Thailand - etiquette and behaviour, or Thai savoir-vivre
Thailand is a friendly and tolerant country. Thais are pleasant and polite. All the more reason, then, to make sure we follow a few rules of savoir-vivre so as not to offend Thais with inappropriate behaviour or come across as boorish. Some of the rules you should observe may surprise you.
The Buddha
All images of the Buddha are sacred. Getting a tattoo of the Buddha is unacceptable, and using his image to decorate, say, bars is inappropriate. In general, you must not look down on an image of the Buddha. The Buddha should always be placed higher than you are. In most places this is no problem, but tourists face an interesting challenge in Thailand's old capital, Ayutthaya, 80 km north of Bangkok. There you will find a strange figure of the Buddha overgrown by the branches of a tree. It is, quite literally, a dozen or so centimetres above the ground. To show due respect, you would have to take photos lying down... fortunately, this is not enforced.
The King
The recently deceased King Rama IX enjoyed exceptional respect among Thais. Criticising or defaming the royal family could deeply hurt Thai feelings. The current king faces a difficult task in living up to his predecessor's image. His hedonistic lifestyle, divorces and lack of interest in the situation in his own country (he lived in Germany) have been widely and negatively commented on. Nevertheless, everything connected with the royal family should be treated with respect. This applies to banknotes and postage stamps, as well as the images of the king found all over the country on posters or special structures over roads and at major junctions.
Feet
Feet are considered an unclean part of the body. You should not point your feet at anyone, and this also applies, perhaps above all, to statues of the Buddha in temples. That is why, when sitting in a temple, you should keep your legs tucked under you. Interestingly, feet are so unclean that you should not step over anyone's clothes or luggage (on crowded public transport, for example).
Watch on YouTubeThe Head
Thais smile a lot, and Thai children are cheerful and playful. You may often find yourself surrounded by a little crowd of children. Your natural reflex may be to pat them on the head. Refrain from doing so. The head is a sacred part of the body and you should not touch anyone's head, not even a child's.
Shoes
You must take your shoes off before entering a temple. That shouldn't come as a shock, but taking them off before entering a shop or restaurant is surprising. These shops are not in the league of London's Harrods, and the restaurants don't have several Michelin stars: they are ordinary little shops and eateries in tourist towns. That said, the requirement is enforced less and less often. It is still polite, though, to ask before going in (or indicate with a gesture) whether you can keep your shoes on. In Chiang Mai I had to part with my sandals in a rather unusual place. It was in... a public toilet, where you had to swap your own footwear for specially provided flip-flops.
Durian
Durian is a large, rounded, greenish fruit covered in a hard shell with conical spikes. It tastes like banana custard with a slight hint of onion. That is not the problem. The problem is the smell, which reminds everyone of something different: to some it stinks of rotting meat, to others of old socks, and at best of blue cheese. It is a great delicacy, but one you are not allowed to eat in hotels or on public transport precisely because of the smell it gives off. But you absolutely have to try it!
