[adverwork]

So Thailand isn't a place for handicapped tourists.

You prefer to believe the writer of the letter in the Bangkok Post than my trying to explain that it is not that bad! I would choose to go almost anywhere in Asia above London.

Maybe if the Bangkok Post publish my reply you will change your mind.

David

[larentont]

Thais who are handicapped or disabled to walk fully or do other things in their daily living haven't been treated differently as they are in Europe or USA. Remember though Thailand is the country that people do help each other even though they may not know each other. Handicapped Thais are able to go around without needing special accessible paths, if someone see them, people will just simply help them get through without stop to think ,"oops, are we going to get a lawsuit in the mail if we touch this person." In the ex-pat 's viewpoint, yeah, Thailand doesn't have enough accessible paths visibly shown to them; however, handicapped Thais can all live and get around without those extra spaces becuase the way of life in Thailand is less collective and 'lonely' than in Europe and USA. By the way, no handicapped ramp is in Zambawe at all, so please don't try to even thinking of going to go to inspect the 133 Karat pink diamond over there.^_^

[boltondd]

Dear Peter,

How awfull to have a experience like this. I neverhad an experience like this. visited Thailand 4 times now and I am going again in January 2008. Sure Thailand is not The United States, United Kingdom or Holland where I live. But Thailand is not as inaccessible like you describe nowerdays.

I have been to Hua Hin. A beautiful beach resort at the Gulf of Siam. The community really puts an effort in the accessibility of this town. And since it is not Bangkok crossing the streets is still possible. Drivers of cars and motorcycles even stop or limit their speed to let you cross. Policemen stop the traffic anf help you accross if you need assistance. And yes indepence is very pleasant but to enjoy Thailand take the helpfull hand of the Thai people and let them help you. They believe in reincarnation. Helping people will give them a better live next time. In the western world there is a big lack of people who want to help. They all think of themselves first these days.
I stayed in a wheelchair accessible holiday home for up to six people. Take a look at their website and see the possibilities for wheelchair usershttp://www.wheelchairaccessibleholid...bledpeople.com
Maybe you change your mind and come to Thailand again.

[Emunsesoxmete]

I feel sorry for this guy, but he should have done his homework before embarking on an overseas trip with a wheelchair-bound child. anybody who has spent a day in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, would have been able to tell him that getting around poses serious difficulties even if you are able bodied, or maybe just slightly slow, or carrying a big bag, or trying to navigate with a small pram. let alone a wheelchair. he should have researched facilities, hotels, and other cities besides Bangkok before coming and assuming everything would run smoothly.

[VXHLrsO1]

It has to be un-nerving as a motorist driving along to see a cyclist bearing down on you while your steering one-handed and using your mobile phone...!

[adverwork]

Be interested if anyone knows which mile of the road this is, if I understand correctly Rajadamri road is quite a long road? If we go in to Big-C behind the hotel we stay you can look out over World Trade Centre on Rajadamri and watch the traffic that never seems to move...

David

[adverwork]

My bus pass has the name of my local town borough council stamped on it, I think the County town may have "County Council" on it. Hopefully the system will be a lot more flexible than you suggest-I suppose it depends which government is in-and how much they think they can rip us off at the time.

My understanding of the system to be is based on discusion that has taken place in the local evening newspaper. I realise that people who write in to newspapers don't always have their facts correct.

If I get a bus in Chester the way the drivers can tell if it is valid or not for a journey over in to Wales is that cards issued in Wales are in a red wallet, those issued by Cheshire are in a blue one.

David

[larentont]

Thankx David for the stat, how is Munich comparing to BKK? Is poppulation in BKK more than Munich and London combined. Well, London is too gloomy to have many people walk on the streets anyway so I can skip counting it on.^_^

From Bucky's pic: do they have any regulation against disable persons using the bike-path? Bycicles are very useful vehicles, using only about 35 calories taking one person 0.6 km. while a bus would use 920, and a medium car would be 1,860 ( a Hummer would be 27,870- Grrrrr..what's its driver thinking!!) The disable person's wheelchair would be using similar energy to a bycicle. I don't see why both couldn't share the path, they will have very lively conversation even.

[adverwork]

One example, telephone kiosks placed in the middle of footpaths leaving not enough room to pass on either side when if the were placed at the edge (as they are almost everywhere else) there would be adequate room. Nothing to do with poverty.

Often the obstructions I come across would not be an issue if they were at one side or the other, it's the fact they are in the middle of the footpaths that cause the difficulty.

David

[larentont]

I don't believe Thai admin gives any thought about providing more accessible and convenient passages to the disable tourists. Police officers have been running around catching the wrongful( not sure if it's wrong) kiosks more than 5 decades(mom told me so-you can't argue with her though), but nothing has really changed. They catch and release-for the image more than the real thing. So do you think if Thailand doesn't change the way they 'treat' the disable persons(mostly tourists), there will be some effect to the country?^_^