3 acts of spontaneous niceness by locals

[orchidfan]

Just some recent acts of uncalled for niceness locally here..

1. The old man who sells me bottles of gasoline for my bike. 

Walks out into the quite busy streets and stops the traffic so I can U turn and go home. Doesn't do it for Thais.

2. Car accident with an ambulance blocking the flow of traffic. 

5 motorcycle taxi riders leap up and, like traffic cops, race off their seats and immediately start directing the traffic and getting the hopeless jam sorted out.

They didn't need to. Could have just sat and watched the mess.

3. Forget to remove my atm card from the machine near the 7/11...young boy (apparently) took it,  gave it to his mum (a local mobile street hawker) who chased me down and handed it back.

Very thankful and saved me a big problem have no access to money and having to get a new one.

 

There are some very thoughtful and kind local Thai people around. 

[worgeordie]

Ditto, when I lost my credit card,driver's license,and pink ID card,

raced back to Makro, nothing handed in there, then too local 

bakery supply shop,just as i was entering,the guard came up to

me with the cards in his hand, they must have fallen out my

pocket when i pulled my car keys out.

regards worgeordie

[Pilotman]

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Ditto, when I lost my credit card,driver's license,and pink ID card,

raced back to Makro, nothing handed in there, then too local 

bakery supply shop,just as i was entering,the guard came up to

me with the cards in his hand, they must have fallen out my

pocket when i pulled my car keys out.

regards worgeordie

I also lost my wallet in The Open Zoo a fair while ago, with all my cards in it and 20,000 Baht.   The wallet was handed in to the Zoo office, minus the 20,000.  Kindness clearly has a limit for some 'kind hearts'. 

[onthedarkside]

An off topic post has been reported and removed, along with a derogatory post about one nationality.

 

 

[bkk6060]

Left my phone in a baht bus.

Went into a 7-11 and told the girl behind the counter and asked her to call my number.

The bus driver answered and 5 minutes later pulled up to the 7-11 and handed me my phone.

I tried to give him 500 b and he declined.

[colinneil]

There are a lot of good local people here.

Recently on my way back from shopping, a bag fell off my rear basket, ohh s++t,nothing i could do but wait.

First motorbike along was a middle aged lady, she saw my problem,  picked up the bag, secured it for me, off i went after thanking her, she actually followed me home, just to make sure it did not happen again.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, orchidfan said:

Just some recent acts of uncalled for niceness locally here..

1. The old man who sells me bottles of gasoline for my bike. 

Walks out into the quite busy streets and stops the traffic so I can U turn and go home. Doesn't do it for Thais.

2. Car accident with an ambulance blocking the flow of traffic. 

5 motorcycle taxi riders leap up and, like traffic cops, race off their seats and immediately start directing the traffic and getting the hopeless jam sorted out.

They didn't need to. Could have just sat and watched the mess.

3. Forget to remove my atm card from the machine near the 7/11...young boy (apparently) took it,  gave it to his mum (a local mobile street hawker) who chased me down and handed it back.

Very thankful and saved me a big problem have no access to money and having to get a new one.

 

There are some very thoughtful and kind local Thai people around. 

It's very refreshing when this happens.

 

My good deed for the day was to return an item of clothing that did not belong to me that came back with my laundry.

 

The lady in the shop was surprised and said most don't bother.

 

For me the thought of wearing someone else clothes ( except my wifes ) repulses me.

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, orchidfan said:

Just some recent acts of uncalled for niceness locally here..

1. The old man who sells me bottles of gasoline for my bike. 

Walks out into the quite busy streets and stops the traffic so I can U turn and go home. Doesn't do it for Thais.

2. Car accident with an ambulance blocking the flow of traffic. 

5 motorcycle taxi riders leap up and, like traffic cops, race off their seats and immediately start directing the traffic and getting the hopeless jam sorted out.

They didn't need to. Could have just sat and watched the mess.

3. Forget to remove my atm card from the machine near the 7/11...young boy (apparently) took it,  gave it to his mum (a local mobile street hawker) who chased me down and handed it back.

Very thankful and saved me a big problem have no access to money and having to get a new one.

 

There are some very thoughtful and kind local Thai people around. 

From my experiences and observations as a farang, I find this typical of the Thai community.

 

My experiences are one who lives here with fairly "poor Thai language skills, I speak Thai, but my accents and enunciation for them most times would be deplorable", but who sees respect, experiences respect and toleraence. 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by RJRS1301

[Surelynot]

Left a bag in a car park with five passports and about £500 cash.....handed in to the police within an hour

 

Drop my wallet with about £600 in it, handed in to police following day.

Edited January 4, 2021 by Surelynot

[Kwasaki]

A good thread at last and about good.

I reckon more good things that have been done for me as a foreigner well outweigh the bad the years I've lived here. ????

[Surelynot]

Just now, Kwasaki said:

A good thread at last and about good.

I reckon more good things that have been done for me as a foreigner well outweigh the bad the years I've lived here. ????

I send a bouquet of flowers each year to the couple who handed in the passports and money.

 

The man who handed in my wallet left his phone number with the police...I called to ask for his address.....and he refused point blank....he didn't want me to give him a reward.

[bluesofa]

49 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Left a bag in a car park with five passports and about £500 cash.....handed in to the police within an hour

 

Drop my wallet with about £600 in it, handed in to police following day.

Where do you live? I'll have to make a point of following you. ????

[bluesofa]

A couple of years ago I was walking in to Udon early on a Friday afternoon. Probably six kilometres to the bar I was going to. I knew I would be drunk, so wasn't driving, My wife was away elsewhere, so I was quite happy to walk.

 

After less than two km a woman on a motorbike stopped alongside me, asking where I was going. I thought she was chatting me up, so tried to ignore her.

She was persistent, so I told her I was walking into Udon. The look of horror on her face, telling me it was really dangerous!

I laughed at her, as no way could it be considered dangerous unless you were cornered by an aggressive lottery ticket seller.

Laughing at her must have made her think I was unhinged and definitely needed help.

She insisted on giving me a lift, so I accepted. She said she would drop me off at a motorbike repair shop about another kilometre away, and would call a tuk tuk.

She did just that, wouldn't accept any money and drove off. The tuk tuk turned up a few minutes later and dropped me in town.

Looking back it was kind of her, but still baffling.

 

Also on that same small road I sometimes used to walk to the 7 Eleven. At the time that was the nearest one, three kilometres each way. I walked just for the exercise.

A few times people would stop and try to give me a lift, as Thais don't walk anywhere. I declined every time, which I know just baffles them as to why anyone would want to walk anywhere when they didn't need to.

[tlcwaterfall]

13 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

A couple of years ago I was walking in to Udon early on a Friday afternoon. Probably six kilometres to the bar I was going to. I knew I would be drunk, so wasn't driving, My wife was away elsewhere, so I was quite happy to walk.

 

After less than two km a woman on a motorbike stopped alongside me, asking where I was going. I thought she was chatting me up, so tried to ignore her.

She was persistent, so I told her I was walking into Udon. The look of horror on her face, telling me it was really dangerous!

I laughed at her, as no way could it be considered dangerous unless you were cornered by an aggressive lottery ticket seller.

Laughing at her must have made her think I was unhinged and definitely needed help.

She insisted on giving me a lift, so I accepted. She said she would drop me off at a motorbike repair shop about another kilometre away, and would call a tuk tuk.

She did just that, wouldn't accept any money and drove off. The tuk tuk turned up a few minutes later and dropped me in town.

Looking back it was kind of her, but still baffling.

 

Also on that same small road I sometimes used to walk to the 7 Eleven. At the time that was the nearest one, three kilometres each way. I walked just for the exercise.

A few times people would stop and try to give me a lift, as Thais don't walk anywhere. I declined every time, which I know just baffles them as to why anyone would want to walk anywhere when they didn't need to.

Great story and I have found most Thai people are generally kind and honest in my experience over the past 11 years. And Udon is a very safe place in my opinion. But over the years there have been some quite shocking incidents there.  The recent  story of the Thai man returning from the UK and attacking his family members in Udon is one such example.

Edited January 4, 2021 by tlcwaterfall

[Pilotman]

12 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

A couple of years ago I was walking in to Udon early on a Friday afternoon. Probably six kilometres to the bar I was going to. I knew I would be drunk, so wasn't driving, My wife was away elsewhere, so I was quite happy to walk.

 

After less than two km a woman on a motorbike stopped alongside me, asking where I was going. I thought she was chatting me up, so tried to ignore her.

She was persistent, so I told her I was walking into Udon. The look of horror on her face, telling me it was really dangerous!

I laughed at her, as no way could it be considered dangerous unless you were cornered by an aggressive lottery ticket seller.

Laughing at her must have made her think I was unhinged and definitely needed help.

She insisted on giving me a lift, so I accepted. She said she would drop me off at a motorbike repair shop about another kilometre away, and would call a tuk tuk.

She did just that, wouldn't accept any money and drove off. The tuk tuk turned up a few minutes later and dropped me in town.

Looking back it was kind of her, but still baffling.

 

Also on that same small road I sometimes used to walk to the 7 Eleven. At the time that was the nearest one, three kilometres each way. I walked just for the exercise.

A few times people would stop and try to give me a lift, as Thais don't walk anywhere. I declined every time, which I know just baffles them as to why anyone would want to walk anywhere when they didn't need to.

baffles me too. ???? 

[1FinickyOne]

Central Thailand - a ditty farang lady riding her bicycle had 2000 baht fall out of her pocket... a group of kids raced after her, near 1 km until they caught up with her to give the money back... 

[klauskunkel]

Went to Ramkamhaeng Airport Link train station to ride into town for a dental appointment. I realized I had forgotten to bring a face mask, so I wouldn't be able to get on the train, let alone into Mahidol Clinic. I saw a Traditional massage shop was open already at the time in the station building and the guy behind the counter had a face mask on. I told him my predicament and asked him if he had a spare one I could purchase so I could get onto the train. "Just a moment." He went out of the shop to his car in the garage building and five minutes later returned with a mask for me. "No charge, Have a good trip."

[wavodavo]

Years ago before Google and G.P.S.I had to change my SIN.AIR. ticket and their  office was in Silom. I found the right street but couldnt find the building After walking around in circles for ages  a very pretty young Well dressed  Thai lady sensed that I was lost and offered to help.She not only found the place but escorted me up in the lift to the office and negotiated the transaction for me. I offered to buy her lunch but she had to get back to her office.I have always found the Thai people very friendly and helpful.

[TheFishman1]

I love Thailand

[sammieuk1]

How do the majority possibly deserve such governance ????

[qwertyuiop]

20 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

A good thread at last and about good.

I reckon more good things that have been done for me as a foreigner well outweigh the bad the years I've lived here. ????

+1

[Lacessit]

I've found most Thais are polite and helpful, and tolerant of my non-fluent Thai.

OTOH, the stereotypical foreigner who thinks shouting somehow improves communication and service gets the attention they deserve.

[elgenon]

Blessings.

[elgenon]

On 1/4/2021 at 3:24 AM, bluesofa said:

A couple of years ago I was walking in to Udon early on a Friday afternoon. Probably six kilometres to the bar I was going to. I knew I would be drunk, so wasn't driving, My wife was away elsewhere, so I was quite happy to walk.

 

After less than two km a woman on a motorbike stopped alongside me, asking where I was going. I thought she was chatting me up, so tried to ignore her.

She was persistent, so I told her I was walking into Udon. The look of horror on her face, telling me it was really dangerous!

I laughed at her, as no way could it be considered dangerous unless you were cornered by an aggressive lottery ticket seller.

Laughing at her must have made her think I was unhinged and definitely needed help.

She insisted on giving me a lift, so I accepted. She said she would drop me off at a motorbike repair shop about another kilometre away, and would call a tuk tuk.

She did just that, wouldn't accept any money and drove off. The tuk tuk turned up a few minutes later and dropped me in town.

Looking back it was kind of her, but still baffling.

 

Also on that same small road I sometimes used to walk to the 7 Eleven. At the time that was the nearest one, three kilometres each way. I walked just for the exercise.

A few times people would stop and try to give me a lift, as Thais don't walk anywhere. I declined every time, which I know just baffles them as to why anyone would want to walk anywhere when they didn't need to.

A got a haircut in CM and the woman said she had seen me walking by and asked why I walked. I explained for health and to keep my weight down. She pointed out her girth and said she needed to do that. I'm sure she didn't though. 555  Maybe a function of relatively new ability to not have to walk?

[onebir]

Are the immigration officials Thais?

[JWRC]

I'm not sure these acts are niceties as it's put, I call it common decency and I hope most people would jump in and help when seeing a problem, maybe not. I have directed traffic quite a few times, twice to get Ambulances through, once because there was a dead body in the middle of the road, with people standing on the footpath awaiting the police and the others were just for general accidents, At least once a month I direct someone in reversing in the Big C carpark, Twice I have found wallets, one I found the owner, the other handed in to the police station. I am always helping smaller people in the supermarket reach something too high up for them, all little things and done automatically, I really like to think most of the people on Thai visa would do the same, but who knows. I was bought up being told do unto others as you would have done to you, perhaps it's an old fashioned value.

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, onebir said:

Are the immigration officials Thais?

Is the pope catholic?

[orchidfan]

1 hour ago, JWRC said:

I'm not sure these acts are niceties as it's put, I call it common decency and I hope most people would jump in and help when seeing a problem, maybe not. I have directed traffic quite a few times, twice to get Ambulances through, once because there was a dead body in the middle of the road, with people standing on the footpath awaiting the police and the others were just for general accidents, At least once a month I direct someone in reversing in the Big C carpark, Twice I have found wallets, one I found the owner, the other handed in to the police station. I am always helping smaller people in the supermarket reach something too high up for them, all little things and done automatically, I really like to think most of the people on Thai visa would do the same, but who knows. I was bought up being told do unto others as you would have done to you, perhaps it's an old fashioned value.

I think that it's not old fashioned. I understand that the teachings of Buddha (and I'm not a follower !) prescribe all these aspects of common decency, but in my many years in TH I don't get to see too many acts by the Thai people. So yours and  the preceding posts are heartening.