I was driving up the main highway heading north out of Bangkok, travelling around 100kph and unfortunately had a blow-out on the front right side of the car. I immediately crossed over to the hard-shoulder and stopped.

Nowm there was no way I was changing the wheel on the traffic side of a busy highway. Luckily about 2-300 metres behind me was a PTT station. So I limped the car in reverse back to the station, found a spot and stopped, and proceeded to change the wheel.

 

It was a very hot day and it was awkward, never having had done this before in the 20 yrs Ive been here.

Just then a pick-up pulls alongside, Thai man gets out, taps me on the shoulder and gestures he would do it for me. Which he then did in a very quick and easy manner. I offerred him some money but he wouldnt take it. I was back on the road in no time thanks to his kindness.

 

I was also pleased I actually had a spare wheel!! albeit "an emergency wheel" which many cars dont even have these days.

So I drove on a few Km and then came across a tyre shop and fitted a new tyre to the correct rim and was in good shape to continue my journey.

 

The guy at that shop showed us into an air-con room to wait whilst he took care of everything. Great service.

 

The unfortunate incident was nicely and pleasantly sorted thanks to the help and service of some lovely Thai people.

 

 

So, what's your experience been like this year? Has anything nice been done for you ?

 

16 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

The unfortunate incident was nicely and pleasantly sorted thanks to the help and service of some lovely Thai people.

I've travelled, studied, worked over 40 countries. 

 

Thai's are the happiest, courteous most helpful people on the planet. 

 

I'm so lucky to call Thailand be my home for over 20 years. 

 

 

did you tip him? 

A win taxi bike put his arm up to say thanks earlier today, first fime ever i think

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

A win taxi bike put his arm up to say thanks earlier today, first fime ever i think

Win?

Are you in Thailand?

 

 

2 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Win?

Are you in Thailand?

 

 

Win are the orange taxi bikes 

Troll post removed 

 

@georgegeorgia

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

Win are the orange taxi bikes 

Thankyou dear Sir 

53 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

 

I was driving up the main highway heading north out of Bangkok, travelling around 100kph and unfortunately had a blow-out on the front right side of the car. I immediately crossed over to the hard-shoulder and stopped.

Nowm there was no way I was changing the wheel on the traffic side of a busy highway. Luckily about 2-300 metres behind me was a PTT station. So I limped the car in reverse back to the station, found a spot and stopped, and proceeded to change the wheel.

 

It was a very hot day and it was awkward, never having had done this before in the 20 yrs Ive been here.

Just then a pick-up pulls alongside, Thai man gets out, taps me on the shoulder and gestures he would do it for me. Which he then did in a very quick and easy manner. I offerred him some money but he wouldnt take it. I was back on the oiad in no time thanks to his kindness.

 

I was also pleased I actually had a spare wheel!! albeit "an emergency wheel" which many cars dont even have these days.

So I drove on a few Km and then came across a tyre shop and fitted a new tyre to the correct rim and was in good shape to continue my journey.

 

The guy at that shop showed us into an air-con room to wait whilst he took care of everything. Great service.

 

The unfortunate incident was nicely and pleasantly sorted thanks to the help and service of some lovely Thai people.

 

 

So, what's your experience been like this year? Has anything nice been done for you ?

 

Never changed a tyre? 

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Never changed a tyre? 

I do wish people would read and understand what has been said! 

 

" never having had done this before in the 20 yrs Ive been here."

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Never changed a tyre? 

I never have 

I never own a car nor want one 

 

I once rented a car from Budget and had a flat tyre in Australia I called the road service 

He wasn't a happy chappy to find out 

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

 

I was driving up the main highway heading north out of Bangkok, travelling around 100kph and unfortunately had a blow-out on the front right side of the car. I immediately crossed over to the hard-shoulder and stopped.

Nowm there was no way I was changing the wheel on the traffic side of a busy highway. Luckily about 2-300 metres behind me was a PTT station. So I limped the car in reverse back to the station, found a spot and stopped, and proceeded to change the wheel.

 

It was a very hot day and it was awkward, never having had done this before in the 20 yrs Ive been here.

Just then a pick-up pulls alongside, Thai man gets out, taps me on the shoulder and gestures he would do it for me. Which he then did in a very quick and easy manner. I offerred him some money but he wouldnt take it. I was back on the oiad in no time thanks to his kindness.

 

I was also pleased I actually had a spare wheel!! albeit "an emergency wheel" which many cars dont even have these days.

So I drove on a few Km and then came across a tyre shop and fitted a new tyre to the correct rim and was in good shape to continue my journey.

 

The guy at that shop showed us into an air-con room to wait whilst he took care of everything. Great service.

 

The unfortunate incident was nicely and pleasantly sorted thanks to the help and service of some lovely Thai people.

 

 

So, what's your experience been like this year? Has anything nice been done for you ?

 

I've been ignored a few times so that was nice.

Many nice things happen. Recently, being 20 Baht short at a till, the Lady behind me in the queue proffered the note !! How sweet !

 

I tried to refuse as I had more money in the car. All smiles . . . 

 

I think if you try to be friendly in Thailand you'll find kindness comes back often enough. Boorish people form bad opinions of Thais but maybe, that reflects their own behaviour . . .

Maybe not technically a stranger but close enough.
When my condo electricity was cut without warning (some kind of weird automatic bank paying glitch) a staff person told me, sorry we don't deal with that, it's your account. It was about a small amount like 50 baht that failed to get paid automatically months before.

She was right but then her heart softened and she spent 20 minutes on the phone to the power company, helping me get the app setup on my phone (well I could have done that myself but the situation was more complicated than just doing that), determined what exactly needed to be paid right now to get my power back on, and then within a few hours, it was. Even before the power was turned back on, I tipped her 200 baht. But she did it without any expectation of payment.

 

Not this year, but I was off road, 4 wheeling it, in our ... Vios 

 

On a rocky path up a hill, we definitely shouldn't of been on, trying to get to the top where a Wat was.  I saw the hole, and asked wife (1st wife) to direct me around it.  She must have misunderstood 🙄 and directed me right into it.

 

In the middle on nowhere, and someone strolling by from the wat, stopped, laugh, and went and got some wood, better jack, as I was using the Toyota jack, in an attempt just to get the car high enough, and was simply going to back out, hoping it would fall, out of the hole.

 

Managed to get it out with his help, more like, he managed it with my help, and he simply left afterward, taking supplies back up the hill.   Wouldn't take any money, as he saved the day, almost night time, and I was already thinking how much fun it was going to be sleeping in the hot as hell car, before he came along.

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

So, what's your experience been like this year? Has anything nice been done for you ?

Everything and everyone have been nice the entire year so far, though there’s still eleven days remaining.

Almost daily, I find helpful and kind local people everywhere in this country.

 

This starkly contrasts to (mostly) foreigners who I suspect reside here grudingly, and either ignore your smile, or straight out give you dirty looks.

 

Wish there was a law to throw these guys out, they do NOT belong in LOS! 

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

never own a car nor want one 

And our roads are a much safer place, thank you George 🙏

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I've travelled, studied, worked over 40 countries. 

 

Thai's are the happiest, courteous most helpful people on the planet. 

 

I'm so lucky to call Thailand be my home for over 20 years. 

 

 

Thais are great. Shame about the farangs.

I have yet to find out.

This year is not yet at a close.

Maybe a box of chocolates?

But, I can do without the sugar, since sugar is poison.

Maybe a poisoned apple?

 

So far, I have been grateful for a few things.

And, a few things done for me is better than no things.

 

But, the REAL QUESTION, and the MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION is..

What the the nicest thing you have done for a stranger, this year?

 

This comment is made TOTALLY from the Holiday Season perspective.

Take it or leave it.

 

It was last April.

 

I was leaving Makro South Pattaya on my scooter when a huge thunderstorm hit.

 

I quickly found a tree to take shelter under, along with other locals who had stopped there for the same reason.

 

A mother pulled out several plastic ponchos to protect her family.

 

Then, seeing me helpless and a little envious, she offered me one with a kind smile, refusing any payment.

 

Finally, I went home with a blissful smile and a renewed faith in humanity.

7 minutes ago, Toc-Toc said:

It was last April.

 

I was leaving Makro South Pattaya on my scooter when a huge thunderstorm hit.

 

I quickly found a tree to take shelter under, along with other locals who had stopped there for the same reason.

 

A mother pulled out several plastic ponchos to protect her family.

 

Then, seeing me helpless and a little envious, she offered me one with a kind smile, refusing any payment.

 

Finally, I went home with a blissful smile and a renewed faith in humanity.

Never take shelter under a tree in a lightening storm. I learned that in my first week in the boy scouts.

i had a flat tire and no spare, guy came out of his home, made me stop. He went and got his own tools, took the tire off, loaded it on his scooter and took off. Showed up 20 min. later with a new tire on my wheel, put it on and cleaned everything up. He also gave me 450baht change from the 1Kbaht I'd given him for the tire.
I was happy to let him have the change and grateful for the help.

Vulgar post & replies removed.

 

@PJ71

All those who smiled back at me......

Small thing .... But made me smile.

 

The battery in my car key was flat and car wouldn't start, so I walked to a mall and asked a young guy in an electronic store of he can change the battery.  My Thai is OK, and I thought I was asking clearly, but you know the way some Thai people can't understand a falang speaking Thai as they just don't expect it .... so he had no idea what I wanted.

 

I said 'mai pen rai' and moved on.

 

He must have processed what I was asking about a while later, and he left his shop and searched for me.  I was still wandering around trying to find a shop with the right battery, when he came up to me and said in Thai ... 'your car key is empty (mot) right?  There's a guy who fixes them in the basement".

 

He took the effort to find me and assist - a small gesture that made my day.

21 hours ago, CharlieH said:

It was a very hot day and it was awkward, never having had done this before in the 20 yrs Ive been here.

Just then a pick-up pulls alongside, Thai man gets out, taps me on the shoulder and gestures he would do it for me. Which he then did in a very quick and easy manner. I offerred him some money but he wouldnt take it. I was back on the road in no time thanks to his kindness.

Doesn't if feel good when someone does something selfless for you.  

What have I done?   Small thing.  Hold a door open for people.  Pay for a little kid's candy bar at 7/11 (with the parents there of course).  Smile.  Tip. Give people in need the funds to help them over hard times.  

And what does this do?  It "pays it forward." 

Not a complete stranger, more of a nodding acquaintance.

There is a young woman (much younger than me) who works in the business complex where I work with whom I exchange greetings and who I know by name but that's about it.

She is aware that I have a bit of a crush on her and I have complimented her on her smile.

No fool like an old fool right?

We both approached the checkout counter at the local Boots at the same time and I said hello to her.

For whatever reason, maybe I was very awkward, I'm not sure, the Boots workers laughed when I said hello to her.

She showed no embarrassment at all and said to them "We are friends" to explain why I was greeting her and she removed the awkwardness from the situation,

A small kindness but much appreciated.

 

 

This girl from Phuket flew in to see me. Does the dishes and me now.

 

Really nice of her.

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

This girl from Phuket flew in to see me. Does the dishes and me now.

 

Really nice of her.

That’s really nice of you to pay for all that.