What Foreigners DISLIKE MOST About Thailand?
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2022
- A street interview in Chiang Mai Walking Street, where I asked foreigners what they like and most dislike about Thailand!
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Corruption, pollution, deathly roads, and farang minimising those 3 things are my top 4. I've lived here on and off since 2004.
That's funny. You think no other places are corrupt? Corruption is exaggerated. Thai people know it's corrupt. Westerners are stupid to think their country is not corrupt. 55555 idiots. Use common sense and you're fine. Safer, cheaper, and freedom. Westerners in their country live in a false freedom. Also less liberal garbage.... for now.
@@mazyata9958 I didn't say corruption didn't exist in the west, but it's not as damaging to society, especially in places like Denmark and Germany. It strangles life here and prevents proper progress, and it's a shame.
As a Thai person, I completely agree
It couldn't be the worst if you are living there so long.. Do you want to keeps farangs out ?😂😉😉
The driving is completely at the top of the list it's totally insane 😳 😨
It's nice to see a Brazilian in Thailand! Hugs and blessings from Brazil, Thai people ✨😄🇧🇷🇹🇭
The Brazilian was the coolest. 😎
I'm a Thai living abroad for over 10 years now, and I fully agree with 5:55. Sometimes I'm getting sick of the behavior that they can't speak out directly, but tbf same for many other Asian countries. that's why e.g. "ghosting" and misunderstanding in relationships are really common compared to other countries.
Same here. My wife is Thai and she cant accept it when i criticize her or random people. It upsets her and annoys me she cant be straight forward. It would be easier to target my probs if i knew what they were !
Ah yeah ghosting in the dating scene is brutal in Thailand. Being a very down to earth straight talking honest British guy doesn't go down well with some Thai ladies. I find it to be a massive ego thing here which is so counter to what Buddha taught
@@potatobhu08 ... I am not alowed to critisize my Thai wife as well .
@@potatobhu08 LOL. Why would your wife care if you criticize others? My wife does it all the time, I do it too and it seems we both are OK with each other doing it, but perhaps my wife isn't the typical Thai.
Foreigners will most likely dislike the double pricing. Many local tourists are also frustrated when they have to pay more in areas where foreign tourists outnumber Thais and prices are set at foreigners' levels.
Khao pad, or Thai fried rice, has recently become the talk of the town on Koh Larn, with a regular fried rice price of 170 baht. It's costly for local tourists. They believe that the price is too high considering the quality, taste, and proportion.
I've been to Thailand several times and I love it soo much, the people, culture, food and nature, and while the language barrier makes communication more difficult I actually like that. I like it because it makes me have to do things differently and also forces me to take a backseat in conversations. And in turn also forces me to learn more about their culture as it is so intertwined with their language. It slows everything down and simplifies your life just because often you cant speed things up due to the language barrier. And also it forces you to learn something new. The plastics and garbage in general is also pretty bad. I wish they could have a cleanup week every year just to pick up all the junk that has ended up in nature and everywhere in the countryside. I guess curruption is also a big issue, especially for Thais. Oh.... and the heat is pretty difficult to handle too. I just hope for Thais and everyone in Thailand to be happy and have a good life. Such a welcoming people. Thank you Thai people for being so welcoming it is really good for everyone.
I like the way you think and the way you approached to the language barrier's problem with positive attitude rather than pissed off about it. This is travel is all about, have fun and enjoy it. Respected from Thailand.
Well said. The rubbish is especially very disconcerting …
Quality as always - enjoy the motherland!
I like walking through the hardware stores and studying the different building methods employed in Thailand . Also so cool to see the different tools used . I also love exploring different off the grid back roads or trails either on our scooter or in the car. Its always interesting what one comes across.
What i didn't like was the times my thai wife and I faced discrimination , but to be fair this didn't happen often and in fact , it happened a heck of a lot more when we are in Canada
THank you for good content Paddy. I like it.
Loved this! Great diversity of experiences in Thailand among the people you interviewed. Really interesting reflections from the Christian guy about a total lack of Western religions forming the foundation of Thai culture. Also loved the 'SOUTH London' shoutout 😂 yess girl represent✊
Another great video Paddy. Hope you’re enjoying Bangkok
Paddy i love discovering about your channel and video's ! You are truly inspiring ! ❤
Another quality video paddy
Great videos and your energy is infectious
Hey Paddy this was really interesting. Like those interviewed its the culture and the different way of life that I enjoy. As Freddy said packaging and rubbish is a huge problem. Attitudes towards the environment need to change. I am involved with Trash Heroes who undertake a beach cleanup in Hua Hin every week. Cheers
Great content as always!
What do I dislike?
It’s hard to pick but it would be the lack of rubbish bins.
Wow! That was interesting . Thank you Paddy 😊
What i hate the most? Its too hard to get a longterm visa…
I’m Thai and watching these video and these comment made me feel more proud about my country now🫶🏻🫶🏻
The biggest gripe I have with Thailand is the lack of pavements .
The screening background of the couple from London so stunning.
What I love the most about Thailand? Once you overcome the language barrier, which I'm slowly chipping away at, I find Thai people, away from the tourist areas, to be genuinely welcoming (not just smiling for the tourists).
What I hate most about Thailand? Drivers of vehicles. There's a certain "couldn't care less" attitude to following the rules of the road. People die as a result (and I've heard of horror stories where if they're not dead, then the driver goes back to make sure that they are because it's cheaper than having to pay out in insurance)
I thought only China did that (with the drivers opting to kill passengers they've struck down because it's cheaper)
That story sounds like a Thai urban legend. There's hearsay about it. If a driver appears to be a lorry driver and the accident occurs away from the public, I believe it is partially true.
@@weekdaycycling It likely is an urban legend of sorts, but one that has to be rooted in truth. A friend of mine recently told me about an incident he was caught in the middle of, and he said that they had hit "something", and the van returned to the place, and then everybody in the van was told to get out and switch to another van. Like I said, an urban legend, maybe, but certainly not on to ignore
@@itsafunnyoldworld There were eyewitnesses on board the van. Perhaps, I believe the van driver wouldn't have tried to do anything stupid. The fact was that he didn't stop to help the injured but chose to cover it by changing his vehicle. I hope someone in the van called the cops later. That's why I got a GoPro camera and always turn it on to record in case of an accident, but it will be useless if I get knocked unconscious or dead.
The street dogs, is what I don’t like. People say it’s Budism culture etc, but I have seen so many dogs, in terrible conditions and in need of veterinary help, and people just shrug it off. I think it’s cruel to let so many dogs breed like that, and then some foreigners think that they are helping, by feeding them, only makes things worse. Either feed, house, clean the animal and make sure it’s safe, and not sleeping on the road all day, or do NOT have a dog.
I'm Thai and yes Thai people do struggle with english, In my opinion about the tuk tuk I really dislike about it when they charge foreigner more than usual, like... everybody should get the same price even though they from another region another country. but I still love to live in this country and also glad to see you guys enjoying it! Hope you have fun here! ^^
I am a Taiwanese.I will not say why British don’t speak Chinese when I visit London.it’s not our fault to struggle with English. 8:05
The tuk tuk (some of them) don't only charge foreigners with higher price. They also charged Thais who aren't locals higher price. Those scammers 🫠
ชอบคลิปแบบนี้มาก❤️
I always enjoy your vids mate. Shout out to Chiang Mai 50000
Am guessing no one mentions the worst air pollution that any persons lungs and respiratory system can deal with for very long. Respiratory distress in Thailand is pervasive. People coughing and unable to breathe using inhalers that just mask their declining health. Add that to the heat, humidity with the air and noise pollution and that isnt living; that is slowly dying
I love Thailand. It feels like home and I feel like I have more in common with the Thai people than swedes, where I'm from. Also as a buddist I appreciate the buddist culture. What I fiskar the most is all the stray animals. My husband and I are helping as many as we can, but there is to many
Thailand has so many more opportunities. That does not exist where I'm from
@@mandamali1055 ROFL. No one will hire you as a foreigner even if you speak Thai, unless you're teaching English. Starting a business is difficult and you can't buy houses or land
@@therock8224 ROFL. I already started a business. You can't just sit around and say nothing is possible. You need to ask and look what you need to do. Just as in every country.
@@therock8224 I guess you don't live in Thailand, because all the complaining you do. Maybe stop complaining so much and you we'll get things done
@@mandamali1055 ROFL. I do live in Thailand and Thailand has a lot of problems. Get your head out of the sand!
I’m glad someone brought up about the plastic. In Thailand and I’m assuming most Asian countries you buy a couple of cans of coke and they put them in a plastic bag and throw in some plastic straws for good measure. Obviously they are thinking it’s good manners to supply them. But they need to be educated in reducing their plastic dependence
I think you haven't been to Japan. They have a plastic sheet for your straws. Double triple plastics
Straws should be made of cardboard , not plastic. Thailand need a massive environmental education campaign …
Yeah but Indonesia is worse in terms of how much if it goes into a bin as opposed to being burnt or thrown in a sewer / river.
Why don't people carry their own cloth shopping bags and reject plastic bags. It's not that hard.
230 Billion plastic bags every year !!!!! Crazy
You’re great Padi. Thank you. I wish I’ll see you accidentally around Thailand because I’m traveling here
ชอบมากค่ะ เอาอีกๆค่ะ
I am living in Bangkok and what I hate the most is without a doubt the traffic, the streets of the city are poorly designed, the traffic lights, streets under construction narrowing, U turns, etc...
Thanks for your cuteness , we will try to keep this beautiful couture to stay with us as good as possible , Thank you for love you give for Thailand 😄❤️
... love is in the air .... ;)
I'm surprised by the Londoners- sorry SOUTH Londoners, lol- saying the language barrier, cos I've lived in Chiang Mai for 4 years and sooooo many Thai people speak English there.
South Londoners like to point out they are from South London. I was born there and most of my family lived in London, sorry, SOUTH London
Great video.
I'm also here to learn thai, but your videos are also pretty entertaining.
I learn more about Thailand everyday from you Paddy. Whens the next meet up? Cheers Tony
I've been to Thailand nine times now and love the place, but what do I dislike the most? How difficult it is for farangs like myself (Aussie) to learn the Thai language. As soon as I go outside the main tourist areas, the language barrier really starts to become apparent. The five tone system and the grammar is so different to English that it makes communication extremely difficult. When I try to say something in Thai because of either, my bad pronunciation of the tones, or the way I'm trying to say something, Thais don't understand even the simplest thing I'm trying to get across. You think you're saying it perfectly, and they look at you like you're speaking a foreign language to them!
White rice news, got me good, I try being a funny guy, but honestly, Only few street food vendors actually get it, but hey, I don't give up that easily 😋😂
I feel you bro luckily my first time was awesome I was even told that I speak thai so good and it made me very happy to be complemented by them.
“Learn Thai From a White Guy”. You’ll know Tones and rest in 2-3 weeks. Life saver
It can be difficult to learn but I’ve tried so many other languages and find Thai the easiest to learn. There are dissimilar grammar points but it’s typically S+V+O, same as English and the tones take getting used to. Agree that Learn Thai from a White Guy is super helpful. Speaking with natives is great but having someone who’s gone through the same thing as you to learn the language makes the learning much easier to understand.
Go to a school and learn !!
Ahh I loved hearing Amanda’s south London accent. Made me feel a bit homesick but in a good way.
When I lived and worked in Thailand, the thing that I didn't like was the legal system. If you get in a car accident as a foreigner, it's your fault, end of story (you shouldn't even be here is what was said to me). My friend got t boned by a drunk Thai, on camera and everything, my friend had lived there fifteen years (!) yet he was held responsible in court against the very clear evidence. Cos he's white. He was already broke since he earned Thai wages.
It's scary. And racist.
So much bribery and corruption in the police as well.
If the legal system was fair and honourable it would be such a great place to live.
I love Thai talk Paddy
ชอบดูมากเลยครับ❤️
Nice vid... stay happy Paddy !
หนูชอบการสัมภาษณ์แบบนี้มากเลย ได้เห็นมุมมองต่างๆ ของชาวต่างชาติ
Paddy Improved speech development
So good
The language barrier always seems to be an issue. I feel even for thais who can speak English. I feel like they can speak it but don't understand certain concepts.
Good job, Paddy.
i agree that plastic is a big problem in Thailand because we excessively use and most of us don't do recycle.
5:06 "Just trying to ask if there's any reggae cafes".😂 I love the optimism of Brits abroad!
Wearing dreadlocks, reggae T shirts, looking for reggae cafes and not understanding the language --maybe going to Jamaica would have been a better choice?
tbh I am Thai and I don’t know where can I find reggae cafes in Thai either😂
embarrassing, what next, looking for jugs of carling and a full english....
What I hate is the complete disregard for pedestrians by people driving vehicles.
These people don't stop or even slow down for people crossing the street, not even in crosswalks, not even in those with pedestrian traffic signals!
YES ,no sidewalks / pavements
I’ve been living here 5 years now but thinking back to when I was a tourist I remember loving the relaxed atmosphere and the warm nights. I also love visiting the temples. They are all so different and vibrant and peaceful happy places. I also like being in a Buddhist culture because it is not, as the American observed, the pervasive (and divisive) American Christian presence. What don’t I like? I can’t help but think of น้ำปลาร้า but I do love spicy Thai food. One of the strange things I encountered is cleaning ladies in the men’s public bathrooms.
Wow great intro, speak fantastic Thai.
Hi Paddy
Me and my partner enjoy your videos and have followed you for a while from a Sydney home.
If you are in Chang Mai it would be great if you could interview Yidan she is a Chinese UA-camr living there building a farm and homestay place , she blogs in English and can speak Thai and you are similar age would be great to see you guys chatting together,
Keep up the great work 🙏
Nobody mention the "special" visa system, 90 day report, the administration to be ome a NEW visa, year after year, after year, ... even when you are married for 10 or 20 years, the super friendly immigration officers at the airport?
Some thai immigration officers are pro mainland chinese government.
Been to Thailand many times and stayed for long periods. Love the place and the people, dislike the taxi drivers !!
The plastic! Yes! So much of it. In Bangkok, so much of it ends up in the khlongs :(
Have to agree with the English teacher gentleman - I really *love* the temples. Just gorgeous!
Hello to the one who is Half Thai Half Pinoy, I hope I am too hahah so that I could stay there for just quite sometime.
Hey
@@chanaunsri1868 helloo chana stay safe in chiang mai, I wanted to live in Thailand as well preferably Bangkok but I’m not thai, I was able to visit for 7 days last September 17 this year but it wasn’t enough I left my Heart and Soul in Bangkok.
The noodle inflation! I love Thai instant noodles 😭
You asked the very smart 3 questions, so we got the very useful answers, thank you.
Next time, please ask them about, which points Thailand should be improved or developed.
Hello! I greatly appreciate you videos, it's the kind of content I've been looking for!
I apologize if you've already mentioned this in other videos, but do you know a good place to learn thai? either a school there, or a website?
My work is moving me there for 2 years =)
So nice video
Interesting that the American had trouble with the fact Christianity wasn’t the basis of the culture. Given the Thai calendar is based on when Buddha was born, 623 BC, it’s should open his mind to learn more about Buddhism.
I guess he came to teach english in the name of some Christianity organization or sort of religious NGO and being religious man himself.
Americans talk wayyy too much
That American man is the most stereotypical white tourist...Food to spicy, obsessed with temples, surprised that they don't care about jesus.. yikes lol
Love the bargirls and ladyboys. Dislike the plastic, pollution and having to buy bottled water …
Why should Christianity be the basis of Thailand? Buddhism rules here
Dual pricing - paying 900% extra to enter a national park despite paying tax and having Thai social security.
I'd say the heat. We had +32C in Europe the summer just gone and it was terrible
3:21 Paddy is laughing like Billkin So cute
น่ารักมาก ☺
Well to be fair, you should ask Thais also "What Thai people DISLIKE MOST About expats?"
And like about foreigners too!
@@itsafunnyoldworld Yeah it would be good to ask about foreign expats and foreign tourists separately.
@@andrewdunbar828 Both of those are a completely different "species" tbh. It's one thing to be a tourist here, but an entirely different thing to actually living here. I've got my gripes, but my gripes sure aren't the same as those just visiting lol
@@itsafunnyoldworld I agree. Your perspective about Thailand, and love for the people here evolve after living here for several years. Sadly most western UA-cam channels (Thai Talk with Paddy, Paddy Doyle, Retired Working for You, etc. don't recognize the large foreign resident audience of their channels and focus mostly on tourists. The opinions and perspectives of tourists and residents are very often completely different. Personally I want to live in Thailand for the rest of my life, and think there are many interesting topics to discuss about that, but it's mostly "do you like spicy food" and other repetitive drivel that's meaningless to truly
understanding and appreciating Thailand and Thai people.
@@itsafunnyoldworld Exactly. I've only ever been a visitor but I've met many expats. In and from many countries.
For me, the weirdest thing about Thailand is eating entrails and chickens feet. 555
The things I dislike are lack of pedestrian walkways, and I would have said plastic too, but I've been in Thailand a lot now, and I don't see a viable alternative for a lot of the plastic use. Like when you buy a soup to takeaway from a street vendor, it is the best option those vendors have.
Thailand is my favourite country in the world, I love the people and the "sabai sabai" feeling that permeates everything. I just feel comfortable here. And I love the hiking trails in the north, and the beautiful beaches in the south. And it's so fast and affordable to travel around the length of the country by plane to go between beach and mountain.
And of course, everyones favourite thing about Thailand, the FOOD. :)
Been to Thailand more than 20 times ,now not counting with my wife from Surin and she now lives in Sydney .Thailand is Sabai Sabai mate love your channel 🇦🇺
Another enjoyable vlogging. Ummm I agreed with the German couple, less plastic would be great! ... 🙏
Someone already wrote it but
1) Driving conditions - worst drivers ever
2) Pollution - garbage, 300-700+ pm during burning season, poor water quality etc
3) Corruption and military checkpoints all over the country are also terribly annoying and make Thailand still appear very 3rd worldish, despite having the most opulent malls and amenities in some places
thx for ur videos. How old were you when you studied Thai and how long did it take to get so fluent talking in Thai. I wouldn't mind doing a course
tomorrow Thailand is Loy Krathong Day
don't miss, it's very beautiful 🥳🇹🇭🎉
I hate sweating non stop it almost ruined my vacation as my kids didn’t want to go out
The foreigners fees is very normal my friend even Disneyland in some countries the foreigners have to pay more, and it's not Thai fees or foreigners fees because they already ripped us off from our Tax and they did said that, and for those Thai that thought they lucky they could pay the Thai price I have to say they never known that when they have a real job here they have to pay those Tax too.
For my own Thai experience overseas in Christchurch New Zealand about 20+ years ago I have to say it's so sad too that I have to pay around 1-2 millions baht (us$30,000-60,000) just per year to studied in high school over there and just only Grade C school while I asked a lot of kids over there they all studied just for free or nearly free. And yes all of asian kids who want to studied abroad have to deal with the same problem(I'm not talking about labor class who went there different way).
The guy from Missouri definitely looked like he was from Missouri.
Paddy, can you do a video "learn thai with paddy" 😆
Likes: so friendly towards tourists
Dislikes: so much plastic & the amount of rubbish floating in the sea & laying by the side of the roads.
I like the arrival hall.
I hate the departure hall.
😅
Great video as always. What do I dislike? Humidity. Tuktuk and taxi drivers asking me for a ride. No toilet paper in public toilets (not all, just a few). Too much plastic. Uneven walk ways or no walk ways. Access is to walk on the main road. Traffic that do not stop at red lights - always look left and right when crossing.
Love almost everything but dislike the price of imported wine especially at hotels. Love that anyone can visit on any budget and that we can enjoy more higher end luxury resorts and accommodation than we could afford in Europe but hate how the exchange rates are not as favourable as they used to be. Love being able to waft around in a swimsuit, kaftan and sandals living my best life so hate when we have to leave and come home!
Just remembered that I hate when Bangkok taxi drivers refuse / try not to use the meter.
I hate the 90 day immigration checkins and the 30 day border runs. That's why so many of us are relocating to Cambodia where they have the 1 year visa and then we don't have to worry about it for an entire year!!!
Great interviews there Paddy. Yes, dual pricing grinds my gears more than anything. In fact, after eight year's of shelling out triple farang amounts, i just walk away. No more tipping either since our currency nosedived.
Sorry, but the London'er s complaining about the inability to communicate in English is a bad "hate". Well no sh!t. You're in a foreign country where the primary language isn't English. It's your job to make the attempt at their language, not theirs.
Something seems a little off with that guy from Missouri
คนไทยชอบคลิปแนวนี่ครับ สัมภาษณ์บ่อยๆนะครับ
Brother
Moved to Thailand 5 months back with my Thai wife. Love the people and how soft spoken and humble they are. Not really a fan of the food as it gets boring after awhile and the burgers here do not taste like burgers🤣. For those who come as tourists there isnt much you can do about the pricing in tourist prone areas. More rural areas like Songkhla and the south dont really have much tourists so the prices stay fixed and low. I live here so i order Grab food and people wont know if we are locals or tourists especially if we put Thai names(my wife thought me that)🤣 The biggest dislike i have is not many people speak English in more rural areas. Its really hard to communicate but thank god for google translate. Apart from language i hate the 11-2 and 5-12 alcohol rule here🤣 not sure about tourist spots like bangkok n chiang mai and pattaya etc but where im from, beer sales have timings. The last dislike i have is people tend to keep talking in Thai tho I tell them i dont speak Thai and when i dont understand they look at me as if Im dumb. Im Malaysian Indian of a fairer tone and appearently i look like a southern Thai person
Ok you look like Thai so they confuse why you dont understand what they say. 😂
Do you also love the mask wearing?
thats like 2 min walk from my apartment! shame I didnt see you there
Have you ever thought about learning khmer? I feel like you would pick it up fast!
Lao you mean
It's a bad thing for foreigners to charge higher for public transport. But charging foreigners a higher price than Thai people, I think it's not a bad thing. Because Thai people have already paid part of the tax. That makes the entrance fee for Thai people cheaper than for foreigners.
Foreigners working in Thailand pay more tax than locals.
I'm really interested to know what foreigners who have been living in Thailand long term most dislike and like about Thailand
I've been six times and my husband is Thai (met on the first trip). For me my dislikes would be the 10x charge for foreigners at national parks and such, its not even double the price, its ten times the price which is ridiculous. Then it would have to be the taxi/ tuk tuk drivers, constant calling everywhere you go and it gets super annoying. Thats about it though, theres so many positives to be had in Thailand.
But even if it is 10x the price, it is still cheaper than ONE cinema ticket back home and Nature is much more fascinating than cinema. I am from Germany: When I want to stay on the beach need to pay Tax every day 140,- baht. That is free in Thailand. Ask yourself how much tax you pay in Thailand ... it is very very little !!! Streetfood is Taxfree. Often it is just 7% , in EU it 21% ... Stop complaining please
@@_Alfa.Bravo_ No it isn't. A lot of things are much cheaper back home than in Thailand though it depends where you come from.
Tuk-tuk/taxi drivers are nothing compared to the ones in Cambodia. You won't even run into them unless you're walking along Khao San road or Siam. Anywhere else, they'll not even notice you. No one gets propositioned for a tuk-tuk or taxi walking down Sukhumwit road, past Nana.
A guy from Brazil complaining about the hot weather than I remember he said he’s from the south.
I like the lima bravo's.
People complain about tourist prices. well its the same all over the world !!
... no, it is the dual-pricing with 10x differance
Currently in Thailand 🇹🇭 Love ❤️ the colour of the water along the coast and islands, how friendly and kind the older Thai people are towards tourists, 7/11, curries, street foods and the price of accommodation. Dislike 😕 air pollution, rude attitude towards tourists by some of the younger generation (not all) and mostly the smell of sewage while walking the streets.
I agree with the first girl. Plastic is the thing I hate the most in Thailand! It's just surreal.
Where do u take the 2 week course plse
The issue with Thailand. I followed my wife here. At first, I would call myself a tourist. And honestly, I loved it. Couldn't wait for the day I could live here in Thailand all the time. Three years of fulltime in Thailand, my wife and I are hading back to Canada as soon as she gets her visa. Living here all the time is not like being a tourist. Thai people really don't give a shit about you as a farang. It's the only country where I've been treated with discrimination. I was told by a long time expat that I would find out really quickly that Thais really don't like farangs. And when you live here, that becomes obvious. As many farang will tell you, they like you when they know your here, spending money, then leaving. They don't care about you when they find out you're living here.
True. I've spent many years living in Thailand but despite speaking fluent Thai, I can count the number of Thai friends I have on one hand. I used to have many more, but that was in the days when I was coming and going. Now they all have jobs, some have families too (I have both of these as well, but it doesn't mean you can't socialize every once in a while) but Thais don't really like foreigners. Most of them anyway.
They can be really friendly and you can certainly hold a conversation with a Thai and smile together but it won't lead to anything. It doesn't mean they'll invite you for a drink afterwards...even if they do, it will happen once, on the spur of the moment and never again. It's often more to "show off the farang" than to become friends with the farang. Thais don't like foreign ideas. They love their masks and won't listen to logic, common sense or reason. They want farang to wear masks like them but even if you did that, they still wouldn't be friends with you.
@@therock8224Great comment, why is it they are so obsessed with the masks?
@@Hhhlll7778 Well, that's a great question! You'll find it even stranger if you've been to Thailand recently and visited nearby countries. I've been to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia post-Covid, all since August 2022 and what I can say is that Thailand has by far the highest amount of mask wearing. Vietnam is similar when it comes to airports, flights, hospitals (where they are still mandatory) as well as banks but few masks are worn anywhere else (except as dust protection while riding motorcycles, but then they're quickly taken off upon disembarking from the bike, unlike in Thailand where Thais are wearing them around the dining table at a restaurant and refuse to remove them until the food comes around).
I think it comes down to the propaganda and fear mongering that the Thai government, aided by the media, imposed on the Thai population quite early on in addition to the Thai "greng jai" culture and extreme conformity, which is something they're taught from a young age. You could say that other Asians are similar, but there's something about the Thai education system that causes Thais to become easier to control, more conformist and compliant than their neighbors, especially when they're placed under constant threat of some kind of danger, whether real or imagined.
While Thais in rural areas were slow to adopt masks until the mandate came around on March 26, 2020, in the larger cities including Bangkok, there was almost 100% mask wearing compliance, particularly in supermarkets, government offices, malls and on board public transportation even a month or more before that, which persists until the present day, 9 months since the mandate ended.
Thai news anchors started wearing masks while reading the news inside the studio on April 26, 2021 and some are still wearing them now, as a form of cheap propaganda for the lowest hanging fruit who will believe anything they see on their TV screens. Not only that, but game shows had both the host and participants wear masks!
No other country went to such extremes and I firmly believe Thailand's Covid propaganda was by far the most extreme of any country in the world, so extreme that most westerners would be shaking their heads. Neither Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia or mainland China had news anchors wearing masks inside the studio.
Nor did any other country, even when they mandated masks everywhere in public with tough penalties for non-compliance (such as Singapore and Hong Kong) bring in what I feel was almost cult-like devotion to mask wearing. It has essentially become an extension of their bodies or as an item of clothing. In Singapore and Hong Kong, the respective governments were strict, but especially in Singapore, started easing the requirements step by step, beginning in late March 2022.
What's most ironic and also disturbing is how it appears to me that within just 2 weeks of the mask mandate ending in Hong Kong, more people have managed to remove their masks in this short time than Thais have in 9 months of not having a mandate! Hong Kongers coming to Thailand now would probably be confused and wondering whether masks are still mandatory here.
Now that being said, there is far less mask wearing in many tourist areas, particularly down south such as in Krabi, Phuket, Phi Phi, Samui and Phangan. In the latter, there hasn't been much mask wearing, except amongst corporate employees, police and other officials for the better part of a year now.
However, the common theme is that it's mainly in areas with a high concentration of foreigners that Thais feel confident to remove their masks. In every other Asian country, the locals are able to take off their masks without foreigners influencing them. In many rural areas there are finally not that many masks being worn anymore either, but I feel it took the locals much longer to take their masks off there than in tourist areas.
Hi Mr Paddy.
I'm your new subscriber,I want to learn Thai can you give me some advice how to learn it?
Liked the video.. didn't like the sound effect when names came up.. strange but with headphones 🎧 เจ็บหู
I'm surprised at the language instructor. I live in a catholic village. The next village over is also catholic. Everywhere I go I see some saint or otther church. He is really missing out on some fun because the cultural blend is fascinating. They are Buddhist in their heart and in their practices but there is a thin layer of Christianity on top.