Comments on: Meanwhile, in Bangkok: Daylight Loaning Time

By: Frodo Douchebaggins

Frodo Douchebaggins — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:17:19 +0000

It's probably as off-base as any other farang explanation for the Thai sense of time, but John Burdett in "Bangkok 8," when trying to account for the scale of methamphetamine abuse in Thailand, notes how alien to and imposed on Thai culture the whole notion of deadlines has been; when there are fish in the river and rice in the fields, there is no need to get bent out of shape over filing dates, timetables, opening hours and the like. Being an insane New Yorker, of course, this drives me batshit.

And now, a video of my favorite train in Bangkok: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSqNx7vJLDE

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:48:39 +0000

When it comes to using Thai time, I squeal uncle.

Recently I tried to take photos at the market with the train running through.

We waited. And waited. Then the two Thais with me asked if we could pretty please leave because it was a 'Thai train' and who knew when it would come.

Thai train. Thai time. Oh well, it was all fun.

By: Biggest Dude

Biggest Dude — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:32:16 +0000

Using the 24hr time clock in Thai has a particular way of being said that clearly denotes it is 24 hr time, same as what the military use.

For instance it is sib et joot, sam sib naw (or something like that) for hour 11 and 30 minutes

By: rikker

rikker — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:42:03 +0000

I know your post is meant to be facetious, but this raises an interesting question. What is the best way in Thailand to make it clear that you are open until 1am? If they wrote 11:30 - 1:00, people might think they meant 1pm.

Based on the 24-hour system used in all news broadcasts and formal settings, 11:30 - 01:00 would be correct, but also seems prone to misinterpretation, or at least ambiguity.

This catches the eye as "wrong", but I think it also communicates clearly the intended message. FAIL or WIN? Intriguing!