Local traditions and culture in Thailand

Thank goodness most Thais have nicknames as we probably would find it very difficult to pronounce their real name. My friend's son is nicknamed "moo" which means pig-- nothing abnormal about this. Nok means bird, or Lek means small, Noi means little. You will come across all kinds of nicknames when travelling around the country.

In Buddhist countries the people believe that the head is considered the most important part of your body so never touch a Thai on his head as this will be offensive. The feet are considered the lowest part of your body so never point them at anybody and don't point them towards religious artefacts in a temple as this is considered most rude. This is why shoes are removed before entering houses or temples. When entering temples try not to wear skimpy clothes such as miniskirts, sleeveless tops and flip-flops. A woman should never touch a monk or hand things directly to them.

Ladyboys, gays are tolerated here and are treated equally. You may even see prostitutes eating with a supermarket teller or banker, everyone is accepted here as the country has sexual tolerance and non confrontational.

Mai pen rai means "never mind" and is used a lot in Thailand. Should you find yourself in a particular difficult situation it is best to say never mind as why get stressed out on annoying situations, after all life is supposed to be fun, nothing is to be taken too seriously, have fun!

The Royal Family is treated with upmost respect and almost considered godlike and it is a crime to insult the family. You will often hear the National Anthem being played in the morning and early evening, where most Thais will stop what they are doing and stand still until the anthem is completed. If you have a business in Thailand you must display a Photo of the King in a prominent position.

When Thais greet each other they hold their hands clasped together as if in prayer and bow. The higher the hands are towards their face and the lower the bow means that you are showing more respect to the other person. Mainly the "wai" is used upon visiting someone else's house and again upon leaving.

Do's and Don't in Thailand

Religion : Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attireIt is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept.

Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.

Social Norms :

Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who returns it.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude.

Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.

When I first visited Thailand I noticed that a lot of people wore white powder on their faces and other parts of their bodies. I was curious but didn't think much more about it. On subsequent visits to Thailand I just accepted this as one of the local customs. It wasn't until fairly recently that I discovered this little secret for myself.
St. Luke's Prickly Heat Powder contains menthol which has a cooling effect on the body. Applying it after a shower is a great way to stay cool. But gents, a word of warning. Unless you are used to the sensation, it can feel a little weird around the scrotal area. Apply with care!