It will be useful for a tourist going on a trip to learn the rules adopted on the island of Phuket. This is part of a Buddhist country, so sometimes there may be laws that are very peculiar for a European person.
For example, Thais are very sensitive to the personal space of another person. Violating other people's boundaries or deliberately drawing another into yours is not accepted. This applies to both the physical and emotional spheres:
- They keep their distance in the queue and don't trample on other people's feet on the bus.
- Hugging, kissing, talking loudly, swearing in a decent society is a taboo.
- If someone has negative feelings, they hide them with a smile.
Long live the king!
A lot has been said about respect for the king and the Royal family. To treat the king, the Buddhist faith and culture with respect is the law, the obvious fact and the norm of life. This rule is mandatory for everyone who is in Thailand.
This advice is obvious to anyone who has even casually got acquainted with local culture. For disrespect for the monarch here, people will not just look down their nose at them. There is a prison term for this.
Table etiquette
It seems that everyone eats with chopsticks in Asia. But according to etiquette, this is not the case. The main cutlery are a spoon and a fork. It is customary to place a spoon in the right hand, and the fork in the left one. Absolutely all dishes are eaten with a spoon, even soup and noodles. And the fork is used as an auxiliary technique, they pick up food with it to send it to a spoon. And the side of it divides the dish into parts.
Who pays and how?
If the meal takes place in a café or restaurant, then the inviter pays. In addition, it is a person with a higher status and financial position who most often pays the bill. If a person refuses to give money, he loses respect. This tradition is often used as a manipulation to show the partner's trustworthiness.
In some restaurants, the tip is included in the bill. Although it is not considered acceptable in the Kingdom to leave a thank you to a waiter, there are a lot of foreigners in Phuket who like to leave a tip. Usually they leave twenty baht.
Particular attention is paid to change. It must be taken from hand to hand, and not put in a special plate. Usually they take a bill and put a trifle on it. If you put money on the counter or on the table, it will look bewildered in the eyes of the Thais.
In monasteries and temples
To visit a religious site, you need to take care of your appearance. It is unacceptable to bare shoulders, knees. Shorts should be replaced with long clothes. Nearby enterprising merchants often sell pareos or trousers.
When entering the cult premises, shoes should be taken off. The legs are an unclean area of the body and are not shown. The feet should be hidden when sitting.
Do not carry sand into the house
When visiting a house, take off your shoes. Russians are not surprised by such rules for resting in Phuket. It is also not customary for locals to make sounds with high heels in the house. But it may seem strange to have to take off your shoes in the office, store, spa or pharmacy.
In many ways, this law is due to the huge amount of sand that can get into the room. Large spaces are hard to clean.
Don't forget to say goodbye
There is a traditional bow with palms folded in front of you. This gesture is called wai. Locals use it, but it is not mandatory for a tourist. The island is a resort area, so the manners of Europeans are tolerated. But, if you still want to answer “wai” “vaem”, you need to do it right:
- Elbows are pressed tightly to the sides.
- The palms are folded in front of a boat as if in prayer.
- Tilt your head forward, but do not bend the lower back too much.
- To say goodbye to a respected person (elderly, higher in status), touch your nose with your fingers.
- When praying, the fingers touch the forehead.
- By touching the chin or lips, they show respect in everyday life, when communicating with a waiter, friend, neighbor.
They greet and say goodbye, ask and express gratitude and show goodwill with a gesture. The one who shows respect bows first. If communication occurs with a monk, the parishioner does first. In a café, the chef can thank the guest.
Good mood is our everything
The rules of rest and life in Phuket oblige to smile. Many foreigners wonder, are Thais always like this? Or just vacationers. This is partly true. A smile is like a greeting. It is used when coming to work, meeting a friend or visiting a store. Of course, they don't always use it. Like all people, Thais have troubles. But even a Thai is not in the mood, if he meets someone's eyes, he will definitely smile. Otherwise, you might think that a terrible misfortune has happened, because the people of Thailand try to see the positive even in the most difficult cases. And they wish you did the same.
