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Thailand: History & Culture

An AsiaTODAY special report (April 11, 2002):
Celebrate Thai New Year news stories; multimedia; recipes; Thai temples;
links & resources

Ed's Photos: The

A gallery of photos by Ed Kaspar
Thailand Galleries

The History of Thailand A brief illustrated history

Created by Michael Leming: student-written

The Karen of Northern
ethnographic report (1999): Karen Weblinks; a
Thailand
Web museum of artifacts; video; bibliography

A Smithsonian Magazine article on a bust of King

Mongkut in the Smithsonian collection, debunking
The Object at Hand
the caricature of the king perpetuated by the
musical The King & I

Introduction to "the people, arts & cultures of

South Thailand between the Thai & Malay Worlds
The South Thailand
on the Golden Peninsula": research projects &
Homepage
publications of Ryoko Nishii, Alexander
Horstmann, & others; photo gallery; links

A Frenchman's perspectives on Thai society &

Thai WorldView
culture

Research on "the region of mainland Southeast

Asia & those areas of the Peoples Republic of
Thai-Yunnan Project China, particularly Yunnan,which have had long
cultural, economic & social relations with each
other"

Thailand: SiamWEB Discussion forum for people with interest in

Cyber Culture Thailand, general information & news, etc.

History & culture, sights & experiences, travel

Tourism Thailand
tips & information

Ups and Downs: Anchalee Chaiworaporn's program notes for the

Thai Cinema in 2003 Udine Far East Film Festival 2004
 The Making of a Nation

Thailand is one of the few countries in the world which has never been
colonised.The first independent Thai Kingdom was established in 1238, but
the origins of Thailand and the Thai people go back much further.

Pre-History

The central area of Indochina from the Maekhong River valley to the Khorat
Plateau was inhabited as far back as 10,000 years. Linguistic scholars can
trace origins of ancient Chinese to an earlier Thai language. Archaeology
gives us several pointers to early development of the human race in the
area. For example, in the Ban Chieng area of north-east Thailand:

Prehistoric Dating from

tools from the about 3,000 BC
Chiang Saen these artifacts
region of from Ban
northern Chieng in
Thailand. north-east
Thailand.

Ban Chieng Ban Chieng artists and

bronze musical potters were equally
instruments accomplished.People
show a high dressed well and
degree of printed their own silk
design textiles.
sophistication.

• Rice may have been cultivated as early as 4,000 BC (China was still
largely growing and consuming millet, although evidence does
suggest that rice was first cultivated in the Yangtze valley c. 6500
BC)
• Bronze metallurgy began c. 1700-1500 BC.

This pre-historic cultural development formed a nucleus of migrating

people. A linguistic map of south China, north-west India and South-East
Asia, as far as the islands of Indonesia, clearly shows the presence of these
early Thai migrants. They settled in river valleys from the Red River (Hong
River) in south China and Vietnam to the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

During the second half of the 13th century a growing pressure with the rise
of the Mongol hordes under Kublai Khan forced the south China Thais to
retrace their steps and return to their roots.
Sukhothai

The greatest concentration of these early Thais first appeared in the north of
modern Thailand, around Chiang Saen and valleys to the south. They
formed themselves into principalities, some of which later became
independent kingdoms.

A union of Thai princes took Haripunchai from the

Mons and formed Lan Na Thai (which means ‘Million
Thai Rice Fields’), today often referred to simply as
Lanna, and drove the Khmers from Sukhothai (which
means ‘The Dawn of Happiness’).

The Kmer influence can

still be seen in these
Sukhothai Phrangs

The Sukhothai kingdom declared independence in 1238. Sukhothai is

considered to be the first true Thai kingdom. Today many Thais view the
Sukhothai period as the golden era of Thai history, an ideal state, a land of
plenty, governed by just and paternal kings who ruled over peaceful,
contented citizens. It developed a distinct style of its own. During this period
the first Thai writing system was evolved, which became the basis for
modern Thai, and the Thai form of Therava Buddhism was codified.

Within the walls of

Sukhothai are the ruins
of twenty wats (temples)
and monuments, the
greatest of which is Wat
Mahathat. Still splendid
in its current day
setting.

These Sukhothai Wats show how the beauty of water was used to enhance
their spiritual aspect.

The giant Buddha at

Wat Mahathat,
Sukhothai before and
after restoration.Take a
look at the full
pictures:

Under the rule of king Ramkamhaeng (Rama the Brave) the Sukhothai
kingdom flourished and expanded as far as Nakhon Si Thammarat in the
south, to the upper Maekhong River valley in Laos, and to Bago in Burma.

In 1287 Ramkamhaeng formed an alliance with

two northern Thai princes, Mengai of Chiang Rai
and Ngam Muang of Phayao. Mengai founded
Chiang Mai (’New Town’) in 1296 which became
the capital of Lanna.

The southern kingdom of Ayutthaya expanded rapidly by teaching the

importance of religion over military might, and extended control over the
Chao Phya River valley. With the rise of Ayutthaya the Sukhothai influence
declined and in 1378 their seat of power moved to Phitsanulok. Sukhothai’s
population followed and by 1438 Sukhothai was a deserted city.
Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya began as an ancient settlement named after Rama’s legendary

kingdom in India.

It’s importance in Thai history began when a cholera outbreak forced Phya
U-Thong, the ruler of the principality of U-Thong (today known as Suphan
Buri), to evacuated his people. He officially established his seat in Ayutthaya
in 1350, after three years of preparation, when he assumed the title
Ramathidibodi I.

The Ayutthaya kings became very powerful moving east to take Lopburi a
former Khmer stronghold and then, in 1431, on to Angkor the great capital
city of the Khmer empire.
 The image shows the temple complex of
Angkor. The large bluish-black rectangle is
the Western Baray (reservoir), part of
Angkor’s famous irrigation system. The
large square to its east is Angkor Thom, a
fortified city. The brown spot at the centre
of the square is the Bayon, a monumental
structure. To its south is the fabled temple
of Angkor Wat, surrounded by a wide moat.
Angkor, Cambodia Other temples and the Eastern Baray are
located round the complex. The road
running south from Angkor Wat goes to the
nearby town of Siem Reap. The wide bluish
strip to the south is the flooded lake of
Tonlé Sap.

Although the Thais were responsible for the decline and eventual collapse of
Angkor, the Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer court customs, language and
culture. Unlike the paternal rulers of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya’s kings were
absolute monarchs and assumed the title devaraja or God King.

Ayutthaya became one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in Asia, rivalling
London in its influence. From the early 16th century the Portugese
established trade and supplied mercenaries to fight in continuing campaigns
against the rival kingdom in Chiang Mai. They taught the Thais cannon
foundry and musketry.
 Ayutthaya is situated on an island in the
Chao Phraya River, at the junction of the
Lop Buri River and the Nam Pasak River,
about 80 km north of Bangkok.To
appreciate the city as a 17th century
vistor might have done, travel up the
Chao Phraya River from Bangkok.

Weakened by the wars with Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, was attacked by King
Tabinshweti of Burma in 1549. Aided by the Portugese, the attack was
repelled, but in 1569 Ayutthaya eventually fell to Tabinshweti’s brother in
law, King Bayinnaung. The invading Burmese forces ransacked and
plundered the city, forcibly transporting most of its population to Burma.

Naresuen, the eldest son of the defeated king’s leading deputy, was held
captive in Burma until he reached the age of 15. As soon as he returned he
immediately began to gather armed followers, which he trained in guerilla
warfare. He took the opportunity to declare Ayutthaya’s freedom in 1584,
whilst the Burmese rulers were weakened by revolts in their own provinces.

Although the Burmese

made numerous attempts
to retake Ayutthaya,
Naresuen was able to
assume full kingship upon
his father’s death in 1590.
He rebuilt his kingdom and
Ayutthayan
turned the tables on the
war elephants as seen through the eyes of a
Burmese with repeated
17th century French artist.
attacks until the Burmese
Empire itself disintegrated.
He finally subdued the
Khmers on his eastern
border. He became known
as ‘Naresuen the Great’
and under his rule
 Ayutthaya prospered,
becoming the great and
thriving metropolis
described by 17th century
European visitors.

Siam 1686This
French map of Siam
from 1686 shows
the capital city of
Ayutthaya (called
Judia by the French)
lying along the Chao This
Phraya River, contemporary oil painting
protected by the shows the foreigner’s view of
mountains and the ‘Venice of the East’.
forests.

A long period of peace and tranquil prosperity was ended when a village
headman united the Burmese Empire which attacked Ayutthaya in 1760. The
Burmese army was repelled but in 1767 a second Burmese invasion
succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya, after a siege of 14 months. The
withdrawing Burmese army sacked the city, burning and looting and melting
down the gold from Buddha images. They took their booty back to Burma,
together with members of the royal family and 90,000 captives.
 2,000 Spires clad in gold

At one time Ayutthaya had a population of a million. Europeans

wrote accounts of the fabulous wealth of the courts and the ‘2,000
spires clad in gold’.

The 1767 Burmese invasion left the city largely destroyed.

During the seige, a Thai general named Phya Taksin broke through the
encircling Burmese and took a small band of followers to Chantaburi on the
southern coast. There he assembled an army and navy. Seven months after
the fall of Ayutthaya the general and his forces sailed back to the capital and
expelled the Burmese occupying garrison.

He immediately moved his capital to the west bank of Bangkok, known as

Thonburi, and was proclaimed king. During his reign he liberated Chiang Mai
and the rest of northern Thailand from the Burmese and his generals
brought Cambodia and most of the present day Laos under Thai control.
When a revolt broke out in 1782, Taksin was forced to abdicate.
The Chakri Dynasty

Upon his return from the Cambodian campaign general Chakri was offered
the throne. He became known as Rama I. He moved his headquarters to the
more spacious Bangkok on the opposite bank of the river.

He set about restoring the confidence of his war-shattered people. Buddha

images were transported from Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Bricks from the
old capital were floated down the river to build the new city walls. Master
craftsmen designed and built the first permanent building in the new
capital, Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Bangkok began as a city of canals and elephant

paths on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River,
just a few kilometres from the sea. The first of the
new structures ordered by King Ramathibodi, later
known as Rama I, was the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha, which was later surrounded by the
grounds and buildings of the Grand Palace.It was
built in the style of the Royal Temple of the Grand
Palace of Ayutthaya.
 Modern Thailand is indebted to Rama I for his cultural revival programme.
He and his successors up to the present King Bhumibol, Rama IX, have
transformed their country from a war-torn Asian land to a modern nation.

A series of galleries to show the photos of Thailand by Ed Kaspar.

New photos!
Over 130 new photos of gambling, spiritual guides, vigils, slaughters, and of course plenty of ceremonies
in the new gallery
 An Akha Funeral

Ko Phi Phi Tchieux 2 Tchieux

An Akha X-mas Project Moonmuang

Temple Life

Floats and Firebombs A Monk's Funeral Thai New Year

BUFFALO

Buffaloes have always played an integral part in Thai culture and Thai society. The
Thai alphabet's fourth letter is said "KHO KHWAI". In Thai alphabet each consonant is
associated to a word (chicken, egg, buffalo, monk and so on...).

ควาย or "KHWAI" is the carabao or water buffalo.

Buffaloes have been used since

centuries by peasants in order to
plough their rice fields. Since 1960
mechanical ploughs have replaced
the buffaloes. Since a few years
buffaloes are regaining favour as
farmers look to old ways. But there
is concern over sharp fall in their
numbers. The buffalo population
has declined from an estimated six
million head in 1987 to 1.8 million
in 1999. Experts predict the buffalo
could be extinct from Thailand in 10
years.

Iron Buffalo

Thailand's buffalo population dropped 26% from 1998 to 2008. Buffaloes are
disappearing from some village.
"PITHEE SU KWAN KWAI" (พิธีสู่

ขวัญควาย) was a ceremony

to show gratitude to the buffaloes.
It was observed for centuries, but
now it's being neglected because of
the advent of tractors.

Buffalo in countryside

The annual Buffalo Racing Festival is held in Chonburi province.

Some farmers say that a machine

is good as it is fast, can plough
deep, doesn't need to rest.
Buffaloes need to be watched after
during rice growing season as they
may wander in other farmers paddy
fields. Some farmers say that
buffaloes manure is good for nature
(no need for artificial fertilizer),
buffaloes don't need repairing and
oil, yield is better with buffalo.

Buffalo in countryside

Some farmers complain buffaloes are too slow. Tractor machines never get tired.
Tractors are called "Iron Buffalo" (ควายเหล็ก).
About 400,000 buffaloes are
slaughtered for meat each year.
Most are females, many of them
pregnant. The males are kept for
their strength and castrated to
increase their size and value as
draft animals, which reduces the
breeding stock still further.

Buffalo in countryside

The Carabao is the most famous pop group of Thailand. Their symbol is buffalo horns.

In year 2001 the most

famous animal in
Thailand was a buffalo.
This buffalo has very
long horns and is a major
player in the Thai movie
"BANG RAJAN"
(บางระจัน). This
movie relates the fight of
a Thai village during the
Burmanese invasion in
1767.

Bang Rachan buffalo

 The music in movie "BANG RAJAN" (บางระจัน) is played by the Thai pop group
Carabao. A few months after the film was shot, the buffalo died. A big ceremony was
organized for his funerals. The Carabao leader asked for its horns.

Some monks have campaigned to

help poor people in the
northeastern rural areas where
they have established "buffalo
banks". When a borrowed buffalo
gives birth, half of the young buffalo
belongs to the farmer and the other
half belongs to the buffalo bank.

Buffalo in countryside

The worst insult in Thai language is to be called "Buffalo" as this animal is seen as
stupid and stubborn.

In year 2008 the "Kasorn

Kasiwit" (Buffalo Farming Science)
School was launched by Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn, who is a strong
supporter of efforts to preserve
conventional paddy farming
techniques. The school is teaching
both buffaloes and farmers to work
in harmony using traditional
ploughing techniques.
 Buffalo in countryside

The growing use of farming machines had driven many farmers into debt due to rising
fuel costs, which accounts for up to 50% of farming costs. For many city residents, the
buffalo is a symbol of stupidity. But for millions of people who work the land for a living,
the strong animals have long been treasured as a farmers' best friend.

Buffaloes provide a sustainable

source of farm labor than tractors
since they don't require costly fuel.

Buffaloes in Tiger temple

The bird "NOK IENG" (นกเอี้ยง) is always the buffalo's friend, which sits on his
back.

The current King Rama IX have

launched the Ox-Buffalo Bank
project. This project was set up to
lend buffaloes. When buffaloes
breed, the farmer has to give back
the babies to the bank in order to
increase the buffalo number.
 Cows in countryside

The buffalo bank lends out animals to farmers who might not otherwise use them.

To save the beast from extinction, Boontha Chailert has

opened a water buffalo refuge in Ban Muang Pha
village, 360 miles north of Bangkok. Nowadays farmers
are showing renewed interest in using water buffaloes
to plough their fields. Farmers return to traditional,
cheaper, methods of farming. Tractors are said to be
too expensive to take care of.

Buffalo skull

A buffalo school has been opened in Bua Yai and animals can learn various plowing
tactics.
 It usually takes four to six weeks for
a full training including threading a
rope through the buffalo's nose to
guide the animal, plowing training,
ability to make turns.

Buffalo in countryside

Click to see
more pictures

Home > Culture > Thai Animals > Buffalo

 THAI CALENDAR
JANUARY
01 : New Year's Day / วันขื้นปีใหม่

Since a few decades, the western

New Year's Day is also a public
holiday in Thailand. But for Thai
people, the traditional and most
popular New Year's Day happens
in April. It is called "SONGKRAN".
There is a 543 years difference
between the Buddhist calendar and
the Gregorian calendar. Year 2010
in Europe is year 2553 in Thailand.

09 : Thai children Day / วันเด็กแห่งชาติ

 During this day, feasts organized
by children happen. Children are
highly respected in Thailand. In a
bus an adult often gives his seat to
a child but may not give it to an
elderly person. This day always
happens on the second saturday of
January.

16 : Teachers Day / วันครู

This day is an occasion for pupils to make merit for their teachers (ไหว้คร่).
Teachers are highly worshipped in Thailand for their knownledge. Pupils do not dare to
embarrass their teachers by asking questions.

25 : Thai Army Day / วันกองทัพไทย

During this day, Thai King Rama IX visits the army and watches a military parad.

FEBRUARY
14 : Valentine's Day / วันวาเลนไทน์

14 : Chinese New Year's Day / วันตรุษจีน

Thailand has more than 60 millions of inhabitants. Around 6 millions of them have
Chinese ancestors, who immigrated to Thailand last century. So Chinese New year's
day is an important public holiday.
 Click here to learn more about
Chinese New Year

28 : Makabucha day / วันมาฆาบูชา

It comes from the day when 1250 disciples gathered to listen to Buddha's Dharma
speech (ธรรมะ) after his enlightment.

Click here to learn more about

Makabucha day

MARCH

No public holidays during this month.

APRIL
06 : Chakri day / วันทีร
่ ะลึกมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์
 This public holiday commemorates the Chakri
dynasty. The current King is the ninth King of the
Chakri dynasty. A Royal ceremony is performed by
the King to pay respect to King Rama I the Great,
the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

13-14-15 : Songkran / วันสงกรานต์

The "SONGKRAN" festival happens during the hot season in mid April. This festival
happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries, i.e. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and
Burma (Myanmar). Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the official New
Year's Day happens on the 1st January. But the most popular feast in Thailand is still
"SONGKRAN".

Click here to learn more about Songkran

festival

MAY
01 : National Labour day / วันแรงงานแห่งชาติ

The first day of May is a public holiday commemorating the workers.

As 01 st
May is a Saturday, Monday 03rd is given as a substitution public holiday.

05 : Coronation day / วันฉัตรมงคล

This public holiday is a day to

commemorate the coronation of
current King Rama IX.

13 : Royal Ploughing / วันพืชมงคล

The Royal ploughing is done every year by Brahminic priests. This event happens in
the front of the Royal temple "WAT PHRA KAEW" (วัดพระแก้ว) on the big field
called "SANAM LUANG" (สนามหลวง).

This ceremony symbolises the beginning of the sowing period. Brahminic priests bless
seeds and make symbolic furrows using a plough pulled by buffalos. Once the
ceremony is over, onlookers run to the furrows in order to get the blessed seeds. Those
seeds are supposed to bring good harvests.

This is a public holiday.

28 : Visakabucha day / วันวิสาขบูชา

This day is a Buddhist public holiday. This day commemorates the birth, the
enlightment and the death (entry into the nirvana) of Buddha. Temples throughout the
country are crowded with people listening to sermons about Dharma (Buddha's
teaching). In the evening there is a candlelit procession around the main building of the
temple (โบสถ์) containing the Buddha statues.

JUNE

No public holidays during this month.

JULY
26 : Asalabucha day / วันอาสาฬหบูชา

This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It happens one day just before the Buddhist Lent
day. This day commemorates the first sermon of Buddha to his five first disciples. One
of them asked to become a monk. So this day is sacred because it deals with Buddha,
Dharma and Sangha (Buddhist community). There are also candlelit processions.

27 : Buddhist Lent day / วันเข้าพรรษา

This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It is the beginning of the Buddhist rain retreat
which lasts three months. During this period monks are not allowed to sleep outside
their temple. Thai people buy big candles and offer them to temples.

Click here to learn more about Wax

Candle procession
AUGUST
วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา
12 : H.M. The Queen's Birthday /
สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าฯ พระบรมราชินีนาถ

This public holiday is Thailand Mother's Day. This day is the birthday of the current
Thai Queen. On this day all the buildings of Thailand are covered up with images of
H.M. The Queen.

Click here to learn more about H.M. The

Queen's Birthday

SEPTEMBER

No public holidays during this month.

OCTOBER
23 : Rama V 's day / วันปิยมหาราช
 This is a public holiday day to commemorate the
Rama V or Chulalongkorn's wise reign over
Thailand. Thanks to him, Thailand did not become
a French or English colony even if Thailand lost his
leadership over Laos, Cambodia and the northern
provinces of Malaysia. During his reign, Thailand
became a modern country.

As 23 rd
October is a Saturday, Monday 25th is given as a substitution public holiday.

23 : End of Buddhist Lent day / วันปวารณา ออกพรรษา

This day is a religious event. The three months rain retreat is over for monks. Monks
are allowed to go out of temples. Robes offering ceremonies ("THOT KATHIN" - ทอด
กฐิน) happen everywhere in Thailand. Thai people choose poor remote Buddhist
temples and bring there clothes, food for the monks. "THOT KATHIN" ceremonies last
one month.

24 : Robes offering ceremony start / วันออกพรรษา เริม

่ กฐินกาล

NOVEMBER
21 : Loi Krathong day / วันลอยกระทง

Loi Krathong is a religious event which happens every year on the full moon of the 12 th

lunar month (first full moon day of November). All Thai people buy or make a
"KRATHONG". It is made of styrofoam surrounded by banana leaves, with flowers and
a candle in the middle. During the evening Thai people go to places where there is a
river, a pound to launch their "KRATHONG".

Click here to learn more about Loi

kratong

DECEMBER
03 : Trooping of the Colors

During this day, Thai Royal guards parade in front of the members of the royal family
and pledge allegiance to H.M. the King. They are dressed in colorful uniforms,
reminding the time when coloured flags served as rallying points during the battle.

วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา พระบาท
05 : H.M. The King Birthday /
สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว

This public holiday is Thailand Father's day. This day is the birthday of the current Thai
King, Rama IX. All the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the
monarchy and the King.
 Click here to learn more about H.M. The
King's Birthday

As 05 th
December is a Sunday, Monday 06th is given as a substitution public holiday.

10 : Constitution Day / วันพระราชทานรัฐธรรมบูญ

Since 1932 Thailand is a democracy. Before 1932, Thailand was called Siam and
was under the total rule of the King. Now Thailand is a democracy. The king has still
some power, but just a moral power over Thai people, who worship him for all its
kindness and goodness. Thailand is similar to English system, i.e. a King with no real
power, a government and no president. This public holiday is the day to commemorate
the Thai constitution.

25 : Christmas Day / วันคริสต์มาส

31 : New Year's Eve / วันสิ้นปี

This public holiday is the last day of the year. The New Year holiday and
"SONGKRAN" period have always high accident tolls. During New year holiday 2002,
501 people were killed in traffic accidents. Many were found to have been caused by
reckless and drunk motorcyclists.

Click here to learn more about New

Year's Eve tradition

http://www.thaiworldview.com/lao/isan5.htm
 EVERYDAY LIFE

All Isan villages have common characteristics that are described below.

Many Isan houses are made of old

and strong wood. Modern houses
are made of brick. When travelling
through Isan, visitors can see many
houses with non hidden bricks. The
owners couldn't finish the external
aspect of the house. "ISAN" is
Thailand's poorest area.

Isan house
 In some remote villages, houses
don't have running water. There are
some big jars to keep water that fall
from the roof. There is a pipe that
goes from the roof to the jar. During
the monsoon the jars are filled
gradually. With two big jars it is
enough for washing during a whole
year.

Water

The large cement jars have become common in the mid-1990s and can be seen all
over Isan area. Before small clay jars or ceramic jars were used.

In the past, during the dry season,

villagers went in a caravan with
many carts to large rivers and
stayed a few weeks to collect
enough food. Fish were dried and
preserved with salt and rice bran.
This kind of fish is called "PLA RA"
(ปลาร้า). They would also

prepare "PLA SOM" (ปลาส้ม)

with salt and rice to make salty and
sour fish. It could be kept and
eaten over a long period of time.
Nowadays such food is still a
favorite for local Isan habitants.

Cart with buffaloes

 A village was always settled on the edge of a river or in a place where water resource
could be available within a day.

Buses speed through Isan villages.

There are footbridges to cross the
roads because cars, autobus really
drive fast and it can be dangerous
for children. Sometimes Police stop
buses to check the ID papers. They
are looking for illegal immigrants
from Laos or checking the autobus
driver hours of driving.

Bus to Loei

In Isan area there are more motorcycles than cars. Often three people ride
motorcycles, i.e. the parents and their child. Five people (two adults and three children)
is also not a rare combination! They don't wear a helmet due the heat.

Such "TUK TUK" (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก) is very

useful to carry farmers in order to
go working in the paddy fields.
They are also used to carry the rice
after the harvest.
 Tuk Tuk

The engine is the same as a ploughing machine. Such

Tuk Tuk cannot go fast but can carry heavy loads.

Tuk Tuk

In a pickup car, more people can seat. Two in the front seats, four in the back seats,
and many people in the pickup back area. That is the typical configuration before going
for lunch near a waterfall. Many people coming means it will be very funny ( สน๊ก -
"SANUK").
Nowadays, when a farmer goes to
his fields, he often rides on a
ploughing machine. The ploughing
machine has replaced the buffalo
and cart. It acts as a tractor and
pulls a trailer. The iron-spiked
wheels then need to be exchanged
for tyres.

Ploughing machine

It is very common to see many old people and young children in Isan villages. Young
people go to Bangkok to find work and come back home for festive period such as New
Year or "SONGKRAN".

Such local "TUK TUK" (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก)

is used to carry workers directly to
paddy fields.

Local Tuk Tuk

In many Isan temples close to
Mekong river, long boats can be
found lying under sheds. They are
used for races at the end of rain
retreat.

Boats

In Isan villages Buddhist temples

have often toned down colors.
Temples are less glittering than in
Bangkok. Often they are just
covered with painted colors. No
stuff that glitters in the sun. Due to
hot temperatures (up to 40 °C / 104
°F) and heavy rains during the
monsoon, the temples colors lose
gradually their brightness.

Thai temple
Some skillfull men make baskets
("KRATIT KHAO" - กระติก
ข้าว) to keep hot the sticky rice

("KHAO NIO" - ข้าวเหนี ยว )

and also specific nets to catch
fishes in rice fields.

Arts and crafts skills

In Thai villages, 7-Eleven

convenient stores have not yet
settled. Each village has a few local
stores selling basic commodities
such as instand noodles, beer,
gasoline in bottle...

Local store

Previously in Isan villages, stores were often managed by Chinese or Vietnamese

people. When Vietnamese people leave a village, they never sell their store. They leave
it there for the next Vietnamese people. They were often blamed to send the money to
Vietnam, not like Chinese peole who stay here during their whole life.
The "NAI HOI" were historical local
cattle merchants leading buffalos
from Isan to the central regions of
Thailand to sell them.

Local store

The major difference between the "NAI HOI" (นายฮ้อย) and Chinese traders was
that villagers knew that the "NAI HOI" were local people. So while trading, they
understand locals and their culture.

In provincial cities, such buildings

are very common with shops on the
ground floor and the housing on
upper floors.

Local store
During the dry season in many
villages visitors can also see older
women looking after babies and
children, while fathers and the
youth are working in Bangkok or
other big cities.

Children in village

Significant groups of Chinese and

Vietnamese migrants settle in Isan.
In Nongkhai province, Vietnamese
sandwiches can be purchased.

Vietnamese bread
After rolling the papers on the
bamboo panels, there are set in the
sun to dry. Sri Chiang Mai is
famous worldwide for this activity.

Rice Paper for Spring Rolls

Isan man have always use tatooes. It is part of their life. Isan girls have always liked
young men with tatoos. Tattoing the body was common among young village men as it
was a sign of manhood.

In Thailand, houses have been built

with strong wood because termites,
ants and other insects quickly
destroy the soft wood.

Isan house
 Electricity came to most districts in the late 1960s. Electricity in villages allows the
purchase of electrical products so creating new needs for villagers and starting the
endless debt cycle.

Houses were usually 5 to 6 meters

high. The ground level is left for
cattle, buffaloes, chicken and
ducks. The family live in the
upstairs part. Such house has no
toilets and no bathroom.

Isan house

Around the house, families grow

fuits trees such as mango, papaya,
banana trees and have a small
garden to grow vegetables.

Isan house

Up until the late 1970s hospitals were only found in provincial towns or sometimes in
larger district towns. In most district towns, the government establishes community
Health Centre ("SUAN SUKHAPHAP" - สวนสขภาพ).
Each village has a community
Health Centre ("SUAN
SUKHAPHAP" - สวนสข
ภาพ).

Community Health Centre

There are still some "MO YA SAMUNPHRAI" (หมอยาสม๊นไพร) or medicine

herbs doctors. They are well known healers who use herbal medicines. The "MO YA
PHI FA" (หมอยาผีฟ้า) is invited to cure a sick person in cases when the cause is
not known.

Local Thai farmers are bringing

back their cows before sunset time.

Cattle
 The "MOLAM" (หมอลำา) are those who are known for their skills of singing, dancing
and entertaining in "LAM" (ลำา) style. Nowadays "MOLAM" music is famous all over
Thailand.

Local bins are made old recycled tyres. In fact tyres are
broken down and the material re-used in lower grade
applications.

Local bin

Villagers always construct a spirit shrine or "SAN PU TA" (ศาลปู ่ตา) at the fringe of
the village. The place has to be peaceful with big trees offering shade. Recently arrived
migrants shall always ask for the protection and blessings of "SAN PU TA".
 At the Shrine of the village
ancestors, local people make an
offering to the spirits of their
ancestors. Every year everybody
must pay respect to the ancestors
and all the grandmothers and
grandfathers who have died. If
people did not do that, they could
not expect to have a good life.

Shrine of the village ancestors

Most villagers still seek the advice of elders. They know that without their blessing it
would be difficult to get villager's participation in community activities.

Having many children was a sign of fertility and the

large family was blessed. After the birth, the woman has
to lie by a fire. This fire helped to purify of all poisons
and influences from ghosts.
 Newborn child

"MOLAM" (หมอลำา) concerts

are very popular in Isan area. In the
past medicine trucks ("ROT KAI
YA" - รถขายยา) were
travelling through Isan. During the
dry season, these mobile cinemas
come to village to show films and
sell medicine.

Molam concert advertisement

Today the Isan language continues

to be language learnt and spoken
at home.

Local pond
 Villagers used to assist each other
during stages of rice growing. Help
was needed during transplanting,
harvesting and threshing.
Nowadays farmers rely on their
family and hired labour.

Farmer house

Click to see
more pictures
 THAI FAMILY

Thai family has a hierarchy with the parents at the top of it. Children are
educated to always honor their parents and to thank them for the time and money
spent for education. Children shall have gratitude ("KATANJOO" - กตัญญ่) towards their
parents. The worst insult for a Thai people is to be deemed ungrateful.

Gratitude is the first qualification of a good person in Thailand. Father and

mother are to be respected and honored. Young people shall send money to support
their parents until at least they get married.

Many words are used in Thai language to identify all the members of the family.

Within children there is also a hierachy.

o Every child has an elder, called "PHI" or พี่
o Every child has a younger, called "NONG" or น้อง
 When speaking to an elder, Thai children always use the word "PHI" ( พี่ ).
When the difference of age is not important, they only use first name. Younger must
respect elder, listen to their advice. Elder shall protect younger.

Grandmother and grandfather have also different names. Thai children must
use four names instead of two in westerner countries.

o The mother of the mother is called "YAI" or ยาย

o The father of the mother is called "TA" or ตา
o The mother of the father is called "YA" or ยูา
o The father of the father is called "PU" or ปู ่

Uncles and aunts have also different names. Thai children must use four
names instead of two in westerner countries.

o An elder brother of one's parent is called "LUNG" or ล๊ง

o An elder sister of one's parent is called "PA" or ป้ า
o A younger sister or brother of one's mother is called "NA" or น้า
o A younger sister or brother of one's father is called "AH" or อา
 Thai family having fun in a Bangkok Lumphini park.

Thai family

The words "PHI" (พี่), "NONG" (น้อง), "LUNG" (ล๊ง), "PA" (ป้ า), "YAI" (ยาย) are
also used in everyday life with unknown persons. Thai people evaluate the age of the
person in front of them and then use the correct word. For example, in a restaurant a
waitress is called "PHI" or "NONG". In case of doubt about her age, "PHI" is used. A taxi
driver in middle age is called "LUNG". A woman selling street food in middle age is
called "PA". Older people more than sixty years old are called "YAI" or "PU".

To be more polite the word "KHUN" (ค๊ณ) can be added before.

Even between friends, there is a hierarchy. The younger person use the word
"PHI" (พี่). The elder person use the first name.

In ceremonies such as a marriage, when the couple thank everybody during a

speech, they use the word "PHI-NONG" ( พี่นอ ้ ง ), which means all sisters and brothers.
All guests are not from the close family but in villages, all are considered like a family.
 Everything is a question of age and sex. Seniority is a important part of Thai
society. A younger person shall respect the older person. When Thai children write
letters to their parents, they often begin their letter with the words "FATHER, MOTHER
THAT I RESPECT" (พูอแมูท่ีฉน ั เคารพ).

Thai children used to live not far from their parents. A big part of the wages
should be given to parents. Now things are changing. With the industrialisation of
Thailand, many young Thai people go to Bangkok to take their chance. They almost
continue to send money to support their parents. But parents, far away from their
children, have less influence on them. In previous decades parents chose the mate.
Nowadays many young Thai people choose on their own.

Often Thai children continue to live in their parent's house even if they are old
enough to live their own life. Especially for girls, they should not leave their parent's
home if they are not married. If a girl is living alone, everybody gossip that she is a bad
girl or a "MIA NOI" (เมียน้อย), mistress of a wealthy man.

In Thailand there is no pension when workers retire. So the only support for the
old parents are their children. Thai people don't like the westerner principle to send old
parents in special nursing-home. They say it is not a nice way to thank parents for all
the goodness they did. All the family shall live together. Children are the assurance
for the parents.
Khmer empire

Before any Thai kingdom, there

were Khmer kingdoms. Khmer
empire was made of actual
Cambodia, Laos and a big part of
Thailand. Some towns like
Lopburi, Phimai still have Khmer
ruins. In all northeastern area there
are many old Khmer ruins not all in
good condition. The major ones are
in Phimai (near Nakhon
Ratchasima) and Phanom Rung
(near Buriram). The most beautiful
Khmer ruins outside Cambodia can
be seen in Thailand.

Phimai sanctuary
 Sukothai

In 1238 Sukhotai kingdom

was created. It did last until 1438.
This period is well known for the
Sukhotai Buddha statues that are
very beautiful. Some can be seen
at the National Museum or "WAT
BENCHAMABOPHIT" in
Bangkok. Almost all monuments
are made of light bricks. So they
didn't resist to monsoons over
centuries. The ruins in old cities of
Sukhotai, Kampeang Phet, Sri
Sichanalai are worth visiting.

Sukhotai

Old city of Sukhotai has been recognised by UNESCO as a treasure of humanity.

The famous King Rama Khampheng was the first to write with the first known
representation of Thai writing. He says that Thai people do not starve because they
have rice in the fields and fish in the rivers. Sukhotai was absorbed by the rival kingdom
of Ayuthaya.
Ayuthaya
Ayuthaya was a great kingdom. Its
capital had more than one million of
inhabitants, i.e. more than in
European capitals at the same
time. Kingdom of Ayuthaya had
diplomatic relations with European
countries such as Portugal and
France. Some Thai diplomats went
to France in 1687 to the royal court
of Louis XIV, the French King who
did build Versailles. They arrived by
boat in the French town called
Brest. Since this time the major
avenue of Brest is called rue de
Siam which means "Siam street".
Kingdom of Ayuthaya was always
in war with Burmese, Laotian and
Khmer kingdoms.

Ayuthaya

Suriyothai, Queen of Ayutthaya, is the queen who fought and died to protect her
husband and king's life while advancing into battle against the invading Burmese
battalion in the 14th century.

King Naresuan is famous for having a duel on elephants with the Burmese Crown
Prince and won against him. King Naresuan regained independence from Burma for the
Ayuthaya kingdom.

Nai Khanom Tom was a famous Thai boxer, who, having been captured by the
Burmese, regained his freedom by defeating nine of the enemy's gladiators in a contest
witnessed by the Burmese king.

Ayuthaya defeated Khmer kingdom and seized the mythic town Angkor in 1431.
More than 37 wars opposed Burma and Siam during three centuries. Finally Ayuthaya
was defeated in 1767 by Burma. Ayuthaya was complete destroyed, Buddha statues
were molten in order to get the gold. Still nowadays the old remaining ruins can be
visited.
 Chakri dynasty

In 1782 General Taksin succeeded to beat the Burmese Kingdom. He did establish
a new capital Thonburi.

After Taksin's death, Rama I

became the first king of the Chakri
dynasty. He did establish a new
capital Bangkok on the other shore
of the river Chao Praya.

Wat Phra Kaew

Rama IV is very famous. His name was Monkgut. Before being king, he was a monk
until 45 years old. He was very clever and even calculated the date of an eclipse. Pitiful
he caught malaria when observing this eclipse.
 Rama V (dead in 1910) is known
as the King Chulalongkorn. He is
still highly worshipped in Thailand.
His statue is at "Ratchadamnoen
avenue" near Dusit Throne Hall.
Every year, on the 23th october,
there is a huge crowd for his
birthday celebration. He is famous
because he worked for the
improvement of Thailand in the
modern world.

Bang Pa In

Rama V is the one who made school mandatory for all, suppress slavery, transform
the administration to match with foreign administration. It was the only way to escape
from the invasion of colonial French and English troops. It was to show them that
Thailand was a modern country. But he did not succeed to avoid territorial cuts, i.e.
France did take Laos and Cambodia west part that were under Thai rules and also
southern provinces that were taken by English troops. He is the one which brought
many foreign customs (table, chair, fork, spoon, woman with long hairs) in Thailand. He
also sent his children abroad in order that they studied foreign methods and then came
back in Thailand to support him.
23 October is Rama V 's day ( วันปิ ย
มหาราช) and is a public day to commemorate
the Rama V or Chulalongkorn wise reign over
Thailand.

Rama V

The Paknam Incident on July 13, 1893 is remembered as a dispute over a large
part of Laotian territory on the banks of the Mekong River and led to a military clash
between Siam and France on the Chao Phya River near Bangkok. Siamese troops
opened fire on French gunboats sent up the river to Bangkok. The French fired back.
The battle ended with the loss of 151 Siamese soldiers and 32 French troops. The
Treaty of Peace and Convention between France and Siam was signed in Bangkok on
October 3. Under the pact, Siam had to renounce all rights to the territories on the left
bank of the Mekong (about 143,800 square kilometres) and to all islands in the river.

Before Thai kings have several wives and queens. There was a rank between all his
wives. That is why after 5 generations , all royal status disappear because there will be
too many people with a royal status. Nowadays the king acts as normal person and has
one wife.
 Before Thailand was called
kingdom of Siam. It has changed
the name in 1933. Actual King is
Rama IX who became king in
1946.

Rama IX

Thai revolutions

A bloodless revolution in 1932 put an end to absolute monarchy in Thailand and led to
a constitutional monarchy.

October 14, 1973, October 6, 1976, and Black May 1992 are major dates in Thai
history for the struggle for democracy. The Thai army has shot on Thai people on
these three events. There has never been any formal apology. Each time the Thai army
has said it could never happen again.

Between 1963 and 1973 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn presided over a
repressive military regime which was overthrown by pro-democracy students who
suffered scores of casualties the 14 October 1973.

FM Thanom is also at the origin of the Thammasat university massacre. His return in
1976 from overseas exile in the robes of a monk provoked the anger of students. This
leaded to the 6 october 1976 massacre in Thammasat university where 300
students were killed by soldiers. Military argued that these students were a communist
threat for the country. After the massacre many students joined the PLAT (Popular
Liberation Army Thai) and fought until the amnesty in the 1980's.
Black May in 1992 happened when pro-democracy protesters were brutally
suppressed by military forces under army commander Gen Issarapong Noonpakdi. In
the attack on protesters demanding Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon step down as Prime
Minister, 48 died and 44 went missing, according to official accounts.

In march 1999 complaints arose due to the appointment of FM Thanom Kittikachorn

as a special royal guard. FM Thanom Kittikachorn is remembered as one the men who
crushed the 1973 pro-democracy uprising in which 77 people were killed and 800
injured. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, facing protests against his decision to award a
former dictator a military honour, plans to set up a special committee to review the
historical record of the October 14, 1973, uprising. Chuan Leekpai has built his political
credentials largely on being a dedicated fighter in the battle for democracy. And so it is
ironic that it should be he, as defence minister, who appointed FM Thanom Kittikachorn
to an honorary position with the army.

Home > Society > Thai History

 THAI SOCIETY

 Status and Rank

 Everyday life
 Cultural Shocks

 Thai School

STATUS AND RANK

Thai society is very hierarchised.

In Thai language many words are used to to say "I" or "YOU". The ways of saying "I"
or "YOU" are depending on the person your are talking to. It depends on your status,
on the status of the person in front of you.

That is why clothes are very important in Thai society. Many foreigners don't
understand why Thai people wear pants instead of shorts, shirts with tie-rack, shirts with
high sleeves and so on... with a so hot weather. That is because appearance is
important in Thai society, it can reveal the status of the person. On the opposite point
Thai people are always puzzled by foreign tourists who wear so few, so short clothes.
They are really puzzled.

When talking to Thai people for the first time, they always talk about your age, your
family, your job and your wages. First it is surprising but they have no bad idea in mind,
it is just a way to know your status, your rank.

Here are the most common words to say "I" or "YOU". Their use depends on the
interlocutor.

o ฉัน or "CHAN" means "I" with family, wife, husband.

o เธอ or "THEU" means "YOU" with family, wife, husband.
o ผม or "PHOM" means "I" (masculine) with friends, person of higher status.
o ดิฉน
ั or "DICHAN" means "I" (feminine) with friends, person of higher status.
o ค๊ณ or "KHUN" means "YOU" with friends, person of higher status.
o ทูาน or "THAN" means "YOU" with person of really higher status.
o เรา or "RAO" means "I" (feminine) among the young generations.
o แกู or "KAE" means "YOU" with close friends, servants, parents to children or elders
to youth.
o ข้าพระพ๊ทเจ้า or "KHA PHRA PHUTA CHAO" means "YOU" when talking to the
King.
o ก่ or "KU" means "I" used by person of really lower status.
o มึง or "MEUNG" means "YOU" used by person of really lower status.
Foreigners shall not use these two last words as they are really not polite at all. If
foreigners use them with a Thai people, they loose a friend forever.

There is also many different words when talking with sons of the king, daughters of the
king. Different words for five generations. Since King Rama 5, people lost their royal
ranking status after 5 generations.

Vocabulary used when speaking

with a monk is not the same as
everyday vocabulary. Monks
deserve respect. Depending on the
age of the monk different words are
used when talking to a monk.

Thai monks

o หลวงพี่ or "LUANG PHI" means "YOU" with a monk that could be a brother.
o หลวงพูอ or "LUANG PHO" means "YOU" with a monk that could be a father.
o หลวงปู ่ or "LUANG PU" means "YOU" with an old renowned monk.
o หลวงตา or "LUANG TA" ( often a man that did become a monk when he was quite
old ) is less respectful that "LUANG PHO".
o หลวงเถระ or "LUANG THERA" is a Thai word used for a man being a monk for 10
years.
A boy has to be seven years old at least in order to ordain ("BANPHACHA" - บัพชา)
and become a Buddhist novice.

A person who has spent a Lent in monkhood is called "THIT" (ทิด) meaning a
cultivated person who is mature enough to have a family of his own.

Even for monks, the rank and status appear in Buddhist ceremonies. When a group of
monks go for their morning alms walk, the monk with the highest rank and age is at the
front of the line while the youngest monk is at the end.

The end of the sentence is also very important. When speaking with unknown
persons, end of sentence particle shall be used to show politeness. With closed friends
it is not necessary at all. Like words to say "I" or "YOU" there is many end of sentence
particles. Here are the most common.

o ครับ or "KHRAP" is used by masculine person with person of same status. สวัสดี
ครับ is used by men to say hello.
o กระผม or "KHRAPHOM" is used by masculine person with person of higher status.
o คูะ or "KHA" used by feminine person with persons of all status for affirmative
sentences. สวัสดีคูะ is used by ladies to say hello.
o คะ or "KHA" used by feminine person with persons of all status for interrogative
sentences.

Thai society is an image of Thai family. Relations elder-younger are part of Thai
society. The following example shows the relationship between the village chief and the
villagers.

o The village chief is called "PHO BAAN" or พูอบ้าน (father - house)

o The villagers are called "LOOK BAAN" or ล่กบ้าน (children - house)
EVERYDAY LIFE

The following concepts are part of Thai everyday life:

o ใจเย็น or "CHAI YEN" is more a way of life, it is to keep your temper whatever the
situation.

Thai people are educated in the family and in school to keep frustration inside.
Instead of showing their anger toward a problem or situation, Thai people show
"CHAI YEN", i.e. calm or patience.

"CHAI YEN" concept can be seen when Thai people are standing and waiting for
the bus during the hot summer without complaining. To show one's feeling to the
others is not valued in Thai society. Respect of the other is highly valued.
Especially in up-country villages where everybody knows each other, conflicts
are always solved with the help of elderly people or monks. In big cities like
Bangkok it is quite different because nobody knows nobody so behaviours are
changing.

The sentence "CHAI YEN YEN" (ใจเย็นเย็น) is often said when people start
to lose control. It means to calm down.

o ใจร้อน or "CHAI RON" is the opposite of "CHAI YEN", it means to lose temper.

So Thai people keep all their problems inside. Then with no previous warning,
like a pressure cooker that explodes, people can act very violently. Thailand is
well known for crimes related to love. Many women did cut their husband's sex
with a knife because he was infidel. Thailand is supposed to have the best
surgeons for these special treatments. Women did know their husband's infidelity
but one day they could not support it anymore and acted violently without any
previous warning. It is a typical Thai behaviour. An another example happens in
2001 when a German motorcyclist who made an obscene gesture to a van
driver was shot dead by the angry motorist.
o พ่ดประชด or "PHUT PRACHOT" is used when Thai people want to mask their
feelings.

There is no exterior sign that they are angry. They keep it inside. But they can
show it with subtle ways. By refusing or avoiding a direct confrontation with the
person, they speak with an animal or with a child making him remarks that are in
fact dedicated to the other person. They speak loud enough in order that the
concerned person can listen and understand.

o เกรงใจ or "KRENG CHAI" is the concept of respect to the elder or to other people.
"KRENG CHAI""is the way that Thai people try to avoid hurting other people's
feelings.

The elders shall not be criticized at all. For example professors are highly
admired because they represent the knowledge. No students dare to ask a
question that could embarrass the teacher. In Thai schools the pupils learn
lessons by rote repetition. So there are not educated in a way of changing things,
of innovating. There are still conservationists in Thailand and some Thai artists
were obliged to withdraw their paintings due to conservationists threats.

"KRENG CHAI" concept is also valid for monks. During summer 1998,
there was a problem with a monk, who did make a Buddha statue that was not
conforming to the Buddhist rules. Same things for art creation, especially for
religious arts, there is not a total freedom. Students learning abroad bring to
Thailand westerner ways of working, thinking.

o สน๊ก or "SANUK" means "to have fun".

An important thing in everyday life is "SANUK". Thai people love to have fun
together. "SANUK" can represent many things : eat together, to be with friends
and chat, to go out with friends. For Thai people "SANUK" happens with several
persons. When coming back from business, Thai people often ask "was it
funny ?" (สน๊กไหม) before "was it successful ?".
 Going together to the
waterfall is always very
funny. Bring food, beer, ice
cubes, guitar and play in the
fresh water.

Waterfall

In Thailand, the group is more important than the individual. It is linked to

Thailand's agriculture-based culture. An individual belongs to a group, such as
family, institute or social class. These groups dictate who you are, what you are
entitled to, how important you are, and so on. If you do not belong to a group,
you are nobody. Hence, the key is to maintain relationships with others. We have
to be careful not to harm any relationship with the group.

o เกียรติ ์ or "KIET" is the concept of repute. ก้่หน้า or "KU NA" is the concept of
saving face.

Open and direct criticism is not valued in Thai society. One should flatter about
the good qualities instead of saying direct critics. Many foreign bosses did
confront such problems in Thailand. For example after harsh critics, some
employees have pretended to have a sudden headache or their grandmother
have died suddenly. They never came back in the office. Criticism in front of
others employees is not a right thing because if Thai people lose face in front of
other people they might seek revenge.

Thai people always wish to help. Sometimes when looking for a place, it is a
good idea to ask Thai people. Even if they don't know, they indicate a direction.
They would lose face if they say they don't know their country.
o ไมูเป็ นไร or "MAI PEN RAI" means "It doesn't matter".

Thai people can use "MAI PEN RAI" for important or minor issues. Something
important from a foreigner point of view can be seen minor from a Thai point of
view.

Thai people use "MAI PEN RAI" to avoid making other people feel bad. Most of
the time, "MAI PEN RAI" is a response to a problem. For example, a staff
member forgets to bring a report to his manager. This report is not urgent. The
staff member will be able to bring it in the afternoon. The manager will say "MAI
PEN RAI. Bring it later this afternoon".

The first likely reason why Thais are so "MAI PEN RAI" lie in the interpretation
of detachment in Buddhism. Thai people control their feelings by not allowing
their face to show any frustration. They keep them inside to make society
harmonious.

o กินข้าวแล้วหรือยัง means "Have you already eaten ?" same as "How are
you ?" in everyday speech.

Food takes an important part in Thai life. Thai people always talk about it, about
next meal.

o บ๊ญค๊ณ or "BOONKHUN" means reciprocation.

In Thai society, people in contact ask for favours from time to time. It helps to
endorse a relationship. If a Thai people helps another Thai people, it creates
dependancies and the possibility of reciprocation in the future if a favor is asked.
This value creates personal connections and favouritism in both the private
sector and government.

o โชกดี or "CHOK DEE" means "chance".

 Garlands ("DOOK MALAI" -
ดอกมาลัย) are
supposed to bring luck.
Garlands can be found
everywhere in Thailand.
Every driver has got a
garland in his car in order to
avoid misfortune.

Garlands

o Thai people are very superstitious. Odd number are supposed to be

lucky numbers. Lottery tickets with odd numbers are likely appreciated. The number "9"
is supposed to bring good luck. In Thai language number "nine" is closed to the word
"rice" and to the word "to enter". So it is an important word of luck, food, improvement.
For Buddhist ceremonies such as wedding or new shop settlement, nine monks are
always invited. The number "9" is an auspicious number. The number "3" is also an
important number because three multiplies three is nine. So in old times there were
ceremonies for new born babies on the third day and third month of life.
o ข้าว or "KHAO" means "rice". เก้า or "KAO" means "nine". เข้า or
"KHAO" means "to enter".
o ไมูแยแส or "MAI YAE SAE" means indifference.

Thailand is said to be a country of individualists. Thai people don't care a lot

with social organisation. For example, when going working abroad Thai people
must borrow money at high rates. There is no philanthropic organisation that
could help them by lending money at low rates. Many children cannot continue
their studies due to a lack of money. There is no philanthropic organisation that
could help these children. When being adults and working, they would give back
the money and it could be used for another child.

Thai drivers behavior (it frequently happens to see a motorcycle, tuk-tuk or even
cars driving in the wrong way in order to do a detour) and dirty waterfalls filled of
rubbish, broken bottles after a week-end are two examples of Thai indifference.
 o ไปเที่ยวไหน means "Where are you going ?" is same "How are you ?" in everyday
speech.

BODY LANGUAGE

Greeting somebody ( "WAI" - ไหว้ ) is an important action in Thai society.

Greeting

The way to "WAI" depends on the person you greet. The highest rank the person is,
the deepest and lowest your greeting must be. It is not like a hand shaking. People don't
have to answer to it each time. For example if a waiter greets the guests, they don't
have to answer. Answering to his greeting is a fault. The waiter would be embarrassed
and would think the guests are kidding him. Younger people always have to greet first.

Thai society is changing in contact with westerner civilization. Now hand shakes
happen especially in Bangkok. It is smart to act like foreigners. In Thai greeting there
are no contact between bodies. The "WAI" is a greeting with no physical contact.

When dancing ( traditional "RAM WONG" - รำาวง ) there is no physical contact. Only
the hands are moving in a beautiful way in the air. Of course the westerner friendly
punch on shoulder or back is not appreciated. Also head shall not be touched because
it is the most valued part of the body. No one shall be pointed using the foot. It is the
worst insult because the feet are the less valued part of the body. Also holding hands
between girl and boy is not appreciated. On the contrary holding hands between girls or
between boys is tolerated because it is a sign of friendship. Of course a kiss in the
street in front of everybody is not imaginable. Thai people are shocked. Same for
holding one's arm, put your hand in your girlfriend's (or boyfriend's) jeans rear pocket.
These are not Thai customs. Some Thai people do it but it is only a reaction against
society. It is only a way of shocking the others.

When a gift is offered to Thai people, they always thank but might not open the gift
immediately. It is not an offense. In Thai society, intense joy expression are not shown
to others. So the gift is opened when the person is alone. Anyway if the person doesn't
like the gift, nobody see her disappointment ! But now with the use of foreign customs in
Thai society, the gift is often opened immediately. One thing not to do is to make a joke
about the gift offered by a Thai people. The person might not appreciated the joke
especially if she has searched for the gift during a long time. It is like losing the face in
front of the others.

To show expression such as anger in front of other is not valued. It is the same for
laughs. Especially for women. Most of the time they put the hand before the mouth
when laughing.

TIME

Often problems can happen with Thai people about timetable misunderstandings.
From a Buddhist point of view, time is not so important because before reaching
enlightenment many lives are needed.

Thai Time is divided in five sections :

o เช้า or "CHAO", the morning, from 6 AM to 11 AM.
o บูาย or "BAI", the afternoon, from 1 PM to 3 PM.
o เย็น or "YEN", the beginning of evening, from 4 PM to 6 PM.
o ทู๊ม or "THUM", the evening, from 7 PM to 11 PM.
o ตี or "TI", the night, from 1 AM to 6 AM.
o เที่ียง or "THIENG" means midday.
o เที่ียงคืน or "THIENG KEUN" means midnight.
When using Thai language no confusion is possible. But when using English
language confusion may appear. Thai people often translate the Thai time into English
language but without any English background. So when a Thai person says four o'clock,
it is better to check if it is four o'clock in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening or
the night. No problem with bus, train or plane because timetables are displayed through
international standards (i.e. 24 hours mode).

Thai people don't bother about time as much as foreign people, especially about past
and future. Past is not important. It's over especially bad events. Future is not so
important also. What is important is present, the current time. For future they will see
later.

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CULTURAL SHOCKS

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai Buddhism.

 a Belgium society published an advertising showing a
monk being clasped by a woman. A monk is not
supposed to touch any part of the body of a woman.
So this publicity was removed after the Thai and
Laotian embassies complained about it.

Belgium chocolate

A few years ago when a famous Thai monk was visiting the USA, a woman - new
adept of Buddhism - wanted to kiss the monk to greet him. The bodyguards have to do
their best to protect the monk.

In year 2004, an American company was

selling a Buddha-laden swimsuit on the
Internet. News of the bikini controversy reached
Thailand, where government and military
officials criticized the bathing suit.
 Victoria's secret

Westerner people make advertising, TV commercials, music clips with their own
culture in mind and don't think about cultural conflicts that could happen. In foreign
societies, monk are always seen like quiet, peaceful, undisturbable persons, always
concentrated on meditation. So showing monks having a big fun and forgetting their
rules shows that the product can even disturb them from their ultimate goal.

In year 2004, an Australian shoe company used an

imprint of a Buddha image on the back of shoes,
causing Thailand to register its displeasure.

Ecobuddha

In year 2003 airline Lufthansa has apologised to Thailand for an offending picture in its
magazine showing a woman sitting on a statue of Buddha. The publicity was removed
after the Thai embassy complained about it.
In year 2004 the movie "Hollywood Buddha" poster
depicts the lead actor sitting on top of a bust of Buddha.
The Foreign Ministry has assigned the Thai Consulate in
Los Angeles to raise the issue of the promotional poster
with the movie's producer. To Thai Buddhists, the head
is the most sacred part of the body and is not to be
touched, let alone sat upon.

Hollywood Buddha

The Ministry of Culture plans to launch a "Do and Don't" booklet for foreigners to learn
about Thai culture before coming to the country.

These two old pictures are

offending pictures as these two
men are sitting on a statue of
Buddha.
In 2007 the censorship of controversial scenes in Apichatpong Weerasethakul's film
"Saeng Sattawat" (Syndromes and a Century) has led to a call to liberate Thai films
from state intervention. The film's director refused to cut the scenes and instead agreed
not to screen the film in Thailand at all. The scenes involve the portrayal of monks and
doctors in inappropriate ways, according to censors. Two scenes feature a monk
playing a guitar and a monk playing a game. The Culture Ministry objected to the
scenes.

In 2007 the Culture

Ministry received
complaints about an
American company which
had been advertising
products using the Buddha
as their logo. The image of
the Buddha was displayed
on clothing included
women's strings, men's
underpants, dog warmers
and women's spaghetti-
style tops.

The Philosophy Shop

In year 2008 two German tourists were arrested for having sex on a wall of the
Srisanphet Temple in Ayutthaya. The couple were handed over to police and were fined
Bt500 each before released.

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai culture.

In april 1998 a wife of a north European diplomat slapped the face of a little Thai
boy because he threw water on her evening dress. This happened during the
Songkran feast. Traditionally this ceremony is aimed to pour water into the palms
hands in order that bad actions, bad thoughts flow away with the water. But nowadays
Songkran is better known for the tourist game of throwing water. The wife had to excuse
herself to the family of the little boy.

Thai people are always ready to help. If somebody asks for his way, Thai people might
prefer saying a wrong indication instead of saying they don't know. The concept of
saving face is very important.

To criticise is not popular in Thai society. Thai society is based on harmony,

consensus. In a factory, a boss shall not criticise one staff in front of all employees. It
shall be done with tact with indirect critics and not direct critics. It is the contrary of
western methods. For example teachers are never criticised because they represent the
knowledge.

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai monarchy.

In Thailand, the Royal family is highly worshipped, especially the King Rama 9.
Nobody dare to criticise them. There is even a law for crime de Lèse-Majesté. A few
years ago a foreigner did have big problems when a misunderstanding happened with a
restaurant owner. Disagreeing on the bill, the foreigner did walk on a bank note on
purpose. But on every Thai bank note, there is the King's face! The restaurant owner
gave him a painful correction for this serious offence.

Buddhist enlightenment is reached by using meditation through the mind, so the head.
The head is the most valued part of the body. Of course the King's head is the most
valued. The feet symbolize the attachment to the ground, so the human beings'
suffering. The feet are the lowest part of the body.
 In 2001 a Scottish man could have
been sentenced to death for
allegedly urinating on or near a
picture of the King of Thailand.
Following Thai law, this man faced
Thai death sentence for shameful
exposure. He was finally deported.

500 Baht banknote

A French businessman was charged with lese majeste in year 1994 for uttering an
swearword on a airline after a flight attendant asked him to turn off his reading light to
avoid disturbing a nearby princess.

In year 2006, a drunk Swiss faced jail for royal graffiti. This Swiss man was arrested
for drunkenly defacing portraits of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the revered
monarch's birthday and faced up to 15 years in jail. It was a lese-majeste case. In 2007,
he was sentenced to 10 years in jail but finally His Majesty has granted him a pardon
and he was deported from Thailand.
In year 2007, Thai authorities had blocked the popular
website YouTube, over an insulting video of His Majesty
the King. The video showed pictures of King Bhumibol
Adulyadej with a pair of woman's feet superimposed on
his face.

King

In year 2008, a cabinet minister was forced to resign after he was accused of
offending the King in a speech about the 2006 coup by royalist generals who ousted
former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thai Politicians often use such 'Lese
Majeste' argument to attack each other.

In year 2008, a Thai woman was arrested for refusing to stand as the royal anthem
played in a Bangkok cinema. She could face up to 15 years in prison.

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai behavior.

 Thai people are rarely seen in
swimming suit. They swim with
their pants and tee-shirt. Skin shall
not be dark. A sunbathed skin is
not appreciated by Thai people
because it is the symbol of the
peasant. If one has a skin dark, it
means that he is working outside.
Symbol of beauty is the whiteness.
For Thai people, it is also to do with
their level of self-decency. So in
Thailand foreigners are looking for
sun to get a sunbathed skin -
symbol of nice holidays - but Thai
people try to escape it!

BangSaen beach

Thai people are also puzzled to see topless foreigner women on the beach. A normal
Thai woman will never do this. Two places with a serious contrast are Pattaya and Bang
Saen in Chonburi area. Pattaya is the famous international beach resort dedicated for
foreigners. Bang Saen is a beach resort only frequented by Thai people.

Seeing a Thai woman with an umbrella when the sun is shinning ? In all Asian
countries umbrella is also used to protect against sun.
In year 2007 actress and student Chotiros was rebuked for wearing a
revealing outfit to the Subhanahongsa Awards, Thais version of the
Oscars. She has attracted criticism because she is a liberal arts
student at a leading university. The university rector said its students
should be responsible not only to themselves but to the school and
society. She had to perform community service as part of punishment
meted out by Thammasat University.

Chotiros Suriyawong

The way Thai people close the car doors is different from the foreigner way. In
Thailand doors are closed in order to avoid somebody opening it from the outside. In
westerner countries doors are not closed in order to allow a fast opening in case of an
emergency.

When having a shower, Thai people shall not use the same towel for the whole body.
The correct way is to use one for the upper part (the head) and another for the lower
parts.

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai language.

Some Thai people greet foreigners by saying "Hey you !". From a foreigner point of
view, this is not a polite way to greet people. What will Thai people think if foreigner
greet them with the word "MEUNG" (มึง), i.e. "YOU" used by person of lower social
status. Anyway when they say "Hey you !", Thai people always use a nice smile.

o Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai body language.

 Thai people do not like big effusion, body contact. They don't like to be stared
eye into eye. It is the opposite of western methods.
 Big and loud laughs are not common. Thai women often put their hand in front of
the mouth before laughing.
 Holding hands is fine, but hugging or kissing in public are not acceptable. Love is
barely shown outside home.
 As feet are considered as the lowest valued part of the body, pointing somebody
with a foot is a big mistake. The westerner attitute to put the feet on the desk,
cross over a meal while people are eating are also mistakes. As the head is
considered as the highest valued part of the body, heads should not be touched
except for children.
 Thai smile has several meanings from a greeting, a thank, answer to a greeting,
a way to excuse one-self, a way to not answer and so on... If a lovely Thai girl
smiles at you, it doesn't means that she is fond of you. She might be puzzled by
your clothes, your blond hair and simply by the way you walk. And don't forget
that Thailand is the Land of smiles.
 Some foreigners living in Thailand complain that Thai people often smile at
inappropriate times. To the foreigner, what appears as a smile (no matter that it
is not a happy smile) is seen as the Thai people taking the situation too lightly.
Thai society puts much emphasis on relationships. Thai people want to create a
friendly atmosphere.
 Speaking loudly is not also a typical Thai attitude. Foreigners speaking loudly to
get something or because they are angry won't succeed at all. It will only worsen
the situation.

However customs are evolving fast, notably in Bangkok where more western customs
are adopted.

WEB SITES

o Discover the column of KOMSAN (The Nation). It deals about Thai cultural
differences and subtleties.
o Discover the column of KAT It shows daily life in Thailand through the eyes of a
curious westerner trying to sort out the meaning of it all.
 THAI SCHOOL

During centuries in Thailand, most of schools (โรงเรียน - "RONG RIEN") were

installed inside Buddhist temples. Monks were teaching pupils. Due to Dharma (ธรรม
- teachings of the Buddha) rules, little girls did not have the opportunity to study and
reach a high level. The only alternative was for boys. They had to enter the Sangha
(สังฆ - Buddhist community) and then could study in the Bangkok Buddhist
universities. Only since Rama V (1853 - 1910), school is mandatory for both boys and
girls. Since that time schools are under the state rule. Schools are mandatory from age
6 up to 15.

It is compulsory for children

between the ages of six and fifteen
to attend school in Thailand. After
the mandatory schooling is
completed, attendance rates drop
up to 50 percent, according to
some statistics. Only a small
percentage of students continue
their education beyond secondary
school.

Thai school scouts

But the attendance rate of Thai children attending primary school is still very high. The
attendance rate of Thai middle-school students - measured in 2006 - was 89%,
compared to a world average of 79%. Thai high-school students had an attendance rate
of 65%, compared to a world average of 51%. Meanwhile, the attendance rate of Thai
college students - 41% - was still considered acceptable.

The first six years are called "PATHOM" (ปฐม).

The last six years are called "MATHAYOM"
(มัธยม). It is divided into two sections of three
years.

Thai pupil

Lessons in "PATHOM"'s first year focus on respect toward parents, a green world, to
help each other, to take care about the forests, not to cut trees to avoid floods, to take
care about public belongings, not to forget one's word, to respect Thailand, to listen to
the parents, to dislike robbery, to read in order to have knowledge.
During the 1997 Asian economic
crisis the number of children in
school has not diminished at all, it
has even increased. Some parents
realised that education is the most
important thing.

Thai school

In poor rural area like "ISAN" (อีสาน - northeastern part of Thailand), many children
used to stop going school even before twelve years old. Especially little girls because
parents thought that the girl shall find a husband and therefore no education was
necessary. Also in poor families children stopped learning in order to help their parents
to make a living. Often the older sacrifices him-self to help the younger.

Previously children from rural

villages rarely had the chance to
study many years because their
parents worked on paddy fields.
They wanted the children to stay at
home and to take care about the
house. The children were forced to
stay away from school during rice
farming season because buffaloes
were not allowed to wander in the
fields. They would ruin and eat the
crops.

Thai school pupils

 If their parents don't have enough money, the children cannot go to school. Sometimes
parents cannot afford to purchase school uniforms - white shirts, blue trousers or skirts,
white socks - and take their children out of school rather than lose face by having their
child go to school without uniform.

Some remote hill tribes villages

don't have official governmental
schools. Hopefully such village
schools, mixing children with
different ages, teach the basis to
pupils.

Thai Karen village school

Some Northern temple schools give free education to poor young hilltribe people as
many remote ethnic minorities are neglected. In older time, schools were in temples.
Sometimes, when governmental schools were established, monks still teach but
received no salary from the government.

In year 1999 more transparence

was asked about the Grade 1
entrance exam results. Some
universities or private schools
refuse to give them. Some say
bribes ("tea money") allow
entrance, no matter what test
scores they achieve..
 Thai school pupils

In 1999 a revolution in Thai education was announced for year 2000. There shall be
freedom of choice of subjects to study, and no more mandatory textbooks. The radical
changes are to switch the emphasis from rote learning to developing creativity and a
questioning mind.

In Thai society children are highly

valued. In a bus, a person gives his
seat to a child but not necessarily
to an old person. It is contrary of
foreign view.

Thai school feast

Since year 1999 provisions for the state to provide 12 years of free basic education
won the legislature's approval. Lawmakers agreed the state must provide free
compulsory education for nine years, and another three years of free schooling for
those who wish to further their studies. In 2001 teachers and school executives who
succeed in changing their teaching methods to suit the new learner-centred education
may be paid bonuses. Thailand's new syllabuses for 12-year compulsory education,
which would be officially used in year 2002, emphasise understanding, not rote
learning.
 Thai classrooms are large with classes of 50
students or more.

Thai school pupil

Qualified teachers are found to be concentrated in elitist schools due to better

salaries. There is a problem distributing teachers with similar educational backgrounds
and experience as well as learning materials to schools in remote areas.
A Thai superstition says that adults shall not drink or
food left by their children as they will not be afraid of
parental authority anymore.

Thai school pupil

In year 2010 test results in Thai schools have shown a failure rate of more than 80
per cent in mathematics, biology and computer studies among the teachers. More than
84 000 teachers and school directors took the exams, the first of their kind. The poor
results have ignited controversy about educational standards.
 Many feasts happen in Thai
schools such as Sport day,
Teacher's day, Children's Day, the
Queen's day and so on... The
Children's Day features child-
centred activities, most of which
were to encourage the creativity
and skills of children as well as to
support the underprivileged.

Thai school feast

Teachers Day (วันคร่) is an occasion for pupils to make merit for their teachers.
Teachers are highly worshipped in Thailand for their knowledge. Pupils don't dare to
embarrass their teachers. This day happens on the 16th January.

Holidays for children are of course

during summer. But in Thailand
summer (or hot season) is during
months April and May.

Thai school
 Thai alphabet is quite difficult for young Thai
children. It takes a few years to master the whole
alphabet, read and write.

Thai alphabet book

ONE DAY AT SCHOOL

Every morning, Thai pupils need to

line up before the flagpole. They
have to listen to the head teacher
and show respect to the Thai flag.
Pupils have to stand up very
straight while singing the Thai
national anthem.
 Thai village school

In the early morning, the head

teacher is making a speech and
ask witty questions to the children.
These questions can be related to
everyday life (Buddhist festival
etc...)

Thai temple school

School girls and boys are standing

in rows and line up before the flag
pole. The Thai flag is hoisted at 8
AM sharp.

Thai temple school

Children show respect to the flag and are standing up very straight while singing the
Thai national anthem.
 A pupil is singing the Thai national
anthem. Another pupil is saying
Buddhist auspicious sentences.

Thai temple school

Happy school children are waiting

for their teacher who is late today.
In village school, it is acceptable for
a teacher to arrive late if he was
present and helping at a temple fair
the previous night!

Thai temple school

 Tooth brushes with individual name
are present in each classroom.
Children need to remove shoes
when entering into the school
building. They put the shoes in
front of the classroom wall.

Thai temple school

In the evening around 4 PM, pupils

are standing in rows again. The
head teacher says a few sentences
and then releases them. It is time
to go home.

Thai temple school

 Many parents are waiting for their kids and bring them
home by riding a motorbike. Many children have to do
their homework by them-selves.

Thai temple school

Some children can go back home

thanks to the shuttle bus provided
by the village.

Thai temple school

Click to see more
pictures
 LIBRARY
ThaiWorldView website focuses on Thai culture and Thai society. ThaiWorldView
pages are based on own experience about Thailand but also on various readings from
Thai newspapers and books. Please find below ThaiWorldView Thai books database
classified by genre.

 Tourism
 Novel
 Culture
 Buddhism
 Language
 Economy
 Society
 Photography
 Cinema

THAI TOURISM BOOKS

 o Author: William Warren, Paul Chesley
o Publisher: Les Editions du Pacifique
o Isbn: 981-3018-18-6
o Year: 1994
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Tourism

Bangkok

Summary: William Warren is American. He is living in Bangkok since 1960. He

has written more than 20 books about Thailand. Paul Chesley likes photographing
everyday life and Asian culture.

o Author: Folker Reichert

o Publisher: Editions J.C. Lattes
o Isbn: 90-05-45-1831-2
o Year: First Edition, 1990
o Language: French
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande L'Iconotheque

Summary: Aux "Pays des hommes libres", les somptueux temples de Bouddha
voisinent avec les maisons des esprits nichées dans les arbres; en Thailande - terre du
lotus et du pavot -, l'on passe des montagnes ravinées par la mousson aux grandes
plages de sable blanc ombragees par les cocotiers... Du chatoiement sagran des robes
des moines à l'or des statues, du sourire d'une enfant akha à la pierre burinée d'un
monument khmer, decouvrez l'authentique royaume de Thailande attachant, insolite,
troublant.

o Author: Luca Invernizzi, Alberto Cassio,

William Warren
o Publisher: Times Edition
o Isbn: 981-204-036-6
o Year: Third Printing, 1995
o Language: French
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande Vue du Ciel

Summary: Vu du ciel, le paysage de la Thailande est une étude fascinante de

contrastes et de motifs: des colonnes de ruines décapitées se tendant vers le ciel, des
immeubles blancs reluisants dominant un labyrinthe metropolitain, des vallées se
cachant parmi des montagnes brumeuses, des rivages enchanteurs bordés par une
mer translucide, des motifs formes par des rizières aussi vieilles que la nation et des
agglomerations urbaines flambant neuves. 'Thailande Vue du Ciel' vous emmene dans
une extraordinaire tournée au-dessus d'un pays extraordinaire.
 o Author: Jorg Modrow, Jochen Mussig
o Publisher: Vilo
o Isbn: 2-7191-0350-0
o Year: First Edition, 1997
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande

Summary: Villes royales, temples et sanctuaires, montagnes isolées et

monasteres, jungles impénétrables et plages de reve, la Thailande enchante ses
visiteurs par la richesse de ses merveilles naturelles et de ses trésors culturels.

o Author: Christine Le Diraison, Patrick de

Wilde
o Publisher: Editions Atlas
o Isbn: 2-7312-0855-4
o Year: First Edition, 1990
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande des Bonzes

Summary: L'ame de la Thailande est le bouddhisme. Il a faconne le caractère du

pays. C'est lui qui le guide aujourd'hui. C'est pourquoi nous avons choisi de vous faire
découvrir ce fascinant pays, dans ses lieux les plus secrets et ses aspects les plus
intimes, a travers la vie typique des hommes en robe safran. Beauté, courtoisie,
delicatesse, harmonie et tolérance impregnent leurs actes.

o Author: Steve Van Beek

o Publisher: Minerva
o Isbn: 2-83-070269-7
o Year: First Edition, 1995
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande Le royaume des temples d'or

Summary: C'est le pays des femmes souriantes, des temples d'or, des
gigantesques bouddhas et de l'immense et inquiétante Bangkok, mais c'est aussi celui
des plages de sable fin, de la nature vierge, des impénétrables forets pluviales. La
Thailande est un kaléidoscope d'images, d'histoire et d'émotions, une nation aux mille
visages, en plein coeur de l'Asie.

o Author: Suzanne Held, Yves-guy

Berges
o Publisher: Herme Sun
o Isbn: 2-85099-065-5
o Year: 1994
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande
 Summary: Peu de pays au monde exercent, avant le contact, une telle
fascination, distillent apres, une telle nostalgie. A quoi cela tient-il?

o Author: Guides Voir

o Publisher: Hachette
o Isbn: 2-01-243422-3
o Year: 2001
o Language: French
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande

Summary: Les guides qui montrent ce que les autres racontent.

o Author: Joe Cummings, Richard

Nebesky
o Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
o Isbn: 2-84070-030-1
o Year: Second French Edition, 1995
o Language: French
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Tourism

Lonely Planet: Thailande

Summary: Culture ancienne aux multiples facettes, longue tradition d'amitié et

d'hospitalité, rizières verdoyantes, exotisme de ses iles, raffinement de sa cuisine: la
Thailande saura vous seduire! Ce guide, universellement salué par la critique, fournit
toutes les informations indispensables aux voyageurs indépendants.

o Author: Joe Cummings

o Publisher: Lonely Planet
o Isbn: 0-86442-728-x
o Year: 2000 - Second Edition
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailand's Islands and Beaches

Summary: Whether you're seeking deserted beaches, wild nightlife or the best
dive sites, this is the essential guide to Thailand's enchanting coastal regions.

o Author: Marc Schultz, Jean-Marie

Boelle
o Publisher: Vilo
o Isbn: 978-2-7191-0846-8
o Year: 2006
o Language: French
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande, Un gout de paradis

Summary: Symbole de l'ouverture du monde au voyage, la Thailande, qui

accueille des millions de visiteurs par an, conserve son parfum d'aventure et son
légendaire sourire à fleur de montagnes, de fleuves et de plages. C'est de son exigence
que nait sa noblesse. Au carrefour des grandes civilisations asiatiques, elle se montre,
depuis toujours, jalouse et fière d'une indépendance en forme de vie. A l'originalité
d'une culture bien a lui, l'ancien royaume du Siam ajoute la richesse d'une nature en
joie. L'une et l'autre procure des émotions rares. Economiquement fievreux,
philosophiquement serein, le pays, à la fois fourmi et cigale, est déjà demain et encore
hier. Sous des ciels lumineux, nous y cheminons au-devant de jungles mystérieuses, de
temples d'or, d'iles paradisiaques, mais aimerions-nous tant la beauté de l'image sans
cette population si courtoise, si délicate, qui nous prend la main, et, sentinelle ardente
de tous les bonheurs, nous entraine au Paradis?

o Author: Unseen Planet

o Publisher: Unseen Plane
o Isbn: 9-7897-4770-6-67-3
o Year: 2007
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Tourism

Best paradises in Thailand

Summary: Discover the Best Paradises in Thailand by exploring the captivating

splendor of 70 finest resorts in prime locations throughout Thailand. This collection
allows you the chance to enjoy quality time with family and friends, gather a lifetime of
memories, and experience the timeless natural wonders of this magnificient kingdom.
 o Author: Herve Beaumont
o Publisher: Editions Marcus
o Isbn: 2-7131-0021-6
o Year: 1991
o Language: French
o Rate: 4/7

o Type: Tourism

Thailande

Summary: La Thailande ne decevra pas. Pays des temples dores, des bouddhas
magnifiques, des moines en robe saffran, des soies opulentes, des orchidees, des
elephants et des iles aux plages vierges, elle offrira en plus l'inoubliable sourire de ses
habitants.

ThaiWorldView Tourism library contains 13 items.

ThaiWorldView library contains 113 items.

THAI CULTURE BOOKS

 o Author: William J. Klausner
o Publisher: The Siam Society
o Isbn: 974-8298-22-1
o Year: Fourth Edition, 1993
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Reflections on Thai culture

Summary: William J. Klausner's love and understanding of Thailand have made

him an effective bridge between the cultures of the East and the West. This book of
collected articles is an eloquent summary of the author's efforts to achieve
understanding and rapport and overcome conflict and tension resulting from the contact
of different cultures.

o Author: William J. Klausner

o Publisher: The Siam Society
o Isbn: 974-8298-38-8
o Year: First Edition, 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Thai culture in Transition

Summary: William J. Klausner's love and understanding of Thailand have made

him an effective bridge between the cultures of the East and the West. This book is
mainly concerned with cultural transition and transformation and is thus a logical
extension of the author's Reflections on Thai culture which focused on traditional
patterns of Thai culture.

o Author: ส๊ภักดิ ์ อน๊ก่ล

o Publisher:
o Isbn: 974-507-006-8
o Year: Third Edition, 1994
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

วันสำาคัญของไทย

Summary: This book gives deep explanation on Thai important days such as
public holidays, religious days, administration days.

o Author: Carol Hollinger

o Publisher: Asia Books Co
o Isbn: 974-8303-03-9
o Year: 1995
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Mai Pen Rai means Never Mind

 Summary: An American housewife's host love affair with the Irrepressible people
of Thailand.

o Author: P.C. Roy Chaudhury

o Publisher: Learners Press
o Isbn: 81-71810266-x
o Year: 1995
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Folk tales of Thailand

Summary: Folk takes of Thailand have a unique affinity with those of India. This
is because the Thais have preserved and followed many Indian traditions, which the
Indian have lost or are in the process of losing. Folk takes play an important role in Thai
culture, and the Thai attitudes and values of life are well expressed in them.

o Author: Thanapol Chadchaidee

o Publisher: Chulalongkorn University
Press
o Isbn: 974-632-638-4
o Year: Seventh Edition, 1999
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Essays on Thailand
 Summary: ...the essays inside are the most informative stories ever written by
the Thai authors. Moreover, the book can be used not only for further reference but also
for enhancing general knowledge about Thailand, especially for foreign visitors who
want to become acquainted with local situations and the Thai way of life...

o Author: Matti Sarmela

o Publisher:
o Isbn: 952-91-9353-x
o Year: 2005
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Laws of destiny never disappear: Culture

of Thailand in the Postlocal World

Summary: The book is a descriptive overview of the culture of the villages. It

contains material on the villagers' housing, rice farming and other means of livelihood,
community life, festivals, weddings, funerals, sorcerers and healers, as well as village
Buddhism. The author draws surprising parallels between the worldviews of peoples of
Thailand and Finland, the past and future of local cultures. The book also speaks
through the voices of villagers themselves and village monks. They describe the
everyday lives of local people, and how they cope under conditions of a constant flux of
change, what they think about life, the future, and the fate of human beings after death.

o Author: Robert & Nanthapa Cooper

o Publisher: Times Books International
o Isbn: 981-204-157-5
o Year: Third Edition, 1990
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture
 Culture Shock! Thailand

Summary: Whether for a long-term stay or a lazy weekend, Culture Shock!

Thailand will provide you with a fun-filles crash course on the do's and don'ts, through
topics such as language, food and entertaining, social customs, festivals, relationships,
helpful business tips, as well as explanations of daily sights and scenes that might
confuse or deter the visitor from a desire to learn and live with surroundings that are
sometimes alien and uncomfortable.

o Author: Denis Segaller

o Publisher: Post Books
o Isbn: 974-202-006-x
o Year: Third Edition, 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Thai ways

Summary: Denis Segaller grew so fond of Thailand that he decided to make it his
permanent home. He married a Thai, switched careers to a newspaper writer at the age
of 59, and soon afterwrads, somewhat to his surprise, suddenly became a Buddhist.
This book is a collection of his writing in his regular weekly column "Thai Ways" which
appeared in the now defunct BangkokWorld from 1975-1985.
 o Author: Denis Segaller
o Publisher: Post Books
o Isbn: 974-202-034-5
o Year: Second Edition, 1995
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

More Thai ways

Summary: More Thai ways, a sequel to Thai Ways, is a collection of the latest
and most memorable articles from the author's weekly column in the former Bangkok
World. Together they represent the reader with a fascinating background to Thailand
and the Thai way of life. The weekly "Thai Ways" column stopped in 1985.

o Author: Katherine Tosi

o Publisher: BangkokPost
o Isbn:
o Year: 2000
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Kat's Window

Summary: It shows daily life in Thailand through the eyes of a curious westerner
trying to sort out the meaning of it all. The weekly "Kat's Window" column stopped in
2002.
 o Author:
o Publisher:
o Isbn: 974-86695-9-9
o Year: 1998
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

ประเพณี พ้ ืนบ้าน ตำานานพื้นเมือง

Summary: Many Thai traditions are deeply explained such as wedding, Phi Ta
Khon, Monk ordination, playing kites, hunting cat fishes, ฝั งล่กนิ มิต, พิธีบูายศรีสู่ขวัญ...

o Author: Philip Cornwell-Smith

o Publisher: River Books
o Isbn: 974-9863-00-3
o Year: 2005
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Very Thai - Everyday Popular Culture

Summary: A pioneering celebration of Thai pop and folk culture, Very Thai delves
beyond the traditional icons to reveal the everyday expressions of Thainess that so
delight and puzzle. Through colourful text and 500 quicky photos, explore the country's
alternative sights, from truck art and taxi altars to buffalo cart furniture and drinks in
bags. The Siamese blend of finess with fun resounds through home and street, bar and
spa, fashion and music. See how ancient ideas infuse modern trends, whether cute or
occult, undeground or on TV. And discover how imports got customised into the tuk-tuk,
the poodle bush and neo-classical shophouses. You'll never look at Thailand the same
way again.

o Author: Daniel Ziv, Guy Sharett

o Publisher: Equinox
o Isbn: 979-97964-6-6
o Year: 2005
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Bangkok inside out

Summary: A teeming, chaoticmetropolis of ten million, Bangkok has long been

subjected to endless cliches and over-exoticized imagery. Bangkok inside out makes
sense of all the madness, leading readers on a humorous, no-holds-barred journey
through the real Bangkok. Like the city itself, this book is packed with idiosyncrasies,
inside scoops and outrageous anecdotes, exposing Bangkok's charm and quicks with
irreverent prose and striking photography. From soi dogs to street food, lotteries to
ladyboys, traffic to tabloids and gambling to gem scams, Bangkok inside out is an
illuminating pop culture exploration of life in Thailand's frenzied capital.
 o Author: Seri Phongphit, Kevin Hewison
o Publisher: White Lotus
o Isbn: 9-7475-3492-4
o Year: 2001
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Village life - Culture and Transition in

Thailand's Northeast

Summary: This book deals with Thailand's Northeast - Isan. The region is a large
and populous area that, despite ever-closer integration with the Thai nation and great
cultural diversy, retains its distinctiveness. This book provides insights into village life in
an accessible format and style. It explains the esence of village life in the Northeast,
showing how this has changed under the pressures of centralisation and economic
development. The focus is on popular wisdom as displayed in the dynamics of daily life,
the villagers' special occasions, their religious and cultural rites, rituals, festivals and
celebrations, their work and entetainment, and their moments of joy and grief. As the
pace of change has accelerated, so the struggle for self-reliance has become more
difficult.
 o Author: Mike Smith and Robin Hayes
o Publisher: Musicline Publications
o Isbn: 1-898754-23-3
o Year: 2000
o Language: English
o Rate: 4/7

o Type: Culture

Bangkok Angel

Summary: Over fifty percent of marriages in the UK end in divorce! Dating/

marriage agencies have never had it so good. Many middle aged lonely divorcees turn
to such agencies in desperation to kick start their lives. One such lonely, downtrodden
man was Mike. At forty-eight and living with two children, two cats, two chinchillasm one
dog and a cocateil with perfect pitch, he felt the need to look for a new partner before all
his hair and teeth fell out. So, armed with a bottle of light oak hair colour and aftershave
that was guaranteed to be alluring, he began a journey that would eventually take him to
the other side of the world in his search for a new wife.

o Author: Majupuria
o Publisher: Tecpress Service, L.P.
o Isbn: 9-7487-4525-2
o Year: 1993
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Erwan Shrine and Brahma worship in

 Thailand

Summary: The book deals with some of the Hindu deities of Thailand with special
reference to the Erawan shrine of Bangkok, consecrated to lord Brahma. There are 22
small chapters, besides select references. The author has described from the origin of
Erawan worship to Thailand to the various facets of hinduism and Buddhism in different
chapters, besides the mode of worship dances, music etc. at the Erawan Shrine. The
author also traces the association of elephants woth Lord Brahma, the signifiance of
lotus flower, symbolism of swan, Brahma's family, Brahma worship in India and Nepal
etc.

o Author: Siraporn Nathalang

o Publisher: Chulalongkorn University
Press
o Isbn: 974-346-046-2
o Year: 2000
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Thai Folklore - Insights into Thai Culture

Summary: I hope that these materials will help the students and those interested
understand Thai society from the angle of Thai folklore. I think this is perhaps the first
time that research papers on Thai folklore written in English are put together as a
volume, and it is also the first time to have a book on Thai Studies viewed from the
aspects of Thai folklore.
 o Author: Andrew Forbes, David Henley
o Publisher: Teak House
o Isbn: 1-876437-03-0
o Year: 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Khon Muang: People and Principalities of

North Thaland

Summary: The Khon Muang, or "People of the Principalities", inhabit the hills and
valley of Northern Thailand - formerly known as Lan Na, or the "Kingdom of a Million
Rice Fields". In times past the people of the north spoke a different language to the
central Thais. They dressed differently, women wore their hair long in contrast to the
cropped fashion of Bangkok, and the men covered their bodies with tattoos to ward of
sickness and injury in times of war. The Golden Age of the Lanna Kingdom was in the
13th-15th centuries, when Chiang Mai, the region's capital, treated on equal terms with
Siam, Burma, Laos and even distant Sri Lanka. then came Burmese conquest, Siamese
invasion, and subequent cultural domination by Bangkok. In recent years, amid signs of
a general cultural rebirth, the Khon Muang have started to rediscover their past.
 o Author: Michael Freeman
o Publisher: River Books
o Isbn: 974-8225-27-5
o Year: 2001
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture

Lanna Thailand's Northern Kingdom

Summary: The country that we now refer to as Thailand only achieved its present
form in the nineteenth century. Beofre that, there florished Lanna (meaning 'one million
rice fields'), a region whose documented history began in the eight century; in 1931 it
was incorporated into Siam and ceased to exist as a political entity, but its cultural
influences is far reaching. Taking the region valley by valley, the author explains how
the principal cities and sites developed, but most importantly, he provides a fascinating
guide to Thailand's northern kingdom as it is nowadays - all accompanied by stunning
photography.

o Author: William E.Wormsley

o Publisher: Isan Books
o Isbn: 974-272-360-5
o Year: 2000
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture

Thailights - Bright Spots in an American

 Fulbright Year

Summary: Bill Womsley went to Thailand as a Fulbright Scholar in 1989. He

taught Anthropology at Silpakorn University in Bangkok. Over the course of the next
year he came to know and love the people and culture of Thailand. With faculty and
student colleagues from Silpakorn, he visited towns, cities, and rural villages thoughout
Thailand, including an extended trip through Isan where he and a group of Chinese
photographers followed the course of the Mekong river along Thailand's northeastern
borders. He attended weddings, funerals, cremations and festivals. He conducted
research aimed at understanding the urban adaptations of migrants from rural Isan as
they brought their hopes and lives to Bangkok. He focused on activities of tutuk and taxi
drivers, sidewalk food vendors, and go-go dancers. As an anthropologist he participated
in their lives, as they did in his. Thailights is the story of that year and the people and
activities that led the author to be seduced by Siam.

o Author: Amara Pongsapich

o Publisher: Chulalongkorn University
Press
o Isbn: 974-636-970-9
o Year: 1998
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Traditional and Changing Thai World View

Summary: The editor and authors expect this volume to merely provide
background on Thai society and culture for new students and those who recently
become interested in the field. The book is interdisciplinary and consist of diverse topics
such as traditional Buddhist World View, Traditional but Changing World View,
Contemporary WorldView and Value Systems.
 o Author: Suthon Sukphisit
o Publisher: Post Books
o Isbn: 974-202-027-2
o Year: 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Folk arts and folk culture: The Vanishing

Face of Thailand

Summary: With a few exceptions, most of the stories as indicated by the title of
the book deal with the disappearing local craftmanship and local communities in
Thailand. With his simple downright style, the author touches the life of the grass roots
who hardly have a place in the history. From remote villages, he puts the modern artists
on the pedestal. From forgotten back rooms, he brought their work to light.

o Author: Mont Redmond

o Publisher: Redmondian Insight
Enterprises
o Isbn: 974-86270-4-7
o Year: 1998
o Language: English
o Rate: 3/7

o Type: Culture

Wondering in Thai culture

 Summary: This book explores many issues mean from a Thai point of view.
Newcomers and tourists will encounter nuggests of information and insight that may
help make their stay interesting and more enjoyable. Those who have lived here a few
years already may profit from explanations of Thai behaviour and attitudes that
constantly baffle them. Long-term resident of the Kingdom will find plenty of matter
intended to provoke their laughter, tears, sneers, or vehement agreement.

o Author:
o Publisher:
o Isbn: 974-7524-33-3
o Year: 1996
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

ประเพณี พิธีมงคลสำาคัญของไทย

Summary: This book gives deep explanation on Thai important festivals in all 4
regions, i.e. North, Central, South and Northeast.

o Author: Kujie Ho
o Publisher: Asia One Printing Ltd
o Isbn:
o Year: 2004
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture
Tastes of Thailand in Hong Kong and
Macau

Summary: This book is offering an introduction to Thai food and a

comprehensive list of Thai restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau.

o Author: Robert Cooper

o Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Editions
o Isbn: 9-7898-1261-4
o Year: 2007
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Thailand Beyond the Fringe

Summary: This book is written to entertain. The author is convinced that the
flavour of Thai society can only really be appreciated when taken with a large dose of
salty humour. This humour is capriciously directed at many of the thoughts, goals,
interpretations and preconceptions the expatriate in Thailand wittingly or unwittingly
brings from home and carries with him in situation involving Thais. Some of his excess
baggage serves no useful function and encumbers a smooth path to integration. The
author invites the reader to lighten up by lightening that load and brings his lifelong
experience with Thailand and the Thais to focus on those areas of Thai culture that
most trouble or confuse a foreigner, even one living in the country for several years.
This book is written principally for the expatriate who is in Thailand for the long haul.
 o Author: Pornpimol Senawong
o Publisher: Samaphan Publishing Co
o Isbn: 9-7897-4641-1
o Year: 2006
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Culture

Thai ties

Summary: Social customs and cultural traits that ties all Thais together. With as
many as 62 concise but complete topics related to Thai social custom and cultural traits,
the book provides non-Thai readers with the background knowledge they need to
understand Thailand and Thai people.

o Author:
o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 1995
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture

พระรถเมรี

Summary: This is a Thai Folklore story.

 o Author:
o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 1995
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture

สังข์ทอง

Summary: This is a Thai Folklore story.

o Author: Tanistha Danslip and

Michael Freeman
o Publisher: Periplus
o Isbn: 9-7896-2593-7
o Year: 2002
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Culture

Things Thai

Summary: From the soaring chedis of Sukhothai to the homes of ordinary village
people, Thailand offers a plethora of arts and crafts of an exceptionally high quality. Be
they items created for royalty and wealthy patrons, devotional objects made in the
service of Buddhism, or simply rural crafts of daily life, they offer insight into Thai culture
and customs. Photographed entirely in Thailand, the objects showcased range from
elegant lacquerware and mother-of-pearl inlay pieces, to woodcarvings and decoration
 in monasteries, to day-to-day items such as homespun textiles, farming implements and
basketry.

o Author: Dr. Iain Corness

o Publisher: Editions Bamboo Sinfonia
o Isbn: 978-616-7111-02-5
o Year: 2007
o Language: French
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Culture

Farang - La Thailande a travers les yeux

d'un expat

Summary: Dr. Iain Corness fell in love with Thailand while on holiday there in
1975, and finally managed to move there permanently in 1997. As a settled farang, or
foreigner, he enjoys a unique perspective on Thai life and all its eccentricities; looking in
from the outside while also getting to see the things most foreigners don't. Like all good
doctors and authors, Corness provides comfort for the aches and pains of ex-pat life.
His stories and anecdotes are full of the joys of life, and celebrate this exotic and
exciting land in all its glory, with painfully funny observations. From a date with a fortune
teller to tales of a reincarnated squid, Corness revels in the chaos and charm of 'the
only country where you can be run over by a shop.' This is a book to be enjoyed by
tourists and Thai people alike.

ThaiWorldView Culture library contains 32 items.

ThaiWorldView library contains 113 items.

 THAI SOCIETY BOOKS

o Author: Erik Cohen

o Publisher: White Lotus
o Isbn: 974-8496-65-1
o Year: First Edition, 1996
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

THAI TOURISM: Hill Tribes, Islands and

Open-Ended Prostitution

Summary: Thai Tourism: Hill Tribes, Islands and Open-Ended Prostitution brings
together almost two decades of Erik Cohen's studies on different aspects of tourism in
Thailand. A broad introductory review of the principal recent trends and transformations
in Thai tourism is followed by in-depth studies of three tourist domains: ethnic tourism in
the hill tribe area of northern Thailand, vacationing tourism on the islands of southern
Thailand and sex tourism in Bangkok. These studies are based on extensive field work
and set within the theorical framework of contemporary sociology of tourism, on which
the author is a leading expert.
 o Author: Guido Franco
o Publisher: Autrement
o Isbn: 2-86260-297-3
o Year: Third Edition, 1992
o Language: French
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Thailande: Les larmes de Bouddha

Summary: Thailande, pays de reves, de pagodes, de Bouddhas, d'enfants

souriants. Cliche 1. Et si les pagodes aux toits dorés, les Bouddhas en méditation, les
étangs aux fleurs de lotus disparaissaient dans une gigantesque poubelle de déchets
urbains? Si les enfants souriants devaient quitter leur foyer pour survivre et etre parfois
vendus au plus offrant?... Cliche 2. La Thailande telle qu'on la reve serait-elle morte ou
n'a-t-elle jamais existé que dans l'imagination de voyageurs nostalgiques? Dialogue
totalement inédit entre un auteur farang et de nombreux observateurs Thailandais, ce
numero refuse de répondre à une question aussi naive. Il prefere l'aborder de biais en
décrivant, entre les lignes, la Thailande telle qu'elle est aujourd'hui pour ceux qui y
vivent, délivrée des mythes et des clichés. Villes, campagnes, frontières. Images de
l'exode rural, de l'affairisme, d'une démocratie a demi-cuite, mais partout une étrange
sagesse, sabai-sabai pu le bonheur d'etre Thai, l'ame en paix. Le regard inattendu,
ironique, décapant d'écrivains, journalistes et chercheurs Thais.
 o Author: Niels Mulder
o Publisher: Editions Duang Kamol
o Isbn: 974-210-511-1
o Year: Fourth Edition, 1994
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society

INSIDE THAI SOCIETY: An Interpretation

of Everyday life

Summary: This book is about the ways the Thais perceive and handle their social
life. It identifies the basic classifications that, in their elaboration, give meaning and
order to existence and that make life in Thai society eminently reasonable. As such this
book constitutes an original contribution to developing the 'logic' of Thai life, that is, its
indigenous cultural theory of action.

o Author: Siriporn Skrobanek, Nataya

Boonpakdee, Chutima Jantateero
o Publisher: Zed Books Ltd
o Isbn: 1-85649-527-2
o Year: First Edition, 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

The traffic in Women: Human Realities of

the International Sex Trade
 Summary: A serious violation of human rights, the trafficking of women generates
huge profits for those involved in it. This book explores the nature, extent and reasons
for the global traffic in women.

o Author: Pira Suddham

o Publisher: Shire Books
o Isbn: 974-89123-4-5
o Year: Seventh Edition, 1994
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

People of Easarn

Summary: An act of bribery, take bribes, buying votes, using corrupt practices,
stealing donated funds; moral detorioration. A theme which Pira Sudham has deeply
explored in his books. What must be told has been written with eloquence and in a most
human and touching way so that millions of people in remote villages of Thailand will
not live unnoticed and die in vain. Pira Sudham was nominated for the 1990 Nobel Prize
of Literature. He speaks on behalf of the people of Esarn, one of Thailand's most
economically and politically disadvantaged regions.
 o Author: Cleo Odzer
o Publisher: Book Siam
o Isbn: 1-55970-281-8
o Year: First Edition, 1994
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

Patpong sisters

Summary: Cleo Odzer, a young American anthropologist, spent three years

studying Bangkok's red-light district, Patpong, an area of a few blocks teeming with bars
and explicit sex-shows. Odzer got to know the bar girls, the bar boys, and their varied
entourages. She gained their confidence, interviewed them at length, lived among them,
and accompanied some of them home to vist their families - whom they often supported
- in the isolated countryside, where theywere idolized.

o Author: Sumalee Bumroongsook

o Publisher: Chulalongkorn University
Press
o Isbn: 974-632-638-4
o Year: First Edition, 1995
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

Love and Marriage: Mate selection in

twentieh-century central Thailand
 Summary: The aim of this study is to examine in some detail the conventions of
mate selection among various groups in Central Thailand from 1900 to the present. The
sutdy focus on a comparison of mate-selecting methods among different social classes,
between urban and rural populations, and between genders.

o Author: Jean-Pierre Predagne

o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 1999
o Language: French/Thai
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

L'amour, la famille au miroir de la langue

Thai

Summary: Jean-Pierre Predagne is doing an ethno-linguistic exploration inside

Thai language on love and family topics.

o Author: Jean-Pierre Predagne

o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 1997
o Language: French/Thai
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Panorama du monde sacre au miroir de la

 langue Thai

Summary: Jean-Pierre Predagne is doing an ethno-linguistic exploration inside

Thai language on sacred topics such as Royalty, Buddhism, celeste world, spirits,
magic...

o Author: Jean-Pierre Predagne

o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 1999
o Language: French/Thai
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Le monde de l'individu au miroir de la

langue Thai

Summary: Jean-Pierre Predagne is doing an ethno-linguistic exploration inside

Thai language on individual, family, society, behavior topics.

o Author: Bruce D. Missingham

o Publisher: Silkworm Books
o Isbn: 9-7495-7528-8
o Year: 2003
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society
The assembly of the poor in Thailand

Summary: This book chronicles the development of a national protest movement,

analyzing its origins, strategies, and goals within the context of a growing democratic
and civil society. Using an anthorpological approach, Bruce Missingham bases his
research on ethnographic fieldwork among the men and women who participate in the
Assembly, including a broad spectrum of villagers, village leaders, and NGO activists.
He explores the processes underlying mass mobilization and the social construction of
protest, discusses the contradictions and conflicts that have arisen, and considers the
degree of participation and democracy within the grassroot movement.

o Author: Sudassa Onkom

o Publisher: Sahadhammika Co
o Isbn: 974-8239-65-9
o Year: Second Edition, 2000
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society

The Price of a Life

Summary: I thought the simple story of a couple of slum-dwelling Bangkok boys

and their adventures on the streets of Bangkok, renowed for their horrendous traffic and
pollution, was an interesting window on a part of life few westerners have a chance to
see at close quarters. The gist of the story is that, regardless of what life has in store for
us, a good moral background is always a more stable foundation on which to build life.
 o Author: Ji Ungpakorn
o Publisher: Arom Pongpangan
Foundation
o Isbn: 974-89451-0-3
o Year: 1997
o Language: English
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

The struggle for democracy and social

justice in Thailand

Summary: Thailand has a reputation for is extended periods of military rule.

Thais are often described as passive sufferers of army dictatorships. Yet this reputation
is misleading. Thailand is one of the few countries in the world where mass uprisings
have succeeded in defeating military dictatorships. Two such uprisings have occured in
the last thirty years; in 1973 and 1992. This book is an attempt to explain these
uprisings and to describe the evolution of the modern Thai state.

o Author: Jean-Pierre Predagne

o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year: 2000
o Language: French/Thai
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Le monde de la societe au miroir de la

langue Thai
 Summary: Jean-Pierre Predagne is doing an ethno-linguistic exploration inside
Thai language on society, work, aristocracy, business, games, rich and poor.

o Author: Pira Suddham

o Publisher: ShireAsia
o Isbn: 9-7489-6285-7
o Year: Fifth Edition, 2002
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Tales of Thailand

Summary: Out of the relocation of millions of people in the path of dam

constructions and eucalyptus plantations, the suppression of wages and the price of
agricultural produce, the corruption, prostitution, child trade, slave labour, the horror of
the Thailand-Burma Death Railway during World War II, the economic crisis in July
1997, the war to win the people in impoverished Esarn in the seventies and the daily
grind in the mother of Gridlock - Bangkok come tales of hope and tales of woe, tales of
acceptance and tales of struggle for survival that become Tales of Thailand.
 o Author: Bernard Formoso
o Publisher: La documentation Francaise
o Isbn: 2-11-004611-9
o Year: 2000
o Language: French
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society

Thailand: Bouddhisme renoncant

Capitalism triomphant

Summary: Devenue le pivot économique et politique incontesté de l'Asie du Sud-

Est continentale, la Thailande se cherche pourtant à l'aube du XXI siecle. Les
problèmes induits par la forte mais tres inégale croissance de ces dernieres décennies
sont tels qu'ils menacent directement son unité et ses ressources. La soif de puissance
l'ayant emporté sur la quete du sens, et l'union des contraires, qui a longtemps fait sa
force, entre le Bouddhisme renoncant et le captalisme agressif de la minorité chinoise
étant en rupture de ban, le pays doit ajourd'hui s'inventer un modèle de dévelopement
plus équilibré. A L'heure ou les traditionnels ressorts idéologiques - royauté et clergé -
se découvrent de nouvelles missions, l'auteur questionne l'aptitude du pays à redéfinir
les structures sociales du pays héritées du passé pour relever le double défi de la
mondialisation économique et de la cohésion sociale.
 o Author:
o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year:
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

ฝั นดี ฝั นเด่น

Summary: This book helps the readers to analyze and understand their dreams.
It is maybe the key to win to the lottery!

o Author:
o Publisher: Ploychan Publishing House
o Isbn: 9749343913
o Year: 2006
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society

1000 Love SMS Vol 2

Summary: 1000 SMS in Thai language about love...

 o Author: Annie Leo
o Publisher: Bangkok Book House
o Isbn: 978-974-8280-27-1
o Year: 2007
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Society

Thais say it best when they say nothing at

all!

Summary: This book is an eye-opening resource for foreigners who want to live,
work and build meaningful relationships with the Thai people. Wheter you are a
newcomer, or have been working in Thailand for sometime, or you are in a leadership
position, this book will help you answer your questions about how Thai express
themselves and understand each other without saying a word - through nonverbal
communication. In this book, you will learn the social structure of Thailand and its
relevance to behavior and communication in the modern Thai society, factors which
affect your social status in Thailand, different types of wai in daily life and their functions
in Thai society, how Thai leaders execute the wai in different situations, how Thais
express their positive and negative emotions, appropriate gifs for various occasions
including gifts between boss and subordinates, social etiquette for home visitations and
meal invitations.
 o Author: ณะ.มหาโชคอ๊ดม
o Publisher:
o Isbn:
o Year:
o Language: Thai
o Rate: 5/7

o Type: Society

ตำาราทำานายฝั นและเลขดีมีโชค

Summary: This book helps the readers to analyze and understand their dreams
through numbers in order to win the lottery jackpot!

o Author: Pira Suddham

o Publisher: Asiashire
o Isbn: 974-91823-0-8
o Year: 2009
o Language: English
o Rate: 7/7

o Type: Society

Shadowed Country

Summary: This book regroups books "Monsoon Country" and "The Force of
Karma". Pira Suddham explores dark caverns, mysterious avenues and perilous
highways and byways that lead to the take-over of a shadowed land named Thailand.
Pira Suddham delves deep into the morass as opposed to the journalist's muckraking.
Eventually he comes up with riveting accounts of the massacres of pro-democracy
protesters, the murderers of idealistic and courageous teachers, a pernicious plot code-
named DDT, corruptives forces and shadowy worlds of graft, sex trade, drug trafficking
and various forms of corruption. But Pira Suddham deftly deals with such stark, painful
and gross subject matters with poetic narrative that has become one of the most
remarkable writing of modern literature. This exploration has been Pira Suddham's work
of a lifetime, covering the span of fifty years of social, economic and political changes
occuring in the shadowed country.

ThaiWorldView Society library contains 21 items.

ThaiWorldView library contains 113 items.

THAI ECONOMY BOOKS

o Author: Pasuk Phongpaichit, Sungsidh

Piriyarangsan, Nualnoi Treerat
o Publisher: Silkworm Books
o Isbn: 974-7100-75-4
o Year: First Edition, 1998
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Economy

Guns Girls Gambling Ganja: Thailand's

illegal economy and public policy

Summary: Gambling, prostitution, drugs, arms trading, oil smuggling, and

trafficking in people - these six illegal business are large and getting larger. They distort
 the economy and victimize people. They are increasingly linked together through
networks of protection and organized crime. They help to fund Thailand's corrosive
'money politics' and to sustain corruption in the police. The authors argue that control of
the illegal economy, especially through reform of the police, is vital for the development
of a modern economy and functioning democracy.

o Author: Elliot Kulick, Dick Wilson

o Publisher: White Lotus
o Isbn: 974-8496-34-1
o Year: 1996
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Economy

Time for Thailand Profile of a new success

Summary: Thailand has changed From backward traditional economics and

languid autocracy, the country has very recently joined the East Asian industrial
development scene and shown an unsuspected capacity for political innovation at the
expense of dictatorship and in favour of more democracy. The authors have produced
this pen portrait of the new Thailand just when this ancient kingdom appears to be
modernising its politics and economy more successfully than many of its neighbours.
The problems Thailand faces are immense, including especially environmental damage,
polarity of incomes and the spread of AIDS.
 o Author: Bea Toews, Robert McGregor
o Publisher: Times Books International
o Isbn: 981-204-879-0
o Year: 1998
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Economy

Culture Shock! Succeed in Business -

Thailand

Summary: Succeed in Business: Thailand combines relevant, practical

information with the real-life insights and cultural know-how that make the difference
between success and failure.

o Author: Kriengsak Niratpattanasai

o Publisher: BangkokPost
o Isbn:
o Year:
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Economy
Bridging the gap

Summary: The author helps the readers to bridge the gap when faced with cross-
cultural interaction in the office.
 o Author: Philip Bryce
o Publisher: Paiboon Publishing
o Isbn: 1-887521-71-2
o Year: Second Edition, 2006
o Language: English
o Rate: 6/7

o Type: Economy

How to buy land and build a house in

Thailand

Summary: Are you considering having your own house in Thailand? A dream
house that you can actually afford. This book contains essential information for anyone
contemplating buying or leasing land and building a house in Thailand. It is meticulously
researched and draws on expert legal and construction information from Thailand,
America, Europe and Australia. Concepts, techniques and instructions are explained in
simple, clear, and easy to understand language. It follows the construction of the
author's 200m2 house in Ko Phangan, Thailand with over 100 paragraphs, 2D and 3D
drawings and 700 English-Thai words and phrases. This book is your ultimate resource
for "buying" land and building a house in Thailand.

ThaiWorldView Economy library contains 5 items.

ThaiWorldView library contains 113 items.

Thailand’s darkside
Everyone familiar with Thailand, knows of its colorful temples, floating markets,
beautiful beaches caressed by clear blue-green waters, fabulous silks, exquisite
culinary offerings, monks, Thai kick-boxing, and friendly, smiling people. They may
know, too, that Thailand is a proud country; one that has never been colonized.

Most visitors readily acknowledge that Thailand is exciting, exotic, fascinating and a
delight to visit. There are some, however, who associate these remarkable qualities with
Thailand's nightlife, viz., massage parlors, "go-go" nightclubs, brothels, escort services,
etc. This is truly unfortunate because not only does it portray a narrow segment of life in
Thailand, but it pushes beyond and tarnishes an otherwise wonderful image of a country
and of its people.

For example, if you (a male) tell someone you've been to Thailand, you may very well
experience the following reaction. The person will smile --- a knowing smile --- and ask
how you liked the "massage." Unquestionably, there are those who have visited
Thailand for the sole purpose of sex, and this is their perception of the country. Others
have gained an understanding from smutty tabloids, magazines specializing in "startling
revelations," and western TV that features programs depicting the seamier side of life.
But do these perceptions present an accurate picture of Thailand's culture? Hardly!
They reflect nothing more than an aspect of life that exists in all countries of the world. A
more realistic view would be gained if visitors, when talking about Thailand, did so with
an understanding of Thai culture, history, government, system of education and its
economy. But because this understanding is lacking, distortions between fact and fiction
develop and grow.

Dark influences

For foreign tourists, Thailand's dark side is linked to the prostitution. But dark
influences in Thailand are not limited to prostitution, which is only part of the mafia
operations. The mafia is also involved with serious crimes like drugs, fraud against the
people, embezzlement, contraband smuggling, contract killing, money laundering,
human trafficking, extortion and robberies. It is also involved in protection fees from
entertainment places, gambling and prostitution dens, as well as motorcycle taxi drivers.
It is also behind the destruction of natural resources, illegal transportation, construction
bid rigging and job placement operations.
The sex industry alone generates upwards of 100 billion baht each year. The drug
trade, based in the Golden Triangle, generates over 400 billion baht a year.

In 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sent a clear message to mafia
figures by launching a new war towards them, i.e. "freeing Thailand from the grasp of
influential people". The government declared popular wars on drugs and dark influences
as part of the scheme to rid Thai society of long running vicious cycle of evils.

Why does Thailand have this reputation ?

Past and recent history reveal to us that when large numbers of military personnel are
sent to foreign lands, prostitution inevitably follows. Whether a war zone occurs in a first
or third world country is immaterial; prostitution materializes and flourishes. The real
boost to Thailand's prostitution occurred during the Vietnam War. During this time,
American GI's (primarily) who were stationed in Vietnam, were authorized a week's
"Rest and Relaxation" (R&R) in Thailand, during their year's tour of duty in Southeast
Asia.

In a very short time, sex-related establishments sprung up wherever GIs congregated

in large numbers, whether at a post or base (some were, of course, in Thailand) or
whether on R&R leave from Vietnam. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that as
more and more troops were sent to Vietnam and to Thailand, more and more girls
became prostitutes. They frequently assumed roles, however, as "go-go" dancers,
masseuses, and escorts. Places having the allure of South Sea Islands were especially
attractive. Pattaya is one such example.

Before the war, Pattaya was a quiet fishing village, with thatch housing, palm trees
and beautiful beaches. It was, and is, a beautiful spot! Understandably, Pattaya became
a magnet for lonely GIs, and as one would expect, for enterprising entrepreneurs whose
services involved all forms of sexual activity. Today, Pattaya continues to be a well-
visited resort city, on the Gulf of Thailand. Its popularity is primarily due to the nightlife it
offers. When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the clientele that frequented Thailand's
nightlife simply changed from military personnel to men of many nationalities.

Other Asian countries offered these same sexual enticements, so why did so many
men come to Thailand? They came simply because they knew the cost of living was
low, the exchange rate was favorable, the people were friendly, and the conditions were
favorable. Thailand is still the most visited country in Southeast Asia, but it is not due to
its level of prostitution. Each year, more than eight million foreigners visit Thailand, and
who come because they are interested in its history, culture and seeing its remarkable
beauty.

Thai women bad reputation

Sadly, the conduct of a relative few has adversely affected the reputation of Thai
women, in general. For example, in March 1999, a problem arose between
Thailand and Hong Kong about Thai female travelers. Hong Kong custom officials
attempted to assure the Thai Foreign Ministry that clearances of Thai women required
longer periods of time than normal, because of the need to make thorough checks for
fake passports, illegal immigration and occupation (i.e., prostitutes). The women,
however, accused custom officials of undue and unjustified harassment. Despite a Thai
Foreign Ministry request asking Hong Kong authorities to be more considerate of Thai
women travelers, Hong Kong immigration officers were ordered to detain all Thai
women below forty years of age.

Thai people look askance when they see a foreign man in the company of a Thai
woman. This is particularly true when the man is in his sixties, and the woman is quite
young. A Thai automatically perceives the young woman to be a prostitute --- and, of
course, she may be. However, this perception is generally extended to all Thai women
who are accompanied by foreign men, which is most unfortunate. Not only is this unfair
to Thai women, but it is unfair to foreign men as well.

Who is responsible ?

Basically, two major entities (separate and distinct) are responsible for this terribly
mistaken image of Thai women. One entity comprises foreign tourists, who come to
Thailand for the sole purpose of finding sexual adventures. The other, is the Thai
society that has done little to honor the position, and support the standing, of Thai
womanhood.

There are many reasons why Patpong, Patpong Beach and Pattaya have attracted so
many foreign males to these locations. But, the primary reasons are that they provide all
the enticements of a beautiful "paradise", seductive scenery, attractive women, low
vacation costs, and anonymity. Men arrive from Arabic countries, China, Europe, Japan,
Malaysia, the USA, etc., because they've heard the stories, or read, of this "paradise" in
Southeast Asia. Muslim men are particularly attracted to Thailand, since prostitution is
prohibited in Muslim countries. Prohibited or not, some Thai prostitutes are sent to
Malaysia to work in clandestine brothels. Thai borders towns like Changloon near
Malaysia frontier enjoy a new prosperity due to prostitution.
 It doesn't end in these locations, however. Back to 1959, Thai policy warned families,
living in the northern part of the country, to beware of procurers trying to lure girls to
Bangkok, with false promises of jobs. Despite these warnings, the deplorable practice of
recruiting young girls from poor families continues still to this day. Because of the power
and influence of the Mafia, girls are also recruited to work in Germany, Japan, the USA,
and other countries. Some women know what will happen there but some think that they
are applying for being house-keeper.

Glittering neon signs always announce fishy places.

An element of Thai people is also responsible. Frequently, individuals in tourist groups

will be propositioned by pimps, while they're in hotel lobbies, hotel bars, or touring the
city. And, foreign military makes its presence known once again, when its navy ships
anchor near Pattaya. It's often said that Pattaya becomes the world's largest brothel
when U. S. aircraft carriers come into port.

It is important to note that prostitution is not limited to foreigners in Thailand. There are
far more brothels reserved for Thai people than for foreigners; as you would expect,
prices are higher for foreigners. Bars and brothels are concentrated on a few streets in
any city. But, prostitution can be found in unexpected places. As a result of Thailand's
economic crisis, women who normally sold "SOMTAM" (สมตำา - a spicy salad from
Thailand's northeast) in front of the Hualamphong Train Station in Bangkok, were selling
more than just somtam in early year 1999.

Government actions

One of the richest resources a nation possesses is its youth. Thailand desperately
needs to develop programs for educating women (and men) in skills that make them
productive members of society. Thai women should be capable of performing work that
provides them a decent standard of living, and a feeling of worth. Furthermore, because
there are no government social security programs in Thailand, it is essential that women
(like men) acquire benefits that provide them the financial means for a livable
retirement, and needed medical care. As it is, the future confronting Thai women today
is one that is bleak, depressing and (seemingly) without hope.

Officially, brothels are forbidden. But establishments like restaurants, karaoke bar
lounges, massage parlors (there are 103 registered massage houses in Bangkok and
about 70 in the provinces), "go-go" places are not forbidden by law since (technically)
they are not recognized as brothels. Some corrupted policemen accept money or bribes
to protect the sex shops from the gangsters. And, one may wonder why foreign men are
allowed to manage "go-go" bars. It certainly is not the kind of enterprise the government
should be seeking. Thailand needs enterprises that have a positive influence on its
people, i.e that can increase Thai people knowledge through training and technology
transfer.

Funds, too, are used to pay off corrupt policemen for protection, by brothel owners.

Every person involved in the prostitution business is liable to penalties ranging from
fines to jail terms and even the death penalty (if murder is committed) under the
Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996.

In November 1998, government and non-government representatives from 15

Asia-Pacific countries adopted the Bangkok Accord and Plan of Action, to combat the
trafficking of women. Included in the plan are measures to provide employment
education and training for young women; measures that are long overdue. It is the hope
and prayer of all Thai women, therefore, that these provisions will be enforced, and not
simply be a means of encompassing words of false promises that are written for the
benefit of the world's media. Affording justice, hope and opportunity to these women
can't come soon enough.

In october 2000 a French man was condemned to seven years jail for a rape on a
twelve years old girl in Pattaya. This rape happened in 1994. The culprit and a friend
shot the whole ugly scene. A few years later the tape was discovered, the culprit found
and a trial organized. Even if advocates tried to defend the culprit invoking Pattaya
seamier atmosphere, the guy was condemned to seven years jail. Unicef has declared
this judgement and condemnation as a first very important event. Child prostitution is a
delicate problem. People abusing children are now subjected to their own laws for
crimes made in other countries.

In september 2001, the government has declared a "New Social Order" crusade
which seeks to eradicate the spread of illicit drugs, prostitution and casual sex among
the nation's youth. In an attempt to curb illicit activities at late-night entertainment
venues, Thailand's Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun has ordered police to begin
enforcing laws that require bars to shut their doors by 2 a.m. Purachai's campaign has
received broad support from parents and teachers, but people involved in Thailand's
large and lucrative entertainment industry are complaining that the crackdown is driving
them out of business.
In year 2003 massage parlour entrepreneur Chuwit Kamolvisit accused city police of
receiving bribes from him every month. It has led to the transferring of some policemen
to inactive positions. Chuwit's assets have been frozen.

Thailand bad image

Actually, it is difficult to determine because there has never been a period in recent
years when the image of Thailand hasn't been tarnished by prostitution. How many
foreign tourists would have come to see the wonders of Thailand --- but didn't --- had
they not been repulsed by reports of Thailand's sex activities? Admittedly, the figure is
unknown, but it is felt to be high.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) works diligently to erase this SSS (Sea, Sex,
and Sun) image of that country, but it can only do so much. In April of 1999, TAT
sued the operators of an U.S. based internet web site for using the official "Amazing
Thailand" logo to promote sex tours to Thailand.

In the minds of many people, Thailand is still thought of as being a back

packer's paradise, and a destination affording cheap sex.

TAT is to be commended for promoting cultural and family-oriented tours, and rightly
so. But its efforts are hampered by advertisements found in sleaze magazines, and on
the internet touting the excitements to be experienced in Thailand's massage parlors,
"go-go" establishments and brothels.

More than forty years ago, the Prime Minister ordered the arrest of prostitutes in
Bangkok, because he did not want the city to be known to the world as a "city of
prostitution." The problem, however, still remains. Whereas Bangkok was once known
as the "Venice of the East," because of its numerous canals, it is now frequently
referred to as the "Vice City of the Far East."

Aids

One of the more tragic consequences of prostitution occurs when a Thai wife
becomes an innocent AIDS victim, due to the infidelity of her husband. Thai husbands
have a reputation for being unfaithful to their wives. Ironically, Thai custom does not
favor the use of preventive measures by wives that would protect them from becoming
infected with the AIDS virus. Not only do these wives, who contract AIDS from their
unfaithful husbands, experience considerable pain and misery while undergoing
treatment --- and frequently, agonizing deaths --- but further sorrow should they learn
that their children have also become infected.

Thailand has warned its citizens to the dangers of AIDS, using extensive publicity
programs. But much still needs to be done. For a time, the government did little to warn
its citizens because it feared that warnings of this nature would adversely affect the
number of foreign tourists, and the money they'd bring with them. About 10 years ago,
however, the government began a campaign to inform the public about AIDS. One of
the measures to minimize the spread of AIDS, which appeared in newspapers, was for
women to use condoms if they had any doubt about the persons with whom they were
having sexual relations. Thai senator Meechai Viravaidya who came to be known as the
"Condom King" began a crusade, handing out condoms in Bangkok's notorious Patpong
red-light district.

A number of Aids-affected children are excluded from the educational system because
of school and community prejudice, while others could not go to school because of their
parents' illness.

The problem emanating from foreign male tourists persists, despite public
announcements that the high incidence of AIDS is a government concern. Solutions to
this problem are complicated because of a lack of personal responsibility, cultural
ramifications, and the fact that tourism is Thailand's primary source of foreign money.

Unfortunately, people with good intentions but who lack knowledge of AIDS,
disseminate incorrect information about the virus to the public. An influential monk, Phra
Phayom Kalayano, of Wat Suan Kaew, created one such instance. In April of
1999, he embarrassed health authorities by telling a seminar audience that prostitutes
spread the AIDS virus. His comments outraged NGOs, who put much effort into
informing the world that anyone can become infected with AIDS; not just clients of
prostitutes. Comments such as his only lead to further misunderstandings and
increased discrimination toward persons suffering from the virus.

Another example of misunderstanding happened in February 2000, near Chiang

Mai. A burial protest, organized by villagers, occurred in front of an AIDS center. The
protesters didn't want the corpses to be buried near their community. They feared their
water sources would be polluted.
According to a Public Health Ministry report, during a 15-year period (1984-1999),
AIDS had infected more than 900,000 people in Thailand, and claimed more than
300,000 lives. Thailand has been largely successful in controlling the spread of the
disease. In four years, the use of condoms increased by 50%, and the number of 21
year-old men going to brothels decreased by 50% (estimates).

Aids is leading cause of death in Thailand. Health officials say one in six deaths in
1998 are believed to have been caused by Aids and related complications. Nearly one
million people in Thailand have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes Aids, since
the beginning of the epidemic. Of them, 300,000 have died. Thailand managed to bring
down the rate of HIV/Aids infection by 80% after a massive awareness and condom
distribution campaign in the early 1990s.

Morality

Before one can intelligently judge, and constructively criticize Thailand for the
unfavorable image it has spawned, a brief overview of its circumstances is in order.

Despite being referred to in recent years as "one of the small dragons of Asia,"
Thailand is still categorized as a developing country. The media has admirably
accounted for its successes (and its failures) over the past 20 years, but the successes
have not provided financial rewards for every class of society. Quite the contrary; it has
largely benefited a very few. Primarily, it's been a segment of Bangkok's population that
has made money, and created a new middle-class using the labor of poor people, e.g.,
the Isans. (Thai name for people in Thailand's northeast area).

We mentioned earlier that training programs are desperately needed to provide

women and men with the necessary skills to earn a decent living. In addition, social
security programs are also needed to provide workers with medical care, and a
retirement plan that will furnish financial and medical assistance to them in their old age.
Unbelievable though it may be in the 21st century, there are no government programs
today in Thailand that provide financial and medical assistance to Thai citizens. Except
in rare cases, one is left to cope with these problems on her/his own. It should be
mentioned here that "Empower" ( Click here to learn more about
Empower foundation) is a non-governmental organization established to protect
the rights of persons involved in the sex industry.
What are the alternatives? Especially, what are the alternatives for those who were
born in poor families, have little education, no marketable skills, are confronted with
discrimination, and live in a country where decent work and living opportunities are
minimal? Rather than face possible starvation, poor parents normally sell their oldest
daughter into prostitution. For them, it is the surest and fastest way to gain income for
the family, and to support the studies of their sons. It's been documented that many
women willingly become prostitutes because they assume responsibility for their loved
ones, who are hungry, elderly and/or sick. In so doing, they follow Buddhist precepts by
performing good actions for their family. Ironically, without attempting to learn why
they're engaged in prostitution, society condemns them. Passing moral judgement on
these women, which is typically harsh and unfair, is normally made by individuals who
are safe, secure, ignorant and whose stomachs are full. Admittedly, there are those who
do it for self-pleasure and gain. As long as a Thai prostitute can earn much more than a
Thai worker in a factory, some women will prefer this job even if the risks are high. But
there are still many others, who are forced into prostitution, exploited and treated like
animals.

Since a son's ordination is believed to be his parents' ticket to heaven, boys can fulfil
their filial duty merely by becoming a monk. Daughters must show gratitude through
self-sacrifice. It is no coincidence that female migrant workers send money home more
than males, that working women give up careers to care for ailing parents, or that poor
girls enter the sex trade to support their families.

In Thai society prostitutes are disliked. In Thai language many words are used to
translate the word "prostitute". The more common words are "PHUJING MAI DEE" (ผ้่
หญิงไมูดี - bad woman) or "PHUJING HA KIN" (ผ้่หญิงหากิน - woman who is
looking for food ).

While incarcerated, prostitutes are kept separate from other criminals. On the first of
May 1999, suspected prostitutes were confined to "designated cells" at 169 police
stations. To comply with the 1996 Prostitution and Suppression Law, police authorities
are required to keep prostitutes apart from other criminal elements in order to protect
them from being sexual abused. Unfortunately, many of these suspects had wrongfully
been lured (e.g., false promises, threats, beatings, etc.) into the business of prostitution
and, therefore, deserve protection while being held in jail.
How many people are involved ?

A 1999 survey, compiled by the Ministry of Public Health, indicates an increase in

the number of individuals engaged in sexual services. Of a total of 69,139 individuals,
3,138 are men and 66,001 are women; their services were performed in 8,431 estab-
lishments. A year earlier, a survey showed a total of 63,941, of which 2,806 were men
and 61,135 were women; establishments numbered 8,016. In 1990, however, the
number of prostitutes was 86,494; many of whom came from Burma and China.

The number of child prostitutes rose from 4.4% to 5.3% in 1999. It's estimated that
12,000 child prostitutes are working in Thailand. Abused as children, these young
victims (particularly girls) usually end up in brothels. Child abuse is not only a serious
problem in Thailand but throughout the world as well.

The city with the greatest number of sex establishments is Bangkok. Those that follow
are found in the districts of Chon Buri (Pattaya), Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Pattani
and Sungai Kolok. The last three places are near the Malaysia border. Pattaya, Phuket
and Chiang Mai are favorite tourist destinations.

With the modernization of Thailand, and the growth of factories providing

employment, the number of Thai prostitutes has declined while the number of foreign
prostitutes has risen. It should be noted, however, that Thai prostitutes do go abroad
(Japan, Germany, USA, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.) because of higher (or the
promise of higher) incomes. To be sent, they must pay a huge sum for transportation
and relocation costs, which must then be paid back. ( Read the report of
Human Rights Watch on Thai Women Trafficked into Debt
Bondage in Japan).

Instead of becoming wealthy, as they had hoped, too often they're exploited, beaten,
infected with AIDS, and killed.

The ranks of prostitutes in Thailand continue to be filled by women from the Hill Tribes,
Laos, Burma and China. All these women come from poorer countries than Thailand,
and experience a tremendous culture shock when confronted with Thailand's modern
society. The gulf between old traditions and the new society is quite wide. But, as we
know, rich places (or those perceived to be rich) always attract poor people.
Is there a solution ?

Drafting and implementing viable solutions requires major changes in the minds of the
public and Thai leadership regarding societal concepts. The concepts of equal stature
for women, national social security programs, free education, national health programs,
worker safety standards, worker training, minimum working hours and pay, etc. are
difficult concepts to grasp in nations that don't have them.

Thai society is still a society for men. In earlier times, Thai men could have several
wives, like the Mormons in the United States. Now it is forbidden, but some men who
are wealthy, have "minor" wives, called "MIA NOI" (เมียน้อย). And, as previously
mentioned, brothels exist for men; some reserved for farangs and others, for Thais.

In Thai Buddhist world, women are less valued than men, i.e. they cannot being
ordained and become monks but just nuns, they cannot touch monks, during periods
they shall not enter in temples and so on... As we've said, women do not have the same
rights and stature in society as men. Things are changing --- but slowly. Strangely
enough, although women do not have the power in the family, they're the "boss." In
addition to taking care of the children and the house, they manage the family's money.
Until a few years ago, men could ask for a divorce if their wives were unfaithful, but the
reverse was not true. Today women have the same rights as men about divorce laws.
Thai newspapers have also victimized women. In December 1999, the front page
of Thai Rath showed a picture of a murdered rape victim almost completely naked, and
by so doing, launched a public outcry against the editor and publisher. Again, signs of
progress are visible but they simply need more momentum.

In 2003 Thai government think about proposing to legalise the country's huge sex
trade. The National Economic and Social Board says it would reduce corruption and
allow it to be taxed.

Thai women are neither prurient nor are they passive. They're like women everywhere.
They want to be respected, have equal rights with men and be treated like human
beings. If one would take the trouble to search, he/she would find that Thai people are
shy, parents educate their children to mistrust strangers, women will not approach a
stranger by herself, and should a Thai woman smile at you in the street, it doesn't
convey an invitation. It simply reflects that she is genuinely friendly and that you're in the
"Land of Smiles." And, the joy of knowing this, and other information about Thailand, will
make you truly thankful that you're in "Amazing Thailand."
http://www.thaiworldview.com/thailand/index.htm