Culture and Customs

So you’re thinking of going to Thailand and want the low down?  You are in for a rare treat to be able to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this exotic culture first hand.  Whether for business or pleasure, long stay or short visit, you will not want to leave Thailand when the …

In one of my recent articles, I talked about the Thai taboo of touching people’s heads, and today I want to talk about the complete opposite—the human foot. While the head is considered a sacred part of the human body, the foot is considered the dirtiest (as it probably is) and also the least sacred. …

My time in Thailand is coming to a close, and I’m not done writing about it by any means, but I do want to make it a point to cover some of the major “don’t do that’s” before I pack my bags and head out the door. After all, it’s often what we don’t know …

As the end of my long stay here in Thailand comes to an end (and I’m almost 100% sure it is not the last), I’m really coming to terms with the time that I’ve spent here. I feel a real sense of homesickness about leaving that I never really felt in America and still rarely …

I’m not so sure it’s possible for someone from the West to land in Thailand and not experience a bit of culture shock. They say this country is one of those places you either love or hate. To be honest, I haven’t met a whole lot of people who would choose the latter word to …

If there’s one thing that Thailand has achieved international acclaim for, this is a distinct cuisine. Known across the world for it’s spicy and all around strong flavors, many feel Thai food is one of the best in the world, and I’d have to agree on that front. But when you finally do step in …

When we think of Thai food, desserts are generally not one of the first things that come to mind, but you will be surprised at the wide array of delicious, dazzling-looking sweet dishes all across Thailand. Many may be a bit too sweet for the Western palate, but I highly encourage giving them a shot. …

I hope you never have to deal with the police in Thailand—or any country for that matter—but the reality is that in the course of life, things do happen. Things get stolen. Violence occurs in a pub or a club. We get pulled over. We witness an accident. Or maybe we are just stopped on …

I wrote some time ago about the political situation here in Thailand—well, actually, I haven’t covered the actual politics of the political situation, because frankly, I don’t think I know enough about it to comment and often Westerners who live here and voice opinions about the government can often be frowned upon. I can understand …

One of the most difficult things about staying in this country, or any poor country, are the beggars (or I suppose, to be more accurate, the poverty). You’ll find them trolling any of the tourist areas and even around the university bars here in Chiang Mai, going from bar to bar with their cups and …