Thailand’s flyovers
In Bangkok I saw for myself government infrastructure—multiple flyovers and flyovers.
Their flyovers are long and wide unlike the ones in Cebu which are short and only have two lanes. Thailand has a mass transit system with buses, motorbikes and trains. There are no jeepneys that are the “kings of the road” in the Philippines, especially in Cebu City. Traffic is bad in the city of Bangkok but in the outskirts where we went to the Rose Garden for an elephant show and boat ride traffic was pleasant. I think our politicians should visit Thailand if they are serious about adding flyovers in Cebu City. The flyover design in Cebu City won’t work; it’s too short and narrow.
Politicians should now listen to the people, especially urban planners because these are experts who have studied their craft and know what they are talking about. We asked before why politicians refuse to listen.
Bangkok doesn’t have jeepneys but traffic is still bad in the city except when going to the outlying province. Bangkok roads are wide and use multiple-layered flyovers but traffic is still bad especially during peak hours.
One time it took us an hour to reach a place for dinner, which would usually take a few minutes on the road. Traffic was not just bumper to bumper, it was stalled in the rain.
The rivers I saw were super clean with no trash thrown in. Thailand’s tourism is doing well with 14 million visitors by plane, without counting those who enter by land from Vietnam, Cambodia and other places.
During our visit, we went to the Rose Garden where we toured an organic farm and harvested fresh produce, which we were taught to cook or prepare for a vegetable salad. My good friend Honey Loop did the honor of concocting a very good salad while my tocayo Ricky Tio made a concoction for soup that was not totally spicy but so pleasant to my taste buds. We later watched an elephant and crocodile show with a packed audience.
We were so amazed with Thailand’s growth. Many residents got their education in the Philippines. Our country, meanwhile, has fallen far behind. I think local government officials should experience in Thailand and learn, not just come to shop in its famous discount-friendly markets.
By the way, we had a pleasant flight to Bangkok and would like to thank the flight crew of Philippine Airlines for being so passenger friendly to the group with Consul General Bobby Joseph and Honey Loop. Allow me to express my sincerest gratitude to Ricky of Holiday Tours for including me in the familiarization tour, and travel companions Bobby and Honey.
Honey was right when she told me that the benefit of travel was gaining new experiences.
That’s what happened to us in Siam Kempinski Hotel where my roommate Ricky had difficulty having a shower. Both of us didn’t know how to operate the bathroom fixtures. There was a bathtub but Ricky couldn’t shower there either because the stall had clear glass panes, which exposed the naked user to everyone in the bedroom.
We found out later that one has to press a button to lower the drapes in the bathroom. We had a good laugh over that encounter.
