Honking @ Pala-U road

[Kumiankka]

I have noticed that car drivers are honking their horns wheh driving up from town along the Pala-U road. Just when the uphill ends where the elephant hospital is. Is there some particular reason for this behavior? Practical, safety,religion?

[sateeb]

Religion......

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, this happens in various places, usually where there's a shrine at the side of the road, although this can sometimes be a little homemade thing that is almost invisible.

It still takes me by surprise sometimes.

Another regular spot is by the petrol station at SuanSon south of town.

[STEVE G]

Yes, the one at the top of the hill on the Palau-U road is for the small shrine on the right and to keep the stray dogs awake that congregate around it!

[Big Boy]

to keep the stray dogs awake that congregate around it!

[Terry]

It's really quite logical

You see a shrine and honk your horn, some drivers actually take their hands off the wheel and wai in respect for the spirits.

Those that do, sometimes lose control of their vehicle and crash themselves

You can guess the rest.................

[Kumiankka]

.... some drivers actually take their hands off the wheel and wai in respect for the spirits.

Those that do, sometimes lose control of their vehicle and crash themselves

You can guess the rest.................

The road actually bends quite sharply to left at the to of the hill.......

[Harry Bosch]

I was told by an old taxi driver many years ago, you must honk your horn as you’re leaving the boundaries of a city or town on a main artery road this practise has been done for ever as a Buddhist blessing for safety reasons, it keeps the bad spirits from coming after you and getting up your exhaust pipe now days but before they got up the arse of your Buffalo and turned its milk off

[Lung Per]

I was told by an old taxi driver many years ago, you must honk your horn as you’re leaving the boundaries of a city or town on a main artery road this practise has been done for ever as a Buddhist blessing for safety reasons, it keeps the bad spirits from coming after you and getting up your exhaust pipe now days but before they got up the arse of your Buffalo and turned its milk off

Then again, not really funny but sad. All that superstition in the LOS is a challenge to common sense.

[chaspul]

Told by a neighbor, HH born and bred, that it is a "spirit tree" that people honk in respect, look for the tree with all the ribbons on it. You will find other examples throughout Thailand. Maybe the spirit house came later?
Placement of certain trees have great meaning to many Thais. For instance my caffir lime was placed more by luck than judgement where it should be, at the entrance to my property. Lots of info on Google.

Chas

[sateeb]

I was told by an old taxi driver many years ago, you must honk your horn as you’re leaving the boundaries of a city or town on a main artery road this practise has been done for ever as a Buddhist blessing for safety reasons, it keeps the bad spirits from coming after you and getting up your exhaust pipe now days but before they got up the arse of your Buffalo and turned its milk off

Then again, not really funny but sad. All that superstition in the LOS is a challenge to common sense.

Yeah..Lots of Western common sense where it rewards it's bankers with huge bonuses for screwing up the economy. One example of countless Western common sense idiocy

[Terry]

.... some drivers actually take their hands off the wheel and wai in respect for the spirits.

Those that do, sometimes lose control of their vehicle and crash themselves

You can guess the rest.................

The road actually bends quite sharply to left at the to of the hill.......

Precisely

If you look at where the majority of these places are - they are usually at locations where accidents occur regularly..................and the shrines assist in the statistics...............just a personal, (and yes I would agree a cynical), view, but one that I have formed after 20 odd years of driving on Thai roads.

[usual suspect]

Top of the hill on Soi 88 is the same..got a shrine there too..if the Mrs is in the car with me I MUST honk the horn..she sees it as a Buddhist thing..

[Lung Per]

I was told by an old taxi driver many years ago, you must honk your horn as you’re leaving the boundaries of a city or town on a main artery road this practise has been done for ever as a Buddhist blessing for safety reasons, it keeps the bad spirits from coming after you and getting up your exhaust pipe now days but before they got up the arse of your Buffalo and turned its milk off

Then again, not really funny but sad. All that superstition in the LOS is a challenge to common sense.

Yeah..Lots of Western common sense where it rewards it's bankers with huge bonuses for screwing up the economy. One example of countless Western common sense idiocy

Dear Mrs. Sateeb;
(I presume you are female beacuse you use typical female discussion tactics).
This topic is about honking in Thailand. Please stay with the topic. You are perfectly entitled to express your opinion on what you describe as "countless Western common sense idiocy". However that is a completely different discussion. You may wish to establish a separate discussion board for that topic.

[sateeb]

And I guess you are the obligatory Forum "smart arse"....................