The totally off-topic thread

[Quickstatus]

Thailand drive the same side of the road as us. Most of Europe drives on the opposite side of the road and speed out of control. I would not feel comfortable driving around Europe.

You are correct. That’s why we import lots of cars from Thailand.

 

[docjames]

You are correct. That’s why we import lots of cars from Thailand.

It’s not because of the RHD.

It’s the cheap cost of local (Thai) manufacturing and also the FTAs with most of the export countries (incl Aust) that largely work in Thailand’s favour in this manufacturing/export sector.

 

[AisleSeat]

Thailand drive the same side of the road as us. Most of Europe drives on the opposite side of the road and speed out of control. I would not feel comfortable driving around Europe.

My first time driving in Europe, I'd just passed my test 2 months before and so there I was, on the wrong side of the road, wrong side of the car in a tiny VW Golf as all the German holidaymakers roared right by me. Quite the wake up.

 

[Denali]

Looking at car rentals today, decided to click ALL the "important information" for once, because they're usually about the same.

Top choice of car I wanted (SUV type), excess was $4450 plus second driver charge. As I clicked the next six, about the same but then it changed. Same company, Hertz, same daily price, same car but dropped to $3K excess and no second driver fee. An entire speel on same address family members permissions.

I never noticed that car rentals have a kind of 'fare type' before but the booking voucher seems to have one. I don't hire cars often.

 

[Pushka]

Any takers?

 

[JohnK]

Ettamogah Pub is no longer the Ettamogah Pub.

 

[Denali]

Any takers?
View attachment 127311

Only if it came in rose gold.

 

[OZDUCK]

Agree with you JohnK but going to Germany for the first time in October and really looking forward to experiencing the Autobahn. However I am no speed demon and obey the rules of the road but will be interesting to compare it to aussie freeway driving behaviours.

Autobahns' are good to drive on but don't believe all the stories about unlimited speeds and open roads. A large proportion of them are speed limited and others are under huge strain with severe traffic problems. If you are travelling around Frankfurt or Stuttgart, for example, the right hand lane will be blocked solid with trucks doing their 100K/h speed limit and these stretches are often only two lanes so the outside lane (left) will be moving slowly as well. The autobahns in the " old" East Germany areas are often in better shape than those in the west as they have been rebuilt after re-unification while the western ones have been a bit starved of funds.

The important thing things to remember are to only pass on the left - no "under-taking"., and if on a 3 lane road only stay in the left lane while overtaking - if you linger a bit too long there will be much flashing of lights behind you. A quick guide, from a USA perspective but ok is https://www.german-way.com/travel-a...ope/driving/autobahn/driving-on-the-autobahn/ The best day to drive is on a Sunday as large trucks are prohibited from the autobahn on that day - you will see piles of them parked up in the service areas.

All of the above apart the Autobahns are very good for getting from one place to another and it was amusing, on an unlimited one, to see the warning of a curve in front and suggesting that you slow down to 130K/h. Once you get off them the secondary German roads are often very slow, still going through the centre of small towns and villages .

 

[RooFlyer]

Any takers?
View attachment 127311

I think @Limewood had reconditioned one of those?

 

[Quickstatus]

I have always wondered about what it would be like driving a coupe with the top down at 200km/h.

 

[Cossie]

I asked my friend in England about all the police car locations and radar warning signs on the motorways, he said it was an election issue about revenue raising as opposed to a safety issue, the government that won promised to reduce the number of speed cameras and police cars on motorways. An election promise that was kept!


If you want to go fast in Germany, drive on the new/refurbished autobahns in the old East Germany, in particular in the north. In the old West if have a radio with RDS, be prepared to hear the word "stau" a lot, it means traffic jam! You will hear something like something like "zwei kilometre stau".

Also as previously noted most trucks aren't allowed on the road on Sunday, so that is a better day for going fast.

 

[Denali]

I was surprised that the Scottish (or the tourists) were aholes and didn't like to use blinkers.

And some of their round abouts were pure guess work, with three or four lanes. One round about was more a 5 exit triangle including going under a bridge/around bridge support.

 

[Cossie]

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain! That may very well be the case, but it also seems to be consistently damp here as well............

Where to next? Somewhere dry.................. Palma looks good, cheap flight from here, maybe a plan, but I still have 2 days to decide, you can't rush these decisions.......

 

[love_the_life]

.....

Where to next? Somewhere dry.................. Palma looks good, cheap flight from here, maybe a plan, but I still have 2 days to decide, you can't rush these decisions.......

Think you mentioned that MrsCossie said that you were not one for a quick decision.

 

[JessicaTam]

Agree with you JohnK but going to Germany for the first time in October and really looking forward to experiencing the Autobahn. However I am no speed demon and obey the rules of the road but will be interesting to compare it to aussie freeway driving behaviours.

After seeing germans drive, you will wonder that more people don't die on Aussie roads. Our driver training requirements are woeful.

 

[drron]

A couple of different security experiences in the last 2 days.
First entering Akasaka palace Tokyo.Your bags and belongings go through the Xray as do the people.Same set up as at an airport.difference-asked as you put your bags down-"Do you have a bottle of water?".Yes.Well take it out and drink some.Maybe this would be good at airports.
Second instance.just before boarding TG at NRT.A fellow is called out and taken to the secondary screening they have in NRT.His golf clubs have been brought up from below.he is asked to open the bag.Security guy then takes a box out and tells him that's all.Pax comes back to line and golf clubs taken below again.

 

[Hvr]

After seeing germans drive, you will wonder that more people don't die on Aussie roads. Our driver training requirements are woeful.

Given the 'training' is only to pass the test it is a wonder more Australian drivers can even start the vehicle let alone survive more than a week or so.

The best driver training I ever had was when I got my HR licence, learning to plan ahead and recognise potential safety issues and how to deal with them has saved my life at least once.

 

[RooFlyer]

Security guy then takes a box out and tells him that's all.

What was the significance of this?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We were driving in from BKK.Our driver held it at 115-120 kph and others just sped by.

Always a concern in a taxi... with no seat belts

 

[drron]

What was the significance of this?

Have no idea what was in the box.Batteries?But he lost that box.