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General Dos and Don'ts, Bangkok

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General Dos and Don'ts, Bangkok
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General Dos and Don'ts
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General Dos and Don'ts: What if you don't like spicy food?
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  • Updated By Peter4 on March 5, 2006
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  • General Dos and Don'ts - Bangkok
    by Peter4
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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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    General Dos and Don'ts: Dos and Don'ts
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  • Updated By manice on July 7, 2004
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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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    General Dos and Don'ts: Food bargain
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  • By zazatann on August 29, 2005
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  • street food - Bangkok
    street food
    by zazatann
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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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  • By zazatann on November 1, 2005
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  • General Dos and Don'ts - Bangkok
    by zazatann
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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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  • By Meadows11 on May 10, 2005
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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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    General Dos and Don'ts: Attitudes are changing
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  • By Curt1591 on July 30, 2005
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  • My experience with Bangkok only spans about 10 years. But, I've seen a radical change in attitude, not so much by the Thais, but by the visitors. People used to read guidebooks to reseach their destinations. Reading about places still doesn't remove the "mystery". All the books on Thailand addressed modesty, politeness, and demeanor. There would be a laundry list of cultural considerations. Then came the forums. Everyone has become an expert and lends their "reality" to the topic. Any mystery is lost. Thai's are culturally sensitive? 'Don't make me laugh!' Dress modestly? 'I see Thai girls dressed provocatively all the time!' Don't argue or show hostility? 'Don't let the little bastards screw you!' 'All the cops are crooked!' 'Everyone's out to scam you!' 'The land of (phoney) smiles!' 'It's my vacation; I'll do want I want!' I'm not trying to take a moral high ground. Anyone can travel in any manner they choose. But, how one presents himself might just make the difference, whether he is treated as a guest or a mark.

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Temple is not the beach.
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  • By zazatann on May 31, 2006
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  • General Dos and Don'ts - Bangkok
    by zazatann
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    For the Buddhist, going to the temple is quite special thing for us to do. We believe that there’re many angels or good spirits protect the monastery. We will not do anything to find it as disrespect way to the place. Even though some area of the temple is nice and cool to lay down and take a nap but try not to do please because it doesn’t look nice for when a hundred of people come to pray and walk pass you. We feel like you’re relaxing on the beach….

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Some behaviors are considered rude in public
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  • By SumTingWong on May 2, 2003
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  • Offerings - Bangkok
    Offerings
    by SumTingWong
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    Bangkok is very different from more rural Thailand, but the culture is still basically the same. There are many things that are seen as not a big deal in the west that are extremely rude here. Here is a list of things to not do (in public) while in Bangkok, and the rest of Thailand for that matter: 1) Do not kiss in public 2) Do not scream in public 3) Do not appear nude in public, even on the beaches 4) Do not hit someone in public (common sense) 5) Do not appear dirty in public (common sense, Thai culture is very clean) 6) Do not disrespect holy sites 7) Do not show the bottom of your feet in public (do not point the bottom of your feet at anyone or anything holy)

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Respectful things to consider when visiting a Wat
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  • By SumTingWong on May 2, 2003
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  • SamBuTah - Bangkok
    SamBuTah
    by SumTingWong
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    Many of Bangkoks most important "must sees" are wats. Wat is the Thai word for a Buddhist Temple. From Wat Arun to the Royal Palace Temple of the Emerald Buddha, these places are all wats. Here is my list of thingst thar are very important to know and consider when at any wat in Thailand. 1) Take off your shoes when entering a room where there is a Buddha image. 2) NEVER point the bottom of your feet at a Buddha image. 3) NEVER sit with your legs extended in front of you inside a wat building. 4) NEVER touch a Buddha image. 5) NEVER stand higher than a Buddha image. 6) Do not openly turn your back on a Buddha image. 7) Obey any rules that you are given about a place.

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    General Dos and Don'ts: Always keep your cool...never get angry.
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  • Updated By tan1415 on January 24, 2006
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  • Have you wondered why they call Thailand the land of smiles... The most important lesson I have learned about Thailand is to NEVER EVER lose your cool or get angry in public. I bet in every holiday you come across a couple of situations where someone or something just pisses you off or you get into an argument. BUT in thailand showing such emotion will only mean lost of face. And at best it will be a phyric victory. My best advice is to just smile. When you smile you can't get angry and it's easier to keep your cool. A lot of thais will when they are in an argument try and provoke a foreigner to an emotional outburt. But if you stay cool and polite..they'll mostly give-in. And if they themselves turn emotional..you have basically won the argument. They call thailand the land of smiles.It's true people love to smile. It's unfair to call it fake, but the smile is the easiest way to hide your emotions. And the thai makes use of this often to hide there real emotions. In other countries you could look like an idiot..but in Thailand it's normal. So my best advice is to always keep your cool and just smile.


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