Anyone else ever noticed this? When you are going on a long trip, from north to south/south to north etc, that the road sign to your left might read for example 'Bangkok 405 KM' then, 5 KM down the road, it will read 'Bangkok 410 KM'...

 

Am I missing something here, or is this just Thai logic 101?

 

Eric.

Road signs here are very confusing in many cases.

3 minutes ago, johng said:

Road signs here are very confusing in many cases.

In full agreement.

 

Eric.

39 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

Anyone else ever noticed this? When you are going on a long trip, from north to south/south to north etc, that the road sign to your left might read for example 'Bangkok 405 KM' then, 5 KM down the road, it will read 'Bangkok 410 KM'...

 

Am I missing something here, or is this just Thai logic 101?

It's not "Thai logic"—it's just a chainage system common in many countries (including parts of Europe and Asia) where roads are measured from a central hub, in this case Bangkok.

Just now, Digitalbanana said:

It's not "Thai logic"—it's just a chainage system common in many countries (including parts of Europe and Asia) where roads are measured from a central hub, in this case Bangkok.

So why can't they get the measurements accurate? 

 

Faulty instruments?

 

Eric.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

 'Bangkok 405 KM' then, 5 KM down the road, it will read 'Bangkok 410 KM'... Am I missing something here,

Apparently the first U-turn you passed   

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

So why can't they get the measurements accurate? 

 

Faulty instruments?

 

Eric.

 

The road sign reference point for Bangkok remains constant (geographic center) so imagine the road you are travelling suddenly begins to go in a direction away from the reference point.

On 11/13/2025 at 10:17 AM, Digitalbanana said:

It's not "Thai logic"—it's just a chainage system common in many countries (including parts of Europe and Asia) where roads are measured from a central hub, in this case Bangkok.

As the government does so many flip-flops they expect drivers to do the same, hence the extra kilometres on the journey?

On 11/13/2025 at 9:19 AM, Stressed Eric said:

So why can't they get the measurements accurate? 

 

Faulty instruments?

 

Eric.

I Reckon They used a Chinese Tape measure !!

The ones that get me are those saying for instance  Bangkok  straight ahead then a few kilometers later there is another sign  to U-turn for Bangkok   and then a few kilos later  Bangkok  is  both straight on and to the left...its a bit better these days with GPS guidance  but that in itself brings other challenges. 

On 11/12/2025 at 9:19 PM, Stressed Eric said:

So why can't they get the measurements accurate? 

 

Faulty instruments?

 

Eric.

 

They are accurate. The answer was provided;

 

On 11/12/2025 at 9:17 PM, Digitalbanana said:

It's not "Thai logic"—it's just a chainage system common in many countries (including parts of Europe and Asia) where roads are measured from a central hub, in this case Bangkok.

 

You are not necessarily traveling in a straight line between two points. The route can go around a mountain or  take a turn to traverse a river or bypass  an area.  This is why the distances can change. 

 

41 minutes ago, johng said:

its a bit better these days with GPS guidance  but that in itself brings other challenges. 

 

Like for example

 

Take the right lane on the left to make a right turn?

when I was driving through Nam Pong, It tickled me to see a sign at a left turn informing me that Nam pong is 15 Km in that direction.

Frankly speaking, what's the issue?

Are you measuring your fuel consumption with that precision?

Some like to split hairs...

Turn on Google Maps and you'll get to your destination.

2 minutes ago, Garouda said:

Frankly speaking, what's the issue?

Are you measuring your fuel consumption with that precision?

Some like to split hairs...

Turn on Google Maps and you'll get to your destination.

What your issue?

 

Eric.

There is a chance that the roads have changed over the years and they have not updated certain signs. By- passes can add a few km to a journey so when you leave the old road the signs on the by- pass have a few extra km on them. If you are in Bangkok every road has a sign saying you are on the right road for the airport. Even leaving the other side of Bangkok to head West there are signs saying you are going towards the airport.

On 11/13/2025 at 2:37 AM, Stressed Eric said:

Anyone else ever noticed this? When you are going on a long trip, from north to south/south to north etc, that the road sign to your left might read for example 'Bangkok 405 KM' then, 5 KM down the road, it will read 'Bangkok 410 KM'...

 

Am I missing something here, or is this just Thai logic 101?

 

Eric.

You are not missing anything, It's just Thai logic...

Thai Logic

 

On 11/13/2025 at 2:37 AM, Stressed Eric said:

Anyone else ever noticed this? When you are going on a long trip, from north to south/south to north etc, that the road sign to your left might read for example 'Bangkok 405 KM' then, 5 KM down the road, it will read 'Bangkok 410 KM'...

 

Am I missing something here, or is this just Thai logic 101?

 

Eric.

Why don't you look at the stones or signs at the roadside that indicate the distance in kilometers❓

5 hours ago, Stressed Eric said:

5 hours ago, Garouda said:

Frankly speaking, what's the issue?

Are you measuring your fuel consumption with that precision?

Some like to split hairs...

Turn on Google Maps and you'll get to your destination.

What your issue?

 

Eric.

 

Accidentally opening inane and moronic threads generated by some fool attempting to shoehorn anti-Thai-criticism out of nothing... 

2 minutes ago, markus said:

Why don't you look at the stones or signs at the roadside

 

The roadside is often overgrown  and in any case taking eyes off the 

road ahead is a bit dangerous 😋

I recall an old milestone inmy home villalage indicating 3 miles to the next town. Over the years the road was straightened and more accurate measyments were made resulting in a new sign right next to the old milestone indicating 2 1/2 miles to the town. Nobody thought to take away the old milestone.

11 hours ago, johng said:

 

The roadside is often overgrown  and in any case taking eyes off the 

road ahead is a bit dangerous 😋

The mile(km) stones are replaced by easily readable signs on poles on many major highways (at least). On motorways anyway.

 

Before navigation apps you could find your way quite well with printed maps and checking road numbers and distances.

 

When driving from Khon Kaen westward on #12 I can see it's only another 500+ km to the Burmese border 😁

According to this signpost, Sakon Nakhon is the center of the universe 🤔

 

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in Sakon Nakhon lately — mostly escaping to Big C whenever I need a break from the stress of having family in the provincial hospital. Sometimes you just need to sit somewhere calm, order some food, and let your brain reboot. For me, that usually means beef and a mu pad krapao spicy enough to make me forget what day it is.

 

Anyway, during one of these little “sanity breaks,” I noticed something I’d somehow walked past for years:
a wonderfully old, bright-yellow world-direction signpost stuck in the middle of the Srisakol area like it’s the star of its own travel show.

 

It proudly points to everywhere you aren’t:
Berlin 8,545 km, London 9,464 km, Las Vegas 12,170 km, Tokyo 4,067 km, Hanoi 688 km — and at the top it announces “Srisakol – 0 km.”

 

So that’s it:
Srisakol Market is officially the center of the universe.

 

Stand next to the post and it genuinely feels as if it puts you at the center of the universe too. Above all, it marks a spot where you can sit down, relax, and eat all kinds of things in an open-air space under a surprisingly large roof. And it makes meeting people easy: “Let’s meet at the signpost.”

 

Which is great, because the food’s cheaper, the parking’s easier, and you can get your car washed and cleaned at the same time.
Try doing that in London.

 

The signpost itself looks like it has survived several repaints, a few decades of weather, and at least one motorbike hitting it at low speed. But there’s something comforting about it. When life gets heavy, it feels good to stand at “0 km,” eat your pad krapao, and imagine you’re at the crossroads of the whole world.

 

Here it is in all its yellow, globe-trotting glory:

 

 

Anyone know when this thing was originally put up? Or is Sakon Nakhon quietly preparing for world domination?

 

A final detail: the sign faces the pedestrian side of the market, not the street. It’s clearly meant for people who are walking, browsing, and shopping — not for drivers. Sakon Nakhon isn’t exactly a tourist hotspot, but this quirky sign shows a bit of global awareness and proudly marks its place on the international map. The top logo (“SRISAKOL 0 KM”) also suggests it was commissioned by the Srisakol business district, not the municipality.

 

 

4 hours ago, jacnl2000 said:

According to this signpost, Sakon Nakhon is the center of the universe 🤔

 

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in Sakon Nakhon lately — mostly escaping to Big C whenever I need a break from the stress of having family in the provincial hospital. Sometimes you just need to sit somewhere calm, order some food, and let your brain reboot. For me, that usually means beef and a mu pad krapao spicy enough to make me forget what day it is.

 

Anyway, during one of these little “sanity breaks,” I noticed something I’d somehow walked past for years:
a wonderfully old, bright-yellow world-direction signpost stuck in the middle of the Srisakol area like it’s the star of its own travel show.

 

It proudly points to everywhere you aren’t:
Berlin 8,545 km, London 9,464 km, Las Vegas 12,170 km, Tokyo 4,067 km, Hanoi 688 km — and at the top it announces “Srisakol – 0 km.”

 

So that’s it:
Srisakol Market is officially the center of the universe.

 

Stand next to the post and it genuinely feels as if it puts you at the center of the universe too. Above all, it marks a spot where you can sit down, relax, and eat all kinds of things in an open-air space under a surprisingly large roof. And it makes meeting people easy: “Let’s meet at the signpost.”

 

Which is great, because the food’s cheaper, the parking’s easier, and you can get your car washed and cleaned at the same time.
Try doing that in London.

 

The signpost itself looks like it has survived several repaints, a few decades of weather, and at least one motorbike hitting it at low speed. But there’s something comforting about it. When life gets heavy, it feels good to stand at “0 km,” eat your pad krapao, and imagine you’re at the crossroads of the whole world.

 

Here it is in all its yellow, globe-trotting glory:

 

 

Anyone know when this thing was originally put up? Or is Sakon Nakhon quietly preparing for world domination?

 

A final detail: the sign faces the pedestrian side of the market, not the street. It’s clearly meant for people who are walking, browsing, and shopping — not for drivers. Sakon Nakhon isn’t exactly a tourist hotspot, but this quirky sign shows a bit of global awareness and proudly marks its place on the international map. The top logo (“SRISAKOL 0 KM”) also suggests it was commissioned by the Srisakol business district, not the municipality.

 

 

Now I'm not disputing the distances, but are London and Berlin really in that much of a different direction? Other than that, the spot does sound like a perfect sanctuary for a rest and a munch and to watch the rest of the universe amble by.  

On 11/14/2025 at 1:39 PM, Stressed Eric said:

What your issue?

 

Eric.

 

I think we are wondering what is yours.

 

Why do the signs need to be that accurate? Even if I were riding a bicycle 5 or 10kms would not make that much difference. Maybe there were two signs to instal that day and they are the wrong way round? So what...You would have to be going at some speed before any decision you made after seeing the discrepancy made any difference to your immediate driving decisions.

 

One sees ostensibly wacky things in Asia almost everyday. I don't dwell on them. 

Two Irish guys are walking along a road and one of them spots something in the hedge so he goes to look.

 

"What is it?" says his friend.

 

"It is a gravestone" says the first guy brushing away some undergrowth. 

 

"Does it say who it was?" replies his mate.

 

Yeah it says it was "MIles from Dublin"