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Bangkok Local Customs

Siamese cat - Bangkok
Siamese cat
by RoseAmano
Learn the local customs of Bangkok. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.
Local Time 1:07 pm Saturday, May 17, 2008
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General Dos and Don'ts: What if you don't like spicy food?
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  • . It's customary here to put spicy chilis in most cooked foods. What if you don't like spicy food? If you say, "Not spicy," you get entangled in a cultural misunderstanding: When a Thai hears "not spicy", to them it means only one or two chilis. Even that may be too much for your taste. The solution is to request, "NO chilis". In the little picture for this tip, I have written Thai language for no chilis. You can click to enlarge, print it, and carry to show in restaurants in Thailand. If you want to try saying it in Thai language, use this: "my-sy-prik". However, you may still get an argument from the waitress. I've asked for "no chili" and was told, "But no put chili, cannot be delicious!" And don't be surprised if the food you are served is still spicy "hot". Thai cooks really don't understand how to cook without chilis. --- I live in Bangkok. If you have questions about long-stay here, you are welcome to contact me. Your question could inspire a new tip. - Peter

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    The "Wai" - Traditional Thai Greeting: 'Wai' for good reason and situation
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  • As you know we do 'Wai' by put both of your hands on your chest and bend your head a little bit to hands. 'Wai' is for 1) Greeting 2) Thank 3) Good Bye 4) Apologize 5) Praying to the Buddha 6) Begging But!!! Do you know ? We don't 'Wai' to everyone. Thai people pay respect to someone who is older as senior and we respect them as boss in a service business. So, please don't 'Wai' to anyone who is younger than you. Younger people won't feel comfortable to get your 'Wai' first. But if they do to you, you'll have to accept them back by do it the same after that. Don't have to 'Wai' everyone who you don't know. For example; if you buy something in the shop, you don't have to 'Wai' the owner because you're the customer unless they invite you to stay over or join food with them. 'Wai' must be feeling or meaning to that person. But whether you do right or wrong, Thai people are still happy to see you do that because we like what you try to do as our custom.

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Dos and Don'ts
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  • Traditional Thai Clothing - Bangkok
    Traditional Thai Clothing
    by manice
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    Here are just a few, but the most important rules. Do Smile: Thailand is known as the land of smiles. Thais do not necessarily smile about something like we do in the west. They smile for a variety of other reasons too. To say hello or thank you, to make a request, to apologize, to smooth over bad feelings or to show embarrassment. Do show respect for the king: Thai people show great respect for their king and they expect visitors to do so too. The national anthem is played twice a day (typically at 8am and 6 pm) and also before every film at the cinema. Everyone is expected to stand whilst it is playing. You should never insult or joke about the king or royal family. Do show respect for their main religion, for the Buddha, and for monks. Shorts or tank tops should not be worn in a temple, and shoes should be removed before entering. It is considered very improper for women to touch a monk. Do not touch anyone on the head. The head is considered to be very sacred. Do not point your feet at anyone or anything. This is quite hard for a westerner to follow as, without realising it, we do in some circumstances seem to use our feet quite a lot e.g closing or opening doors. I never realised how much I use my feet until I was made very conscious of it in Thailand. Do not step over anyone instead walk around them.

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  • Website: http://www.thailandlife.com/

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    Statues: Golden offers
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  • In many temples you will see seated golden statues covered all over with little golden shhets. These sheets can be bought at the entrance of the temple and be offered to the statues that represent old holy monks. They put the golden sheets over the statues, covering them all over with gold...

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    Statues: Almost human statues
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  • These golden statues of old monks that you can find in some Bangkok Temples have always amazed me. The first time I saw one I had to look very very close to find out if it was a HUMAN BEING painted in gold!! They are soooo realistic, in shape, size, details... People use to cover them with little gold sheets that they buy as offerings, so they look kind of "patch-work" in gold!

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  • Website: http://www.discoverthailand.com

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    Flowers: Orchids
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  • This charming wonderful violet flowers can be found in Bangkok in many public gardens and even in some hotels gardens. In Spain we don't use to see such rare flowers often, so it surprised me a lot to find them so frequently here. You could even buy a whole bunch of them by the streets for about 1 USD!!

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Food bargain
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  • As you know that shopping in Thailand is great fun. Some people think that it's like games to make you feel proud when you get the cheapest price. O.K. you can have fun but please notice that price that you go to shop is not all the same. Notice!!! Tourist market like night market is more expensive price from local market. So, Thai people in local area don’t have any reason to charge you more than normal. Please bargain just a little bit like 5-20 Baht only. Whatever, even though Thai loves to bargain but we accept all food that we buy. We don’t bargain food even though it’s expensive but we will pay without complain.

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Don't kiss in public
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  • Thailand is quite conservative country. We're polite and don't kiss by lips in public. When you want to come and see Thai life and culture, please respect our country as don't do like we normally don't. There are still so many people do that which we don't mind though but just don't feel comfortable to see much because you're quite outstanding here as the visitor. You may not know what people talk in Thai language when you both are kissing so sweet in a front of us.

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    General Dos and Don'ts: A Few Dos & Donts For Bangkok
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  • DO- smile! Thailand is renowned as the land of smiles, and the locals are generally happy people, embrace this! DON'T- get angry. Always take a deep breath and don't become confrontational. This just doesn't happen in Thailand, and many see it as a sign of weakness. DO- sample the local cusine! If you don't try out the local Thai food then you really will be missing out. It is gorgeous, and CHEAP! DON'T- drink tap water. The water system here is not great, and even the locals rarely indulge. With bottled water being so cheap, this shouldn't pose any problems. DO- be confident. Do not allow yourself to be pressured in to doing something you don't want to. For example if a tuk tuk driver is hassling you for a lift you do not want, then don't go. DON'T- be rude! Remember, however annoying it can become turning down taxi driver after taxi driver, they are only trying to earn a living. Just smile and say no thankyou, and they will appreciate this much more.

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    Read about it before you go - get a good book
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  • I found a gem of a book at Bangkok Airport - at arguably the wrong end of the holiday - but buying it afterwards was great too, as I had lots of questions. Just felt the need to go back and understand a little better! - boy, that sounded confused didn't it?! The book is called Very Thai - Everyday Popular Culture - put together by a pair of Americans, now living in Thailand - Philip Cornwel-Smith and John Goss (photographer). Published by River Books, Bangkok, 2005. I found this to be an excellent book - very well photographed, capturing the abundant colour of Thailand, and the smiling people. The book is divided into chapters about the sights on the street, personal habits and beliefs, the wide array of rituals and sanuk - the fun part of Thai life. All the answers are here about the things you see in the street and Thia lifestyle, which is both educational and amusing at times, but certainly enriches your appreciation of Bangkok and Thailand as a country. You can find out what all of those culinary delights you see in the street are, the "nick-name" culture, royal and Buddha reverence, how Thais love uniforms.......

  • Website: www.riverbooksbk.com

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