Its too bad but there is always a significant number of vacationers everywhere who buy a package to a beach and have no idea where or what it is.
They want to be out of the cold and all the rest is little more than a sideshow to them. They don't have any curiosity, knowledge or respect for the destination country, its history, traditions or culture. The locals are amusing little brown or yellow folks laid on for background and pizza is available so they are happy.
Thailand is just one more theme park for (too) many.
Seriously though and back to thread, I'm surprised MIB do not issue a friendly warning with a Thai smile when they exit the beach not properly clothed
There's not much profit in that.
Good suggestion by Richard and perfect response by BB. It's the reason why tourist resorts put up with this the world over. It's no more acceptable to shit in the street in The Balearics than in Hua Hin and I remember my grandmother going to the beach for only the second (and last) time in her life during the 1980's on an island only 50 miles across. She entered the sea fully clothed, Thai style, when tourists there were already virtually naked. It's coming folks, get used to it.
And if you can't get used to it I suggest moving to somewhere more authentic - Irian Jaya springs to mind, or West Papua or whatever they call it these days. And yes, as should be expected by the timing of this post, I am pissed. Good night.
Jaime, in his inebriated state, has very lightly touched on something that has been puzzling me, however unintentionally;I have been wondering first of all where the attitude regarding the wearing of clothes in public places (other than the beach) which I and many others on here, share originates from - I am guessing the Victorians in the UK, which could easily have spread to a number of other countries, but I can't see how it would have reached Thailand? (unless it was copied amongst the monarchies?)
Second, what was the original intent of such a view (and I can imagine it may have been/still is a law in some places) - was it to avoid 'lustful thoughts' or some such thing?
In some ways, whatever the reason for the practice, those of us who are aware of the sensibilities of the locals on this, should maybe take it in our own hands to tell offenders politely, what they are doing wrong. I have certainly told a couple of guys who were topless in a bar that it is unacceptable here, with varying reactions (one apologetic becauuse he didn't know, one ignoring it and carrying on). In fact I find it unacceptable in my own country as well, but that is just something that has been passed on by previous generations in my family as being low class without any more reasoning., and I am sure that in some parts of the world it is impolite to be wearing clothes in public!
[quote="Jaime"][
]And if you can't get used to it I suggest moving to somewhere more authentic - Irian Jaya springs to mind, or West Papua or whatever they call it these days. And yes, as should be expected by the timing of this post, I am pissed. Good night.[/quote]
Hi Jaime
Hate to be a prick again but having drilled a well in Papua New Guinea for Chevron about 7 years ago I can assure that not only is most of the Island inpenatrable jungle but the women are the most unattractive in the world and hey that must count out most visitors to hua hin because they surely only come for the tottie
On the subject of modest dress, it's amazing how little things change. I've been reading some early accounts of Europeans in Thailand (Siam then) and in one of the earliest, written in 1693 if I remember correctly, there is a passage refering to an incident where some local people, despite wearing very few clothes themselves in those days, had made a complaint about French mercenary soldiers bathing in a river naked.
Wanderlust wrote:I am guessing the Victorians in the UK, which could easily have spread to a number of other countries, but I can't see how it would have reached Thailand? (unless it was copied amongst the monarchies?)
Second, what was the original intent of such a view (and I can imagine it may have been/still is a law in some places) - was it to avoid 'lustful thoughts' or some such thing?
It will have certainly have been reinforced by the Victorian connection around the Rama IV and V eras but even before the Rama dynasty Thailand (and the whole region) was quite conservative as regards the display of flesh. Some of the culture is religion based. Whereas Hinduism and Buddhism has never been so restrictive as the Christian/Judaism/Islamic religions the sexual arousal of the opposite sex has been seen to be a weakness and should be deterred whenever possible.
In some ways, whatever the reason for the practice, those of us who are aware of the sensibilities of the locals on this, should maybe take it in our own hands to tell offenders politely, what they are doing wrong. I have certainly told a couple of guys who were topless in a bar that it is unacceptable here, with varying reactions (one apologetic becauuse he didn't know, one ignoring it and carrying on). In fact I find it unacceptable in my own country as well, but that is just something that has been passed on by previous generations in my family as being low class without any more reasoning., and I am sure that in some parts of the world it is impolite to be wearing clothes in public!
This I think is the policy that should be adopted. If the majority of people in any given scenario (and that could be a bar next to Upton Park Football Ground) are against any kind of behavior then don't do it.
If a girl wants to get her tits out and wear a length of dental floss in place of a bikini bottom then go to the Cote D'Azur or the Costa Del Sol and there will be nobody offended.
Another point to make is that nudity if at all permitted should always be confined to areas away from view of motorists. This especially applies in Hua Hin where the average motorist/motorcyclist has the concentration of a goldfish, any distraction at all must be considered a health risk.
[color=blue][size=134]Care in the community success story.[/size][/color]
If you think Hua Hin is bad you should take a walk along the main beach front at Cha Am. The sights are horrendous. Imagine kneeding dough to make bread, dropping it on a dirty floor then somehow moulding it into something that looks like a torso, putting a bra on top and thin bikini pants below. Imagine a hardened face of at least 60 years located on top of this dough and flabby aging skin coming towards you, waddling in a two-set bikini, fag in mouth, skin dough falling out all over from a place that presumably used to be a waist. My girlfriend is still traumatised at one particular very ugly sight. The guys are no better and look as if they are all pregnant. The beaches of Blackpool are now empty. The pensioners clubs of beachfront Britain seem to all be here in Cha Am. The German equivelent are here also. Good for them to escape the winters, but how can we escape their cesarian scars, bloated beer bellies and cellulite? I wonder if they realise just how bad they look, strolling along the streets in states of undress, even going in to the restaurants just off the beach! It's unhygenic, rude and disgraceful. Do they care? Should they care? Who's going to tell them?
Jockey, you have my absolute sympathies and it seems as if my body double has got there before me (though I guess I'd be even worse in a bikini). But would it make a difference if everyone looked like they'd come off Copa Cabana instead of Blackpool or Bridlington????
Jim wrote:Jockey, you have my absolute sympathies and it seems as if my body double has got there before me (though I guess I'd be even worse in a bikini). But would it make a difference if everyone looked like they'd come off Copa Cabana instead of Blackpool or Bridlington????
If the bodies were younger and looked good of course it would make a difference, but it still wouldn't make it OK. As Guess mentioned earlier in the thread, street nudity could be a serious hazard distraction for drivers. What saddens and embarrasses me however, is older people in most cultures are supposed to be ambassadors, wiser and more aware of how to behave when visiting different countries. You can almost forgive a young person for their lack of knowledge and ignorance when they show off their assets (so to speak). You would think these oldies however, would want to cover up their grotesque body parts, rather than flaunting them in public places. At the risk of being both ageist AND racist, it seems to me the German's are the worst offenders. Certainly that seems to be the case here in Cha Am.
I agree with you 100% Jockey. Wrinkly, flabby, overly suntanned bodies are not a pretty sight. Toned, bronzed, young bodies (of either sex) are obviously more attractive, but not acceptable off the beach.
Before I moved to Thailand (over 9 years ago), I read the usual do's and don't's books, because I didn't want to offend. One of the books said that it was impolite to expose the top of your shoulders. I reserved my vest tops for the house and garden (and still do!).
Wouldn't it be a good idea if the guest houses and hotels had a simply worded etiquette guide in the rooms, for those tourists who haven't a clue about Thai culture. Just a page or two would be enough to cover the major points.
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Richard: Yes you have, sorry to repeat it again...
Just gone back to page 1 and there it is, sort of caught this one half way through
One other thing that I've noticed is that the Thais are starting to wear more revealing tops (and bottoms), and it's in the rural areas so they're not copying the farangs wandering around. The lass that I'm thinking of has no contact with foreigners and watches Thai TV. Maybe she's seen the Thammasat student with the 'safety-pin' dress. If she starts serving Mr.P in a bikini top I'm sure he'll be well pleased.
This is now the costa brava, blackpool ,margate, costa del sol, ibizza of the east
love it or hate it it's here to stay
say no more
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
