Visiting Thailand Local Traditions and Customs • Thailand is a Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred. Sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign visitors. • Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence, and so won't tolerate foreigners showing disrespect to them. • Generally Thai women are conservative. So don't touch them without their consent. • Dress properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Miniskirts 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. • Intimacies between man and woman should not be shown in public. Sunbathing in the nude is prohibited. • Call Thais their first names; use the title "Khun" for adults. • Normally, Thai people address others by their first names and with the title 'khun'. So don't be surprised if you are addressed as 'Khun Mary' or 'Khun John' instead of by your surname. • Traditionally, Thais greet each other with a wai (by pressing the palms together at the chest). If someone wai’s you, you should wai back (except wai-ed by a child). • Thai people smile to express gladness and happiness, to thank for small services, to return the wai of children and inferior persons, and even to excuse small inconveniences. • 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. • 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. Dining • Drink only bottled or boiled water. • You can find places to eat 24 hours a day, but better avoid sidewalk stalls where, though food is cheap and palatable, hygienic conditions may not be up to standard. • Most Thai food is already cut into small pieces before serving or made soft enough to be cut with a spoon or fork; thus, a knife is unnecessary. • Saltshakers are rarely found on Thai dining tables, so add a little caramel-colour fish-sauce (called nam-pla in Thai) instead, if you find your food not salty enough. • English is spoken in large restaurants in tourist provinces and most establishments have menus in Thai and English. • Beckon waiters with a wave of a hand. Don't clap, snap fingers or hiss. Tipping Normally most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bills but a tip for waiters is appreciated. For porters, a tip of 20- 40 baht is acceptable. Shopping • Be careful with your bag and valuables while shopping in a crowded area. • After buying and before leaving the shop, check that the goods are the same that you bought. Some shops do not exchange or give refunds, and make sure you keep the receipts. • In the case that you have the shop send the goods by mail, ask for a receipt for sending the goods, so that you can be certain that there is an actual mailing service. • 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. • Be careful in dealing with sidewalk vendors who may not offer genuine goods at fair prices. • Souvenir stores in hotel arcades and department stores may ask for higher prices than general souvenir stores and street shops for they have to pay high rents. Yet these shops mostly offer high quality goods. • To shop gems, make sure that you shop from a specialist in that field instead of buying from a simple souvenir store. • Before making your decision to buy, especially precious objects, compare prices at several shops. • Receipts should be obtained for the goods you buy. For jewelry you must get a certificate of guarantee as well. • Some shops can offer a money-back guarantee but you should clearly determine all conditions with the shopkeeper beforehand. • Ask for a written agreement to full refund on any goods returned within 90 days. • Do not let a new acquaintance take you to shopping, for he or she is very likely to get a commission from the store. And the commission will be added to your payment. Traveling • Don't get involved with any kind of narcotic drugs, gambling, child prostitution or other illegal activities that violate the law. • Don't walk in isolated places. • Strictly observe the warning signs at tourist attractions. Don't violate the law, as this may result in severe consequences. • Be careful with your bags and valuables when travelling. Don't leave them unattended. • Don't accept any complimentary tour offered by a stranger. Reliable tourist information and safe tours are only provided by a tour agency with a license. • Before using any service, check the information before making a final decision and keep all the important related documents in case a problem should arise after using the service. • Don't take any foods, drinks, or candies offered by a stranger. • Don't spit saliva or phlegm, discard cigarette stubs, or throw away any garbage in public areas, on the streets, or on the ground. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of 2,000 baht. About Wildlife & Environment • As the environment has become more polluted and many wildlife species have become extinct, or are in danger of extinction, partly due to the development of tourism, visitors are requested to help keep the environment clean and protect wild animals for the benefit of the later generations. • Styrofoam and other types of plastics thrown into the sea or discarded in the forest are harmful or even deadly to animals. • Never buy and keep wild animals as pets in which condition they are never meant to be. Never purchase any product or souvenir made from wild animals or their organs. • Avoid patronizing restaurants that serve food consisting of any wild animals. It is against the law to slaughter wildlife for food in Thailand. ________________________________________________________