Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [23]
Temple Etiquette
When visiting a temple, it is very important to dress modestly (covered to the elbows and the ankles) and to take your shoes off when you enter any building that contains a Buddha image. Buddha images are sacred objects, so don’t pose in front of them for pictures and definitely do not clamber upon them. When sitting in a religious edifice, keep your feet pointed away from any Buddha images. The usual way to do this is to sit in the ‘mermaid’ pose in which your legs are folded to the side, with your feet pointing backwards.
The dress code at royally associated temples is strictly enforced and trousers or long sarongs are available to rent if tourists are dressed in shorts.
Monks are not supposed to touch or be touched by women. If a woman wants to hand something to a monk, the object should be placed within reach of the monk or on the monk’s ‘receiving cloth’ and not handed directly to him.
Since most temples are maintained from the donations received, when you visit a temple remember to make a contribution.
Social Conventions & Gestures
The traditional Thai greeting is with a prayerlike palms-together gesture known as a wâi. If someone shows you a wâi, you should return the gesture, unless the greeting comes from a child or a service person. Overusing the wâi or placing your hands too low in respect to your face trivialises a very intricate custom.
A smile and a cheery sà·wàt·dee kráp if you’re male or sà·wàt·dee kâ if you’re female (the all-purpose Thai greeting) goes a long way towards calming the initial trepidation that locals may feel upon seeing a foreigner.
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To be super polite, lower your head slightly when passing between two people having a conversation or when passing near a monk.
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In the more traditional parts of the country, it is not proper for members of the opposite sex to touch one another, either as lovers or as friends. Hand-holding is not acceptable behaviour outside of the major cities such as Bangkok. But same-sex touching is quite common and is typically a sign of friendship, not sexual attraction. Older Thai men might grab a younger man’s thigh in the same way that buddies slap each other on the back. Thai women are especially affectionate with female friends, often sitting close to one another or linking arms.
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Bring a gift if you’re invited to a Thai home. Something simple like fruit or beverages (eg beer, wine or Fanta, depending on the economic level) can be bought from the market.
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When hailing a bus or a taxi, Thais extend their arms slightly, with their hand below their waists and wave downward. In the West, we summons someone with a hand gesture that involves waving the hand with the palm towards our faces. In Thailand the same hand gesture is used only to call animals. People are assigned a slightly different gesture: the palm is turned away from the caller’s face.
When handing an object to another person or receiving something, the ultimate in polite behaviour is to extend the right hand out while the left hand gently grips the right elbow.
Dress & Hygiene
The Thais hold modesty in personal dress in high regard. Shorts above the knee, sleeveless shirts, tank tops (singlets) and other beach-style attire are not appropriate when you’re not at the beach or sporting events, or when you’re outside Bangkok. If you insist on wearing less, do it in Bangkok where international