Thai etiquette

Etiquette is a code of behaviour in society or among members of a group.

Thai people are extremely polite and their behaviour is controlled. Much of their etiquette is based on their Buddhist religion. 

Some of your behaviour to be mindful of when visiting Thailand includes:

1. To show anger or impatience or to raise your voice is a sign of weakness and lack of mental control. 
2. Revealing clothing is a little disgusting to most Thais like short shorts, low cut dresses and T-shirts and skimpy swimmers.  
3. In temples, long trousers or skirts must be worn, and monks should not be touched in any way by women. Shoes should always be removed when entering temples and private houses. For this reason, most Thais wear slip-on shoes to avoid constantly tying and untying laces. 
4. Avoid touching Thai people as they don't like it. The head is the most sacred part of the body, so should not be touched. The feet are the least sacred, so when sitting they should not point at anyone - most Thais sit on the floor with their feet tucked under their bodies behind them. To point, particularly with foot, is extremely insulting. 
5. When eating, it is considered very rude to blow your nose or to lick you fingers. The right hand must be used to pick up food eaten with the fingers. 
6. Thais do not traditionally shake hands, the wai is the usual greeting. The hands are placed together as in prayer, and raised upwards towards the face, while the head is lowered in a slight bow. The height to which the hands should be raised depends on the status of the person you are waiing to In the case of monks, dignitaries and old people the hands are raised to the bridge of the nose, with equals only as far as the chest. Young people and inferiors are not waid, but nodded slightly to.

Thai clothing

Thai people wear traditional clothes but do not really wear them often.They only wear them for special days like Songkran, Father's day, Mother's day, Loy Krathong etc.

For normal days, Thai men wear suits to work. Thai children wear uniforms to school. At the weekend they wear normal clothes like other countries. For example jeans and T-shirts. I think most traditional clothes are made from silk. The pictures below are some Thai clothes.

Thai women favour brightly coloured clothing’s which look wonderful with their incredible skin colouring.

What Thai people do

Since the 1960s, more than four-fifths of both male and female villagers have left their home communities to work for a period of months or years in urban areas.

Thai people are educated in the family and in school to keep frustration inside. Instead of showing their anger toward a problem or situation, Thai people show "CHAI YEN", i.e. calm or patience.

An important thing in everyday life is "SANUK". Thai people love to have fun together. "SANUK" can represent many things - eat together, to be with friends and chat, to go out with friends.

Food takes an important part in Thai life. Thai people always talk about it, and about there next meal.

In Thailand, life is fast paced and you are always struggling to survive one way or another. Thai People wake up early. Thai streets are often never dark since there are always street shops that open 24-7.

Then most Thai People wake up early, as early as 4am to catch the bus to work or to school. So, Street Vendors never have a chance to close.

Everyone in Thailand has to add about an hour or two to their journey anywhere. The traffic in Bangkok is horrendous.

Thai language

The official language of Thailand is Thai.

Most people in Thailand don't speak much English, except in Bangkok and some big cities.
Ways to greet people
Hello = Sawaddee
The word "sawaddee" is like "Ciao" in Italian. We use it to say both hello and goodbye.
How are you? = Sabai dee mai
I'm fine. = Sabai dee
I'm not feeling well. = Chan mai sabai
Thank you = Kob kun ("u" in "kun" is pronounced "oo" as in "foot")
I'm sorry. = Kaw tode
Never mind./You're welcome. = Mai pen rai
My name is.... = Chan cheu...
What's your name? = Kun cheu arai
Nice to meet you. = Yin dee tee dai rue juk
Yes = Chai
No = Mai chai

Shopping Questions
How much is this? = Nee tow rai
How much is that? = Nan tow rai
Can you lower the price? = Lod raka dai mai (Whenever you say this, it's a very good idea to also say "krub" or "ka".)
Do you have a bigger one? = Mee tua yai kwa nee mai
Do you have a smaller one? = Mee tua lek kwa nee mai
It's a bit too expensive. = Pang pai noy
I really like it. = Chob maak

Expressing Your Feelings
I like....= Chan chob...
I don't like...= Chan mai chob...
I'm having fun. = Sanook mak
I'm hot. = Chan ron
I'm cold. = Chan now
I'm hungry. = Chan hew
I'm full. = Chan im
I want to eat...= Chan yak gin... ("g" in the word "gin" here is pronounced "g" as in "gain", not "j" as in "jeans")
I want to go to...= Chan yak pai...
I've got a headache. = Chan puad hua
I've got a stomachache. = Chan puad tong
I like Thailand. = Chan chob muang thai
I like Thai people. = Chan chob kon thai
I don't want to go back home. = Chan mai yak klub baan

Thai numbers

1 = neung
2 = song
3 = sam
4 = see
5 = ha
6 = hok
7 = jed
8 = pad
9 = kao
10 = sip
11 = sip-ed
12 = sip-song
20 = ye-sip
21 = ye-sip-ed
22 = ye sip song
30 = sam-sip
100 = neung-roy
1000 = neung-pun
10,000= neung meun
100,000= neung san
1,000,000= neung-lan

Thai alphabet

The Thai alphabet has 59 letters and was created by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great.

The whole Thai alphabet is below.

 

Thai homes

Some Thai homes look more like Western homes and have modern facilities like ours, but most homes are made of raised wooden posts so that animals and creeping insects can not enter the houses. The open area beneath the houses also served as a cool daytime workplace. There are still many houses like this today, dotted around the countryside.

Cattle are kept underneath some houses or it is setup as a shop to work or sell things.  

Not all Thai houses have a kitchen or furniture like we do. People sit and eat on the floor. There is also no shower or bath as we know it, instead there is a big 'tub' for the water and a jug. Thai people bathe by throwing water over themselves.
 Most toilets are squat toilets although the western style toilets are becoming more available. Near the squat toilets there is a container filled with water and a cup or a hose pipe. These replaces the flush of water.
 

In almost every house a TV, fridge and radio can usually be found.

Thai school

Life in a Thai school is similar to our school. 

Some of the differences include shoes not being allowed to be worn in the school buildings and the annual Wai Kru Ceremony where all of the students bow down low in obeisance towards their teachers.

For most schools in Thailand, there are only two semesters with no mid-term breaks, compared to our school which has four semesters and mid-term breaks of about 2 weeks each. 

Term one usually starts in the first week of May. This then continues until about the first week of October. The second term then starts around the first week of November. 

As most Thai people are Buddhists, they don't get a break for Christmas. But they do get a 3-4 day break for the New Year. Term two finishes either at the end of February or first week in March. There is then a two month long summer break. 

At our school we start at 9.15am and finish at 3.15pm. 

For many students and teachers in Thailand, a school day is very long. Some arrive at school when it is still dark before 6 a.m. Most students don't start to arrive until 7 a.m. Most are at school by 7.30 a.m. Everyone has to be present for the national anthem at 8 a.m. and the raising of the Thai flag in the playground.

In Thailand, there are three lessons in the morning and they are 50 minutes each. Kindergarten stop for lunch first at 10.15 a.m. and then have a nap for two hours. Junior students stop for lunch at 11 a.m. Senior students stop for lunch at 11.30 a.m. In the afternoon, there are three more lessons finishing at 3.15 p.m. Thai schools have a compulsory "homework" lesson after school and so most students don't go home until after 4.45 p.m. The last students are usually picked up by their parents by about 6 p.m.

Thai geographical activities

These are some of the geographical sites in Thailand that I would like to visit.

 This is a picture of Bangkok.

 

Famous destinations such as Koh Samui and Phuket are full of the traditional Thai nightspots for the party animal and, of course, Koh Phangan has the now legendary monthly Full Moon Party.

For those who just want to relax and get away from it all there are the unspoilt bays of Koh Lanta or Koh Jum and the unspoiled islands in Trang Province - Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai.

Thailand is one of the best, most reasonably priced places for a seaside vacation. There are hundreds of beaches to choose from.

Many caves in Thailand are highly spiritual places, some acting as home to Buddhist monasteries. The mountains of Northern, Western, and Southern Thailand all feature different varieties of caves, which feature underground rivers and ponds, and even rock carvings and tribal coffins.

Natural hot springs are believed to have certain healing powers. The heat and minerals produced by a hot spring are thought to cure some illnesses, release mental stress, alleviate skin problems, relieve backache and muscle soreness, and promote physical well-being. Natural hot springs have been discovered in several areas in Thailand.

Waterfalls have always been one of the favorite natural attractions for locals and travelers in Thailand. The country boasts hundreds of natural waterfalls in every region of the kingdom. Whatever part of the country you are visiting, you will always be able to find a waterfall nearby.

Thai entertanment

These are some of the entertainment activities in Thailand that I would like to visit.

There are few experiences in Thailand more iconic than riding a Thai Elephant. You can go on a short or long Elephant ride through the tropical forests of Northern Thailand.

With the monsoon season rains, Thailand’s rivers swell and visitors have the opportunity to take part in one of Thailand’s most exciting outdoor adventures: white water rafting. From mid-May to mid-November tour operators around the northern and western mountains of Thailand will offer day trips that are sure to thrill both novice and experienced white water rafting enthusiasts.

Bungee jumping is an extreme activity, attaching an enormous rubber band to your feet and jumping from a platform, typically 50m above the ground. The bungee cords are designed to allow you to fall within a reasonable distance from the ground before bouncing you back into the air several times. It’s an extreme rush that those daring to attempt will never forget.

As a Buddhist nation, Thailand is full of spectacular temples, for Thais to devout themselves to the principals passed down by the Buddha. As Thailand is such a welcoming country and Buddhism is a non-restrictive religion, it is easy for visitors to study Buddhism and learn meditation at a number of temples and meditation retreats around the country.

Without question, Bangkok is one of the world’s premier shopping destinations. Shopping in Thailand is world class, featuring 21st century shopping malls, multi-story electronics malls, expansive local markets and local markets that sell everything from clothes and household goods to food and flowers.

Thai temples

These are some of the religious sites in Thailand that I would like to visit.

The temple is a sacred religious place important to the Thai Buddhist, in a similar way that churches are important to Christians. Every community needs to have at least one temple. 

Since ancient times, the temple has played a significant role as a social, educational and spiritual center for community members. Currently, there are more than 30,000 Buddhist temples all over Thailand. They are home to more than 300,000 monks.

Ancient Thai sites

These are some of the ancient sites in Thailand that I would like to visit.

The two 'must-see' historical sites in Thailand are Sukhothai Historical Park and Ayutthaya Historical Park. Both places are designated as world heritage sites and both attract millions of admirers annually, who come to see the evidence of Siam's former glory.

Most of the royal palaces in existence today date from the Bangkok period and are not more than 200 years old. The most important palace of them all is the Grand Palace, located in the same compound as the Temple of Emerald Buddha.

The Grand Palace was built in 1782 during the reign of King Rama I when he decided to establish Bangkok as the capital of Siam. It has been used as the official royal residence by the Chakri monarchs up until the reign of King Rama VIII.