Hey Everyone!
As we wrap up our last week in Thailand and gear up to travel to our 5th country, Malaysia, I wanted to share 10 things that I learned ( or things you should know) about our time in the Land of Smiles…..Thailand!!
- FEET= DIRTY!! NEVER show the bottom of your feet… EVER! Thais believe that your feet are the DIRTIEST part of your body! When you sit you can’t show the bottom of your feet and the majority of the building you enter, your shoes have to come off.
- Monks! There are over 300,000 monks living in Thailand and like parts of Asia. Monks must follow a long list of stipulations when going out in public. For example, monks cannot laugh or speak loudly! They are everywhere. Never touch them. One Monk did come up to talk to my teammate and I, when we visited a temple. He was telling us how he wanted to go to Flordia for a Buddhist convention! COOL!
- Street Food= YUMMY!! It’s cheap, it’s everywhere and honestly some of the best food I’ve tasted all year!
- 7/11!! 7/11’s are God’s gift! They are on every corner and have the best-grilled cheese sandwiches. 7/11’s come through when it’s late, you’re hungry, you’re living on a budget and when the King shuts down streets that have food!
- Traffic……. I thought Atlanta had bad traffic. It’s even worse and they have no traffic laws and not that many red lights! Well, they might but you will never tell when riding in the car. I’ve been in at least 100 almost head-on collisions in the last month!
- Freedom of Religion. Thailand, you can worship and believe freely. 95% of the country practice Buddhism.
- Words you should know ( well these are the words I learned)
– Sawadiki (hello) Koopkhun (thank you) - Shopping & Money: The Thai currency is BAHT! It is about 31BAHT to 1 USD! Shopping is INSANE! If you ever wanted a pair of elephant pants, you will be able to find them on every corner! They are light and are so needed for the warm weather. You can also find some cute clothes in Thailand!
- Temples. Temples. Temples! The architect is WIDELY INCREDIBLE! Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world! Temples have different names and are used for different purposes. Many will give daily offerings to things like the spirit houses and the golden buddha’s ( which are located sometimes in the temples). By making and gaining merit, many Thais believe they will live longer and happier lives.
- Wai. The wai, pronounced like the word “why,” is the traditional greeting of Thailand. This is a form of respect and a way of saying hello and goodbye! How to ‘Wai’ properly? First, put your palms together in front of your chest so that each finger is touching. Then, bring your hands to touch the middle of your chest and slightly bow your head so that your index fingers touch your nose. The higher your Wai, the more respect you are giving the person you are ‘Wai-ing’ to!
I highly recommend you traveling to Thailand! Great Times. Great People. Great Food!! Just amazing time all around!!
xoxo
Meyuna
