The King is KING! and other Bangkok, Thailand Local Custom Tips

The king of Thailand is much loved as is his wife. They have both supported many projects that have helped ordinary Thai people. You will find displays such as this in many restaurants and public places.

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Local Customs: Happy Birthday!!

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Updated by shrimp56

on Feb 9, 2004

We were in Bangkok for the king's birthday celebration -- there were festive decorations *everywhere*!

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Local Customs: Students wear uniforms in Thailand!

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Updated by shrimp56

on Mar 6, 2004

Even the Thais visit the Grand Palace! Another group of students interviewed us for a school project!

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Flowers: Lotusland ....

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 6, 2004

The image of the lotus is omnipresent in Southeast Asia whether in a flower display at a hotel such as this one at Narai Hotel in Bangkok or as an offering at the various shrines.

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Website: http://www.thailandlife.com/lotus_flower.htm

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Thai Language: The language ...

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 7, 2004

Fortunately most signs that you will need are in both Thai and English, such as this one in a Sky Train station.
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Do learn a few phrases in Thai before you go -- but a warning -- it is a tonal language and you're likely to make a mess of anything more than those few phrases.
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The best to learn are:
sawatdee kha [for a woman] = hello/goodbye
sawatde khrab [for a man]

khorb koon kha [khrab] = thank you

mai pen rai = nevermind, doesn't matter
mai ow = I don't want

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Website: http://www.learningthai.com/useful_phrases.html

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Local Customs: Bangkok: Old & New

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 7, 2004

BKK: Old/New

Bangkok, like many Asian cities, is a mixture of old and new. The city presents a face of modernity, with sparkling skyscrapers and shopping centers. But it doesn't take much of an effort to look down the side streets and see evidence that not everyone in these cities is part of the economic flowering.

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Local Customs: Road signs in the river?

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Updated by shrimp56

on Mar 10, 2004

One of the interesting things we saw as we made our way down the Chao Praya back to Bangkok were the kilometer signs stuck in the water at the edge of the river. Makes sense -- just had never seen it done like this before :)))

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Local Customs: A story of "epic" proportions

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 8, 2004

The Ramayana -- an epic from the Hindu tradition in India is also part of the Thai culture & lore. Many of the murals at The Grand Palace are based on this tale. This image is of the White Monkey King and the golden mermaid.

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Website: http://seasiancrafts.com/spiritworld/ramayana.htm

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Local Customs: Some more students at the Grand Palace

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 8, 2004

It is heartening to see the number of Thai students at the Palace complex. Of course it's free for Thai citizens!

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Local Customs: Changing the guard at the Grand Palace

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Written by shrimp56

on Mar 8, 2004