Let a good impression.
Didn’t Rafael Nadal do well on his visit to Thailand recently “? No, I’m not talking about the world number one tennis player’s performance on court at PTT Thailand Open 2010 in Hua Hin, where he was dumped out in the semi-finals earlier this month. Rather, what was most impressive about Nadal is the attention he received from Thai people during his two weeks here.
The 24-year-old Majorcan created a buzz when he arrived at the airport, gave alms to a monk and planted a tree in honour of his Majesty the King. Future foreign celebrity visitors to the kingdom should take note of Raf’s behaviour. Despite the language barrier, it is not as hard as you might imagine to accomplish whatever you intended to do in Thailand while leaving a lasting good impression. You already have one leg up for being foreign. Doing simple Thai things that otherwise don’t raise an eyebrow, will you make irresistible to the people.
WEAR MALAI
Malai are a gift you are supposed to receive with a big smile. A lovely ring of flowers will be presented to you upon touchdown at Suvarnabhumi as a sign you are a special guest. It should rest graciously around your neck, wrist or arm. If you happen to be allergic to roses, orchids, bachelor’s button or white champaka, please contact your PR team at this end to arrange alternatives, Make sure you have enough room on your upper body for the malai. The more of the you wear, the more they will love you.
Note : Take it off, you are being too Thai for them.
PRACTIC WAY and YIM
An ideal way of greeting someone in Thailand consists of three parts - a “wai”, a smile and a phrase. First, put your hands together in a prayer position on your chest. Say “sawadee krap (khap)” as you beam and bow.
Note : Please don’t “wai” your waitress, tuk-tuk drivers or go-go dancers.
SPEAK THAI
Mastering key phrases will go a long way for you here. The language is super complicated in line with their cleverness, with 44 letters of the alphabet including 32 vowels and 5 tones. You don’t need to know all the nuances of the language, however. Stick to crowd-pleasers like “Piew khun sauy jang. Me luk duay kan kong n arak” (Oooh, you have lovely dark skin. I think we could make beautiful babies together) or “Kin ahan pet dai jing jing!” (Yes, I really can eat spicy food). However, if your target group is the female population, try “Pooying Thai suay mak”. The girls will blush, scream and swoon, because you just said that they are very unlucky. Don’t worry though, they will still reply with : “Me love yooouuuuuu”.
Note : Mixing Thai with English buzzwords in the same sentence is way cooler than only speaking Thai and avoid to rap their language.
HAVE THAI BLOOD
Being half, quarter or even just a teensy-weensy-itty-little-bit part, Thai automatically grants you the love of Thai people - especially when your are a famous. You are one of them and so they will force - feed you their admiration like a doting Thai mother in her kitchen, even if you have never set foot in Thailand. Just look a Tiger Woods. The golfer’s mother is Thai, which was enough to secure him an honorary doctorate in spots science from Kasetsart University in 2000 - even though he turned down the Thai citizenship in the same year.
Nota : If you are not genetically gifted, visit Thailand often, adopt Buddhism as your religion and then tell them you were Thai in a previous life.
BOX FOR SHOW
This is a must for any wannabe hero or testerone-boy. Your popularity with the female audience will through the roof if you are practicing the upper-macho art of Muay Thai. On the other hand, you will also earn some respect from the fellas as well.
Note : Muay Thai is a violent sport in which men from poor backgrounds abuse their bodies to make a living. Don’t agree to get in the ring with that supposedly scrawny Thai midget for real - elbows and knees really hurt.
GIVE ALMS TO MONKS
Giving alms to monks is one of many ways Buddhists make merit. If you are here to make money or just to get noticed, it might not hurt to “tam boon” and get your photo in a newspaper.
Note : When you give alms to monks, try not to think about all the bad news you have heard about them in the media.
ENJOY A THAI MASSAGE
Take a break from your exhausting schedule and get some pres coverage at the same time by enjoying a relaxing Thai massage. No Hugh Grant, I am not talking about “happy endings” you naughty devil, but traditional Thai massage at a respectable establishment where the masseuses know what they are doing and take their dexterity. Leonardo Di Caprio had a Thai massage on Koh Phi Phi when he took a break from filming “The Beach” in 1999. The event received so much publicity that the poor masseuse had to go into hiding to avoid the attention of the local press.
Note : Please be aware that some masseuses (especially in Ratchada) may touch you inappropriately and expect a big tip, they probably thinks you expect it.
GET A TATTOO
Traditional Thai “sak yant” tattoos are believed to possess occult powers which could be handy when you are going head-to-head with a powerful Scientologist like Tom Cruise for a role in a blockbuster movie. Just look at Angelina Jolie : She got a “ha taew” tattoo from Ajarn Noo.
Note : Many of you still thinks tattoos are associated with prisoners, criminals and low-life. Check twice that the Thai letters you want inscribed down your leg really say what they are supposed to before you let someone lose on your skin with bamboo and ink.
Let a good impression.
Didn’t Rafael Nadal do well on his visit to Thailand recently “? No, I’m not talking about the world number one tennis player’s performance on court at PTT Thailand Open 2010 in Hua Hin, where he was dumped out in the semi-finals earlier this month. Rather, what was most impressive about Nadal is the attention he received from Thai people during his two weeks here.
The 24-year-old Majorcan created a buzz when he arrived at the airport, gave alms to a monk and planted a tree in honour of his Majesty the King. Future foreign celebrity visitors to the kingdom should take note of Raf’s behaviour. Despite the language barrier, it is not as hard as you might imagine to accomplish whatever you intended to do in Thailand while leaving a lasting good impression. You already have one leg up for being foreign. Doing simple Thai things that otherwise don’t raise an eyebrow, will you make irresistible to the people.
WEAR MALAI
Malai are a gift you are supposed to receive with a big smile. A lovely ring of flowers will be presented to you upon touchdown at Suvarnabhumi as a sign you are a special guest. It should rest graciously around your neck, wrist or arm. If you happen to be allergic to roses, orchids, bachelor’s button or white champaka, please contact your PR team at this end to arrange alternatives, Make sure you have enough room on your upper body for the malai. The more of the you wear, the more they will love you.
Note : Take it off, you are being too Thai for them.
PRACTIC WAY and YIM
An ideal way of greeting someone in Thailand consists of three parts - a “wai”, a smile and a phrase. First, put your hands together in a prayer position on your chest. Say “sawadee krap (khap)” as you beam and bow.
Note : Please don’t “wai” your waitress, tuk-tuk drivers or go-go dancers.
SPEAK THAI
Mastering key phrases will go a long way for you here. The language is super complicated in line with their cleverness, with 44 letters of the alphabet including 32 vowels and 5 tones. You don’t need to know all the nuances of the language, however. Stick to crowd-pleasers like “Piew khun sauy jang. Me luk duay kan kong n arak” (Oooh, you have lovely dark skin. I think we could make beautiful babies together) or “Kin ahan pet dai jing jing!” (Yes, I really can eat spicy food). However, if your target group is the female population, try “Pooying Thai suay mak”. The girls will blush, scream and swoon, because you just said that they are very unlucky. Don’t worry though, they will still reply with : “Me love yooouuuuuu”.
Note : Mixing Thai with English buzzwords in the same sentence is way cooler than only speaking Thai and avoid to rap their language.
HAVE THAI BLOOD
Being half, quarter or even just a teensy-weensy-itty-little-bit part, Thai automatically grants you the love of Thai people - especially when your are a famous. You are one of them and so they will force - feed you their admiration like a doting Thai mother in her kitchen, even if you have never set foot in Thailand. Just look a Tiger Woods. The golfer’s mother is Thai, which was enough to secure him an honorary doctorate in spots science from Kasetsart University in 2000 - even though he turned down the Thai citizenship in the same year.
Nota : If you are not genetically gifted, visit Thailand often, adopt Buddhism as your religion and then tell them you were Thai in a previous life.
BOX FOR SHOW
This is a must for any wannabe hero or testerone-boy. Your popularity with the female audience will through the roof if you are practicing the upper-macho art of Muay Thai. On the other hand, you will also earn some respect from the fellas as well.
Note : Muay Thai is a violent sport in which men from poor backgrounds abuse their bodies to make a living. Don’t agree to get in the ring with that supposedly scrawny Thai midget for real - elbows and knees really hurt.
GIVE ALMS TO MONKS
Giving alms to monks is one of many ways Buddhists make merit. If you are here to make money or just to get noticed, it might not hurt to “tam boon” and get your photo in a newspaper.
Note : When you give alms to monks, try not to think about all the bad news you have heard about them in the media.
ENJOY A THAI MASSAGE
Take a break from your exhausting schedule and get some pres coverage at the same time by enjoying a relaxing Thai massage. No Hugh Grant, I am not talking about “happy endings” you naughty devil, but traditional Thai massage at a respectable establishment where the masseuses know what they are doing and take their dexterity. Leonardo Di Caprio had a Thai massage on Koh Phi Phi when he took a break from filming “The Beach” in 1999. The event received so much publicity that the poor masseuse had to go into hiding to avoid the attention of the local press.
Note : Please be aware that some masseuses (especially in Ratchada) may touch you inappropriately and expect a big tip, they probably thinks you expect it.
GET A TATTOO
Traditional Thai “sak yant” tattoos are believed to possess occult powers which could be handy when you are going head-to-head with a powerful Scientologist like Tom Cruise for a role in a blockbuster movie. Just look at Angelina Jolie : She got a “ha taew” tattoo from Ajarn Noo.
Note : Many of you still thinks tattoos are associated with prisoners, criminals and low-life. Check twice that the Thai letters you want inscribed down your leg really say what they are supposed to before you let someone lose on your skin with bamboo and ink.
