McDuck 0 #1 December 2, 2003 Being that I'm bound and determined not to wind up in the real-life sequal to Brokedown Palace, I called to ask about any particularly important customs and courtesies that will keep me out of a Thai prison when I go to the boogie there in March. Regardless of the fact that I'm a full two feet taller than most Thai natives, I'm certain that the potential to be someone's big American bitch warrants a closer attention to detail while I'm visiting. According to my source, you never touch the natives on their head, and you never show the soles of your feet. So, as long as I punch them in the satchel in a fight, I'm in the clear? Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #2 December 2, 2003 There's some deal with sacred monkeys I heard a story about once. Bottom line...stay away from the monkeys. This might help... http://travel.state.gov/thailand.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #3 December 2, 2003 QuoteThere's some deal with sacred monkeys I heard a story about once. Bottom line...stay away from the monkeys. No carousing with other jumpers then? Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #4 December 2, 2003 That...and of particular note.... it is a criminal offense to make negative comments about the King or other members of the royal family. Thais hold the King in the highest regard, and it is a serious crime to make critical or defamatory comments about him. This particular crime, dubbed “lese majeste”, is punishable by a prison sentence of three to fifteen years. Purposely tearing or destroying Thai bank notes, which carry an image of the King, may be considered such an offense. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcrocker 0 #5 December 2, 2003 QuoteThere's some deal with sacred monkeys I heard a story about once. Bottom line...stay away from the monkeys. This might help... http://travel.state.gov/thailand.html Section from the above URL In this connection, it is a criminal offense to make negative comments about the King or other members of the royal family. Thais hold the King in the highest regard, and it is a serious crime to make critical or defamatory comments about him. This particular crime, dubbed “lese majeste”, is punishable by a prison sentence of three to fifteen years. Purposely tearing or destroying Thai bank notes, which carry an image of the King, may be considered such an offense. So, I guess pissing on the palace steps is out of the question. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZoneRat 0 #6 December 2, 2003 I spent a week or two there about 6 years ago. Loved it and would love to go back! Spent a couple days in Bangkok and the rest in Phuket. Bankok traffic is INSANE! Motorcycles and Tuk-Tuks everywhere! I was told that if a driver killes a motorcyclist he gets fined. Not imprisoned. Fined. ( I got the feeling it happened a lot). ______ My favorite memory from Thailand: The worlds largest statue of a reclining Budha is there. Check it out if you have a chance. It's near the Royal Palace. It's in this room, barely large enough to house it. Very echoey... much incense and lotus blossoms... lining the room are small metal urns. People walk slowly by the urns, murmering a prayer and dropping a little half-penny into each one. The sound of all those murmers and chinks of coinage start to layer and build on one another making a very interesting sound. Combined with the incense and huge gold Budha, it makes for a very very surreal experience. ________ Thai people struck me as a very easy goin', joyful people. Food's great. Try not to accidently refer to them as Taiwaneese. Easy to do after a few beers, lol. The Thai people won't care, but your friends will laugh at you. Mine did. lol. No worries. Don't be a total fool and you wont have any problems whatsoever. The Lonely Planet travel guides are excellent, btw, and can give you all the info you need on customs and sights, restaurants, hotels and pitfalls for the unwary traveller. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ ________ One last thought: I'm not a pot smoker (I have no moral problems with it, just not my cup of tea), but if I were, the LAST PLACE I'd do it (or hang about with others that were doing it) would be in a foreign country... Have fun, McDuck! I'm jealous.“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #7 December 2, 2003 Well, I'm not a pot smoker either, so no worries there. Even if I DID think smoking pot was for me, I certainly wouldn't want to get busted in a foreign country for something like that. I'm looking forward to everything about this visit, but I'm now psyched about seeing the Budha statue. Your description of it, as well as the ambience, makes for an intriguing visual. I can't wait! Edited to add: Thanks dude! I'm sure I'll have an AWESOME time. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MyOwnWay 0 #8 December 2, 2003 and of course you're going to post pictures. right!? _________________________________________ all good things are wild and free - Henry David Thoreau Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #9 December 2, 2003 Quotethe rest in Phuket. just how is this pronounced? I'd love to tell people I was from phuket... Man, what I wouldn't give for some good thai food right now. I'm jealous McDuck...... JumpScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #10 December 2, 2003 Quoteand of course you're going to post pictures. right!? Yeah, phuket. I'll post pictures. It's not about bragging, it's about SHARING. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #11 December 2, 2003 QuoteMan, what I wouldn't give for some good thai food right now. I'm jealous McDuck...... Well, when two people I'm excited to see visit in the near future, we can all go eat at the Bangkok restaurant in the nearby town. Will that suffice for now? Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #12 December 2, 2003 Drink lots of Singhi beer, yummy. DO NOT drink Leaping Fawn whiskey, arrrgh.The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MyOwnWay 0 #13 December 2, 2003 QuoteWell, when two people I'm excited to see visit in the near future, we can all go eat at the Bangkok restaurant in the nearby town. Will that suffice for now? *drooling* uh, that sounds sooo good right now. i guess anything would sound good compared to eating imitation rice chex for a month!_________________________________________ all good things are wild and free - Henry David Thoreau Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craichead 0 #14 December 2, 2003 You silly white people. I'm Thai-American and even though I grew up mostly American, I have all of the cultural practices ingrained in me. Both my parents are Thai, but I was born in Kansas and raised in Tennessee. How's that for a combination?! What you heard about feet and heads is sorta right. It's especially disrespectful to touch your elders on the head. If you're close friends with someone or if they're little kids, you can touch their heads, but it's still kind of frowned upon. Feet are considered to be the lowest and dirtiest part of your body, therefore it is extremely disrespectful if you point your feet at anybody or anything. Do not EVER step over anybody (like if they're sitting on the floor, which is not uncommon). If you have to walk between two people, bend at the waist and lower your head to lower your stature. It's all about respect, and you'll find that in most Asian countries. When visiting temples, don't wear shorts, and take off your shoes before you go in (there will be several signs for this and shoe racks available, anyway). And when going through the door, don't step on the doorframe, step over it. I have no idea where this came from, but that's what I was told as a kid. Yeah, we love our king. Don't dis him. Even I love the Thai king, and I grew up here. He's a super neat and smart guy who went to Harvard, composes jazz, and is big into social welfare projects. Phuket. Pooh-ket. The "k" sound is actually closer to a "g" sound, but I won't get into that. I was trying to teach AndyMan some Thai words last night, and I gave up because there are certain sounds in the Thai language that American English speakers can't produce. If I think of anything else, I'll post again. Enjoy your travels! I'm jealous! I haven't been back in about 4-5 years. _Pm Edited for minor mistakes...__ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MyOwnWay 0 #15 December 2, 2003 Quote Both my parents are Thai, but I was born in Kansas and raised in Tennessee. where at in kansas??_________________________________________ all good things are wild and free - Henry David Thoreau Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craichead 0 #16 December 2, 2003 Quotewhere at in kansas?? Newton, KS! Then we lived in Wichita for about a year. After that, we moved to Knoxville, TN when I was five. Now I'm in Chicago...the wanderlust is strong. Next on the list is Toronto, I think. _Pm__ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #17 December 2, 2003 Quote You silly white people. there are certain sounds in the English language that American English speakers can't produce. If I think of anything else, I'll post again. Enjoy your travels! I'm jealous! I haven't been back in about 4-5 years. I'm silly about it here so that I WON'T be silly about things THERE. My beloved is from the Philippines originally, and she's been teaching me the Bicol dialect, as well as Tagalog. We CAN pronounce those words and letter combination sounds, but we just need to practice and be open to criticism. Thanks for the tips on visiting the temples. I'll have to get some of those light cotton pants, as I'm not fond of long pants, and would have blundered into a temple with my Sasquatch legs showing. Thanks for the tips, Craichead. I'm not prone to acting like an ass outside of areas I'm completely familiar with, and this is especially true of foreign countries. Thank you so much for helping me out in this endeavor. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craichead 0 #18 December 2, 2003 QuoteThanks for the tips, Craichead. I'm not prone to acting like an ass outside of areas I'm completely familiar with, and this is especially true of foreign countries. Thank you so much for helping me out in this endeavor. No problem! I trust most American travelers not to act like asses...I think a few spoil it for the rest of America. Guilty by association, as it were. Oh...bring lots of Immodium AD. Don't drink the water. Fresh fruits opened right in front of you, eaten straight from the peel or shell are generally safe. Have you been to the Philippines? I'm sure a lot of the same basic travel rules for foods apply... (Did I mention how jealous I am? I'm drooling just thinking about the food...) And mosquito repellent...somehow any kind of repellent never seems to help me, but it can't hurt. I always return with large welts on my arms and legs, but that might be because I usually go in the rainy season, and I stay in my father's hometown on an orchard. _Pm__ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #19 December 3, 2003 Mmmmmm....Pad Thai. Fresh, no less! I have yet to go to the Philippines with her, but that's our next stop. In fact, we're trying to find a way to make a side trip after Thailand to visit her family in the Philippines. We'll see how that goes. Everyone we've met who are visiting America from Asian countries mentions that I will do just fine. I tend to be more polite and considerate than most average Americans. Oh, and Cora's in for a world of hurt if the mosquitos are as nuclear as you portray them. One little bite on her skin and she gets a reaction that makes a welt about the size of a quarter. As bad as it is for us, perhaps we'll bathe in DEET. I hear garlic and vitamin B built up in your system helps with that. No tap water, huh? Hopefully they've got some decent bottled sodas or water. I imagine I'll sweat half my body weight in the first two days there. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #20 December 3, 2003 Quote I imagine I'll sweat half my body weight in the first two days there. oh that was exactly the mental image I wanted to eat my PB&J too....sheesh. JumpScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDuck 0 #21 December 3, 2003 Quoteoh that was exactly the mental image I wanted to eat my PB&J too....sheesh. Mmmm, sweat-soaked PB&J. Tastes like salt. Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28 "I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluefingers 0 #22 December 3, 2003 this site was pretty useful http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/thailand_customs.html Kerry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
