Thailand is a wonderful hospitable country with warm sea, white beaches and sympathetic people. However, like any eastern country, Thailand has its own flavor, traditions and customs that should be taken into account.
Specific cuisine
One of the main tourist features of Thailand is the lack of an all-inclusive system. In most hotels, tourists are fed only breakfast, in some - breakfast and dinner. However, don't be upset about this - Thai food, which can be found all over the place, is delicious and inexpensive. By the way, rumors about her pretty sharpness are seriously exaggerated. Typically, the really spicy food is marked on the menu with the word spicy or a red pepper icon. Keep in mind that there are dishes that simply cannot be spicy, for example, this concerns the famous Tom Yam Goong soup, the whole point of which is in a complex balance of flavors. If you want to try the right Tom Yam, take a bowl of unleavened boiled rice with it, which will help to cope with excess pungency. Most of the dishes of Thai cuisine are not spicy; in most local cafes, there are quite large sets of spices on the tables, with which each visitor can modify the dish to their liking. Please note that in Thailand, fish sauce is used instead of salt.
By the way, if you want to try real Thai food, do not neglect the small cafes for the locals. They usually look not too pretentious, but the food in them is beyond praise. Moreover, a serving of delicious noodles, soup or rice will rarely cost more than two dollars.
Tipping is customary in Thailand. In hotels, they can range from one to five dollars; in restaurants, they usually account for 10% of the bill.
Communication rules
When interacting with Thais, keep your smile and calmness. Don't openly show negative emotions. Please note that if a Thai does not understand you, so as not to lose face and not embarrass you, he may nod in agreement and say something in the affirmative, while you may not wait for your request to be fulfilled or the answer to a question. If it seems to you that the Thai did not understand you, repeat your request or question again in the most simple language possible.
By the way, Thais speak English willingly, but not at all correctly. It is best to communicate with most Thais as simply as possible, without constructing long phrases and constructions.
When you want to visit temples, palaces or other attractions, choose appropriate clothing - your shoulders, knees and heels must be covered.
Thais are very fond of their king. Any disrespect towards him is punishable by law in Thailand. In some cases, you can get by with a fine, but there is the possibility of imprisonment. Any image of the king should not be disrespectful. This also applies to money, since it is the king that is depicted on banknotes of any denomination.
