The land of smiles and eternal spring is a favorite resting place and even wintering places for Russians. Indeed, the traditions of Thailand prescribe to smile and enjoy life, and the local climate does not give winter a chance to even try its hand at sunny Thai beaches.
Buddha and King
The two main shrines for any Thai are religion and the royal family. For Europeans who are here for the first time, some of the traditions of Thailand associated with Buddhism and the royal surname may seem strange, but their respect will help make your stay in the country comfortable and safe:
- You should not joke about the king and his family or criticize the monarch. For Thais, the king is a respected and inviolable person, and therefore one should only speak of him with reverence. Be prepared for the fact that even in the cinema, before the start of the show, videos about the monarch are shown here and the national anthem is certainly performed.
- Once in front of the entrance to the temple, you should leave your shoes here and cover your knees and shoulders. Men do not need to take off their headwear, but socks are desirable. It is important not to point your feet in the direction of the Buddha statue, not to make noise, not to draw attention to yourself. It is supposed to take pictures only after receiving permission from the minister of the temple, and it is strictly forbidden to climb religious shrines in search of a better angle.
- Any donation or item that the woman wishes to give to the monk must be given to the mediator. The fair sex is not allowed to communicate directly with the ministers of the temples.
- The head, according to the traditions of Thailand, is considered the container of the spirit. That is why touching it is prohibited here. You can express delight with a small child with a kind smile, but by stroking the baby on the head, you run the risk of angering his parents.
Wednesday is a hard day
Observing some of the calendar traditions in Thailand may seem unusual to a European. For example, the Wednesday rule against starting any important business in the middle of the week. Wednesday is considered a difficult day, and even a simple haircut, a Thai fashionista on this day will not dare to sign up.
On Wednesdays, shopping centers, cinemas are relatively empty, and markets are not open everywhere.
What are they, Thais?
The traditions of Thailand and the customs of its inhabitants are of great interest to tourists. Thais do not tolerate an imperative tone and waving hands, and such behavior can provoke conflict, especially with males.
In controversial situations, the police should be called for help, especially since representatives of the law are quite loyal to tourists here. But violation of traffic rules will be punished to the fullest extent. In such situations, the hospitable traditions of Thailand do not work, which means that you should follow the traffic laws when renting a car or moped.
