Women Cannot Touch Monks and other Thailand Local Custom Tips

It is a rule in Thailand that a monk cannot come in any physical contact with a woman. The reasoning for this is to stop desire (sexual) between monks and women. So any physical contact is seen as evil, even shaking hands or bumping into each other. So even for visiting women, be careful to not touch a monk. Do not attempt to give a monk anything by hand, it is better to place it down and back off to avoid contact. Note that if contact does take place the monk will have to go through daylong cleansing rituals.

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It is a Thai custom to wai when you meet people. Hugging and kissing is not appropriate, especially in public. The wai is the meeting of the hands under the chin, or higher, depending on status. You should give a higher wai to a monk, especially an older monk (up to the forehead), a higher wai to old people and your parents (if your Thai, which you'd know already). The Buddha deserves the highest wai, the only time one wais above the head. The wai under the chin is to an equal and is the most common. Farangs are normally forgiven if they make a mistake, so don't worry.

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This is a must do for Thailand. If you do not, comply it is quite disrespectful. Take your shoes off before entering the following places: the inside of a wat, someone's home, before standing at the same level as the Buddha image, eating on a mat, entering a monks' quarters, and going in a sacred indoor room (like in a wat). These are all extremely important and please listen; you'll make a good impression!

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Don't point the bottom of your feet (bare) at anyone or anything sacred. This is also a very important rule. Specifically, by the culture, pointing a bare heel is very bad and extremely disrespectful. The bottoms of the bare feet are considered the most unholy part of the body. And there is good cause also: Thais accept the fact that bare feet are meant to be dirty. Thais are very clean and shower sometimes more than three times a day, but the bottom of their feet are always dirty. Squatting toilets only affect the bottom of the feet. This is why the bottoms of the feet are unholy so don't point them at anyone (including pictures and or statues of the Buddha, famous monks, and the king). Be warned, if you break this rule, even accidentally, Thai people will be disgusted with you, normally the Thais are very forgiving and understanding but this one is very bad, although may seem silly to you.

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It is considered rude to touch the top of children's heads. And for that matter the top of anyone's head. The top of the head is considered to be one of the most holy parts of the body and cannot be touched by others.

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The king of Thailand is very important to the Thai people. He doesn't have much of an effect on the government, but he is loved by the Thais. If you ever drive by statues of the king in Bangkok you may see your taxi driver waiing in the car, out of respect to the king. This is not North Korea, but do show respect for the king! The Thais will like you for it!

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Wat is the Thai word for a Buddhist Temple. From Wat Arun to the Royal Palace Temple of the Emerald Buddha, these places are all wats. Here is my list of thingst thar are very important to know and consider when at any wat in Thailand.

1) Take off your shoes when entering a room where there is a Buddha image.
2) NEVER point the bottom of your feet at a Buddha image.
3) NEVER sit with your legs extended in front of you inside a wat building.
4) NEVER touch a Buddha image.
5) NEVER stand higher than a Buddha image.
6) Do not openly turn your back on a Buddha image.
7) Obey any rules that you are given about a place.

Just a cultural note!

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To give a gift: there are two proper ways of presenting a gift in Thai society:
1) give the gift with your right hand and have your lift hand on your elbow.
2) present the gift with both hands together (this it the better of the two methods). It is common practice for the receiver of the gift to wahy (two hands together like praying position) before accepting the gift to show respect and gratitude.

When you receive a gift: Before you even touch the gift you should wahy, then you may accept the gift and take it with both hands, or if you have something in your hand accept it with your right hand and put your left hand by your elbow. Then you can say Kohp Koon krap(m)/kaa(f), or you can say this first, up to you.

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In Thailand it is common and acceptable to give children you see small gifts. It is not expected or anything, but don't let the kids in hilltribe villages overwhelm you. There is a big difference from giving gifts to hosts in a Thai village, as opposed to giving gifts while on a trek in hilltribe villages. In fact the hilltribe villages have been quite corrupted through all these gifts, which now is very common and acceptable.

Good things to bring are some pens, stickers, and some paper. Balloons are not great to bring (I know through experience) because they are not environmentally friedly and can be dangerous around little kids.

Note: do not let the kids overwhelm you, yes, they seem so sweet and needy, but many times giving these small little gifts hurts more than it helps. The best thing you can do is to donate school supplies to the local village school. Another awesome thing to do is if you have a digital camera take the kids' picture and then show them it.

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In Thailand eating isn't as simple as it may seem. Obviously these rules aren't very important in the cities, but in rural Thailand they are very important. Here are some important Thai eating rules:

1) Only eat with your RIGHT HAND.
2) Eat with a spoon, don't eat with a fork; only use the fork to put food on the spoon.
3) Wash your hands before eating.
4) If you are in a homestay, shower before eating (as much as possible).
5) Sticky rice is a hand food! Ball it up, then make it into a pinch pot and use it as a little edible spoon-bowl type thing to eat.
6) Enjoy your meal!!!

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