I know it's just routine but please allow me some latitude in venting a little bit ...

So, I'm driving back from Patong after a nice day talking with my guests. The traffic back to Karon is very busy and just out of Patong, traffic is stopped for folks turning right into the all the new buildings. So I am waiting nicely in the middle of my side of the road and to my surprise a mini bus tries to squeeze up the inside. I guess he forgot he was not on a motor bike. He can't make it without falling into the big rain water ditch and gets stuck. I stupidly call him a bad name out of my side window. Oh ho - he speaks good English and swears back - game on. So he is stuck behind me in heavy traffic, but stills hangs out over the line with right indicator on, and harassing me. Yes I know I should have let the idiot pass but road rage takes over. Every chance I have I slow down on an up hill and make him lose momentum. Ever chance I have I wait and wave folks waiting to turn onto the main road. Drove him mad At the Karon lights I let a tourist stuck in the outside lane behind a guy turning right to cut in. Same again at the Kata lights. Big SUV in outside lane is indicating left, I slid up the inside with minibus right up my rear. Lights red, look over at SUV driver, nice lady with ear stuck to phone. I wave over asking where is she going, big shrug as in no idea. So when green I wave her on, she lazily pulls over to inside and traffic on outside streams by. I find a gap and get away. The minibus gets stuck and I never see him again. Oh joy, wicked me.

Now because of all the driving joys mentioned, I've missed my turn into Kata for a snack at the Bluefin, so I double back at the next market turning. Sits down and looks at the quick menu board. I like bean tacos but the board only says 'beef or chicken' (much marked up from my last visit, but no matter). As I eat there often I usually know the staff, but today there is a young man loaded with pimples. I say bean taco, he says beef taco, no I explain bean, he has no idea. Never mind I see the lady owner/manager and she knows what I like. Aaah nice 2 bean tacos and wine. Great. I leave a good tip to the pimple youth.

Next, off to Tesco Kata to buy some soda water. See a pack price of 147 baht, OK I'll buy that. Gets to counter where the young manager is checking the till receipts. I wait in a good mood, and eventually the young manager accepts my purchase. Takes a bottle out of the pack and bar scans it and multiples by 24, so up come 168 baht. In my polite Thai speak I point out that I bought a pack and that's not the same price. He looks sheepish and tries to cancel the till, he has no idea and loses face and has to ask the nice counter lady. I pay my 147 baht and walk away remaining in a great mood. The sun is shining, what more do I want.

Now, this post is no complaint, more about the real joys of living here on Paradise Island.

Didn't know there is a Tesco Lotus in Kata.

Didn't know there is a Tesco Lotus in Kata.

Just past the gas station. Even have a Super Cheap opposite the gas station.

Shocking. I always find the minivan drivers to be courteous and safety-conscious.

Confused! The mini van got stuck in the big rainwater ditch, how did he get out and continue to harass you?

All's well that ends well LIK, especially the part about where the crazy minivan driver DOESN'T get out at a set of lights and stabs you. :) I guess he was a nice guy after all.

Confused! The mini van got stuck in the big rainwater ditch, how did he get out and continue to harass you?

Oh dear .. he got stuck on the road BECAUSE he did not continue and fall into the ditch. Clear now ...

Confused! The mini van got stuck in the big rainwater ditch, how did he get out and continue to harass you?

Oh dear .. he got stuck on the road BECAUSE he did not continue and fall into the ditch. Clear now ...

Ah cheers clear now, glad the mini van driver did not attack you!! You were very lucky in that respect!!

You do drive a little spirited at times. We aren't all angels on the road.

Lovely story! More please

You do drive a little spirited at times. We aren't all angels on the road.

Mmmm ... at that time I was sitting quietly waiting for the traffic to move. And yes, once angered I definately drive 'very spirited' so long as my wife is not in the car

You know, the point of my topic was that I was in a very sunny mood, and maintained that mood through all the negatives ..

You do drive a little spirited at times. We aren't all angels on the road.

Mmmm ... at that time I was sitting quietly waiting for the traffic to move. And yes, once angered I definately drive 'very spirited' so long as my wife is not in the car

You know, the point of my topic was that I was in a very sunny mood, and maintained that mood through all the negatives ..

It's not good that you had no thought for your own safety, being in a sunny mood would have helped If he had shot you or stabbed you though!!

My highlight today was having a beautiful young lass enter credit in my phone at seven eleven. When she handed the phone back she stared straight into my eyes and held my hand with both of hers. Caught me off guard...but it won't tomorrow...

Thanks for sharing your story. I know it can be frustrating and funny at the same time to live here!

I thought you were reviewing a video game there for a moment.

Shocking. I always find the minivan drivers to be courteous and safety-conscious.

Now that's funny Welldone u put a smile on my face ..

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I like tacos

I like tacos

Me too!

Actually I must confess I got a little bit lost in the middle of your second paragraph of the story and I had to re-read a few times to understand what was going on. But yes - it was entertaining somehow

i think my gold fish had a more interesting day than that

It would have been a real class act if you had first smiled at the tour bus driver, waved to him as you pulled away and then drove exactly how you did.

You blew a fantastic wind-up opportunity as far as I'm concerned.

It would have been a real class act if you had first smiled at the tour bus driver, waved to him as you pulled away and then drove exactly how you did.

You blew a fantastic wind-up opportunity as far as I'm concerned.

He was in a sunny mood so one can assume he was smiling the whole time!

It would have been a real class act if you had first smiled at the tour bus driver, waved to him as you pulled away and then drove exactly how you did.

You blew a fantastic wind-up opportunity as far as I'm concerned.

He was in a sunny mood so one can assume he was smiling the whole time!

Try reading the original post.

It would have been a real class act if you had first smiled at the tour bus driver, waved to him as you pulled away and then drove exactly how you did.

You blew a fantastic wind-up opportunity as far as I'm concerned.

He was in a sunny mood so one can assume he was smiling the whole time!

Try reading the original post.

Try reading post 11!

It would have been a real class act if you had first smiled at the tour bus driver, waved to him as you pulled away and then drove exactly how you did.

You blew a fantastic wind-up opportunity as far as I'm concerned.

He was in a sunny mood so one can assume he was smiling the whole time!

Try reading the original post.

Try reading post 11!

Post #11 just says he was in a sunny mood.

You think he was smiling as he said a rude remark?

More speculation, who would you say is desperate? Post 11 says he was in a sunny mood through all the negatives, one can assume that calling the mini van driver a name is a negative, therefor we can assume he remained in a sunny mood whilst calling the mini van driver a rude name! sunny mood to me means someone might be smiling! So he was probably smiling through this particular negative(assumption, Should I explain more or are you okay with this?

what's post 11?

what's post 11?

It's the 11th post within this thread.

Just to settle the ongoing dispute between 2 members. Sunny mood = a good mood. I was alarmed when the minibus tried to squeeze by in a gap not wide enough for the bus. In my alarm I yelled at the driver to stop and called him a bad name (and I was not smiling). But I remained in a good mood for the rest of the day despite the challenges of a difficult day.

Just to settle the ongoing dispute between 2 members. Sunny mood = a good mood. I was alarmed when the minibus tried to squeeze by in a gap not wide enough for the bus. In my alarm I yelled at the driver to stop and called him a bad name (and I was not smiling). But I remained in a good mood for the rest of the day despite the challenges of a difficult day.

You did well to remain in a good mood many others would not have, there is no dispute with anyone,I answer questions put to me nicely!