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fiogf49gjkf0d RELIGION: 94 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ARE BUDDHISTS. THAIS ARE NATURALLY FRIENDLY PEOPLE AND WILL WANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME. THERE ARE A FEW BASIC RULES YOU SHOULD OBSERVE. DO NOT POINT YOUR FEET DIRECTLY AT A THAI - IT IS DEEPLY OFFENSIVE. ALWAYS DRESS DISCREETLY IN A 'WAT' WHERE YOU MUST ALWAYS REMOVE YOUR SHOES. THAIS GREET EACH OTHER WITH A PALMS TOGETHER GESTURE AND A SLIGHT BOW OF THE HEAD. IF YOU DO LIKEWISE YOU WILL GIVE CONSIDERABLE PLEASURE. RESIDENTS OF BANGKOK DRESS FORMALLY AT NIGHT AND IN SOME HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS A JACKET AND TIE IS REQUIRED. TOP- LESS BATHING IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE; NUDE BATHING IS NOT. THAIS ARE CURIOUS PEOPLE, SO WILL ASK YOU QUESTIONS THAT WESTERNERS WOULD NOT NORMALLY ASK - ABOUT YOUR SALARY FOR EXAMPLE.
THAIS REVERE THEIR ROYAL FAMILY. EVEN SOCIAL MALCONTENTS WHO IGNORE LEGAL AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS REFUSE TO TOLERATE A FAINTLY IMPLIED SLIGHT ON THE THAI MONARCHY. VISITORS SHOULD DRESS NEATLY IN ALL RELIGIOUS SHRINES. THEY SHOULD NEVER GO SHIRTLESS OR IN SHORTS OR OTHER UNSUITABLE ATTIRE. SHOES SHOULD BE REMOVED WHEN ENTERING PRIVATE THAI HOMES; CHAPELS WHERE BUDDHIST IMAGES ARE KEPT AND ANY OF THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY'S MOSQUES. EACH BUDDHA IMAGE, LARGE OR SMALL, RUINED OR NOT, IS REGARDED AS BEING A SACRED OBJECT. NEVER CLIMB ONTO ONE TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OR DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT SHOW LACK OF RESPECT. PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN ARE FROWNED UPON.
THAIS REGARD THE HEAD AS THE HIGHEST PART OF THE BODY, BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. THEREFORE, THEY DO NOT APPRECIATE ANYONE PATTING THEM THERE, EVEN AS A FRIENDLY GESTURE. BUSINESS HINTS -------------- THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPORT PROMOTION, 'DEP', MINISTRY OF COM- MERCE, ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT, OFFERS THE PERMANENT EXHIBI- TION. ONE STOP EXPORT SHOWCASE WHEREBY ALL MANUFACTURED THAI QUALITY PRODUCTS ARE ON DISPLAY BY MORE THAN 250 SE- LECTED EXHIBITORS WITH MORE THAN 10,000 ITEMS IN THE 3 EX- HIBITION HALLS OF 4,000 SQ METRES EXHIBITION AREA. THE SAME SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT DED REGIONAL OFFICES. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE THAI TRADE CENTER OR A COMMERCIAL COUNCELLORS OFFICE IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY, AT THE NEAREST THAI EMBASSY, OR DEPARTMENT OF EXPORT PROMOTION, RATCHADAPISEK ROAD, BANGKOK. TEL. 511-5066-77, FAX. 512- 1079, 513-1917. BUSINESS DRESS IS NOT FORMAL. PRIOR APPOINTMENTS ARE CUSTO- MARY AND PUNCTUALITY IS A SIGN OF COURTESY.
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