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Thailand is a rather liberal country and Thai
people are very accepting of the differences
in the behaviour of foreigners. Generally, the
need to save face means that Thai people will
not draw attention to it if you have made a
mistake or comment if you have offended them,
so it is up to you to be aware of expectations.
However, there are a few things which are guaranteed
to cause offence and should be avoided when
possible.
The Monarchy
All Thai people think very highly of the royal
family and will not permit criticism. In fact,
Thailand's lese majeste laws mean that criticising
the king can result in 7 years imprisonment,
which applies to both Thais and foreigners.
Pictures of the king should also be treated
with respect and if placed on the wall - as
they are in most homes and businesses - must
hold pride of place. Defiling a picture of the
king also carries a serious penalty, as a tourist
in Chiang Mai discovered when he drunkenly drew
a moustache on an image of the king. He was
sentenced to 50 years imprisonment, but was
later pardoned by the king and released.
Religion
Always dress 'politely' when entering a temple
or religious shrine. Many temples require you
to cover your knees and shoulders and it is
very important to remember to remove your shoes.
Shoes should also be removed when entering private
homes and some shops.
Buddha Images
Buddha images are sacred and must be treated
with respect. Never climb on a Buddha image,
and be very careful about taking photos - some
images are so sacred that photographs are forbidden.
When sitting on the floor, you must be careful
not to point your feet at a Buddha image. Sit
with your legs crossed or with your feet tucked
to the side, the soles pointing backwards.
Monks
Women must be careful not to touch monks as they
are forbidden female contact. If a woman wants
to give something to a monk it must first be given
to another man or put on a piece of cloth. Often,
special seats are allocated on public transport
for monks only, be careful to avoid them and give
up your seat for a monk if there are none available.
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