The Foolproof Way To Drive From ‘A’ To ‘B’ Avoiding The Language Barrier

[Jezz]

No doubt this little idea has been thought of before but I’m going to find it quite useful when driving in unfamiliar Thai territory – with the Thai missus sitting beside me. To get from ‘A’ to ‘B’, use Google Maps to plan the route, then copy the text of directions into English, paste it in Google Translate and make a Thai language copy. Print off both English and Thai directions – or if you don’t have a printer, make PDF documents, email them to yourself, pop along to the local internet cafe, log on to your email and get the directions printed off. Set out on your journey armed with the road atlas and English route directions, hand the Thai version to the missus and rest in the knowledge at least one of you will get it right.

[thaicbr]

or just buy a GPS

[pipo1000]

Bit complicated,don't you think so?

[Satcommlee]

Been there, done that, it all ended in tears!

Just like the famous junctions where the signs say you can turn left for Bangkok, right for Bangkok or straight ahead for Bangkok..

I always found before GPS, that it was best to jot down some major waypoints and road numbers.. ie: Bangkok, Choengchonsao, Kabin Buri, etc.. and follow the road signs.

[Crossy]

I always found before GPS, that it was best to jot down some major waypoints and road numbers.. ie: Bangkok, Choengchonsao, Kabin Buri, etc.. and follow the road signs.

I do that even with the GPS.

Wifey comes into her own for the last mile, finding the home of Bee Adalotaporn in Nakhon Nowhere

[mogandave]

or just buy a GPS

Exactly

[DJH77]

Whats wrong with a good old fashioned Map and Compass. When you come to a ring road which shows the same destination in every direction you simply use the map and compass to determin the shortest route. thats all i have used for 10 years and have never had any trouble getting anywhere in Thailand. But never ask your wife to read the map or you may finish uo in China.

[Semper]

But never ask your wife to read the map or you may finish uo in China.

Or you might end up in point A.

[transam]

But never ask your wife to read the map or you may finish uo in China.

Or you might end up in point A.

Easiest way is to stay home .

[Jezz]

Some good points, guys. I guess GPS is the ultimate way, but somehow I feel if the wife has a piece of paper showing directions in Thai, she’ll be so absorbed trying to figure it out, meaning I get some peace and quiet to crack on with the atlas and English text route to hand.

Edited March 25, 2012 by Jezz

[thaicbr]

Some good points, guys. I guess GPS is the ultimate way, but somehow I feel if the wife has a piece of paper showing directions in Thai, she’ll be so absorbed trying to figure it out, meaning I get some peace and quiet to crack on with the atlas and English text route to hand.

you mean your wife actually stays awake long enough to read the map. WOW

[Jezz]

Yep, she stays awake. And believe me if I followed her directions we'd end up probably further than China. The other little trick she uses is to constantly yak on the phone to someone supposedly at the end of our journey who claims to be able to guide us safely in. That one is a real nightmare!

[Kwasaki]

But never ask your wife to read the map or you may finish uo in China.

Or you might end up in point A.

Easiest way is to stay home .

Never a problem old chap I get Harold the chauffeur to do the driving.

Edited March 25, 2012 by Kwasaki

[Jezz]

But never ask your wife to read the map or you may finish uo in China.

Or you might end up in point A.

Easiest way is to stay home .

Never a problem old chap I get Harold the chauffeur to do the driving.

I say old bean! How jolly spiffing. Does he wear a uniform with cap and gloves?

[Kwasaki]

Never a problem old chap I get Harold the chauffeur to do the driving.

I say old bean! How jolly spiffing. Does he wear a uniform with cap and gloves?

Well of course my dear chap, wouldn't do for us brits to lower ones appearances, when one is in Thailand you know.

[Histavia]

I'd probaby have got there by the time I did all that.

[Jezz]

I'd probaby have got there by the time I did all that.

The entire process of producing the dual language maps and route text takes just a minute if you have a home printer Edited March 28, 2012 by Jezz