Good day, fellow travelers
This week I have created the second version of infographic about another 6 common Thai things that foreigners find them strange.
Please enjoy!
If you would like to read the first 7 habits I’ve posted please click
1. Nickname
Unlike westerners, Thai people don’t have middle names. Instead, they have nicknames that are unique and sometimes funny. Usually a nickname is an easy or cute way to call your friends’ names like Natalie = Nat, Elizabeth = Lizz or Lizzy, Matthew = Matt, or Robert = Rob. But, I think it becomes Thai parents’ habits to give their children nicknames with whatever their hearts desire; food, fruit, vegetable, animal, manga character, etc. Take Thai superstars’ nicknames as samples; Nok (Bird), Numcha (Tea), Tye (from Kra Tye = Rabbit), Som (Orange), Singto (Lion), Woonsen (Glass noodle), Frenchfries, Pancake, etc.
2. Numbers for lottery
Note that not everyone is into this. It’s a part of superstitious things many Thais are still believe in. For those who like to buy a lottery, it’s like inspirations or some kind of signals that could lead them to decode numbers. When they see strange things (could be anything like their dreams, a politician’s car plate, abnormal trees, or weird animals), they interpret it features or movements into numbers… yeah you’re right lol…but no offence here I think there were actual people who had won a lottery with these kinds of decoding before. ‘Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist’
3. Whitening Lotions
Most Thai girls are obsessed with fair skin tone, and would do anything to achieve that. Whether it’s a supplymentary drug, a syringe shot, a sunblock, a lotion, an ointment, blah blah blah…. but the most common thing Thai girls use is whitening lotion. It’s easily to find and much affordable. They tend to think that lighter and brighter skins mean more beautiful. One of the main reasons behind this is because Thai guys like girls with white skins which is different than western guys that like girls with darker skins.
4. Farang Food in Thailand
Here is the thing I would like to express to all travelers, good Farang (western) foods that taste like ones from abroad can be found only in a fancy restaurant, but not from street venders or stalls. I saw complaints from westerners a lot about how awful the tastes are, but you see ingredients like cheese are so expensive here. You can get only a small pack of mozzarella here for 5-7 bucks. It’s almost impossible to sell a small slide of pizza for 100-150 baht by street while you can fill your tummy with a Thai meal for 40-50 baht. As for the taste, the main market target of street food venders are Thai, so they want to make sure that Thais can enjoy Farang foods too by adjusting to Thai taste. It’s the same thing with eating Somtum at a Thai restaurant in America or somewhere far away you couldn’t properly find all the ingredients, but many travelers don’t quite understand this point and keep saying bad things about this Farang food thingy.
My suggestion? Please be understandable and do try Thai foods during your stay, trust me it’s way better and cheaper. But, If you still want to eat good hamburgers, pizza, or pastas I would say check out new trendy food trucks which are popular among Thai youngsters now or go to a fancy restaurant.
5. Plastic Bags
These bags are specially made for storing food and drinks since they are heat resistant, so it’s safe to order/buy a couple bags of them. I found that many foreigners are so surprised of how Thai street food venders use these bags to carry food and beverage and also the rubber band technique.
Take a closer look at these two video of how to tie a plastic bags with a rubber band.
Credit video from Mark Wiens
The video below shows how fast Thai food venders tie a bag of hot soy milk.
Credit video from Vara Varavithya
6. Hang Out
This one is quite funny. When Thai people are getting together, the most common activity they do is eating. It doesn’t matter what they eat, as long as, they can sit down, chitchat, and have a great time with their friends. It could be a big meal, dessert, or snack. If you have a chance to be invited by a Thai friend 80% of them will probably ask where or what to eat (or to drink). lol
What do you think? Please share us your thought about common things Thai do, but foreigners don’t
Have a great weekend!
Stay Sweet