things to avoid doing in Thailand

ใครมีเพื่อต่างชาติบ้าง ยกมือขึ้นเร็ว ^_^ เคยเป็นไหมบ้างครั้งเขาทำอะไรแล้วมันขัดใจเราเหลือเกิน แต่ก็ไม่กล้าบอก ๆ ไปก็ไม่เข้าใจ เก็บไว้คนเดียวดีกว่า เรานั้นแหละทุกข์ แต่เข้าไม่รู้สึก ลองนำข้อความข้างล่างให้เพื่อนอ่านซิ สิ่งที่ควรหลีกเลี่ยงเมื่อเที่ยวเมืองไทย อันนี้ แค่คร่าวๆ เท่านั้นค่ะ  

We have a permissive culture and Thais tend to be kind and polite to foreigners, so most cultural bumbles will be forgiven or overlooked. But to avoid embarrassment or worse.
Here’s a little list I’ve compiled of things you should avoid doing in Thailand

1. Don’t get angry or show aggression.  
Anger won’t get you anywhere in Thailand, it will simply embarrass your hosts. Things often happen SLOWLY: travel services may not happen on schedule, or quite according to plan. It’s less stressful for everyone if you can just go with the flow. If you become angry, Thai people may respond with a grin – purely out of embarrassment – which only serves to wind most travellers up even more! The calmer you remain, the more likely you are to receive a good service.

2. Don’t show the soles of your feet to a Thai person. 
This is regarded as vulgar and highly offensive because Thailand’s predominantly Buddhist culture regards the feet as the most unclean part of the body. As a foreigner you will generally be forgiven for an accidental sole-showing incident, but it’s still best to avoid if possible.

3. Take off your shoes when you step indoors.
Whether you’re entering a temple or someone’s home, always take off your shoes. This also applies in some old-fashioned places of business, but not in most modern shops.

4. Do not insult members of the Thai Royal family. 
Thais are extremely loyal to their Monarchy, and King Bhumibol Adulyade and other members of his family are highly revered. There is a strict law against insulting the Royals, or defacing a royal statue or image, and anyone found guilty of a breach could face a long time in prison.

5. Dress respectably if you want to be treated with respect.
Avoid walking around semi-naked – it may be hot and humid, but most Thai people are fairly reserved in their dress, with most women even wearing clothes to go swimming in the sea. You will generally be given more respect if you are clean and dressed respectably, and while the ban on topless sunbathing is rarely enforced by law, many locals – even in touristy southern Thailand – find it very embarrassing and inappropriate.

6.  Avoid very expressive public shows of affection. 
Thai people may hold hands in public, but they don’t go in for very amorous displays of affection. If you kiss or cuddle in public you are likely to make Thai people feel uncomfortable.

7.  If you are invited to share a meal with Thai people. 
expect to share. Don’t order yourself a meal and expect to keep eat it all yourself, as this is regarded as unsociable. Instead, Thai meals are taken communally, with several dishes ordered to share as a group.

8. Don't Negotiate A Fare With A Taxi Driver.
ALL taxis in Bangkok are required to have a meter. Any taxi without a meter is an unlicensed taxi and the safety of the vehicle or the driver cannot be trusted. In other words only get into taxis with meters and only if the driver turns on the meter

9. Don't Expect To Be Treated With Respect If You Are Dressed Untidily. 
Thai people have a great amount of respect for those that look respectfully dressed; this means wearing clean and pressed clothes, wearing clean shoes and having tidy hair. Whatever others may think of this it remains that this is what Thais like to see.

10. Don't touch the head of Thai person.

Whereas in the west a friendly pat on the head, especially the head of someone a bit younger than you, will be regarded as a friendly and supportive gesture, in Thailand any gesture towards the head will cause Thais to recoil and will be greeted with shock and possibly annoyance. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body – the temple of the body as it were. As such touching someone’s head is entirely unacceptable