Thai Culture

This is the part that is most frustrating…trying to describe the Thai people and their culture. The locals are so friendly and humble that we are just shocked each time we have an encounter with them. They are such happy people that are always willing to help and make your visit to Thailand as great as it can possibly be. They don’t call it the “Land of Smiles” for nothing. From the village children roaming in the streets making their own fun for hours on end, to the young ladyboys who REALLY like Clem (ha ha), the Thai people are one of a kind. They bow to you with such sincerity that it makes you feel as if you are the only person on the planet. We were at a beach bar in Koh Phi Phi and the young guys that worked at the bar put on a fire show each night (an amazing one at that). One of the staff was a ladyboy…and not a good one. She/he was clearly in transition wearing a pink satin strapless dress, glittery eye makeup, and high heels, but still had a moustache! The other staff (who were athletic men) worked alongside this ladyboy as if it was nothing. We remarked about how this would not be the case at home, as we all know what that poor person would be subjected to. It is fascinating how they all take care of each other and you by catering to you as if you were the king. We also met some amazing girls at a bar in Phuket. They work in the sex trade (i.e. they can be “bought” for a night or two) and were the nicest, most genuine women one could ever meet. Matt got really sick with food poisoning while we were sitting at the bar and we had to leave to go back to our hotel. The girls were so sincerely concerned. They packed a bag full of water bottles and cold towels for us to take on the ride home and then proceeded to tell us that they would go to the pharmacy for us and to drink lots of hot tea. In my opinion, you would be hard pressed to find this kind of treatment back home. These are just a couple of our many positive encounters with the Thai people. As I mentioned, is it impossible to capture all of these moments in writing. In a couple of days, we will head up to northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) which is deemed to be the cultural capital of Thailand. We cannot wait to experience more of their culture and to spend more time with the locals.

The introduction to Thailand in “The Lonely Planet” puts it nicely so I will share it with all of you:

“Thailand. Close your eyes, let the world roll over your tongue, and almost instantly the pictures begin to form in your mind. Maybe you’re seeing a stark white beach, with piles of softly pillowing sand stretching on forever. There isn’t another person in sight, and a mammoth coconut tree with a curved trunk stretches out over the startlingly blue ocean. Or maybe Thailand to you is the chaos and confusion of big-city Bangkok, with bodies moving in every direction at once, and stinging neon lights beckoning you to drink liquor with bikini-clad bargirls.
Perhaps your Thailand is an open field and an ancient stone Buddha so large its feet are longer than your body. Tourists have captured his image on film thousands of times, but he continues to sit still, eyes closed and peaceful, seemingly keeping a secret.
And that’s the thing about Thailand: it is fast and stressful and frightening, and it’s quiet and meditative and kind. And yes, it holds secrets, but very few of them will come to you easily.
There’s a perfectly good reason why this country is one of the most popular destinations in all of Asia. When you see something here you’ve never seen before- the wrinkled face of a hill tribe villager, or the come-hither glance of a ladyboy- you start to think hard about what else you don’t know, and where else you’ve not been. Thailand is like that. If you’re lucky, it will seep into your pores and settle heavily on your soul…surrender yourself deeply enough to this Land of Smiles, and to its people, and you may find that the person you once were has changed forever. Is that a good thing? The decision, of course, is all yours. Why not just close your eyes and let the pictures begin to form in your mind?”

For me, Thailand quickly sunk into my pores and I wake up every day not believing where I am and the people I am surrounded by. It’s amazing (and corny), but it is clear now that the person I once was has changed forever….I just keep pinching myself and looking forward to our remaining time in this beautiful country.