped on those roads. So scary 😭😂 saw a dead body on the road once, after an accident that just happened. Not nice at all😢
The roads can be bad sometimes. Never nice to see things like that too 🙏🏻!
I can easily say no to beer cuz I don't drink anymore but I can't say no to a good delicious smoothie and delicious desserts
Great insight, thank you!!
@@OurWisdom-10 thanks!
yes driving here makes me crazy, im only one using my horn, but nothing changes as you say it is what it is so chill out
😅😅
Active horn user here as well
Hi Josh. Seen many of your videos and like them all, and in particular this one (for some reason?) I'm from Sweden and have lived here for almost 18 years. Seen most parts of Thailand... There are more "downsides" than this...but the "upsides" compensate for it !!
Come to Hua Hin! Weather, and everything much better here!
Thanks for the comment mate. Definitely more upsides than downsides although I’ve not spent nearly as much time here as you so you’d likely have seen more! Looking forward to being back in HH!
9:00 - 9:10 load people on to boat
9:10-9:20 evacuate and reload boat
Thanks JB, great video and defo agree with the alcohol part 😁🍻
That’s on the schedule 🤣
Great vid and nicely put together with great advice and awarness info. I love Thailand never a dull moment but you have to be flexible and often go with the flow but hey whats the rush .. you soon slow down the pace and de stress...just have to learn to say ..no thank you ..alot haha 😂
Thank you Felipe 👊🏻. Agree with everything you’ve said, I had road rage back in the uk before my first trip to Thailand in 2018. Now, gone completely wherever I am 🤣🙏🏻
As a motorcyclist for 54yrs both off-road and street can't count the times I've seen the ground. Found 60% my mistake but 99% Speed Always Biggest Factor on all parties involved.
Not sure why you would go to south east Asia And still want to drive like a westerner Lots of speeding lots of passing when you're on vacation or retirement? Great to see you wearing a helmet .
@@scottcarter3392 thanks for the comment, I’ve seen a fair few knocks and accidents here. I love riding but it’s a different world in SEA!
top stuff mate ! I left a comment before just wondering: Is immigration pretty laid back when it comes to doing 3 months in - dip out to neighbouring country for a long weekend - and three months in again? Or can It be touch and go seemingly taking advantage of the tourist visa reset? Seems to be a grey area but ok at the moment.
Thank you mate. For the most part you’ll be fine, forums would agree too, personal experiences have been fine with this, and speaking with a lot of others here, they’ve been fine with it. It’s a grey area when searching for solid info on it all but assuming you’ve not been consistently taking the piss for ages, they’ll be sound. Especially if you’ve not spent more than 6/12 months in the country 👍🏻
@@josh.onthemove amazing mate, really appreciate responses from people on the ground. Will I have any issues trying to get a condo in say Bangkok, Phuket, Ko S. etc for 6 months or so? They just say "available for long term" but no specifics. Won't have a visa so wondering if that is an issue? (Last question I promise pahaha)
I did this for a year. But we had Phuket top team gym sort us out 😊
@@RebeccaDone-vl2ey thanks! Decided to have a base up north and spend a week or two in hotels in the tourist hotspots now.
@@mattlambros2431I missed this message, you’ll have no problem finding a condo although in the high season in Samui, Phuket etc it will be a little more difficult so it’s worth enquiring before. No visa requirements for the long term rentals 🫡
Honestly I found Koh Samui to be the safest place to ride the bike. The Thai people are some of the nicest people anywhere but put them behind the wheel of a car, truck, scooter or any other vehicle and it becomes the latest episode of the fast and furious. Absolute madness!!!
@@grahamfraser5938 haha the fast and furious part made me lol! Agreed on both. I found Samui to not be too bad to ride but the road conditions I thought were worse than other places
be very wary of the road/junction at big C on Samui and Phuket, lot of bikers get wiped out there in both places.
Other than the background music I enjoyed the video
lol thanks for the honesty and comment I’ll take that on board!
what was the point of mentioning this comment? This spells American all day.
You think the traffic is chaotic? You should see Doha..
Compared to Europe, it’s chaos!
@@josh.onthemove true, and Australia.
@@hobo1704 very much
'Lets move on to number two.' 😂😂😂 from the toilet
Haha see what I did there
Brilliant
Thanks 👊🏻
Actually I loved all the downsides 😂 nice video
Hahaha thanks for the comment!
Here we go again, for this Toilet you need a Map and an Elevator, some Roads look like Cross-Country for Cars and Bikes. You have to pay Attention to almost everything, crazy. Its defenitely nothing for Wheelchair-People, i think the Heat is not really an Issue, if you get used to it. But its easier to enjoy if you are able to walk. Enjoy your Trip and watch out for Snowstorm. 😅
It defo would make it a lot harder. I’ve been paying more attention and I’ve seen some more wheelchair accessible hotels & malls recently with elevators and ramps. It would be possible, but your experience would inevitably be limited.
ive rented scooters out on loads of island but didnt in koh samui the traffic roads and pedestrians are a nightmare ,went over that road/hole on way to fishermans village in a Taxi at night with the massive dip youve shown in the video certain death for a bike rider if you hit that at speed
Thanks for the comment, I understand why a lot of people wouldn’t want to ride in Samui. Once you’re off of the main ring road, the roads aren’t the best here you’re right and I defo wouldn’t want to hit that at speed 🫠
Gee Thailand is bad, I am in Karon for my umpteenth trip, i would never ever ride a motorbike in Thailand, the toiletpaper is not an issue and we have rotten roads in Australia and drinking water is very cheap and available everywhere, but the bars and massage shops are hazardous, so easy to drink, so easy to meet very friendly ladies so easy to get carried away with hedonistic persuits. It is paradise with a few minor thorns. I love it.
lol I think the downsides aren’t too bad ;)
The worst thing in traffic is still young guys are motorbikes driving around with a mobile camera and don’t look out and follow the traffic when they are driving. That’s bad behavior.
@@jensrasmussen6814 I don’t think that’s the worse thing but anyone riding on their phones isn’t ideal for everyone else
You overtook a car on the inside, that's one of the most dangerous things you can do on a motorcycle (I've been a biker for over 50 years).
One of the most funny things I noticed during my 13 years of living there was many women turn their mirrors in so they can look at themselves 😂, I honestly think they believe that's what they are for.
@@stephenwalker5253 in Thailand that’s standard procedure mate, it’s actually more encouraged in the left lane on bikes than overtaking on the right and also, without being a cocky twat, that’s called undertaking 😉😅. Thanks for the comment mate and you might be right about the women 🤣
hahaha, be aware when you honking, there is definitely road rages here in Thailand.
The only thing that I feel a little uncomfortable is using public toilet with the bum gun. I always use toilet paper so I don't know how I handle that bum gun. Other than that, I don't drive or drink alcohol and tap water and have self control so I have no issue.
That’s not ideal re the bum gun when you’re not from SEA 😅
As an Englishman, if you have any type of drivers license, you should well know that it is an Offense to overtake any vehicle on the left. So, your own driving skills are lacking and cause incidents and accidents!!
Here's some sound advice: ONLY use a motor scooter in an emergency! Every time you get on one in Thailand you are putting your own life in DANGER! The BOLT cars are Dirt Cheap and 1000% safer. When you are walking Anywhere outside, watch your step or you'll trip on something for sure! Be polite to All Thais as when you are in their country you will be expected to act Correctly!
I understand what you’re saying but I think this is a bit scaremongering too. Not saying you’re deliberately doing that, I know people personally that have experienced very bad situations on motorbikes here. It’s just everyone should make their own informed decisions. I don’t think everyone should ride a scooter in Thailand but I also don’t think no one should. You’re right about walking and being polite, that goes a long way 🙌🏻. Thanks for the comment
@@josh.onthemove I get that Josh, but the scooters are Deathtraps! Just look at the numbers...Thailand is Tops when it comes to motor-scooter fatalities world wide!
@@josh.onthemove I see whole families on scooters at once...like 5 people! Four people on the seat with a new-born infant if the basket! At least keep the babies off of them! No wearing helmets either.
THAI BUM gun is more hygienic than toilet paper. This is not a downside. You also save money on toilet paper.
Haha I respect your point but I don’t like it/ still find it strange from years of doing something different so it’s a downside for me
Be a little wary of the "Thai's don't do road rage" etc attitude Josh, many a Farang (including a good friend now gone sadly) have done something wrong or just silly in the wrong place/context and paid dearly. Thai smiles can be deceptive and a high percentage of the populace are hard as nails in comparison to westerners.
Good vid Josh, only 7 downsides 😂 theres a few more 😂 but you just got to love it, Thailand wouldnt be the same without it, keep up the good work
Haha, it wouldn’t be Thailand without them mate! Thanks for the comment 👊🏻
Mate I love your love of Thailand, but this list only confirms just how much of a great place Thailand actually is 😂
Haha I agree mate 🤣🙌🏻
@@josh.onthemove the first time I experienced the sheer carnage of the roads I loved it. Don’t walk with earphone in, triple check before you cross anywhere and it’s happy days. At least their roads aren’t full of pothole likes ours too 😂
@@JasonS-n5d wise words mate. Instead of potholes, they’ve replaced them with holes instead 😅
@@josh.onthemove 😂
Incredible how many people walk with their back to the traffic. Christ people give yourself a chance, do you really want Thai drivers coming at you from behind.
No chance anyone’s driving behind me whilst I’m walking on the road 😅
Smartest comment I've seen
don't sweat the petty stuff...........and don't pet the sweaty stuff!
i have no problem using the bum-guns, i find it more hygienic to be washing rather than smearing (bit too graphic there, sorry 555) i always carry a small pack of tissues as well as the tiny amount they give you in the public toilets for drying is totally useless!
on my way out tomorrow, love flying Emirates, Dubai is a great airport for a stopover✈✈✈
Hahahaha I love that first sentence, thanks for the comment, enjoy your trip mate!
Please do concerned to your bike...especially the thai road.
True..it's fun and fantastic.🔷♦️
Thai driver has no traffic discipline as much as western....‼️‼️
motorcycle might caused accident quickly.
It's too dangerous and not worth the risk,isn't it?⁉️
And about traffic discipline.... among other things... what irritates me and scares me is the habit of driving against red light... They don't respect it and try to "win" a few seconds. Anything can happen in busy intersections, and it does!!! And maybe 50 % of the motorbike drivers wear a helmet!!
Definitely an issue and something people should respect/ expect, it doesn’t bother me all the time being honest. I try to look at the traffic out here as water, everybody flows in and out from all directions and there’s no definitive structure to it, it helps me to think like that, don’t know if it makes sense 😅
@@josh.onthemove Trying to beat the red light they speed up... which makes it so dangerous!
Especially since the drivers from the other direction often try to make the green light "early".....
Stop Whinging FFS.
There’s a difference between whinging and stating things you might not initially notice when coming Thailand. Thanks for the comment 😁
Bum guns for the win!….toilet paper sucks.
Haha!
Downsides in every country. Most of them apply to less than intelligent people.
Blimey.. you haven’t driven much of your picking up on these’ issues’ …central London much worse 24/7
I think Thailand’s roads are a little different to central London. London is slower moving, Thailand = hazard every 20m 🤣