lonelywombat
October 30th, 2012, 06:44
[attachment=0:3tdg6e0m]Chiang-Mai.jpg[/attachment:3tdg6e0m]
A great article for LGBT visitors that covers 4 pages with some great pics
I have included page 1 and the other 3 pages are shown see bottom of the page [page 1,2,3,.4]
http://todd.passportmagazine.com/explore-thailand/
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Explore Thailand
by Stuart Haggas
A country renowned for arousing every sense with vibrant colors, lively ambience, sweet aromas, exotic spices, and friendly welcome, Thailand is also one of the worldтАЩs most hospitable LGBT destinations. Perhaps this is because predominantly Buddhist countries like Thailand recognize an extra sense. In Western culture, extrasensory perception or ESP is sometimes considered the sixth sense, but its association with mystic practices like clairvoyance and telepathy means it remains on the periphery. In Buddhism, the notion of тАЬthoughtтАЭ is fully integrated with тАЬsee,тАЭ тАЬhear,тАЭ тАЬsmell,тАЭ тАЬtaste,тАЭ and тАЬtouch.тАЭ Could it be the sense of thoughtfulness that makes Thailand so hospitable?
A reason why gay visitors are welcomed with warm smiles is because Thais donтАЩt make the same distinctions between gay and straight as we do. You may offend if you embrace your lover on the street, but only because all public displays of unbridled affection are frowned upon regardless of sexual preference.
Similarly, Thai culture doesnтАЩt place the same premium on youth. Altogether, this means that older Western men may be considered more attractive in Thailand than they are back home, and certainly there are handsome Thai guys who are keen to meet Westerners, but thatтАЩs only half the story.
ItтАЩs not so much a belief in equality or a lack of ageism; instead it appears that old-fashioned values prevail. When exiting a station on BangkokтАЩs Skytrain network, I saw an elderly lady take the arm of the young woman beside her, and the pair proceeded down the stairs together. Once at street level, both women parted company without having exchanged anything besides that link of arms. Clearly strangers, the old lady nevertheless felt able to take support from a random arm, and the young woman wordlessly obliged, suggesting this is such a commonplace occurrence that not even a look of acknowledgement or a word of thanks were required.
THE INSIDERтАЩS GUIDE
GENERAL INFO
WHERE TO PLAY
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO EAT
WHAT TO DO
As well as their elders, ThaiтАЩs retain respect for neighbors and strangers, for monks and religion, and for their king. Indeed, you must never defame, insult, threaten, or make jokes about the king or the royal family, and you should always rise when the national anthem is played. While traveling around Thailand, youтАЩll likely see billboard-size portraits of H. M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (known simply as Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit alongside flags bearing royal insignias and proclamations of тАЬLong Live The King.тАЭ The majority of homes, offices, and public buildings also display a royal portrait.
Such adoration might seem at odds with Western society and our inherent right to criticize and sometimes ridicule our leaders, and alarm bells may ring in cynical Western ears when we learn thereтАЩs an actual Thai law known as l├иse majest├й that means the king must be treated with respect. But King Bhumibol, the worldтАЩs longest-reigning current head of state, seems genuinely beloved. He has popular support for the many advantages heтАЩs brought for ordinary Thais, and his achievements have earned international recognition: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presented him with the United Nations first and only Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
In a country where traditional customs and good manners are revered, itтАЩs advisable to learn a few fundamentals to ensure you share the respect. The typical Thai greeting known as the wai consists of a slight bow with palms and fingertips touching in a prayer-like fashion. ItтАЩs a multitasking gesture that can be used as a welcome, to express gratitude, or as an apology, so itтАЩs worth remembering in case you need to wai yourself out of a sticky situation. Even Ronald McDonald statues ingratiate themselves in Thailand by performing a wai.
It is, however, more complicated than it looks. How high you position your hands and how low you bow indicates how much respect or reverence youтАЩre showing, and there are subtle variants depending on factors like age, gender, occupation, and social status. A wai at chest level is typically the norm, but if in doubt itтАЩs permissible for Westerners to smile in lieu of a wai, this is, after all, the self-proclaimed land of smiles.
Although Thais are intrinsically tolerant, remember to show particular respect when visiting a temple. Thais reserve the most revered wai for worshiping an image of Buddha or saluting a Buddhist monk, but tourists simply need not to wear shorts, tank tops, or sandals. Despite the sweaty heat, this dress code is strictly enforced at must-see attractions such as BangkokтАЩs dazzling Grand Palace. Should you arrive with ankles and shoulders exposed, you may rent long loose pants and long wraps, but at peak times itтАЩs quicker to buy whatever you need from the market traders outside, thus avoiding additional queuing inside.
Click Below to Read More on Page 2
A great article for LGBT visitors that covers 4 pages with some great pics
I have included page 1 and the other 3 pages are shown see bottom of the page [page 1,2,3,.4]
http://todd.passportmagazine.com/explore-thailand/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Explore Thailand
by Stuart Haggas
A country renowned for arousing every sense with vibrant colors, lively ambience, sweet aromas, exotic spices, and friendly welcome, Thailand is also one of the worldтАЩs most hospitable LGBT destinations. Perhaps this is because predominantly Buddhist countries like Thailand recognize an extra sense. In Western culture, extrasensory perception or ESP is sometimes considered the sixth sense, but its association with mystic practices like clairvoyance and telepathy means it remains on the periphery. In Buddhism, the notion of тАЬthoughtтАЭ is fully integrated with тАЬsee,тАЭ тАЬhear,тАЭ тАЬsmell,тАЭ тАЬtaste,тАЭ and тАЬtouch.тАЭ Could it be the sense of thoughtfulness that makes Thailand so hospitable?
A reason why gay visitors are welcomed with warm smiles is because Thais donтАЩt make the same distinctions between gay and straight as we do. You may offend if you embrace your lover on the street, but only because all public displays of unbridled affection are frowned upon regardless of sexual preference.
Similarly, Thai culture doesnтАЩt place the same premium on youth. Altogether, this means that older Western men may be considered more attractive in Thailand than they are back home, and certainly there are handsome Thai guys who are keen to meet Westerners, but thatтАЩs only half the story.
ItтАЩs not so much a belief in equality or a lack of ageism; instead it appears that old-fashioned values prevail. When exiting a station on BangkokтАЩs Skytrain network, I saw an elderly lady take the arm of the young woman beside her, and the pair proceeded down the stairs together. Once at street level, both women parted company without having exchanged anything besides that link of arms. Clearly strangers, the old lady nevertheless felt able to take support from a random arm, and the young woman wordlessly obliged, suggesting this is such a commonplace occurrence that not even a look of acknowledgement or a word of thanks were required.
THE INSIDERтАЩS GUIDE
GENERAL INFO
WHERE TO PLAY
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO EAT
WHAT TO DO
As well as their elders, ThaiтАЩs retain respect for neighbors and strangers, for monks and religion, and for their king. Indeed, you must never defame, insult, threaten, or make jokes about the king or the royal family, and you should always rise when the national anthem is played. While traveling around Thailand, youтАЩll likely see billboard-size portraits of H. M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (known simply as Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit alongside flags bearing royal insignias and proclamations of тАЬLong Live The King.тАЭ The majority of homes, offices, and public buildings also display a royal portrait.
Such adoration might seem at odds with Western society and our inherent right to criticize and sometimes ridicule our leaders, and alarm bells may ring in cynical Western ears when we learn thereтАЩs an actual Thai law known as l├иse majest├й that means the king must be treated with respect. But King Bhumibol, the worldтАЩs longest-reigning current head of state, seems genuinely beloved. He has popular support for the many advantages heтАЩs brought for ordinary Thais, and his achievements have earned international recognition: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presented him with the United Nations first and only Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
In a country where traditional customs and good manners are revered, itтАЩs advisable to learn a few fundamentals to ensure you share the respect. The typical Thai greeting known as the wai consists of a slight bow with palms and fingertips touching in a prayer-like fashion. ItтАЩs a multitasking gesture that can be used as a welcome, to express gratitude, or as an apology, so itтАЩs worth remembering in case you need to wai yourself out of a sticky situation. Even Ronald McDonald statues ingratiate themselves in Thailand by performing a wai.
It is, however, more complicated than it looks. How high you position your hands and how low you bow indicates how much respect or reverence youтАЩre showing, and there are subtle variants depending on factors like age, gender, occupation, and social status. A wai at chest level is typically the norm, but if in doubt itтАЩs permissible for Westerners to smile in lieu of a wai, this is, after all, the self-proclaimed land of smiles.
Although Thais are intrinsically tolerant, remember to show particular respect when visiting a temple. Thais reserve the most revered wai for worshiping an image of Buddha or saluting a Buddhist monk, but tourists simply need not to wear shorts, tank tops, or sandals. Despite the sweaty heat, this dress code is strictly enforced at must-see attractions such as BangkokтАЩs dazzling Grand Palace. Should you arrive with ankles and shoulders exposed, you may rent long loose pants and long wraps, but at peak times itтАЩs quicker to buy whatever you need from the market traders outside, thus avoiding additional queuing inside.
Click Below to Read More on Page 2