Today’s post is a guest post by James Turner, a former Thailand expat who has gone on to write a book regarding his time in Thailand called “Beyond The Comfort Zone”. The book is a captivating glimpse into the darker side of Thailand and I found it to be well written, captivating and exciting. I don’t want to spoil it by telling you too much about the story and you can read some excerpts if you visit Jim’s website.

I will be bringing you more about Jim in the form of an interview early next week, but he was kind enough to write a short post about his own observations of Thai culture, developed during his 3 years living in the Kingdom, as an introduction. So, without further ado here you go.

Hi Steve thanks for the chance to talk about my experiences living in Thailand.

I’d actually been coming to Thailand as a tourist since probably the late 80′s early 90′s. When I eventually decided to move away from the UK (2002) it seemed only natural to head to Thailand as my next home.

I think I probably made the same erroneous judgment call that many people make when they move to another country, in that I assumed I ‘knew’ the country because I had made several trips here for a month or more as a tourist. Well, let’s just say that presumption on my part was quickly squashed!

Some of the challenges we have all faced as expats in Thailand are fairly obvious. The language, lack of friend’s, infrastructure and so on. Others however are much more subtle in their manifestation. The cultural differences between, not just Thais, but all nations in Asia and our western cultural upbringing are enormous. The whole experience can be hugely frustrating. The loss of face issue can be maddening at first – until you realize it actually cuts both ways. Nobody wants you to lose face either and they will bend over backwards for you to ensure that does not happen.

In my experience you have to accept that you are in someone else’s country and it is not for us to judge whether we would do things differently, thus that the Thai way of doing things is wrong. On the contrary, I find the Thai way of approaching interpersonal relationships to be far preferable to the way we do things in the west. I think there is much more respect in Asian cultures for one another and that is very evident in Thailand. At least that has been my experience. Trying to impose your own culturally pre-programmed moral compass onto the Thai landscape will only result in friction and unhappiness. We are never in our lifetime going to change the thinking of a nation – best just to focus on the positives…and smile of course!

I think the singular most important thing to do upon arrival in Thailand is to start learning the language and persist at it. Unless one does that, one is never going to fully enjoy living in the kingdom. Personally I think it’s great fun and definitely makes for a much more rewarding time in the LOS. By the way, I notice you also try and expand your reader’s Thai vocab on your site which is a great idea.

Moving to a new culture is a challenge wherever you end up in the world and Thailand is no different. On the whole though, I have found the Thais to be warm, friendly and accommodating to those who are willing to develop a genuine interest in their culture. I know it is still my favorite place in the world and although I am not currently resident, still consider Thailand to be my home.

Prepare to have your compass moved and your preconceptions shattered. Now, repeat after me. Relax, smile, breath, be patient…….and repeat..Relax….

Popularity: 1% [?]

Continue Reading

If you are considering a marriage in Thailand then you should know that there are actually two types of Thai weddings. The first is the traditional Thai wedding ceremony which is done for religious, cultural and traditional reasons. This type of marriage ceremony is the most common even though it does not lead to a legally recognized marriage. Still it is a necessary ceremony if you are marrying a Thai girl (or guy) and is how the girls’ family and village recognize that you are married.

The second type of marriage is the legal marriage which is performed in a local Thai Amphur and will get you a legal Thai marriage certificate. If you are planning on bringing your wife back to your home country you will likely have both types of marriages.

When you decide to have your legal marriage in Thailand please make sure you allow enough time, otherwise you will make yourself crazy. Golf and I got the whole process done in 2 days, but it was quite a whirlwind and I recommend allowing at least three days for the legal Thai marriage.

The requirements for eligibility to be married (for both parties) in Thailand are as follows:

• Both parties must be at least 17 years of age. If one party is under 17 a marriage can still take place if there is a court order.
• Neither party should be insane.
• There should be no blood relation between either party either through the maternal or paternal line.
• Both parties should not have the same adoptive parents.
• Neither party should have a legal spouse at the time of the marriage.

Those should all be pretty easy requirements for both you and your Thai girl to meet so let’s move on to the documents you will both need.

The Thai partner will need the following documents:

• His/Her Identification Cards
• Their house registration certificates (Tabien Baan)
• If previously married then proof of divorce or in the case of spousal death, proof of death must be made available.

The foreigner will need the following documents:

• A copy of your passport including the arrival card and visa for entry into Thailand.
• Affirmation of eligibility to marry from your countries Embassy.
• Copies (2) of the affirmation of eligibility to marry translated into Thai and certified by an approved Foreign Ministry translator.
• If previously married the original proof of divorce or in the case of spousal death, proof of death must be made available.

Once you have all the required documents you will need to follow this procedure to legal be married.

1. Go to your Embassy and obtain and complete the affirmation of eligibility to marry. There will be a fee for this and it varies for each embassy. You will need the following to complete the affirmation: Provide an income statement (this is usually a simple notarized statement that the Embassy does for you proclaiming that your income is $x amount). A copy of your divorce decree or death certificate for previous spouse(s). A list of your children and their ages. The names and contact information for two citizens of your home country. Depending on the embassy you can collect the signed affirmation of eligibility to marry either the same day or the next day. When I did this at the U.S. embassy it took about 4 hours total.
2. Take your signed affirmation document and have it translated into Thai. If your embassy is on Wireless Road you’ll find many translation services available. Time for translation can vary so you may need to shop around. Mine took 2 hours. You may also want to get your divorce decree or death certificate translated if you will be getting married at a small Amphur. This is not technically a requirement, but I’ve heard stories of this being requested at the Amphur. If you’re adding up the time required you know that just getting the affirmation document will require a minimum of 1 full day.
3. Take your affirmation of eligibility to marry and all documents together with the translations and copies (2) of your passport to the Legalization Division of Consular Affairs Department.
   

   The Legalization and Naturalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (www.mfa.go.th)
   123 Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 11120
   Tel. 0–2575 1056–59, 0–2981 7171
   Hours Mon-Fri 08.30–11.30 and 13.00–15.30

   I recommend going early and arriving when they open if you want to make this process faster. Lines can get long later in the day. This is where you will get the Consular Official’s signature authenticated. Same day service costs 800 baht and next day service costs 400 baht. I recommend same day service since the Consular Affairs Department is a fair distance from the Bangkok city center and you really don’t want to make 2 trips out there if it’s not necessary. Even with same day service it will take several hours for the documents to be ready. Fortunately they have a pretty decent cafeteria where you can get lunch.

4. Take all your completed documents to the local Amphur (District Registrar) to have the marriage registered and the marriage certificate issued. Please take note that they issue two copies of the marriage certificate and they will not issue new ones later. Take good care of your marriage certificates. The process at the Amphur can take anywhere from 1-4 hours so be prepared. Again I recommend getting there early in the day.

5. After receiving your certificate you will want to have it translated to English or your home countries language before leaving Thailand as it will be much cheaper to have it done in Thailand. You will need the translated copies for visa or immigration purposes and you will also want to check your own countries immigration laws as some will require the translation to be certified by the Thai government.

So there you have the necessary steps for getting married in Thailand. It really isn’t too difficult, it just takes time. As I said, Golf and I completed the process in 2 days, but it was grueling and I recommend allowing at least 3 days to allow for any delays and to keep your sanity.

If anyone knows of anything I missed or any changes to the laws please leave a comment below so I can research and correct the information if necessary.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Continue Reading

When you meet a girl and you like her or think she’s pretty you want to be able to tell her right? It can be hard enough for some of us when the girl speaks the same language as us, but what can you do if you’ve just met the Thai girl of your dreams and don’t know how to tell her how you feel?

Here are a few phrases of love that will go a long way in letting your girl know how you feel and finding out how she feels. Don’t let the spoken language barrier block the language of the heart.

Updated with Thai script as requested by Porn so you can now surprise your girlfriend by sending her some words of love in writing.

koon suay mak (คุณสวยมาก) – You are very beautiful
koon na-ruk mak (คุณน่ารักมาก) – You are very cute
koon tam hai pom mee kwarm sook (คุณทำให้ผมมีความสุข) – You make me happy
pom kit teung koon (ผมคิดถึงคุณ) – I miss you
pom sot (ผมยังโสด) – I am single
koon chorp pom reu blao (คุณชอบผมหรือเปล่า) – Do you like me? (For yes the reply is “chorp” and for no the reply is “mai chorp”)
koon mee faen reu yung (คุณมีแฟนหรือยัง) – Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? (For yes the reply is “mee” and for no the reply is “mai mee”)
ben faen pom dai mai (เป็นแฟนผมได้ไหม) – Can you be my girlfriend? (For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”)
pom kit wa pom long ruk koon (ผมคิดว่าผมหลงรักคุณ) – I think I have fallen in love with you
hua jai kong pom ben kong koon (หัวใจของผมเป็นของคุณ) – My heart is yours
chan rak khoon (ฉันรักคุณ) – I love you
chan rak khoon maak leeuy (ฉันรักคุณมากเลย) – I love you so much
joop dai mai (จูบได้ไหม) – Can I kiss you?
tee rak (ที่รัก) – sweetheart or darling
koon keu yot ruk kong pom (คุณคือยอดรักของผม) – You are my sweetheart

That’s all for right now, I’ll post more Thai dating and love phrases later so you can speak of matters of the heart better with your Thai girlfriend. Let me know if there’s anything specific you would like to know.

If you really want to impress your Thai girl why not give our affordable Thai translation service a try. For a very reasonable fee we can translate your emails from English to Thai or from Thai to English and have them back to you in under 24 hours. Show her how much you care with an email in Thai.

Popularity: 70% [?]

Continue Reading

Shopping in Thailand is fun for westerners because of the low low prices of many of the goods and souveniers, but that is only the beginning of the fun. Not only can you expect fairly low prices, but Thai’s have a system of bargaining for goods that makes shopping an entertaining experience and great fun for everyone if done right.

At any of the markets and street stalls you can expect to pay anywhere from 10-50% less than the price that is initially quoted to you, but you have to hone your bargaining skills. Bargaining in Thailand is a science and an art form. A combination of market intelligence combined with humor and flattery in just the right proportions to secure the best price and to let everyone have a good time. Remember, the concept of “sanook” or fun is very important to Thai’s. Anytime you can add some humor and give the seller a bit of sanook you will do much better.

When bargaining it is important to remember some rules, this will ensure you get the best price and that a good time is had by all.

1. If the shop or stall has fixed prices then no bargaining. Only bargain at places where there are no posted prices.
2. You may want to shop around a bit to get an idea of the proper local price for an item before you seriously start to bargain.
3. Learn some Thai and start the conversation in Thai. This will make you seem more like an expat resident rather than a tourist and the seller will be less likely to inflate the price excessively. Memorize this phrase: “Sawadee krap/kaa, nee tao rai krap/kaa?” (Hello, how much is this? Men will use krap and women will use kaa). Try to learn Thai numbers as well, you can learn more about Thai number from my post “Counting in Thai“
4. The initial price given to you will likely be twice as high as the actual selling price. If you look like a wealthy farang then the price could be as much as triple what the seller will actually accept. Decide ahead of time what you would be willing to pay and when the bargaining starts try to start about 20% lower than that price to give yourself some room. Don’t start insultingly low though either.
5. Use humor and flattery. Thai’s love to laugh and they love to be flattered. Making a joke or giving a compliment is an easy way to lower the price of almost any item.
6. Don’t lose your temper or get emotional about the bargaining. Thai’s do not like confrontation or excessive emotional displays and the only thing your outburst will do is make you seem rude and cause you to lose face with the Thai. Always be polite and smile when bargaining.
7. Remember that bargaining for Thai’s is both like a game and a way to interact socially. If you can make the bargaining more like a conversation and less like a business transaction you’ll do much better and everyone will be happier.
8. Don’t be afraid to walk away if the price seems too high. Many times this will prompt the seller to come after you saying “Ok ok” and agreeing to your price orvery close to your price. On the other hand, don’t back out of a sale after a price has been agreed upon. This is considered very bad form and quite rude. If you agree to a price then go through with the purchase.

Overall, just remember to keep a smile on your face and have fun. For most small items a difference of 50-100 baht only means a difference of $1-2 for you so don’t stress over it. 100 baht can go a long way for a Thai and you very likely won’t miss it. Bargaining should and can be a fun way to socialize with the Thai’s and to get a better understanding of Thai behavior. If you’re unsure how to start watch others and see how they bargain. Even though you aren’t Thai you can learn to bargain well, it just takes some practice. Golf has told me numerous times that I am a better bargainer than her and I have actually seen this first hand, so don’t think you can’t bargain well just because you’re a farang. Get out there and chat it up a bit and just have fun!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Continue Reading

Thai culture expects men to pay a dowry (sin sot in Thai) or bride price prior to the marriage as a symbol of love, respect, appreciation and gratitude to the wife’s parents for raising and caring for her. It is a long standing tradition and is widely accepted in Thailand.

It seems that it developed from the fact that Thailand has no social benefits and children take care of their parents. Traditionally, sons will pay for the upkeep of the parents and the girls will do work for them (house and farm). So, when a daughter leaves her parents they are “compensated” with the dowry since the daughter will now “work” for her husband.

It is also a sign of readiness to support the future wife. In the West we are taught that love is separate from money, but in other cultures money may represent a symbol of love. I know that this is very different from the way that we think of money and love in the West. Part of this connection is due to the way that Thai people value generosity. Generosity is highly valued and it is often hard for Thai people to understand if someone does not want to show generosity.

Of course today many Thai parents are more modern thinking and the dowry is often more important as a visible sign to the community of how successful the new son-in-law is. The concept of “face” comes into play here. I can’t say that I understand this concept completely and will have to say that it is fundamentally about the perception other people have about us and ones importance relative to others.

It is acceptable to “negotiate” the dowry as well. Usually this will be done by a close friend or family member of the groom, however in the case of a foreigner marrying a Thai girl it would be done by the future bride. The amount of the dowry can vary widely and is usually dependent on how successful (and rich) the groom is (or perceived to be). Keep in mind too that many times the parents will return the dowry to the couple immediately after the wedding as a gift.

In my case, my in-laws gave back the gold in the dowry as a gift as well as much of the cash. They kept the money that was received from our guests as gifts to pay for the wedding ceremony. I thought this was extremely fair and generous, especially since it wasn’t expected. Of course each situation is different and while it is definitely more common these days for the return of the dowry as a gift it still isn’t an automatic.

I think the bottom line is if you love your Thai girlfriend then I wouldn’t worry too much about the dowry. If it is something you can afford then it is really no big deal. I mean really, how can you compare money to love? Money you can make more of it anytime, right? But for love…it is so elusive and difficult to find and keep. Ask yourself…can I live without this woman…then ask the same question about the dowry. I think that will put things into perspective.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Continue Reading

Thai can be quite difficult for Westerners to learn, however if you’re just visiting the country you’ll find that you really don’t need to know much Thai in order to get around. Having some knowledge of the language though will help you when it comes to meeting and interacting with Thai;s as they will really appreciate your effort to learn there language.

Thailand has its own language and alphabet which is completely different from Western languages. The Thai alphabet contains 44 consonants and 18 vowels. In addition, Thai is a tonal language with 5 different tones, meaning the same word can have 5 different meaning dependent on the tone. Believe me this can be very confusing when you are learning the language! Golf has demonstrated for me already and I’ll be damned if I can hear much difference in the tones most times and I certainly can’t reproduce them. Very funny for her and very frustrating for me.

That being said, most common words and phrases can be picked up by the Westerner and it is very appreciated by the Thai’s. Want to get a smile? Simply use some Thai phrases when you are in Thailand. Even if you mangle the pronunciation it will be appreciated and in most cases will get you a huge smile and possibly a new friend.

Here’s a great resource for Thai writing: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/thai.htm

However if you just want some basic phrases to use keep coming back here to Thailand Musings. I will try to add short lists of 5-10 words or phrases each week and if you have any questions about any of them you can certainly leave a comment and Golf can help you.

So, here’s the first of many Thai vocabulary lists:

Sawasdee – Hello

La korn – goodbye

Korp khun – thank you

Khun cheu a rai? – What is your name?

Khun pood pa sa ang krit mai? – Do you speak English?

Kor tode – excuse me

Ka rue na – please

Sa ba dee mai? – How are you?

Dee – good

Mai dee – bad

Please note also that Thai’s are very polite, especially to strangers. When speaking it is polite to add –khrab to the end of any sentence or phrase if you are a male. If you are a female you would add –kaa. So “Hello” is said like this:

Sawasdee khrab (for males)

Sawasdee kaa (for females)

Please do not forget to add these to everything you say lest the person you’re speaking to think you are rude and unthinking. Let me know if there are any words or phrases in particular you’d like to learn and I’ll be happy to include them in the next Thai vocabulary post.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Continue Reading

Most of you who have been to Thailand or are planning trips to Thailand have heard about the Thai greeting called the “Wai”. In its most basic form the wai is a gesture of greeting, but did you know that it is used in Thai culture for much more than simply greeting others. In addition to greeting the wai is also used for the following reasons:

• Giving Thanks
• Good Bye
• Apologizing
• Praying to the Buddha
• Begging

The wai first appeared in Thai culture during the Sukhotai Period (13th century AD). It is a part of the unique Thai honorific system and is used to convey a variety of emotions and modes of deference including politeness, respect, honor, gratitude, apology and friendship. In order to wai correctly it is important that the person waiing do so with their whole heart. You should feel your wai and be sincere in paying your respects physically, mentally and spiritually.

In its most simple form the wai is performed by placing your palms together at chest level with your elbows close to your body and your fingers pressed together. You then bow your head over your hands. The hands are often raised during the wai as you bow your head, however there are rules regarding where the hands should be raised to. Generally the higher the hands are raised the more respect that is being shown. It is also important to note that the hands are not jerked upwards, but rather are raised in a fluid and graceful movement. The hands should also point slightly inwards towards the body, not outward as in Christian prayer.

There are a number of rules surrounding the use of the wai. These include when to wai and the type of wai to use for various people. What many foreigners don’t seem to realize is that it is not necessary to wai to everyone. That’s right, there’s no need to wai the 7-11 clerk after paying for your bottle of water. Typically there’s no need to wai any service type individual and this includes waiters/waitresses, shop clerks and anyone else you pay to perform a service. If you feel that you MUST wai these people only do so if they wai you first and then make your wai very generic i.e. palms to the chest and no bowing of your head.

While Thai’s can recognize and use a vast number of types of wai’s depending on social status, power, age, and prestige there are 3 major groups of higher prestige people in Thai society. Initiating a wai to each of these groups is different.

Royal Family/Monks
When waiing someone in this group you bow your head and raise your hands until the index fingers or thumbs touch the forehead.

Parents/Teachers/Older Family Members
When waiing someone in this group you bow your head and raise your hands until the index fingers touch the nose.

Older acquaintances/Superiors at work
When waiing someone in this group you bow your head and raise your hands until the index fingers touch the mouth.

In all three cases you want to keep the elbows tight against your body. When returning a wai you can typically use the stranger’s wai which is a slight lowering of your head until your fingertips touch the point of your chin. This is the wai used when you don’t know the social status or age of the person you are waiing and is generally accepted as a happy compromise. This is also the most useful wai for us farang as typically we won’t know the social status of the Thai person.

Etiquette and social status determines who initiates the wai. Younger people will wai older people first and those who are lower in social status wai those of higher status first. Because you are a farang and outside the Thai social hierarchy it makes it difficult for many Thai’s to know where to place you. In fact, it is only recently that a Thai person would even consider waiing a farang. This wasn’t meant as an insult, but rather a way to avoid embarrassment since there was usually no way for either Thai or farang to know the social status of the other and insult could be given if the wrong wai were offered.

In some cases (especially business situations) a Thai will offer a handshake to you instead of a wai. Simply returning the handshake is completely acceptable. If they do offer a wai the polite thing to do is to respond in kind. And don’t worry too much about getting the wai right. You’re not Thai and no one expects you to be able to wai properly. The fact that you attempted to wai back is enough to make the person who initiated the wai happy.

In many western cultures a nod of the head is often acceptable as a response to a greeting and it is important to note here that in Thai society a wai can be acknowledged by a nod of the head or an upraised right hand, BUT this is only done by monks or royalty. It is called Rap Wai or acknowledging a wai. If you respond to a wai in this way it may be perceived as if you are impersonating a monk or royalty and there is a slight chance that you will cause offense. At the least it can certainly be seen as amusing to the person you Rap Wai.

In fact, outside Bangkok and the other tourist areas of Thailand you will likely generate loads of goodwill along with some amusement and possibly even amazement if you are able to wai. I guarantee that you will get many genuine smiles of appreciation at this small act of politeness.

What do you think, is it necessary for us as foreigners to know how to wai properly when in Thailand or is it just a “Thai” thing?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Continue Reading

Thailand is most affectionately known by many as The Land of Smiles and for good reason. It seems as if no matter where you go and who you talk to you get smiles a plenty from the local Thai’s. While this makes some people think that Thai people are just happy the truth is that Thai’s often smile for very different reasons.

A smile MAY convey happiness, but it may also signify something completely different. Understanding the different reasons for Thai smiles can sometimes help you transverse this strange, unique and compelling culture.

If you’ve spent a good bit of time in Thailand or living around Thai’s you can usually see the difference in Thai smiles quite easily and will know that just because the Thai is smiling it does not mean that he or she is happy. While Thai’s do smile when they are happy, they also smile when they are feeling a variety of negative emotions such as embarrassment, regret, confusion and even anger.

Obviously this can create some confusion in the mind of the Westerner who is used to seeing smiles indicate only happiness. Understanding that Thai’s place a high value on avoiding conflict and maintaining social harmony and you’ll begin to understand the reason why Thai’s smile even in (what Westerners perceive as) negative situations.

There are quite a few common reasons people smile in Thailand even when they are not happy. These include the following:

The “I’m sorry for the mistake” smile – This is commonly seen in restaurants or the like where a frustrated tourist may complain about the order only to get a smile in return from the server. Often this will make the customer more frustrated and angry as their perception is the server finds their frustration funny when really the Thai person has intended to apologize with their smile.

The “I don’t understand what the heck you’re talking about” smile – Another very common misperceived smile in restaurants and shops around Thailand. While many Thai’s speak English their command of the language varies greatly and this is compounded by the range of English accents and the speed at which many native English speakers speak.

The “I don’t know what to say” smile – Related to the “I don’t understand what the heck you’re talking about” smile, sometimes the Thai may not have the words in English to respond to your request. Or in some cases cultural inhibitions restrict them from having an answer that will satisfy their own mores and the foreigner’s expectations.

The “Whatever you say” smile – This really shouldn’t be that difficult to see as I feel that we have the same type of smile in Western culture. Usually it occurs when there is a difference of opinion that you are unable or unwilling to argue about. In the case of the Thai it is usually because they want to avoid conflict and will smile and do what you ask, even if they feel it is the wrong course of action for the situation.

The “I’m so embarrassed I want to disappear” smile – This smile will often appear as the result of a foreigners insulting tirade following the “I’m sorry for the mistake” smile. Of course it only serves to further enrage the foreigner and if they somehow don’t realize what is happening and calm down can be followed by the…

The “I’m so mad I can break your neck” smile – This can be a very dangerous smile and you should take the time to understand when it is happening. Thai’s do have great self control, however even non-confrontational people can be pushed too far. If you are receiving this smile the best course of action is to leave and rapidly. When Thai’s finally break they can go into an uncontrollable rage and to compound matters every Thai within hearing distance will come to help their fellow country man or woman.

Thailand is a popular destination for many travelers looking for adventure, cultural exploration, great natural wonders, partying, great food and shopping. The combination of all these attributes along with reasonable prices, warm weather year round and friendly Thai people makes it understandable why many people come to Thailand and fall in love with the country.

By understanding a little bit of the Thai culture before coming to Thailand you will enjoy your visit much more and could very likely end up being like many other past visitors to Thailand – returning frequently or even moving to The Land of Smiles.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Continue Reading

Before I go over more about those 21 consonant sounds in Thai I would like to take a break by talking about learning how to say different colors in Thai.

In Thai language we have noun, adjective, adverb, and etc. just like in English, but when we’re talking about “Adjectives in English”, adjectives nearly always appear immediately before the noun or noun phrase that they modify which is opposite of the Adjective in Thai language.

For example
Color = see (สี)
White = khaao (ขาว)
There is will be “white color” = see khaao (สีขาว)

Popularity: 10% [?]

Continue Reading

Hi everyone,
I’m so excited for my first Thai lesson post. Today I want to talk about Thai language from scratch so I picked “Thai consonants” to start with.

Like we all know that the English language contains 24 consonants, but in Thai language we have 44 consonants total. Hmm…just 20 more for you to remember hahaha…

I remember when I was a kid (5-6 years old) and I have to learn the 44 consonants. The teacher would have a song for all those consonants, a huge chart of 44 consonants and the pictures of anything at all that those consonants refer to.

So the kids would have it stuck in their memory to remember all those consonants up until they get old (something like that). Like in English we have “A” refer to an “Apple” and will have apple picture beside.

Alright let’s have a look…

ก this consonant call “gaaw gai” / ไก่ (gai) means chicken
ข this consonant call “khaaw khai” / ไข่ (khai) means egg
ฃ this consonant call “khaaw khuaat” / ขวด (khuaat) means bottle
ค this consonant call “khaaw khwaay”/ ควาย (khwaay) means water buffalo
ฅ this consonant call “khaaw khohn”/ ฅน (khohn) means person, human being
ฆ this consonant call “khaaw ra-khang”/ ระฆัง (ra- khaang) means a large bell
ง this consonant call “ngaaw nguu”/ งู (nguu) means snake
จ this consonant call “jaaw jaan”/ จาน (jaan) means plate, dish
ฉ this consonant call “chaaw ching”/ ฉิ่ง (ching) means small cymbal used in East and Southeast Asian music
ช this consonant call “chaaw chaang”/ ช้าง (chaang) means elephant
ซ this consonant call “saaw soh”/ โซ่ (soh) means chain
ฌ this consonant call “chaaw chuuhr”/ เฌอ (chuur) means small tree or bush
ญ this consonant call “yaaw ying”/ หญิง (ying) means woman, women
ฎ this consonant call “daaw cha-daa”/ ชฎา (cha-daa) means hat used in Thai classical dancing
ฏ this consonant call “dtaaw bpa-dtak”/ ปฏัก (bpa-dtak) means harpoon, spear, javelin
ฐ this consonant call “thaaw thaan” / ฐาน (thaan) means base, ground, platform
ฑ this consonant call “thaaw mohn thoh”/ มณโฑ (mohn thoh) means a character in the Ramanyana epic(the wife of a giant)
ฒ this consonant call “thaaw phuu thao” / ผู้เฒ่า (phuu thao) means elder, respected old and wise person
ณ this consonant call “naaw naehn” / เณร (naehn) means buddhist novice or monk [typically] below the age of twenty
ด this consonant call “daaw dek” / เด็ก (dek) means child
ต this consonant call “dtaaw dtao” / เต่า (dtao) means turtle
ถ this consonant call “thaaw thoong” / ถุง (thoong) means bag, pouch
ท this consonant call “thaaw tha-haan” / ทหาร (tha-haan) means soldier
ธ this consonant call “thaaw thohng” / ธง (thohng) means flag
น this consonant call “naaw nuu” / หนู (nuu) mouse, mice, rat
บ this consonant call “baaw bai maai” / ใบไม้ (bai maai) means leaf of the tree
ป this consonant call “bpaaw bplaa” / ปลา (bplaa) means fish
ผ this consonant call “phaaw pheung” / ผึ้ง (pheung) means bee
ฝ this consonant call “faaw faa” / ฝา (faa) means lid or cover of a pot or bowl, cap
พ this consonant call “phaaw phaan” / พาน (phaan) means tray on which items are offered to a Buddhist monk
ฟ this consonant call “faaw fun” / ฟัน (fun) means tooth
ภ this consonant call “phaaw sam phao” / สำเภา (sam phao) means [certain type of] small sailing vessel used in Asia and Southeast Asia, junk, argosy
ม this consonant call “maaw maa” / ม้า (maa) means horse
ย this consonant call “yaaw yak” / ยักษ์ (yak) means [a character from the Ramayana epic, a] giant [or] demon
ร this consonant call “raaw reuua” / เรือ (reuua) means boat, ship, barge, vessel
ล this consonant call “law ling” / ลิง (ling) means monkey
ว this consonant call “waaw waaen” / แหวน (waaen) mean ring (worn on the finger)
ศ this consonant call “saaw saa laa” / ศาลา (saa laa) means Thai-style pavilion; open-air gazebo
ษ this consonant call “saaw baaw reuu see” / ฤาษี (reuu see) means ascetic; meditating recluse or hermit
ส this consonant call “saaw seuua” / เสือ (seuua) means tiger
ห this consonant call “haaw heep” / หีบ (heep) means chest, wooden box, trunk
ฬ this consonant call “laaw joo laa” / จุฬา (joo laa) means the male kite
อ this consonant call “aaw aang” / อ่าง (aang) means bowl, bathtub, sink
ฮ this consonant call “haaw nohk huuk” / นกฮูก (nohk huuk) means oriental barn owl

Even though Thai language contains 44 consonants it has only 21 sounds because some of the consonants will have the sound exactly the same as some other consonants. And some of the consonants we rarely see or use anymore.

I will talk more about it in the next post…

Popularity: 12% [?]

Continue Reading

I’ve just gotten some really good news from one of my friends in Thailand. We had a long conversation on last Monday and I saw the pictures of her with a young cute guy. So next thing I found out was that she’s just gotten married with a guy from Switzerland, that was the cute young guy! She and I have known each other for years and years from Bangkok Nursing Home hospital (BNH), where we worked before.

The actual wedding ceremony will take place in Thailand next year. In the mean time, while they’re waiting they have to start the visa process for her to go to Switzerland.

I don’t want to think about it at all…I’ve been through this situation before myself and I know it hurts and is really painful when you have to stay away from your loved one. I feel really sorry and understand her feeling completely.

Internet and phone call are the most important way for them to use and keep their relationship going while they are apart. The choices are cut back to less choices if the Thai girl can not speak English clearly enough for the native speaker to understand. So that would make it really difficult for you to talk on the phone.

This problem happened to me long time ago, and I don’t remember when and how many times I need to ask my sweet husband to learn Thai again and again. It’s just because sometimes I feel that it’s unfair to be the one that learns English and talk to him. Ok, he said he tried to learn Thai language (but just for the common words and enough to understand when somebody tries to talk about him). He actually tried for me about couple days or so and then he just has no interest after all.

My idea is that the couples should learn to understand each other. That means they both need to learn each others language. I realized that I should do something about it. So what I am going to do is I will try to post Thai phrases on Thailandmusings.com 2-3 times a week. I don’t know that will help much at all but at least the lovers who have to suffer with the language barrier can use some of the phrases in my posts to communicate. I would be really happy if my posts will help them in their communication (at least some).

So please look forward on my posts on Thai Language coming soon…

Popularity: 12% [?]

Continue Reading

The word “Songkran” originally comes from the Sanskrit language and means “move into”, referring to the orbit of the sun moving into Aries. It marks the end of a year long cycle and is the beginning of the new solar year. Thus Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration.

The Songkran celebration is notably the Kingdom’s most fun filled (sanuk) festival and is celebrated nation wide each year. The holiday is 3 days long from April 13-15, but in many parts of Thailand it is celebrated for much of the month of April.

Most of the world recognizes Songkran as a fun filled time when people of all ages (but especially children and young adults) flock to the streets to shower each other with water. This refreshing solution to beating the April heat in Thailand ranges from harmless water pistols and splashing to bottles, buckets and water cannons delivering a soaking deluge of water to the unwary. However, many may not know that there is a deeper significance to Songkran.

Obviously as a New Year celebration Songkran is a time for new beginnings, and it is also considered to be a time for thanksgiving. It is a time for people to reflect on acts of thoughtfulness and kindness that they have experienced and to consider how these acts bring peace, happiness and well-being. It is also a time for reunions and most Thai’s return to their family homes to renew family ties.

Songkran embodies the traditional Thai cultural values and the underlying significance of Songkran is the process of purification and cleansing. This is a cleansing of all evils, ills and misfortunes that may have occurred and starting the New Year fresh with all the is good and pure. Water is symbolic of the cleaning process and signifies purity.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Continue Reading

I just finished the long conversation with my mom on the phone a few minutes ago. She said around where my hometown is (Tak province), it is so freaking hot! Yesterday it was 40 Celsius and today’s around 39 Celsius, hmm…just almost 40. Well I have to convert to Fahrenheit because now I’m not that used to Celsius system much. OMG…40 Celsius = 102.2 Fahrenheit.

Extremely hot in Thailand like this makes me think about the very important holiday for Thai people known as “Songkran”, that is coming soon. Songkran festival was the Thai New Year in the past before they moved into international day January 1st like anywhere else in the world. Songkran was specifically on the Thai calender on April 13th – 15th every year.

Most people they knew the symbol of this tradition just for splashing water on others. Not many of them know about the most significant activities is all about to do good things like offering food to the monks, releasing birds and fishes, donating, visiting and paying respects to elders, family members, friends and neighbors. It shows about spirit, love, and care between family members together.

So many residents who are living in Bangkok, will go back to their hometown to celebrate with their families. So that’s why Thai government has set on April 14th every year to be family day in Thailand. Let say it is just like Christmas Day for American people I think.

Water has been a representation for Songkran, against the hotness from the weather. The splashing of water originated as a way to pay respect, ask for blessing or apologize to an elderly person about an insult. This will be done by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on the elderly hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect we call “Rod Nam Dam Hua”. But for young people mostly will be splashing water, we call “Sard Nam” and this has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

Usually for me I wouldn’t go back to Tak on this season because it will be so frustrated situation with a thousand of people at the bus station or any of transportation service. I always told my parents I would be happy to go back anytime at all but not on Songkran. So anyone of you please keep in mind if you want to travel somewhere for Songkran, just need to go like a week or two weeks ahead and also make a reservation first. So I prefer to stay in Bkk because no need to worry about traffic at all. Well, except for some places in Bkk where they’re going to celebrate like Kao Sarn Rd., Silom Rd., and Sukhumvit area, traffic can be worse.

You can get more information about “Songkran” here at Songkran.net and then you will get some idea Songkran this year where in Thailand I want to go!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Continue Reading

Lots of you come to Thailand Musings looking for Thai love phrases and that’s not surprising. You want to be able to express yourself in your new Thai girlfriends native language and that’s a really good thing. It help you to understand the culture a little better and it gives her a really good feeling too. By learning some Thai language she knows that you are more committed and that you are interested in her culture.

When Golf and I first met and started chatting on Thai Love Links I struggled to find a good resource for Thai language. I didn’t need to become proficient, but I wanted to be able to express my feelings for her in a way I knew she would understand and I wanted her to know that I cared for her so much that I was willing to take the time to learn her language.

So, for those of you that want or need to speak the language of love in Thai here’s a small dictionary of Thai love phrases that are sure to impress and excite your new Thai girlfriend. I guarantee she will be amazed and impressed. If you’re having trouble with pronunciation you can ask her for help too which will help to make your relationship more concrete.

And if you really want to impress your new friend why not give our Thai translation service a try. For a very reasonable fee Golf and I will translate your email from English to Thai or your girls email from Thai to English. In addition to being affordable we also offer 24 hour turnaround and complete privacy.

Beginning Your Relationship

I am single. (pom yung sot) ผมยังโสด

You are very beautiful. (koon suay mak mak) คุณสวยมากๆ

You are very cute. (koon na-ruk mak mak) คุณน่ารักมากๆ

I like your smile. (pom chorp roi yim kong koon) ผมชอบรอยยิ้มของคุณ

Can I see you tomorrow? (proong nee jer gun dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” พรุ่งนี้เจอกันได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Are you free tonight? (keun nee koon wang mai) – For yes the reply is “wang” and for no the reply is “mai wang” คืนนี้คุณว่างไหม? ว่าง / ไม่ว่าง

Do you like me? (koon chorp pom reu blao) – For yes the reply is “chorp” and for no the reply is “mai chorp” คุณชอบผมหรือเปล่า? ชอบ / ไม่ชอบ

Can you go out with me? (bai tee-o gup pom dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ไปเที่ยวกับผมได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? (koon mee faen reu yung) – For yes the reply is “me” and for no the reply is “yung mai mee” คุณมีแฟนหรือยัง? มี / ยังไม่มี

What kind of men do you like? (koon chorp poo-chai bap nai) คุณชอบผู้ชายแบบไหน?

Can you tell me your phone number please? (kor ber tor koon dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ขอเบอร์โทรคุณได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Do you want to go and eat with me? (bai gin kao gub pom mai) – For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai” ไปกินข้าวกับผมไหม? ไป / ไม่ไป

Do you want to go to watch a movie? (bai doo nung gup pom mai) – For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai” ไปดูหนังกับผมไหม? ไป / ไม่ไป

Your eyes are so beautiful. (duang dtar kong koon suay mak) ดวงตาของคุณสวยมาก

Can I hold your hand? (pom kor jub meu koon dai mai?) ผมขอจับมือคุณได้ไหม?

Have a nice dream. (fun dee na) ฝันดีนะ

Take care of yourself. (do lae dtua eng duay na) ดูแลตัวเองด้วยนะ

Taking it to the Next Level

Love at first sight. (ruk raek pop) รักแรกพบ

I still remember the first moment we met. (pom yung jum krang-raek tee row pob gun dai) ผมยังจำครั้งแรกที่เราพบกันได้

I want you to be happy. (pom dtong gan hai koon mee kwarm sook) ผมต้องการให้คุณมีความสุข

You make me happy. (koon tam hai pom mee kwarm sook) คุณทำให้ผมมีความสุข

I miss you. (pom kit teung koon) ผมคิดถึงคุณ

I miss you all the time. (pom kit-teung koon dta-lod way-la) ผมคิดถึงคุณตลอดเวลา

Can you be my girlfriend? (ben faen gub pom dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” เป็นแฟนกับผมได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

You are my girlfriend. (koon ben fan kong pom) คุณเป็นแฟนของผม

You are my sweetheart. (koon keu yot -ruk kong pom) คุณคือยอดรักของผม

You are the one I have been waiting for. (koon bpen kon dieow tee pom ror koi) คุณเป็นคนเดียวที่ผมรอคอย

I am serious about you. (pom jing jai gup koon) ผมจริงจังกับคุณ

I think about you all night. (pom kit teung koon tung keun) ผมคิดถึงคุณทั้งคืน

I want to meet you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak pop koon) ผมต้องการ/อยากพบคุณ

I want to hug you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak got koon) ผมต้องการ/อยากกอดคุณ

Can I kiss you? (pom kor joop koon dai mai) ผมขอจูบคุณได้ไหม

I want to be with you. (pom yaak yoo gup koon) ผมอยากอยู่กับคุณ

Do you miss me? (koon kit teung pom baang mai) คุณคิดถึงผมบ้างไหม?

I won’t forget you. (pom ja mai leum koon) ผมจะไม่ลืมคุณ

When do you want me to come back? (koon dtong gan hai pom glup ma muea rai) คุณต้องการให้ผมกลับมาเมื่อไหร่

When You’re Ready to Marry Your Thai Girlfriend

I think I have fallen in love with you. (pom kit wa pom long ruk koon) / (pom kit wa pom dtok loom ruk koon) ผมคิดว่าผมหลงรักคุณ / ผมคิดว่าผมตกหลุมรักคุณ

My heart is yours. (hua jai kong pom ben kong koon) หัวใจของผมเป็นของคุณ

You are my angel. (koon keu nung fa kong pom) คุณคือนางฟ้าของผม

I love you. (pom ruk koon) ผมรักคุณ

I will be faithful to you. (pom ja seu-sut dtor/gub koon) ผมจะซื่อสัตย์ต่อ/กับคุณ

I don’t want to let you go. (pom mai dtong-gan hai koon bai) ผมไม่ต้องการให้คุณไป

Can I meet your parents? (pom ja bai pob por gub mae kong koon dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ผมจะไปพบพ่อกับแม่ของคุณได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

I want to see your face every day. (pom yaak hen na koon took wan) ผมอยากเห็นหน้าคุณทุกวัน

I want to marry you. (pom dtong-gan dtang ngan gub koon) ผมต้องการแต่งงานกับคุณ

I can’t live without you. (pom yoo mai dai ta mai mee koon) ผมอยู่ไม่ได้ถ้าไม่มีคุณ

If There’s Trouble

I hope I can see you again. (pom wang wa ja dai pob koon eek-krang) ผมหว้งว่าจะได้พบคุณอีกครั้ง

Can you give me one more chance? (hai aow-gat pom eek-krang dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ให้โอกาสผมอีกครั้งได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

I will never cheat on you (pom ja mai nork jai koon) ผมจะไม่นอกใจคุณ

Your love is very important to me. (kwarm ruk kong koon sam kun dtor/sam-rap pom mak) ความรักของคุณสำคัญต่อ/สำหรับผมมาก

Please speak to me. (dai brot poot gup pom) ได้โปรดพูดกับผม

You hurt me so much. (koon tam pom jep-bpuat mak) คุณทำผมเจ็บปวดมาก

Please trust me. (brot chuea jai pom) โปรดเชื่อใจผม

I want you to trust me. (pom dtong gan hai koon chuea jai pom) ผมต้องการให้คุณเชื่อใจผม

I never lied to you. (pom mai koie gor hok koon) ผมไม่เคยโกหกคุณ

Don’t leave me. (ya ting pom) อย่าทิ้งผม

I will always be on your side. (pom ja yoo kiang-kang koon sa-mer) ผมจะอยู่เคียงข้างคุณเสมอ

Obviously this is not complete, but it will give you a great start and if possible get your Thai girlfriend to help you expand on your vocabulary. If you’re interested in more Thai language guides leave a comment telling me what you need to know and I’ll do my best to put together additional guides. And if you want to hear the phrases maybe I can get Golf to record them and we’ll post them up here. As always, I’m here to help in anyway, just leave a comment and ask.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Continue Reading

In my last post I wrote that I think that Thai girls look so sexy when they wai, but many of you might ask what is a wai?

The wai (pronounced ‘why’) is the traditional Thai greeting. It is done by pressing your hands together in front of your chest or face and bowing slightly. The wai came to Thailand via the Hindu culture of India and is still widely practiced in Thailand today as both a greeting and a sign of respect.

In Thailand there are very strict rules of hierarchy governing the wai, who does the wai’ing and where to position your hands when you wai. To most foreigners there is little noticable difference, but if you train yourself you can see how Thai’s will wai differently to different people. In general here are the rules for wai’ing:

• Inferiors wai superiors first.
• Younger people wai older people first.
• The higher your hands are placed the more respect you are giving the person you are wai’ing. In general the heels of your hands will be about heart level. If you are meeting an important person or an elder your hands would be placed higher and for monks the heels of your hands should be in front of your lips or even as high as your nose.
• Do NOT wai street people or service people (ie the girl at the 7-11, hotel staff, bargirls).

As a foreigner you are not expected to know the rules for wai’ing and most business people will shake your hand. However, if someone wai’s you it is polite to wai back and you’ll want to know how to do so properly so you don’t look silly.

Thai’s will also wai when passing temples and spirit houses, even if they are driving! Many times I have been in the car when we pass a temple and see my father-in-law take his hands off the wheel to wai the temple no matter what the road conditions are. Just take it in stride and realize this is a sign of respect and very important to the Thai people.

I really love the wai. I think if westerners put more emphasis on the respect due to others we might have less problems. Plus like I said it looks really great when the girls do it. Maybe it is just the submissive look of the wai. I’m not sure, but I think it looks great. I’m often sorry to be here in the States because I don’t get the chance to see Golf wai at all.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Continue Reading