Things that really shocked you about Thailand

[Pleng]

So, most people have been here some time; be it months or years. Many others visit frequently.

Have you ever discovered anything that really shocked you about Thailand. As in, after having been here so long/for so many times, you just couldn't imagine it being so.

For example, just before I moved here, I was watching a documentary on Thailand (feeling a little home sick! ) and I discovered that street food is far from indigenous to Thailand; in fact 60 years ago you wouldn't have seen one street food stall. Apparently the Chinese brought the concept over and look how it took off!

For something (street food) that is these days so embedded into the daily lifestyle of Thais of all generations, that to me is one of the first things that comes to mind when hearing the word Thailand; and is always one of the first things I mention when describing Thailand... to think that 60 years ago that didn't exist in any way, shape, or form was mindblowing.

Has anybody else had a super-shock moment when learning of something about Thailand, past or present?

[ste860]

that the land of is not as it seems when you first visit as a tourist

[richard]

that the land of is not as it seems when you first visit as a tourist

and have been told by people who have lived (resided full time) here for 30 years or more it is always the way

My big 'bumper' was to find how much incest there is in village life and how acceptable it is. In fact in a peasant village you are almost labelled as abnormal if you have not 'accepted fruit' in the bush at some time. Made me feel such a prude

[Spitfire]

The sheer scale of the lies I hear all the time. It's not that I didn't hear lies where I'm from, it's just the subject coverage, quickness to do so and shamelessness of it here to the benefit of the teller on almost every subject imaginable that's quite disturbing really when you think about it, and it's something I'll never really get used to.

[centermid7]

Biggest surprise for me is how much these folks trash their own country. Pretty much all of SE Asia is the same.

Biggest surprise and biggest disappointment all in one.

[LolaBeltran]

The noise. The noise. I have lived in many places and traveled a lot and the level of noise pollution, blaring trucks, music, motos, radios, markets, loudspeakers on every pole, even on the beach or in quiet villages, sound trucks and the general inability of Thai people to stand silence. Just now at kite festival. Outdoors. Three separate blaring sound systems at full volume. . .thats three different songs all blended into one cacophonous roar. I never leave the house without earplugs.

[glassdude007]

Bum Guns love em
all i use now a days, much more sanitary
wish every country used them...

[usual suspect]

What STILL shocks me in the L.O.S...
*It does not matter how many TV channels are available... Thais will only tune in to Ch 7 after 5pm.
* Every Thai TV show HAS to have pantomime sound-effects going off constantly (WTF???)
*How many Farangs willingly give big lumps of money to their BG partners or wives..starts with handbags & shoes, then very soon it's house,land & a Vigo..
(Would they do this in their home country??)
* How arrogant,selfish,pig-ignorant Thai males become once they have a steering wheel in their hand.. (Thats why trucks pull out on other drivers..if they put their indicators on & 'requested' to come out they'd be waiting all damn day).
* Noise..no one ever does anything to stop the daily/nightly barrage from..
Soi dogs.. Those advertising pick-ups that trawl around town in 2nd gear, speakers blasting out.. when HH is at it's busiest traffic-wise,-weekends.. Trucks with 'straight-thru' exhausts & ones that belch black smoke..(obvious the man at the 'testing-station' taking tea-money then).
Televisions in Thai homes..ALWAYS got the volume cranked-up. Any religious gathering..again Thais ALWAYS need a massive amp+ big f/o speakers..and the music at Issan temple-bashes can be heard 2 villages awaytill about 5.00am!
Just a few to think about..
*ps.. I've never ever seen a 'sick' buffalo..

[Super Joe]

The ability we have to see mountains where molehill exist.

SJ

[johnnyk]

How easily Thailand admits drunks, morons and con artists.

[richard]

The ability we have to see mountains where molehill exist.

SJ

[Bamboo Grove]

Spitfire wrote:

The sheer scale of the lies I hear all the time.

I agree. It's amazing how much people lie about others, and they can be locals and people from outside the country as well. And the amount of narsists never ceased to surprise me.

[BaaBaa.]

Biggest surprise for me is how much these folks trash their own country. Pretty much all of SE Asia is the same.

Biggest surprise and biggest disappointment all in one.

This!

When my GF brother and wife come to visit the amount of crap I find is unreal.

Bottles and stuff are put in the bin but bottle caps, straw wrappers, phone card wrappers etc all seem to be fairgame to fling all over the place.

[ste860]

ont thing i forgot,the ammount of shit/rubbish they just dump beside the roads ,up towards black mountain and along the klang road ive seen them just tip allsorts of crap ,they seem to not care about their own country and how dirty it is becoming

[Johnnywastaken]

.Not only Thailand..... In Jakarta where I live.... I pay the guy 2 bucks a month to haul my trash away... later I found out where it went... silly me for thinking it was passed on to a bigger truck and hauled to the dump.... nope.

This is the once pristine lush valley of the Ciliwung River... running through Condet Jakarta...(my hood)... It was once a natural oasis snaking it's way in the middle of this thriving city.... but then the locals started dumping their garbage over the sides... in the faint belief that is was just going to go away on it's own...

Nobody could care less about this environmental catastrophe....and it's just plain sad...