Do's and Don'ts in Koh Samui & Thailand

Ha, yes, he did ask! Never got groped by one, but their pervy eyes sure burn holes in your body!

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4. The head is considered to be a sacred part of the body. Don’t ever touch a local’s head, even as an act of affection on children.~~~

This one does always make me chuckle. You shouldnt touch any stranger on the head in any country. Could you imagine waling down 5th Ave in New York tapping people's heads.
And children's heads in Thailand are fair game. You often see people patting children on the head. It's just some urban myth that started in an overzealous guidebook.

Kananga was touched a bit too much on his curly head as a child and is a bit sensitive on the subject .

If I remember correctly you also proudly gave out such advice not so long ago.

It is true that the guides always give this advice, like you shouldn't touch a child's head because it is the most sacred part of the body, etc., and then you see Thai people doing it all the time. But on the other hand, I remember that particular occasion when I had a spider or an insect of some sort in my hair, and then someone removed it for me. Well, before the person did it, before she touched my head, she "wai-ed" me and said ขอโทษนะ (kho-thot-na = sorry). So it's not totally bullsh*t either.

It is true that the guides always give this advice, like you shouldn't touch a child's head because it is the most sacred part of the body, etc., and then you see Thai people doing it all the time. But on the other hand, I remember that particular occasion when I had a spider or an insect of some sort in my hair, and then someone removed it for me. Well, before the person did it, before she touched my head, she "wai-ed" me and said ขอโทษนะ (kho-thot-na = sorry). So it's not totally bullsh*t either.

You are absolutely right ,unlike Kananga ,who is mostly wrong ( although he says that he is always right LOL )

try not to point your feet at people

ah yes, this valuable piece of wisdom gets posted here about every 6 months like clockwork. Good thing too, all those damn westerners running around the country pointing their feet at everybody.

I remember my first trip to Thailand I was almost refused entry when I started pointing my feet at the immigration officer. Then I angered the hotel receptionist when I pointed at her with my feet while I was checking in. I spent about a week going around BKK, pissing everyone off by pointing at them with my feet. When I went shopping I'd point at the things I wanted with my feet, then point at the cashier with my feet, then as I was leaving I'd wave goodbye with my feet.

Luckily someone clued me in and I stopped offending the Thais in that manner.

Haha..

Good comments!

~~~It is true that the guides always give this advice, like you shouldn't touch a child's head because it is the most sacred part of the body, etc., and then you see Thai people doing it all the time. But on the other hand, I remember that particular occasion when I had a spider or an insect of some sort in my hair, and then someone removed it for me. Well, before the person did it, before she touched my head, she "wai-ed" me and said ขอโทษนะ (kho-thot-na = sorry). So it's not totally bullsh*t either.~~~

And what has someone touching your head got to do with children? You yourself have just admitted that you see Thai people touching children's heads. Do you see them wai children and apologise before they do it? If you don't then irishrover is out of luck and I am right (as always) and he is wrong again. LOL!

Edited by: He who is always right.

The head 'thing' generally applies to children over 10 years of age.