Culture

 Apart from the food, my favourite part of Thailand was how different the culture was! It was amazing to discover so many differences between my culture and theirs, and learn about various traditions and customs.

 

One big difference was that Thailand is much more religious than Scotland, with the vast majority of Thais being Buddhist to some degree. Additionally, a great deal of deference is given to Buddhist monks and they are seen as very wise and respectable figures. Some seats on buses and trains are even reserved for them, similar to seats for the elderly or pregnant women!

A reserved seat on the Bangkok metro

Similar to church collections, people will regularly make donations to the temple when they visit it, however these can be donations of food or other goods as well as just money. Additionally, monks will often walk through the area around the temple in the early morning to receive donations of food for the day, which are then prepared at the temple for them to eat.

 

A statue of Buddha

Thai culture also has an emphasis on showing respect for your elders, however this doesn’t just apply to the elderly. In fact, you may even be expected to show additional respect to someone who is only a couple of weeks older than you! When speaking in Thai, this respect is commonly expressed by adding the word “kap” to the end of every sentence (or “kaa” if you’re a woman).

 

The biggest culture shock for me, however, was how visible the monarchy is in everyday life. In Scotland, you generally only see them on currency, and the occasional news article about them. However, in Thailand it’s common to see posters and paintings of the king in most public spaces and government buildings, along major roads in cities, and in shops or restaurants. I assumed their presence would be more or less the same as Scotland, so it was very odd for me to see all of these things dedicated to them in day-to-day life.

A message to the king at the cinema