Tips for Thailand
- Do not criticize the monarchy—if you want to stay in Thailand.
- Treat monks, temples and Buddha images with respect.
- Be especially careful not to touch a monk if you are a woman. The unfortunate monk will have to perform all kinds of ablutions for committing a sin—and you will have sinned twicefold, once for touching the monk and once for causing the monk to sin.
- Remain calm at all times. Never lose your temper. (Put another way: Never lose your temper. Remain calm at all times.)
- Smile liberally. It works wonders.
- Show respect to all people, of all ranks.
- Do not touch another person's head, even a friend's. The head is the highest point, not only physically but spiritually.
- Do not use your foot to point at things. Do not use your foot to move things (for example, don't close a door with your foot, even if your hands are full). Do not sit with your legs crossed and one foot pointing up (it might just point at someone's head). The foot is the lowest point, not only physically but spiritually.
- Allow plenty of time for travel. It can take longer than you expect to get from A to B and if you have to hurry the heat will ensure that you regret it.
- The weather is always hot and humid, sometimes very hot and humid. Wear light, loose-fitting, non-synthetic clothes, unless you are sure to be in air-conditioned surroundings. (If you are taking an air-conditioned car, make sure it goes all the way! If you are wearing a suit and have to step from your air-conditioned car to walk to an appointment five minutes away, you may need to take a shower.)
- An umbrella can be handy: firstly for the scorching April sun and secondly for the torrential September rains.
- If you're really organized, you may like to carry a little toilet paper with you. It could avoid an embarrassing moment when you enter a public lavatory and find that there is no toilet paper. They're not all like that, but some are.
- Don’t be afraid to ask when you need help, even if you have to use body language to do it. Thais are happy to help, but may be afraid to offer if you don't ask.
- Ask for a discount when shopping (except in shopping centres and department stores). It's quite normal, and you may end up paying half the asking price.
- When entering private homes and a few other places it is usual to remove your shoes. For this reason, if for no other, it's a good idea to wear slip-on rather than lace-up shoes (and take care to wear clean, hole-free hosiery at all times!).
- Make sure you wear proper dress and make no (or very little) noise in religious places (as well as remove your shoes).
- Observe "No Photography" signs at all times.
- Don't get uptight when you hear Thais talking about you in your presence as falang. It's just their way of defining part of the outside world.
