theRascalKing Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 To all the farang who have visited Thailand ... What were some of the biggest misconceptions you had about Thailand? Only to have them shattered once you got there? I have read a lot about Thailand and I realize real life does not equal books. Books tend to glamorize or put certain aspects under a microscope causing the the reader to have distorted ideas. To the Thai folk ... what misconceptions about Thailand by farang piss you off the most? Which do you hear most? I think the whole misconception of"All Thai ladies are bar girls." goes without saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afook06 Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Never had any.....my friend in Thailand said, come you will love Thailand, and I did. I never read any books about it, except for a few Thai language books, gave up on that a long time ago The life there is very interesting. The local people there are mostly kind and friendly. The Thai ladies are very beautiful. The history and culture is like a fairy tale, hard to really grasp, but all true. Living costs and good food is very inexpensive compared to other countries, don't care about their political issues, as long as I'm free to come and go. The people love their King, and I have deep respect for him too. The only misconception that I've had, is with TF's, but that's another story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bah_eddie Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Yeah I agree with you on that all the way Afook TF Use to be a Misconception I was scared to go to a TF party at first I heard some misleading stories. but people here are funny and nice in person, can't go by what others say, have to experience everything for yourself to judge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave40 Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Someone told me it was cold!!! :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valetudo Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Never had any.....my friend in Thailand said, come you will love Thailand, and I did. I never read any books about it, except for a few Thai language books, gave up on that a long time ago The life there is very interesting. The local people there are mostly kind and friendly. The Thai ladies are very beautiful. The history and culture is like a fairy tale, hard to really grasp, but all true. Living costs and good food is very inexpensive compared to other countries, don't care about their political issues, as long as I'm free to come and go. The people love their King, and I have deep respect for him too.The only misconception that I've had, is with TF's, but that's another story. To anyone who's never been to Thailand, the above may lead you to quite a few misconceptions (nothing personal though) Some of those are very funny, the thai tuk tuk guys being robbin lizards seemed accurate as for chaep, only if you wanna be keenok - life being interesting, well it depends on what you're into, for me over the long term in the middle of nowhere I found it rather boring, and quite a few Thais agreed (in silence, as they prefer to do) - living costs being lower, well if you plan to live like a low-class Thai then sure, eating sh*t in India is practically free too - local people being friendly, it depends on who you meet and what he or she needs from you, there's no average really, and the meaning of a smile would be the misconception numero uno - Thai ladies being beautiful, that's a very generous statement, some are yes but some are as ugly as anywhere else on this planet, maybe I should have kept going to bars to still believe in this beauty thing - history is a bit of a short story unless you're a Thai I suppose, then it takes 12 years to master and no free time for anything else - about the King there's no discussion in any case, so what's there to conclude So, writing all of the above I come to the conclusion that the legendary Thai smile is the most misunderstood thing of all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appreciate Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 For me the best way to avoid having too many misconceptions was to read and prepare my trip to Thailand the best I could. Still I was a bit surprised to see the level of development Thailand has reach. When compared to Lao or Cambodia, Thailand is economically doing quite well. I also soon realised that the " bar girl " thing is big indeed but its not everything. There is a lot more to Thailand then its "entertainment" industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 I remember reading somewhere that the Thai's have more than 20 different smiles for different situations - I'll try to to find and post. They had a Thai name for each smile.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grezzzy_greer Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 It is often said by farang that you can't trust a smile here...but the reality is that a farang smile can have many different meanings too, so lets not pick on the Thais for that. The reason they seem so difficult to understand is that the "smiler" comes from a different cultural background than you. They probably find farang smiles just as confusing to understand. When reading about a place, it is easy to be misled. By all means read, but read a wide selection...if you rally haven't time to do that, then just one simple piece of advice...use common sense...thats it...the number one rule of travel anywhere in the world. THINK about where you are and what situation you place yourself in...look at it from all angles and consider the locals as if they were you, and you were them...this is the most difficult bit of course. The biggest mistake most people make when travelling anywhere in Asia is to think that everywhere is less developed than where they come from - big mistake! Greer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_George Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 ....I think that Thailand is a country where stories and rumours get to your ears, and you presume that they are true. ....Most of my misconceptions were seeded by rumours and until you actually visit and experience first hand, then you will always not know the full story..despite tour book and what not, .....My biggest misconception was 'when I would leave' ...79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 I didnt really have any preconceptions, consequently I had no misconceptions. Except perhaps one... I never expected to be so overwhelmed with the feeling that Buddha is in the hearts of the people here. At first I thought this might be superficial or due to my misinterpretation, but the more time I've spent here, the more I've realised it's the single most important aspect of Thailand for me. A neverending source of wonder and wisdom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRISHCREAME Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 I didnt really have any preconceptions, consequently I had no misconceptions. Except perhaps one... I never expected to be so overwhelmed with the feeling that Buddha is in the hearts of the people here. At first I thought this might be superficial or due to my misinterpretation, but the more time I've spent here, the more I've realised it's the single most important aspect of Thailand for me. A neverending source of wonder and wisdom. Bless the Buddha in you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMG_UK Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 I didnt really have any preconceptions, consequently I had no misconceptions. Except perhaps one... I never expected to be so overwhelmed with the feeling that Buddha is in the hearts of the people here. At first I thought this might be superficial or due to my misinterpretation, but the more time I've spent here, the more I've realised it's the single most important aspect of Thailand for me. A neverending source of wonder and wisdom. I think what is most visible is an attachment to the superficial rituals of the faith. Unfortunately what is even more visible is an overwhelming attachment to material things such as their cars, phones and shopping malls. This attachment and craving inevitably leads to suffering and is the antithesis of what the Lord Buddha taught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 I didnt really have any preconceptions, consequently I had no misconceptions. Except perhaps one... I never expected to be so overwhelmed with the feeling that Buddha is in the hearts of the people here. At first I thought this might be superficial or due to my misinterpretation, but the more time I've spent here, the more I've realised it's the single most important aspect of Thailand for me. A neverending source of wonder and wisdom. I think what is most visible is an attachment to the superficial rituals of the faith. Unfortunately what is even more visible is an overwhelming attachment to material things such as their cars, phones and shopping malls. This attachment and craving inevitably leads to suffering and is the antithesis of what the Lord Buddha taught. Its the Same in the US with christianity or in Muslim countries I'm sure. The great teachers who the world religions are based on provided a path for good living, but its up to the individual to follow or not. The modern life style is very seductive and not always against religious principles. But then the whole of modern man has or is adopting life styles which are destroying the environment that supports life and that is a problem of ethics and addiction that most are victims of.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRISHCREAME Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Follow the 8 fold path! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdv Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Only one biggie - it took me a long time to realise that the fundamental difference between my culture and Thai culture - my culture prizes "independence" above all else, and this motivates me and people like me. Thai culture prizes "dependence" or "inter-dependence" above all else, and this motivates Thai people. Learning this made life in Thailand make alot more sense, but as I say it took a long time to learn and I dont think I can explain it very well either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMG_UK Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Only one biggie - it took me a long time to realise that the fundamental difference between my culture and Thai culture - my culture prizes "independence" above all else, and this motivates me and people like me. Thai culture prizes "dependence" or "inter-dependence" above all else, and this motivates Thai people. Learning this made life in Thailand make alot more sense, but as I say it took a long time to learn and I dont think I can explain it very well either. Now that is an observation I would totally agree with. It is fundamental in society here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRISHCREAME Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Only one biggie - it took me a long time to realise that the fundamental difference between my culture and Thai culture - my culture prizes "independence" above all else, and this motivates me and people like me. Thai culture prizes "dependence" or "inter-dependence" above all else, and this motivates Thai people. Learning this made life in Thailand make alot more sense, but as I say it took a long time to learn and I dont think I can explain it very well either. Yes, like the USA's July 4th Independence from the British in 1776! We too prize our independence above all else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRISHCREAME Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 There are no misconceptions about Thailand.Except of course most yanks regard it as some kind of landing strip on the way to bomb somwhere else less prone to Yanking off. One night in BKK and the flight crews wil be too tired to bomb anyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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