Joanna James
When it comes to Thai culture, the first thing you need to remember is that it might be a little out of the ordinary, but at the same time, you will find it fascinating – this is the very reason why lots of people find Thai culture to be so alluring.
Thai culture evolves around its official religion Buddhism – over 90% of the population are Buddhists with minorities such as 5% of Islam adherents, 1.2% of Christians and 0.8% of other religious beliefs.
Buddhism is the main religion – to be specific, Theravada Buddhism – their practices are somewhat influenced by Chinese and Hindu customs.
Like many other Asian countries, in Thailand, people place great emphasis on their close knitted families. You might be surprised to find the number of members a family has. They have many cousins whom they call brothers and sisters as they don't have a different word for cousins. It is completely ordinary for them live with their parents even after they come of age. Usually the young take care of the elderly by financially supporting them and helping around in the house with chores.
In case you visit a Thai home with gifts, it is more than likely that these gifts are kept aside unopened. Thai people consider it a bit impolite to tear open the package and see what's inside in front of the guests. So, they are likely to wait for you to leave to open the gifts they have received.
Thailand is often called the land of smiles – as the name suggests, they tend to smile a lot. The general idea you get when someone smiles at you in other parts of the world is not valid here. A Thai smile can mean more than one thing. They wear a smile always – though on some occasions smiling is a way of disguising their true feeling. This by no means implies that they are not welcoming – in fact, Thai people are very warm and hospitable.
The internationally famous Thai cuisine is influenced by Chinese cooking styles and can be enjoyed at luxury hotels and resorts or any other type of restaurant. It is so popular around the world, at most of the restaurants in other countries you get the option to enjoy Thai cuisine. If you drop in at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas – you can treat yourself to a traditional Thai meal with a fusion of rice, vegetables & meats with a variety of spices added to enhance the flavour.
While on a bus, if you see someone get up from their seat in the presence of a monk and offer it to the monk, don't be surprised – it is one of the customs in Thailand as they hold monks in high regard. Be careful as to how you speak to a monk or how you behave around them – you might accidentally offend those around you.
When engaged in a conversation, try not to be too loud or raise your voice as they find it to be a bit offensive.
make sure you always take your shoes off before entering. Also, do not stand on the threshold, but rather step over it. Getting a few minutes late doesn't give offence – but try to arrive a bit earlier than the agreed time and do not touch the kids on their head!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
