I don't experience too many problems on a day to day basis. But, I will say, that after many years of experience driving and asking for directions, local people who live in their own moo baan, village or town for their whole life can't give you directions a few blocks away.

This has happened to me countless times, and I could never understand why my wife was so reluctant to just stop and ask for directions. I later understood it was because nobody except motorbike taxis and taxis knew where anything was.

Last week, in the maze of Phuket Town, I stopped and asked an old man shopkeeper who was sitting outside his shop (I've seen him there for at least 9 years) how to find a road in the center of town. He had no idea. I asked two others. Mai roo. Finally, I stopped the car and phoned two local Thais I knew and they drew a blank too, though they had a hint of the general direction.

I had to go back home that day, look on my Phuket town map, and easily found the road. It was a very well marked road. I found it easily the next day, but no thanks to at least 4 local Thais.