Every nation and culture has its quirks and peculiar mannerisms – Thailand is not an exception. Our first trip there was exciting, we had done our research on the land of Smiles. However, the preparations could not protect us from our experiences in Thailand. In this post, we will be sharing some of the shocking experiences we and our destination-traveled friends had in Thailand.

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The nation of Thailand is a vacation hotspot for tourists. It is one Asian countries that was not colonized by Europeans. This has helped the people preserve their rich cultural heritage while accommodating the modern world. So, there will be some strange habits and cultural differences – that we will be discussing in this article. 

We will be revealing the :

• Surprising things in Thailand
•  Shocking habits of Thai folk
• Startling places in Thailand 
• Basic guidelines for everyone in Thailand

As we explore these sections, we will be providing juicy details about Thailand.

Surprising Things in Thailand

Hot!

Regardless of how prepared you are, the Thai heatwave will come as a shock to you. Since it is in the tropics, it has 3 seasons: cool, rainy and hot seasons. The hot spell begins in March(accompanied by wind) and ends in June. The rainy season which brings heavy downpours and can potentially cause flash floods – runs from June to October. While the cool period starts from November through to February. During the cool period, Thailand is hot for many tourists. So, ensure you pack light clothing for your vacation.

Bugs are edible!

Yes, you read correctly, insects are edible. On a leisure walk to the local market, you see stalls selling deep-fried insects to their excited customers. These vendors cover a wide range of six-legged creatures including Grasshoppers, Crickets, Scorpions, Cockroaches, Spiders, Water beetles, Silkworms, bamboo worms and many others. Silk and bamboo worms seem to have milky tastes; Crickets, grasshoppers and Scorpions are Crunchy. Crickets taste like popcorn and nuts but; ensure that the stinger of your Scorpion is absent before ingesting. Scorpion stingers are poisonous.

 With Thai folks increasing fascination with insects,  the bureau of non-communicable diseases has warned its citizens against eating domestic cockroaches. An expert from the bureau stated: “Domestic roaches are different from farm-groomed cockroaches”. Domestic cockroaches are infested with bacteria because of their diet and sewer habit; while their counterparts are carefully cultured by farm owners.

Different price-lists

Do not be surprised when you pay a higher fee than a citizen for using the same service. Thais have a penchant for making tourists pay higher rates for goods and services. This is not a bad thing because of the value of their currency. Bath (THB) has a lower value than the currencies of most developed currencies. So, leveraging on the exchange rate, the higher price can’t be considered a rip-off. This can only be an inconvenience; if you decide to reside there and earn according to their currency. Fortunately, you can always barter with them and reduce the price, if you are interested in the hassle.

Alcohol policy

The sale of alcohol may be supported in Thailand but; they actively promote and encourage responsible drinking. On certain days and hours, the sale of alcohol is banned in stores and some bars. In the late evenings, alcohol sales are restricted for tourist restaurants but prohibited in convenience stores. In 2017, the Prime minister stated that the sale of alcohol is banned on 5 religious days. This rule was to reduce the records of accidents in the nation.

Sugar Rush

It seems Thais coped with their alcohol restriction by increasing their love for sugar. Many street foods in Thailand have high sugar content. Most tourists are not aware of this fact because the sugar does not cover other flavours in the meals. 

Squat toilets

Public places in Thailand do not have flush toilets. So don’t look for a toilet seat in any of these establishments. Everyone squats to do their business and cleans up after themselves. You can get a toilet seat in your hotel room or when you get to your apartment.

Reverence for the Royal family

 The royal family is also well-respected by every citizen. Do not be surprised to see diverse pictures of him and the noble family – while you take a leisure stroll round the block. Different organisations use various depictions of him to improve customer awareness on the streets. The King has a Song dedicated to him, it plays at the beginning of every movie credit in the cinemas.

Criticism or ridicule against the royal house – will not be appreciated by your Thai friends. So, keep your thoughts and words to yourself.

Shocking habits of Thai folk

The people of Thailand have some habits that could be a cultural shock to you. Some habits are admirable and laudable; others could best be described as inconvenient acts. Whatever habits Thais exhibit, remember that when in Rome…

 Communal Dining

The Thai style of eating is both endearing and somewhat annoying. Several dishes containing the main course, sauces, herbs and other condiments of your choice are on the table. The occupants of the table, proceed to share this meal among themselves. When a group goes to the restaurant, everyone chooses the meal that should be ordered and shares it. There is no allowance for personal meals in Thailand culture.

No chopsticks

Thais eat their meals with forks and spoons ( unfortunately no knives). Chopsticks are reserved for noodles and sushi. The forks are to get the food into the spoon, while the spoon completes the rest. 

Intense Patriotism

All symbols of the nation are honored. Thailand’s national currency, Bath is not to be mishandled. The nation’s national anthem is regularly played at two intervals daily. At 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily, the anthem is played throughout the schools, via the media channels (TV and radio) and at every public location. Immediately the anthem starts playing, everyone respectfully stands in honor of the anthem. 

No shoes

It would seem like Thais are constantly fighting with their footwear. In various institutions around the country, shoes are not allowed. From the traditional temples to the spa houses, schools and even private homes – people remove their shoes at the entrance of institutes. So, wear appropriate foot coverings. We recommend that you wear cheap slippers or flip flops that you can wear and remove easily – when going to such places. Do not wear your recently bought Nike or loafers to these places because they may not be at the entrance when you return back.

Absent Pedestrian Crossing 

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If you wait for the vehicles and automobiles to stop before you cross the street in Thailand, you won’t accomplish any of your daily goals. You have to step into the hustle and bustle of the road and hope you arrive safely across the street. After a few successful attempts, you will become accustomed to this unusual occurrence.

Disturbing palate

Thai people have a strange pull towards raw food items. The contents of some of their favourite traditional meals are blood, meat, seafood and intestine. All the items mentioned, except some seafood, are served raw. Uncooked blood and other raw items are not healthy for human consumption because of bacteria infestation, but they love it. So, watch your tone and language when talking about their dishes.

Napkins?

Food vendors do not offer napkins to customers in Thailand. This is a common practice for street food. Instead of napkins, they place single sheets of tissue on the table. Thai people believe that once clothing is used: it is dirty. So, to avoid unnecessary waste, a single sheet of tissue should be utilised to wipe the stain.

 Astonishing places in Thailand

From the charming traditional north to the enchanting party-loving South of Thailand; certain places will give you a good shock. This could come from their appearance or the history behind them. 

Red Lotus Sea

 Nong Han kumphawapi is the official name of this tourist hotspot and, it is located in Northeast Thailand. Talay Bua Daeng, as it is fondly called by local is a tapestry of brightly coloured floweflowers. Its local name means Red lotus Sea. 

Local experts claim that these flowers are pink tropical water lilies, while the locals refer to the flowers as red lotus. Whatever, it is called; you can’t ignore the beauty of these vibrantly coloured flowers. To enjoy your excursion, visit the lake before tourist rush hour or on weekdays. The flowers bud from December through to February. 

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew

The temple of a million bottles is located in Northeast Thailand ( Sisaket province). This is an interesting temple made from over a million beer bottles by creative monks. Innovative monks cleverly constructed this temple to put the littered beer bottles to good use. They creatively achieved their goal in two years!

Wand Saen Suk Hell Garden

This is a graphical depiction of the tortures in Buddhist Hell for sinners. The Hell garden is located in the Chonburi province, some kilometres from Bangkok. Its creative representation of locally made artworks and carvings displaying Buddhist teachings is very engaging. The garden is a tourist spot for families – likely to dissuade children from bad behaviour.

 Siriraj medical museum

If you don’t have a tolerance for dead bodies and organs; we advise you to cross the museum out of your list. Welcome to the Siriraj museum where the new normal is: an exhibition of ”medical artworks’ ranging from the fascinating to the distasteful. The Museum of Death has rare ‘artworks’ like cancerous organs, a mummified serial killer, dissected nervous system and skeletal remains and many other ‘ natural artefacts’. This is the place for the curious but brave mind. 

Bua Tong

Located in the heart of the Mae Taeng National Forest Reserve is the Bua Tong waterfall. It is also known as the Sticky waterfall. The stones of the waterfall provide sufficient grip for its climbers- earning the waterfall, its sticky reputation. White ropes are on the site to help support your grip. As you climb, pay attention to the slippery green algae. 

Not far from the waterfall is the visually appealing Nam Phu Chet si spring. It is a gorgeous spring displaying various shades of blue because of its calcium carbonate content. 

If you are tired of the crowds at other tourist hubs, come take a walk through nature, climb the waterfall and see the spring among other thrilling activities. The Reserve is located in the North of Thailand, close to Chiang Mai.

Sanctuary of Truth

This museum comfortably sits on the beach of Ratchavete Cape in Pattaya. It is a culmination of Buddhism, Thai folklore and art. Tenaciously carved from Wood, this museum was unfortunately not completed but has served as a cultural edifice. The building bears carved images and tales culled from philosophy and religion.

Basic Guidelines for Everyone in Thailand

Every culture has its set of norms that guides daily living and interaction. While visiting this beautiful country, you need to be aware of some standards. These rules will help you avoid cultural blunders and offences. Let’s take a look at these rules. 

Do not gamble, put your stakes on the horse racing lottery.

No vaping (use of non-combustible cigarettes), smoke only in designated spots.

Dress lightly but modestly; do not reveal parts of your body ( i.e. from shoulders to knees)  in public places.

Do not touch someone’s head. It is a sign of disrespect.

Do not point with your feet or sit with the soles of your feet directed towards someone. Use your hands.

Don’t rest your feet on the furniture.

End Credits

The country of Thailand has many appreciative features and qualities that caused us to wonder. It is an enchanting place with conservative people – but this enhances its beauty. A lot of things shocked us on our visit to Thailand. Hence, to adequately answer the question of this post, we had to write about everything that surprised and marvelled us. I hope this article was enlightening? 

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