Typical Thai and curiosities

Every country, every culture has something unique that sets them apart from others and may seem strange or funny from the outside. I am not an ethnologist and will not write a scientific discourse about Thai culture or the nature of the Thai population here, but maybe I can capture a few observations and anecdotes.

The strikingly gentle, almost submissive, and always friendly smiling nature of the Thais should be known to everyone, but I still want to mention it here because you simply can't get around it. It is simply too obvious. And if this is evident in the Thais, this applies even more to the many guest workers from Myanmar working in the tourism industry, who often speak little or very little English, but do almost all service work. When you place an order in a restaurant or ask for fresh towels at a resort, the staff thanks you with folded hands in front of their chests and a slight bow. I know the gesture from India as a greeting and a sign of respect and thanks, but I have never seen it to the extent I do here.

Since I am talking about India, here is another comparison. The day before yesterday I moved again, and after I had settled in, the landlord asked if everything was okay, if I needed anything else. I asked him if he might have a larger fan and a triple socket with a cable, because I really couldn't manage with the one socket at the entrance door. He said no, but to my surprise, he said he would go to Thongsala tomorrow to get the things. The next morning, at 7:58 a.m., I was still asleep in bed, he stood outside my door with the requested devices. I was completely amazed. In India, I would have waited until next week for that, if I had even gotten the stuff at all. Of course, I cannot judge whether this behavior is representative and the norm. Mr. Nice of Nice Sea Resort said that Thais can't say no. They are more likely to agree and promise things that they don't mean or keep. I will keep observing this.

Like in India, there are also some dogs on the beach here. They all belong to the resorts on the beach and are all very relaxed. I have not experienced or witnessed any unpleasant incidents so far. Unlike in Goa, where the packs of dogs from the individual shacks fight each other and you have to be afraid of being attacked by them or the wild living groups in the dark.

There are also no vendors on the beach who constantly try to sell you something.