Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

7 Hilarious Cultural Mistakes Every First-Time Traveler Makes in Thailand (and How to Avoid Them) So you’ve booked your flight, overpacked your suitcase, and you’re ready to explore Thailand’s temples, street food, and Instagrammable beaches. But wait. Before you dive headfirst into a bowl of spicy tom yum , let’s make sure you’re not about to commit one of the many hilarious cultural faux pas that newbies are famous for. Here are 7 funny (and totally avoidable) mistakes travelers make in Thailand, plus how to navigate Thai etiquette like a pro. 1. Touching Heads: The Accidental Insult In many cultures, patting someone on the head is a sweet gesture. In Thailand? It’s basically spiritual assault. The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Even ruffling a child’s hair can earn you a polite smile masking deep internal panic. Pro Tip: Keep your hands away from heads unless it's one of your own, unless you're offering a blessing (which you’re probably not qualified f...

10 Hilarious Thailand Newbie Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Trip The Great Thai Newbie Adventure: A Comedy of Errors in Paradise Guest Contributor: The Clueless Farang Sawasdee , internet! I’ve been in Thailand for a grand total of one month, and let me tell you, I’m a walking disaster in flip-flops. The Land of Smiles is all golden temples, spicy street food, and cultural quirks that trip me up daily. From spicy food meltdowns to dodging “hansum man” catcalls, here’s my laugh-out-loud guide to surviving as a newbie in Thailand. Grab a Singha , settle in, and enjoy my parade of farang (foreigner) fails. 1. The Spicy Food Face Meltdown I landed thinking, “I’ve eaten jalapeños; Thai spice is no biggie.” Wrong. My first som tam order, “not too spicy, please”, came with a vendor’s smirk. Two bites, and my mouth was a five-alarm fire, my eyes were streaming, and I was chugging mango juice like it was my ...