To make the most of your stay in Thailand, it really pays to put some effort into your holiday preparations by learning a few things about Thai customs and language before you set out. You will find it a much more enjoyable and rewarding experience if you do. There are many excellent travel guides available of course, such as Lonely Planet, Fodor's Guides etc., but here are 6 valuable tips before you go:
1. Thailand is a fascinating country, with an ancient history and culture. It's worth reading a little about that history. It is also worth reading something about their religions, particularly their main religion - Buddhism. Buddhism is very strong all over Thailand, except for some areas in the South (neighboring on Malaysia) which are Muslim and quite militantly so. There are a few Christian churches in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other centers, and among some of the hill tribes. When visiting a Buddhist temple, it is customary to remove one's shoes. If you squat on the floor, make sure that your feet are tucked away to the side and that the soles of your feet are not pointing towards the image of the Buddha, which would be disrespectful.
2. The people of Thailand are friendly, very polite and welcoming. It is important to be polite in return. Normally the service you will receive there will be excellent, but if for any reason you are dissatisfied with something and wish to complain, remember to do it in a quiet, sober manner without raising your voice or being abusive. NEVER do anything that will humiliate someone in front of others, as this could lead to serious consequences. It is very important for a Thai person not to lose face.
3. In addition to the many good Thai restaurants and western-style food outlets, you will find thousands of fast food stalls on the street, selling all manner of fare. The food from these stalls (including fresh fruit) is very cheap and in 99.9% of cases is hygienically handled and perfectly safe. I have lived in Thailand and have never had food poisoning from eating street food. Just beware of water (other than bottled) and especially ice.
4. The people of Thailand are very proud of their monarchy and the King is very highly regarded and loved by the people. Be careful not to make any remark that may be taken as disrespectful of the King or any of the Royal Family.
5. If you aim to learn to speak a few words in the Thai language, such as hello ('Sawat Dee Kap' when spoken by a man or 'Sawat Dee Kaa' when spoken by a woman) or thank you ('Kap khun kap' spoken by a man or 'Kap khun kaa' spoken by a woman), the average Thai person will be delighted and will respect you for it. However, with some words and phrases, be sure to get the pronunciation and above all the intonation correct. In Thai, the same word can have several different meanings, depending on whether the voice has a low or high tone, a rising or falling tone, or stays on a level tone. For example, the word 'khao' can mean rice, enter, white, mountain, he/she or news, depending on how you say it.
As you might guess, this can lead to some hilarious misunderstandings and very puzzled looks on behalf of the person you are speaking to. For instance, asking a waitress to pour some milk into your cup (sai nom) might be taken as 'would you mind shaking your breasts'! But remember, Thai people understand that foreigners (farang) often get it wrong and will take into account the context of the conversation. In this way, they will probably guess what you really meant to say. So don't give up; have a go.
6. Finally, before you go, to expand your appreciation of the country why not read a novel that is set in Thailand (such as 'The Orchid File'). If you are unable to find the time beforehand, then read it on the flight over. It will further enhance your appreciation of this fascinating country.
To purchase the novel 'The Orchid File' mentioned in this article, go to the following web site: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/TheOrchidFile.html
By David J Hilton
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