In Reply to: ha ha, I remember sitting the written posted by Charliebalibear on Monday, 18. June 2012 at 20:53 Bali Time:
to get his licence 20 years ago I said I would pay but only if he sat his licence - not buy it, and he had to get a traffic rule book. He came back with the rule book and advised that it wasn't possible to "sit" a licence - the only way he could get one was to pay for an instant licence.
I said that was OK as at least we had the official book of traffic rules. He sheepishly advised the the rule book belonged to the police - they only had one and he had to give it back tomorroe!
Thet's Bali and that's why anyone in front of you can do whatever they like with impunity.
Nobody and especially the police know the real rules.
Right now I am in Phuket for a week of different madness. A guy I met today is sitting his Thai licence tomorrow. He has to sit on a chair with a string in each hand which guides a light down a road on the screen in front of him. When the policeman says "stop" he has to bang his foot on the floor. If the light stays on the road and he bangs his foot on the brake fast enough he gets his licence.
Not a lot of difference really - except the Thais in Phuket drive slowly, give way when they don't have to and the roads are wide. let's hope they don't go to Bangkok and learn how it's realy done!