One day in Kamala
July 22, 2013
Kata Beach
August 7, 2013Thailand is known as ‘The Land of Smiles’ thanks to its welcoming vibe and free and easy demeanor. However, as part of its rich cultural heritage and complex social hierarchy there are still many strict traditional customs that should be adhered to to guarantee a harmonious stay in your Phuket Luxury Villa . So here is a brief introduction to some of the most important ones:
1. Never say anything disrespectful about the King, the royal family or the country. The royal family are treated wit
h total respect and as a visitor, you are expected to follow this. This includes standing for the Royal Anthem before a film at the cinema and not defacing images, such as those on banknotes. To slander the king in public is a serious crime and could result in jail.
2. Shoes should always be removed before entering a Thai persons home. The Thai people are fastidiously clean and focused on hygiene and generally shoes in the home are not tolerated. Some shops and businesses also like customers to remove their shoes, so it is worth noting if there is a pile of shoes at the entrance and follow accordingly.
3. Thai people greet others with a wai (pronounced why) and it is appreciated if visitors adopt this custom. To wai, the hands are positioned as if in prayer and the head is bowed. Generally a younger person will initiate a wai, and elders do not wai children. Visitors to the country are generally excused any mistakes in wai etiquette, so if unsure of the correct procedure then steer clear, but always return a wai greeting.
4. Much of Thailand is Buddhist and when visiting a religious building conservative dress with shoes removed is required before entering. Women should not touch monks or hand anything directly to a monk and respect should be shown to any images of the Buddha. In mosques men and women should cover their heads before entering.
5. Finally, Thai people follow the concept of saving face. That is, they avoid negative or detrimental behaviour and do not let any problems boil over into a display of emotions as it does not encourage sympathy or helpfulness in others.
