16 Weird and Funny Things in Thailand

Living in Phuket for so many years has brought a lot of fun sights, and we should get used to them. But sometimes we smile (or clench teeth) when we witness one of the following weird or strange things. We are not only talking about the good old ‘Phuket Vegetarian Festival‘ of course: these 16 strange things we encounter on regular basis. We all get shocked the first time, then it just becomes part of our landscape and we could easily add another dozen without hesitation.

1. Throw Water at Cops

Every year in April, the Songkran water throwing ritual starts rather gently in Phuket Town in the morning, turning into a full scale water dogfights in the afternoon in Patong, Kata and Karon. It usually goes on in a hectic full scale wet war zone in Bangla Road until late at night. No one stays dry, not even the cops. Read more about Songkran in Phuket

2. Ice in Beer

A little weird habit that will shock you at first, but will start making a lot of sense if you live here long enough and get tired of drinking warm beer. Some people never get used to it though.

3. 2nd Hand Shoe Shop

… or should I say ‘Second Foot Shoe Shop’. This is probably the weirdest and oddest shop I ever saw (and smelled), but it is a very common trade in Thailand, just go to the Phuket Weekend Market. I suspect if your shoes are stolen in front of your house one night, you might be able to buy then back here. (Remember, we don’t wear shoes inside Thai houses, so if you have a brand new pair of Nike, don’t leave them outside all night

4. Driving in the Rain with an Umbrella

There is not much to say about that one… just appreciate the technique: drive fast on a wet Road, with no helmet, often only with one hand as the other hand is holding an umbrella against the wind. Anyway, with the rain in your face, you can’t really open your eyes, can you?

5. Sleeping on a Bike

Looks comfy and easy? Do try this at home!

6. Gasoline in Whiskey Bottles by the Road

Don’t get fooled when driving past some bars along the streets. The bottles you see on a table by the road side might not be what you expect! It is very common in Thailand to sell gasoline by the liter in glass bottles as you see it on the photo. Don’t try to drink it!

7. Tuk Tuk Fish Spa

8. Garbage Made of Recycle Tires

Thailand started to recycle old tires long ago, and it is very common to see these round bins along the road side… it’s so well done it might not strike you at first but yes, these are tires smartly stripped and rearranged into neat trash bins, with its stand, handles and lid. And they last!

9. Rubber Strips to Clean your Tires

Since we are talking about tires, here is a little trick that works really well. Hanging a dozen of recycled rubber strips next to each of your tires will continuously clean them and keep them shiny black! Now I wonder if the solution is not uglier than the problem.

10. Drink from a Vinyl Bag

I never thought such thing was possible or even convenient, but it is! Small local shops buy big bottles of soda and retail them in small plastic bags, adding ice, a straw and a rubber band so you can safely walk around… Downside? it doesn’t fit your car cup holder! I should design a Car bag holder’ to sell in Thailand…

11. Helmet Abandoned on the Road

Not to worry, nobody crashed. Phuket people are sometimes so resistant to safety laws, lots of motocyclists just store their helmet in the front basket. Cop in sight? not to worry: pop the helmet on your head, smile and drive by. Few meters further, remove and put it back into the basket! But often while driving on a road bump, the helmet bounces off the basket and crashes on the floor. Leave it there, it was just made of cheap plastic anyway!

12. Four on a Bike (or 5)

It’s such a common sight here to see three people on a bike… it’s not legal but that would mean stop a lot of bikes to do something about it. Now how about 4 on a bike? yes it does fit, I once saw 4 cops on a bike! None of them were wearing a helmet anyway!

13. Bamboo Scaffolds

14. Jellyfish Bathing

Yes you read it right , there is such place in the north of Phuket called Haad Pak Phra Beach, where a group of fishermen clean jellyfishes all day to dry and resell on a Bangkok market for culinary purpose. And the easiest way to do this cleaning operation? Sit in the middle of it and do the job on the spot. Weird and kind of smelly too. Read more

15. A Branch on the Road

It’s not a decoration, it’s a warning signal! Some hills in Phuket are treacherous and steep, old cars or trucks often can’t make it to the top and have to stop in dangerous curves. A triangle would be costly or complicated to collect once you got lucky enough to restart. So be smart: break a nearby a leafy branch and drop it few meters away from your troubled vehicle! Abandon it there once you leave, who cares anyway! read about the Art of Driving in Phuket

16. Dogs Sleeping on the Road

This is something I never saw anywhere else. You are driving at night on a curvy dark road and suddenly, right in the middle of the road is a dead dog! Your first reaction is of course to break hard to avoid it, or if you are a good Samaritan like us, you might even stop to check if the dog is still alive. As soon as you approach the dog will raise a lazy head with an expression like ‘who dares intrude in my bedroom!’ The dog is very much alive and enjoys the warm asphalt, knowing very well that cars will avoid him!

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