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What's the most hospitable thing a Thai has done for you?


eldragon

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32 minutes ago, Mansell said:

I installed a new brake lever on my Kawasaki. Unbeknownst to me it was activating itself randomly. I came off doing a U turn and the bike damaged my leg. I parked outside a hotel in Phuket and was sitting on the ground trying to deal with my leg. A lady came out of the hotel and told me to come inside. While I sat inside and drank the water they gave me, somebody appeared with a First Aid Kit and proceeded to clean my leg and bandage it for me. I was immensely grateful and offered money, but they would take nothing. I have had other experiences here. In my book Thai's are an extremely kind caring people. Your experience may vary.

Not all, but certainly many.  And I live on Phuket!

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Around 10 years or so ago, I was doing one of my many visa runs ( border runs ) again, in my very old Honda Accord. Just up north from Kura Buri, I blew up the engine and steam was coming out everywhere. I drove off the road and 'landed' kind-a in a yard in front of a Thai house, after the first seconds of confusion and serious looks of the family, I explained in a few basic Thai words what happened (as far as I could tell ) and was right away taken in the family, offered food and drinks, hanging around with them chatting, while one of the neighbors tried to fix things ( to no avail ofcourse ) then I used their phone to call someone up to help me out and when I left early afternoon they insisted I take some fruits with me and had to promise to come back and visit them some time. Very welcoming people ( outside of the tourists traps ! ) and hospitable like you don't see in Europe anymore.

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1 hour ago, Keith Bennett said:

During my second trip to Thailand, in 2001, I visited Khon Kaen.  My home town is New York City, where I used public transportation almost all the time.  So when I was leaving a shopping center in Khon Kaen, and the tuk-tuk drivers quoted me ridiculous prices to return to my hotel, I decided to ride a public songtaew. How hard could it be, I’m a New Yorker, I’m city-savvy, right? ...heh...

 

This was of course before the days of mobile phones and data networks, so I pulled out my map and tried to read the street signs, to know where I was and when to get off.  I soon realized I had no idea where I was or if I was even on the right songtaew.

 

The other passengers sensed my distress, and a young couple who were disembarking motioned for me to go with them. Although I was a little apprehensive, I decided that I was better off accepting their offer than not. We got off, and the woman motioned for me to stay by the street with her husband while she went into her house for something.

 

She emerged with two motorcycle helmets, and I figured out that the husband was going to bring me to my hotel. It was about a ten minute ride. I pulled out my wallet to give him my card so we could stay in touch. He thought I was going to give him money and motioned his refusal.

 

This hospitality deeply moved me, and I have tried to model that ever since. About a year later I was in a Korean supermarket in Silver Spring, Maryland (in the USA), and an elderly woman was speaking with distress to a store employee. With my minimal Korean language skills I figured out that she had no ride home. Remembering the Khon Kaen event, I realized that it was time to give back. I drove her home, a 20 minute drive each way. She tried to give me money but of course I refused.

 

To this day I am moved by acts of kindness given me by Thai people. Of course, there are bad people too, as there are everywhere, but it’s important to realize that we naturally tend to magnify in our minds the negative experiences. We need to compensate for that negative bias by reminding ourselves that it is a bias and that the statistical reality is not nearly as bad. For every reckless driver, for example, there are a hundred who carefully and gingerly proceed from a traffic light allowing motorbikers like me to pass safely.

 

A single act of kindness is multiplied in this way.  Negative actions are multiplied as well. May we all remember this when we deal with strangers, friends, and loved ones – and when we post on ThaiVisa.
 

Re. the emboldened part - if you were a young, Western female who was subsequently raped - you'd then be blamed for showing poor judgment....

 

But other than that I agree with your post entirely.

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1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

Re. the emboldened part - if you were a young, Western female who was subsequently raped - you'd then be blamed for showing poor judgment....

 

But other than that I agree with your post entirely.

Bad stuff is anywhere on our planet...

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12 minutes ago, DDBKK said:

I think this sums it up perfectly. I've always thought they had good intuitions even without speaking the same language. You show respect here and its generally paid back in spades. 

Frequently, but not always.

 

Earlier I posted a few examples of the great kindness shown by complete strangers, but I also have the odd example of people that know me - that have had no compunction in 'stealing' from me, in the sense of not paying back money.

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8 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

Re. the emboldened part - if you were a young, Western female who was subsequently raped - you'd then be blamed for showing poor judgment....

 

But other than that I agree with your post entirely.

 

6 minutes ago, transam said:

Bad stuff is anywhere on our planet...

I was trying to point out the difference in attitude between someone doing something of which they were a 'bit wary' - but their hesitancies left them embarrassed, compared to the odd Western female who does the same thing and is raped.  And then many posters declare it was her fault for being so stupid....

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During my second trip to Thailand, in 2001, I visited Khon Kaen.  My home town is New York City, where I used public transportation almost all the time.  So when I was leaving a shopping center in Khon Kaen, and the tuk-tuk drivers quoted me ridiculous prices to return to my hotel, I decided to ride a public songtaew. How hard could it be, I’m a New Yorker, I’m city-savvy, right? ...heh...
 
This was of course before the days of mobile phones and data networks, so I pulled out my map and tried to read the street signs, to know where I was and when to get off.  I soon realized I had no idea where I was or if I was even on the right songtaew.
 
The other passengers sensed my distress, and a young couple who were disembarking motioned for me to go with them. Although I was a little apprehensive, I decided that I was better off accepting their offer than not. We got off, and the woman motioned for me to stay by the street with her husband while she went into her house for something.
 
She emerged with two motorcycle helmets, and I figured out that the husband was going to bring me to my hotel. It was about a ten minute ride. I pulled out my wallet to give him my card so we could stay in touch. He thought I was going to give him money and motioned his refusal.
 
This hospitality deeply moved me, and I have tried to model that ever since. About a year later I was in a Korean supermarket in Silver Spring, Maryland (in the USA), and an elderly woman was speaking with distress to a store employee. With my minimal Korean language skills I figured out that she had no ride home. Remembering the Khon Kaen event, I realized that it was time to give back. I drove her home, a 20 minute drive each way. She tried to give me money but of course I refused.
 
To this day I am moved by acts of kindness given me by Thai people. Of course, there are bad people too, as there are everywhere, but it’s important to realize that we naturally tend to magnify in our minds the negative experiences. We need to compensate for that negative bias by reminding ourselves that it is a bias and that the statistical reality is not nearly as bad. For every reckless driver, for example, there are a hundred who carefully and gingerly proceed from a traffic light allowing motorbikers like me to pass safely.
 
A single act of kindness is multiplied in this way.  Negative actions are multiplied as well. May we all remember this when we deal with strangers, friends, and loved ones – and when we post on ThaiVisa.
 

Thanks Dad!
Words of wisdom. All that's missing is "I'm a born again Christian part".
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31 minutes ago, dick dasterdly said:

Frequently, but not always.

 

Earlier I posted a few examples of the great kindness shown by complete strangers, but I also have the odd example of people that know me - that have had no compunction in 'stealing' from me, in the sense of not paying back money.

Are you talking about farang or thai? I've experienced it with one farang and that marked 2 things. 1 - the end of the friendship. Cheap price to pay IMO. 2 - ill never loan again to anyone outside my immediate family, who are hard working middle class Thais. Should they ever need it.

 

I've known extended thai family members to take the Piss with borrowing from my thai sister-in-law because she's jai dii. Some paid the money back, others didn't. But the one who didn't are no longer close to the family or business practices. 

 

Fool me once etc etc

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16 minutes ago, DDBKK said:

Are you talking aboudiateng or thai? I've experienced  it with one farang and that marked 2 things. 1 - the end of the friendship. Cheap price to pay IMO. 2 - ill never loan again to anyone outside my immediate family, who are hard working middle class Thais. Should they ever need it.

 

I've known extended thai family members to take the Piss with borrowing from my thai sister-in-law because she's jai dii. Some paid the money back, others didn't. But the one who didn't are no longer close to the family or business practices. 

 

Fool me once etc etc

I very much agree. We never lend money outside of immediate Family Not even to another farang been bitten once never again

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i had the pleasure of meeting one of the best blokes ever, yes a thai, after being kicked out of my house by my ex. by accident i wondered into a restaurant in bangkapi and met the owner a very generous man, he had 6 apartments and said i could live in one for cost of electric and water, has 250 acres in changrai and said i can pick anywhere on his land and build a house if needs be and have the use of a car when i visit, he has 8 cars' also witnessed him buy dinner for all the night staff working in the hotel across the road from his restaurant and hire the karaoke room for them when they knocked off. i was welcomed by his friends and there was always a place at their table for me at no expense. the bar in his place is serve yourself and count the bottles at the end of the night, as his staff said he has a big heart and restored my faith in some thai people. ps he also said if i build a house its his when i die 555.

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During the floods in Hatyai a few years back; my wife and I had gone walk-about through the flooded streets--you know, just looking around, seeing the flood. During that time the city water trucks came through delivering water. My neighbors made sure the trucks left water for us too. Well, it was raining, and although the city water was off, my wife-- being the good ole country girl she is--was catching water in all sorts of containers. So, we were able to return the favor. Soon the neighbors ran out of water and we were able to give them water and showed them-thar city-folk a new trick.

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On 12/21/2016 at 9:51 PM, theguyfromanotherforum said:

It's a 3rd year I'm living free in my wife's house. Never asked me a penny, even for the electric. I'd say that's pretty damn hospitable.

I wish my wife would learn from your wife, she thinks that I am an ATM card.

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About 4 years ago on one of my monthly bike road trips to no where in particular, I got caught in the mountains, the sun going quickly, and a pouring rain.  Pulled off to the side of the road and took shelter under a large tree.  About 5 minutes later a man appeared, seemingly out of no where, and motioned for me to move my bike under a lean to attached to his 2 room house.  Him, his wife, and 3 kids.  Using the translator on my phone, I let them know I was heading for Nong Khai, coming from Chiang Mai, just for fun, which made no sense to them.  

They brought food and we all sat on the floor to eat.  Afterwards the man brought a pad, blanket and pillow for me, indicating that I should sleep there.  To me, these people were the epitome of "nice".  Everyone went to bed.  I woke up around 6.  The old man was already up, so we shared coffee and cigarettes.  When I got ready to leave I offered them 1,000 baht note, which they strenuously declined.  Ok.  The kids watched me strap my kit on, reaching out to touch the leg protectors, and checking everything else out.  Before straddling the bike, I handed the oldest daughter (maybe 12 ) a folded up 500 baht note.  Her smile lit up the whole mountainside.  As I drove away, I felt as if I had just experienced something special and unique.  

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2 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

About 4 years ago on one of my monthly bike road trips to no where in particular, I got caught in the mountains, the sun going quickly, and a pouring rain.  Pulled off to the side of the road and took shelter under a large tree.  About 5 minutes later a man appeared, seemingly out of no where, and motioned for me to move my bike under a lean to attached to his 2 room house.  Him, his wife, and 3 kids.  Using the translator on my phone, I let them know I was heading for Nong Khai, coming from Chiang Mai, just for fun, which made no sense to them.  

They brought food and we all sat on the floor to eat.  Afterwards the man brought a pad, blanket and pillow for me, indicating that I should sleep there.  To me, these people were the epitome of "nice".  Everyone went to bed.  I woke up around 6.  The old man was already up, so we shared coffee and cigarettes.  When I got ready to leave I offered them 1,000 baht note, which they strenuously declined.  Ok.  The kids watched me strap my kit on, reaching out to touch the leg protectors, and checking everything else out.  Before straddling the bike, I handed the oldest daughter (maybe 12 ) a folded up 500 baht note.  Her smile lit up the whole mountainside.  As I drove away, I felt as if I had just experienced something special and unique.  

:smile:..............We know about that stuff............

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1 hour ago, Keith Bennett said:

During my second trip to Thailand, in 2001, I visited Khon Kaen.  My home town is New York City, where I used public transportation almost all the time.  So when I was leaving a shopping center in Khon Kaen, and the tuk-tuk drivers quoted me ridiculous prices to return to my hotel, I decided to ride a public songtaew. How hard could it be, I’m a New Yorker, I’m city-savvy, right? ...heh...

 

This was of course before the days of mobile phones and data networks, so I pulled out my map and tried to read the street signs, to know where I was and when to get off.  I soon realized I had no idea where I was or if I was even on the right songtaew.

 

The other passengers sensed my distress, and a young couple who were disembarking motioned for me to go with them. Although I was a little apprehensive, I decided that I was better off accepting their offer than not. We got off, and the woman motioned for me to stay by the street with her husband while she went into her house for something.

 

She emerged with two motorcycle helmets, and I figured out that the husband was going to bring me to my hotel. It was about a ten minute ride. I pulled out my wallet to give him my card so we could stay in touch. He thought I was going to give him money and motioned his refusal.

 

This hospitality deeply moved me, and I have tried to model that ever since. About a year later I was in a Korean supermarket in Silver Spring, Maryland (in the USA), and an elderly woman was speaking with distress to a store employee. With my minimal Korean language skills I figured out that she had no ride home. Remembering the Khon Kaen event, I realized that it was time to give back. I drove her home, a 20 minute drive each way. She tried to give me money but of course I refused.

 

To this day I am moved by acts of kindness given me by Thai people. Of course, there are bad people too, as there are everywhere, but it’s important to realize that we naturally tend to magnify in our minds the negative experiences. We need to compensate for that negative bias by reminding ourselves that it is a bias and that the statistical reality is not nearly as bad. For every reckless driver, for example, there are a hundred who carefully and gingerly proceed from a traffic light allowing motorbikers like me to pass safely.

 

A single act of kindness is multiplied in this way.  Negative actions are multiplied as well. May we all remember this when we deal with strangers, friends, and loved ones – and when we post on ThaiVisa.
 

That is my experience as well.I 1st came to Thailand 40 years ago and have been a regular ever since,now live here.The kindness and hospitality shown to  me in the early days changed my way of thinking.I help strangers when ever needed.Missus thinks i'm crazy but i believe what comes around,goes around.

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On 20/12/2559 at 9:57 PM, Seligne2 said:

If I were to do a word association game with the word "Thai", hospitality would not  be anywhere on the list. Some of the things that would be are:

Plastic

Family-oriented, despise Mother Nature

Ignorant

Materialistic

Deferential to authority

Sexy (ladies-ladyboys)

Opportunistic

Honest (with strangers)

 

I could continue in this vein for some time without  hitting on the word "hospitable"

I wonder if you are still living here. If yes, I would ask you why ?

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On 12/22/2016 at 0:11 AM, thehelmsman said:

 

You're a keeper alright.

 

On 12/22/2016 at 8:59 PM, thehelmsman said:

 

Your high standards are amazing.

 

9 hours ago, kenk24 said:

 

Yo - Charlie from another planet - Are you proud of this? 

 

8 hours ago, catman20 said:

You Sounds more like a spunger

 

 

Of course, replies like this are to be expected.

 

The topic of the thread is what is the most hospitable thing a Thai person has done for you.

 

I have provided the appropriate reply.

 

Unlike every single gf that moved to my place in Canada, a Thai woman offered me a place to live one week after we met and two years before we got married. I know this rubs some people the wrong way.... especially the ones being taken advantage of, but I am pretty proud to say that my gf of 2 years and my wife of almost a year never asked me for a single baht.... not even for the wedding. 

 

So, to summarize.

 

Yes, I am proud of this.

 

Yes, I do have high standards.

 

No, I am not a "spunger" or was that supposed to be a sponger as I do have my own healthy income. ...

 

... and yes, I am a keeper and so is she.

 

 

If you are not a tattooed sex tourist, I can hook you up with some of her friends from work. All beautiful mid 30's women working for an international company. Let me know..... plenty of women like this around and no need for jealous posts.

 

Kind Regards,

 

theguyfromanotherforum

 

 

 

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A friend of my suggest me to date her single sister when i said i was single. She did all the match making.. picking me up from home going dinner with her sister and to movies with her tagging along for few days.

A week later, she gave me her car keys and said i could use her car to go dating with her sister as she will be away for holiday for 2weeks. I was damn shock and surprised by her kind offer. I ask her how and why she could trust me and handover her car to me. She just said you been kind and polite to all of our friends i can trust you.

Like other TA member mention, if you always been kind and polite to others im sure they will feel and return the same. So when you complain about thai being an ass, unpolite and rude...please assess how you treat others first.

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I had a mechanic in the village fit a fan belt for me.He told me at the time,i would need new front brake shoes.He came down yesterday and fitted new shoes to back and front.He bought the shoes and he did it all in an hour,in my front yard.he charged me 600 baht for the shoes.When i asked what i owed him,he said,'your wife is family,if i have problem with toilet,you come fix' She had told him that i was a plumbing engineer. I dont know what Honda would have charged me for the job,but i guess it would be far in excess of 600 baht.His English was not good,but he managed a 'melly clitmas' before he went.That guy,now has my undivided attention if he ever needs my help.I know that he did a favour to get a favour,but he could have ripped me to bits,had he wanted to.

Thais! some times they bring a tear to the eye.

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Well...Let's see...

All the people involved at the Thai  immigration authorities have accepted me without question for 28 years ...so I guess that is pretty hospitable in a significant way while I am not at all alone so I guess that makes it all the more significant....lol

Cheers

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