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Ben – That’s a large 2p worth. I didn’t know the women didn’t like them so thanks for that one and I’ll keep packing the razor.

Mike – Glad to see I’m not alone when it comes to the restaurant “tip”. The smile, history, enemy point is a good one and needs looking into, I will see what turns up.

Talen – I hope you’re enjoying yourself in the LOS. Some great questions of your own. Wilai is the same, she can stay up to midnight on holiday but back in the village and she is asleep on the sofa by nine thirty. The nose picking thing turns my stomach a little bit. The luggage? I have been done a few times myself with that one, they look good quality and so cheap. Have fun in the sun.

Mr Yes – Thank you for your interesting comments. The moustaches and beards explanation makes a lot of sense. The restaurant change reasoning is a fair offering as well, although they should realize that by giving me the change they’d get a bigger tip. The wai comment is of a great help to everyone I’m sure. Once more thank you for adding your comments.

hoodon,
a Wife is younger than her husband Daughter from his previous marriage then she (the Wife) is considered younger and has to ‘Wai’ the daughter, this sound absurd you might think, but we considered step – mother is not like birth-mother, and by doing ‘Wai’ to that who supposed to be our daughter is much more absurd.

It’s no surprise to know that you’re so confused of this since even most of us, Thais, are also confused sometimes when we meet with senior who are in high position than us but they’re younger by age, for instances, our boss, or our relatives from different marriage of our parents. in my opinion, I would say that generally, Age is always important when you’re considering about who you have to ‘Wai’ or not.

enjoy.

Suvannabhumi taxi :
I have no idea, never pay for taxi ride from the airport to pattaya myself, but I dont like the idea of ‘mafia’, so instead i would say ‘airport fee’, possible?

Moustaches or beards :
Thais are like any other asians (except indians and mid-east),
a man with moustaches are not our taste, and, from Thai’s popular culture, most villain in our movies grow beards, this created perception among Thais that ‘a guy with a beards or moustaches = badass’.

What might be possibly, other reason is that, from our perception, moustaches or beards are sign of aging (means you’re being old) and most Thai don’t want to be call ‘oldboy’ or even looks like he’s getting old.

Ladyboys :
I simply have no idea.

Why they always return your change to your lady:
the Idea of couples in thai society is that,
your lady is your pride, and yes, wife always control purse and money and family’s expenses, I believe that those waiters and waitresses, they tends to think the same towards western couples thats why they return changes to your wife.

Bar girl:
again, I simply have no idea about the place and its peoples.

Thai smiling faces:
simply put, its our culture, our habit, and our way of living.
please note that, Thai smile have lots of meaning, and its not always has to be ‘nice’. When they’re happy, when they’re sad, when they’re angry, when they’re getting embarrassed by something, or when they’re deciding to rip you, the Thais always smile.

there might be factors from religion too, since most of us (Thais) are Buddhists, we holds some beliefs about Karma, (simply ’causes and effects’ ideology), we do to others what we want others to do to us.