• THAI TRANSSEXUALS
• THAI LADIES
• THAI CULTURE ON RESPECT
• THAI DRESSES AT WORK
• THAI FOOD - Tom Yam
• THAI FESTIVALS
• THAI FUNERALS for Thai Chinese & Thai
• COMMON THAI LANGUAGES
• APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN THAILAND (EG.Home, Temple, Public)
• A THAI MTV (LINK TO youtube)

Red stripes represent the blood spilt to maintain Thailand's independence.

White stands for purity and is the colour of Buddhism which is the country's main religion.

Blue is Thailand's national colour and it represents the Thai monarchy. The blue is also used to honour Thailand's World War I allies, Great Britain, France, United States and Russia, who all had red, white and blue flags

The flag of Thailand consists of five horizontal stripes. The top and bottom are equal-sized red stripes, the middle stripe is blue which is lined above and below by equal-sized white stripes. The blue stripe is double the size of the other four.

LAND

Thailand is often considered the heart of mainland Southeast Asia. It is the third largest country in the region, behind Indonesia and Myanmar.

The total land area of the country is 513,118km².

Geographical and climatic differences divide Thailand into four district regions: the central plain, the north, the northeast, and the south.

CULTURE - WAI

A very important part of Thai culture is the wai, a gesture used to show respect to those older or in positions of power. It is a slight bow of the head accompanied by pressing the palms of the hands together and raising them in front of the chin. Instead of shaking hands, Thai people wai when meeting or saying good-bye. Children wai to parents and grandparents. It is rude to forget wai.

Homosexuality is accepted in Thailand. Thai believes it’s more acceptable for people of the same gender to show affection towards each other than people of the opposite gender, but only in a friendly, non-overtly sexual way. This denotes a friendship rather than a relationship. Along the road, it’s common to see male and male, female and female holding each others’ hands.

Lady boy (Transsexual)

Thailand’s first sex change surgery was performed in 1972 and the country now hosts more of these procedures per year than any other country in the world. Estimates on the current number of Thai transsexuals range from 10,000 to 100,000. On the surface, Thailand appears to live up to its worldwide reputation as a place where transsexuals can experience greater freedom and acceptance than other nations.

Transsexual

Thailand is estimated 95% Buddhist and as such, the issue of transsexuals in Thai society may be examined at through this lens. Unlike Christians, Buddhists cannot point to specific religious laws or teachings forbidding homosexuality, transsexuals or gay marriage. One of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism is tolerance of those who act differently or hold different views.

While the Buddhist focus on tolerance does in part shape Thai society’s tolerant view of transsexuals, the Buddhist principle of karma may provide an alternative explanation. The standard karmic tale is that transsexuals were formerly "playboys" in their former life and, as a result of breaking so many lovelorn hearts of women, were imposed the ultimate punishment: making them a woman trapped in a man's body, forever doomed to unrequited love. Therefore, they are a group to be pitied, not protected.

As far as the Thai government is concerned, male to female transsexuals are legally men.

Thai Transsexuals School Toilet

Can you tell which one is a girl?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBGepP_XYfc

In view of respect, the Thai people have the following ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts.

• Do Smile: For various reasons such as greetings
  


• Do Show respect to the King: National anthem is played twice a day. No insult or joke is allowed.
  


• Do show respect to the monk: It is considered inappropriate for women to touch the monk.
  


• Do not touch anyone on the head: The head is considered to be very sacred.
  


• Do not point your feet at anyone or anything
  


• Do not step over anyone

CULTURE - DRESSES

On business sector, men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits. Likewise, women should wear conservative business suits or dresses. Women need not wear hosiery. Since the Thais are judged by their clothing and accessories, they are required to keep their boots polished at all times. No wearing of shorts and tank tops to temple.

Loy Krathong (loy krah-tohng) is celebrated on the first full moon after the rice harvest, usually in November. This ceremony began hundreds of years ago. It was a part of the celebration to thank the water spirits for all the water they provided during the growing season. The word loy means “to float,” and the word krathong refers to a small raft. On the night of Loy Krathong, the rivers are full of rafts and colorful, candlelit banana-leaf bowls, floating under the moonlight.

Songkran

Songkran, or the Thai New Year, is celebrated from April 13 to April 15 throughout Thailand. It is the hottest time of the year. The word songkran comes from an ancient language called Sanskrit and refers to the beginning of a new solar year. On the eve Songkran, people clean their houses and burn all their trash to begin the New Year fresh and clean. During Songkran, Thai Buddhists visit temples to offer baskets of food and clothing to the monks.

Agricultural Festivals

Agricultural festivals are intended to ensure good harvests. In the Royal Plowing Ceremony in May, oxen plow a small area of the Royal Field to plant rice that has been blessed. The rice spirit is asked to bless the harvest. Another traditional planting festival is the Rocket Festival, celebrated in the northeast. Villagers try to call down the rains by firing rockets into the sky.

Thai women play significant social and economic roles in Thai society, not only as mothers and household managers but also as workers and small business owners in Thailand’s industrial sector. As Thailand becomes more modernized, many rural women are seeking new lives and employment in urban areas. The modernization and urbanization of lifestyles have caused tremendous changes in the structure of the traditional rural extended family.

Thai Lady

ABOUT THAI LADIES

• Thai ladies are usually shy and will have to know guys over time before they will become their girlfriend.

• Thai ladies are very sensitive to things that may affect their reputation and status, and are cautious.

• Most good Thai girls are virgins or have had very few and discrete sexual experiences with very few boyfriends they knew over time.

• Thai ladies are more sensitive to dress, cleanliness and appearance.

• Thai ladies maintain good temper, being polite and respectful at all times.

• Thai ladies are very sensitive to body languages.

• Most Thai girls don't want a playboy.

• Public displays of sexual affection are not acceptable in Thailand, although this may be changing with the younger generation in some areas. Thai people are extremely offended by public nudity, along with just about everyone else in the world. Thai people are modest in this respect and it should not be the visitor’s intention to ‘reform’ them. A polite man in Thailand will not touch a woman.
  

• The monarchy remains highly respected throughout Thailand and visitors to the country must be respectful also. Avoid disparaging remarks or jokes about the royal family; they will not be appreciated. All Thai people love their king, HM King Bhumibol; if you want to know why, ask them politely.
  

• Loud voices; pointing at people or things; throwing or dropping things; and making big hand gestures all seem graceless to the Thai sensibility. Preferred modes of comportment are those that reflect the quiet, subtle and indirect as opposed to the loud, obvious and direct.
  
  

DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR

• Shoes are not to be worn inside people’s houses, or in some guest houses and shops. If you are not sure, watch other people. A pile of shoes at the entrance is your clue to remove (socks are OK). To Thai people, wearing shoes indoors is disgusting.
  
  

• Show respect for religious symbols and rituals. Avoid touching spirit houses and household alters. Thai people, particularly those in rural areas, can be highly superstitious and may feel the need for lengthy ritual should you ‘contaminate’ their sacred areas.
  

EYE CONTACT

• Do not stare at Thai people. They may be smiling, but still do not look into their eyes too long. Particularly in rural areas young and old may react violently to such a gesture, which is considered a rude insult. During normal conversation most Thai people do not look directly at one another, and will avoid anything but the briefest eye-to-eye contact. Phu Nawy (‘little’ people) often keep their head bowed when conversing with Phu Yai (‘big’ people) as a sign of respect. As a foreigner it can be hard to know if you have a person’s attention. And it is difficult to hear what people are saying if they speak with their back to you.
  

THAILAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Hat Yai International Airport

Hat Yai Interntational Airport Located in Songkhla Province, popularly dubbed the trading center of the South, has played a key role in providing services to thousands of Muslims making the pilgrimage to Mecca each year.

Address:99 Moo 3, Klong Lah District, King Amphoe Hoi Kong, Songkhal Province 90115

Chiang Rai International Airport

Chiang Rai International Airport is another eminent international airport of the north. It spacious runway can accommodate wide bodied aircraft and the passenger terminal of 22,960 square metres can serve up to 1,240 passengers during peak hours, with the province's several potentialities no matter as a tourist resort but also as a joining spot of many neighbouring countries in the economic quadrangular zone.

Address:404 Moo 10, Tumbon Rim Kok Ban Du, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Rai Province 57000

Chiang Mai International Airport

Chiang Mai International Airport is the gateway to northern Thailand renowned for its breathtaking natural attractions and deep-rooted cultural traditions. Little wonder, the Airport has contributed greatly to tourism in the North over the year.

Address: 60 Mahidol Road, Suthep District, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai Province 50204

LANGUAGE

Thailand’s national language is called Thai. Scholars believe that Thai is form of Chinese that was gradually brought to the area between seventh and thirteenth centuries. Within Thailand, there are actually several government, schools, and the media is the language known as Central Thai. Central Thai was originally spoken by the people of Bangkok and the central plain. Having one official language enables people who otherwise use different ethnic languages to communicate with each other.

Basic Thai Languages

English /Thai

• Yes /chai or krap or ka


• No/ mai


• Please /ga-ru-nah


• I /pron(male) chan(female)

• You /khun
  
• He or she /kao


• It /man


• We /rao

Greetings

• Hello /sa-wat dee


• Nice to meet you /yin-dee tee dai roo-jak


• See you later /jer gan mai

Communication

• How are you? /sa-bai dee reu

• I am fine, thank you /sa bai dee korp khun

• How about You? /Laew khun la
  
• Sorry or Excuse me /kor toht

• Pardon me? /aria na
  
• Thank You /korp khun


• You’re welcome /mai bpen rai

• What is this called in Thai? /nee pah-sah tai riak wah arai

• What does that mean? /nan bplae wah arai
  
• Do you understand? /kao jai mai

• I don’t understand /mai kao jai

• How much is this? /an-nee tao rai

Most visitors to Thailand are greeted first by the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, the capital and largest city. Bangkok is the cultural, political, and economic center of Thailand.

Bangkok has a population of over 11 million people, and this number continues to increase as more people from rural areas come to Bangkok in search of work opportunities. The growth in population has resulted in congestion and overcrowded slum areas. Some sources estimate that roughly 1 million people live in slum conditions.

Bangkok used to be called “the Venice of the East” because its original buildings stood on stilts above the Chao Phraya River. A system of canals, on which people were ferried by boat taxis, crisscrossed the city. The canals also served as marketplaces, where merchants used small boats to peddle their goods throughout the city. As Bangkok grew larger, cars became more popular, and all but a few canals were filled and paved to make roads. However, one flourishing market still remains in Bangkok and is a popular tourist site. River taxis still carry passengers up and down the Chao Phraya River, which now runs through the heart of the city.

The increase in roads made by filling in the canals is still not enough to handle the increase in traffic that is accompanying the city’s population growth. Some sources doubt that the metro train system, which commenced in 1999, will improve the congestion. Bangkok has some of the worst traffic jams in 1995 during the Songkran public holiday, when, at its worst, it took drivers fourteen hours just to leave the city.

THAI FUNERAL - Chinese & Thai

In Tradition, Thai funeral lasts for a week. Crying is not encouraged at wake, so as not to worry the deceased. Monks are invited to chant prayers that are intended to provide merit for the deceased, as well as to provide protection against the possibility of the dead relative returning as a malicious spirit. A photo of the deceased from his/her best days will often be displayed next to the coffin. Often, a thread is connected to the corpse or coffin which is held by the chanting monks during their recitation; this thread is intended to transfer the merit of the monks' recitation to the deceased.The urn with the ash is often kept in the Chedi(temple) in the local temple. Unlike, the Chinese in Thailand buries the deceased.

THAI FOOD - TOM YUM