Religion and Shrines
Most Thais are Buddhist, so Buddha and Buddhist temples are shrines that should be treated with great respect. The main thing that absolutely everyone is forbidden in Phuket is to offend or express negative opinions about the deity and religion. It is also prohibited to export from Thailand any goods with the image of the Buddha. When going to visit the temple, take care of your appearance: your clothes should be modest and not defiant, covering your shoulders and knees. It is also customary to take off your shoes before entering a temple or house. Buddhist monks should be treated with respect: women are strictly forbidden to touch them. Another important value for locals is the Royal Family and King of Thailand. Any negative or disrespectful statement about the ruler and his family will result in severe punishment.
Gestures and tactile contacts
In Thailand, it is not customary to touch the head of another person, especially children, since for Thais this is the most important and revered part of the body, and with your touch you can desecrate it. Also, do not throw hugs at the locals, if you want to express sympathy or approval, just words of gratitude will be enough. Surely you will notice a special gesture of the Thais called "wai" - this is a bow with hands folded in a certain way. There are several interpretations of such a bow, each with its own meaning. Trying to repeat this gesture can lead to an awkward situation, so it's best to just bow slightly back. It is not customary in the Kingdom to point at objects with fingers or feet - this is considered uncivilized. Another thing to know in Phuket is that it is forbidden to touch females without their permission.
Behavior on beaches
Despite the active nightlife, Thailand is a rather conservative country, so you cannot sunbathe completely naked or topless on the beaches. For this, it is better to choose the secluded beaches of Phuket, where no one will see you. Local authorities have also banned smoking on the coast to protect the white sand from littering with cigarette butts.
Other features
It is curious that in Thailand it is not customary to write the names of people in red ink, since only the names of the dead are written in red. If you write the name of a living person in red, it will be considered that you wish him death. Thais are very polite, smiling and benevolent people, it is not customary here to raise their voices and loudly express their dissatisfaction in public places. When dining or having dinner with Thais, keep in mind that it is customary here to share food for everyone, so ordering dishes only for yourself will not be nice. Also in Thailand, you cannot launch a quadcopter without official permission. All quadrocopters must be entered in the state register and only then can they be launched. Of course, anywhere in the world you need to behave politely and benevolently, not to use prohibited means and not to lose vigilance in crowded places so as not to become a victim of scammers. Read more about what you need to be careful with in Phuket here. These simple rules will help you remain a respectable tourist and have a pleasant vacation experience.
