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Thailand is Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred.
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Sacrilegious Acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign visitors.
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Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence, and so won’t tolerate foreigners talking about them in disrespect.
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Generally Thai women are conservative. So don’t touch them without their consent.
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Dress properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Mini skirts and shorts are not allowed. Take your shoes off before going inside the hall of worship. Ladies must not on any account touch a Buddhist monk, give things direct to him or receive things direct from him.
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Intimacies between man and woman should not be shown in public. Sunbathing in the nude is prohibited.
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Call Thais their first names: use the title “Khun” for adults.
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Thai people smile to express gladness and happiness, to thank for small services, to return the wai (a way of greeting) of children and inferior persons, and event to excuse small inconveniences.
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Don’t touch a person’s head, nor ruffle his hair. The head is the noblest part of the body. A sincere apology should be offered immediately if you touch someone’s head unintentionally.
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Avoid placing your feet on the table while sitting. Never use your foot to point things out or to touch any part of the body of anyone, which is considered rude. Entering a Thai house, you’re expected to remove your shoes.
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| Customs Regulation |
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Exports of Buddha images (except small ones carried on person), antiques and genuine works of art require export license from the Fine Arts Department. The shop you deal with can provide such service for you.
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Foreign tourists are allowed to take out gold ornaments free. But import and export of gold other than jewelry are subject to licensing; by the Ministry of Finance.
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It is prohibited by law to bring any of the following items into Thailand:
- Narcotics (e.g., marijuana, hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin)
- Obscene literature or pictures
- Firearms or ammunition – unless a permit has been obtained from the Police Department or the local Registration office.
- Piranha and certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants. (Contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division, Bangkhen, and Bangkok for details.)
- One still camera with 5 rolls of unused film, one movie camera with 3 rolls of unused film and used household effects may be brought in free of duty.
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| Dining |
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Most Thai food is already cut into small pieces before serving or made soft enough to be cut with spoon or fork;’ thus, a knife is unnecessary.
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Saltshakers are rarely found on Thai dinner tables, so add a little caramel-color fish-sauce (called nam-pla in Thai) instead, if you find your food not salty enough.
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English is spoken in large restaurants in tourist provinces; and most establishments have menus in Thai and English, except street-side food stalls and some small restaurant.
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Beckon waiters with a wave of a hand. Don’t clap, snap fingers or hiss.
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Normally, a tip of 10-20 Baht or 5-10% of the bill should be left when dining in a middle or high-class restaurant.
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| Shopping |
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Bargaining is an art long practiced in Asian countries including Thailand. So feel free to ask for a proper discount when shopping in places where prices are not marked.
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Be careful in dealing with sidewalk vendors who may not offer genuine goods at fair prices.
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Receipts should be obtained for the goods you buy. For jewelry you must get a certificate for guarantee as well.
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Some shops can offer a money-back guarantee but you should clearly determine all conditions with the shopkeeper beforehand.
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| Miscellany |
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Clothing- Thin cotton is the best. A jacket or pullover may be necessary in the cool season, especially when you are in mountainous areas in the North or Northeast.
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Electricity – 220 v 50 cycles throughout the country.
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Measurement of area – Thailand has its own system of area measurement. The basic units are square wa (=4sq.m.) and rai (=400sq.wa or 1,600 sq.m. or 0.16 hectare).
* DON’T take any food, drinks, or candies offered by a stranger or a taxi driver.
* DON’T accept any complimentary tour offered by a stranger. Reliable tourist information and safe tours should be provided by a tour agency that has a travel license. |
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