Look Closely and Bow-Down Stranger

On my first trip to Thailand, my early impression of the local people was - first, they all look alike - and second, they are all so friendly.

In general, most all Thai (and Southeast Asian) people are relatively short, have dark black hair and deep black eyes. To a “farang,” or westerner, the subtle differences in physical appearance from one region to another is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish.

To me, it closely relates to living in the desert Southwest in the United States. Initially, the desert seemed to be a baron wasteland where everything looked the same, brown. But the longer one experiences the unique desert landscape, the more intricate details tend to pop-out of nowhere, exposing a unique beauty unlike other geographical locations.

On my trip to the Palace of the Emerald Buddha the same thing happened, I began to recognize the various faces and languages of tourists from Japan, China, and Vietnam to name a few. And of course when you see a Brett Favre jersey, you can make an educated guess…

Irregardless of appearance, Thai people are known worldwide for their kindness and smiles. Thailand has been coined “The Land of Smiles.” Farangs, or westerners, visiting Thailand quickly learn a polite greeting for successful integration into bustling cities or quiet rural villages.

THAI 101: When greeting, or upon leaving, Thai people put their palms together in a praying position and bow-down, lowering their head to show respect. This gesture is accompanied with the phrase “sawadee.” This same polite gesture is used when meeting close friends, or strangers at the market. So, when visiting Thailand, bow-down stranger.