Visiting Thai Temples
Visitors to Thai temples (wats) may find the atmosphere surprisingly relaxed as they often serve as local community centres. Within the temple grounds children can sometimes be seen playing games of football or basketball and monks may engage you in conversation.
However, there are some important things to note before visiting any wat and particularly before [...]
Jai Yen - Don’t Lose Your Temper
Thais have a philosophy of keeping their cool and not losing their temper; jai yen (cool heart). To raise your voice and lose your temper is not good form and confrontation is to be avoided. However, that doesn’t mean that every Thai person you meet will be the stereotype happy-go-lucky person you see in all [...]
Body Language in Thailand
Despite Thailand’s apparently laid-back and relaxed attitude, it can be surprisingly easy for unaware visitors to cause offence. Manners are important to Thai people and what may be acceptable in Western society is not always appropriate in Thailand.
Thai people consider the head and shoulders to be the most important part of the body as they [...]
