Standing On A Coin

[neejack]

the other day i made a huge message of standing on some coins my sons was playing with, the looks i got from the family were, to say i thought i had of killed someone,

well my wife told me that you can not stand on the king, i understand the respect thing, so i enquiredj so why is it ok to put notes in to my arse pocket, why is it ok for women to put money in there bikinis, down there bra etc, response because its ok.

can someone enlighten me as like a lot of things in thai, baffles me

[soundman]

Look in to: The head being the highest part of the body and the foot being the lowest....

[gburns57au]

the other day i made a huge message of standing on some coins my sons was playing with, the looks i got from the family were, to say i thought i had of killed someone,

well my wife told me that you can not stand on the king, i understand the respect thing, so i enquiredj so why is it ok to put notes in to my arse pocket, why is it ok for women to put money in there bikinis, down there bra etc, response because its ok.

can someone enlighten me as like a lot of things in thai, baffles me

In your wallet in your back pocket is ok as there is cloth between you and the money etc...if you put the notes down the back of your jocks then it would be offensive....

Money in the bra....the breast is a giver of food and nurturing and is also near the heart...

Under the foot is probably one of the most disrespectful places you can place money, it would be like you were stepping on the King

Any image of the King and Royal Family must be shown the greatest respect in Thailand and as his image is on all money, you need to be aware of what you do with it.

Disrespect of the King can land you in big trouble.

[seonai]

Someone was arrested in Pattaya for sticking a coin on the ground with glue

[dave111223]

Strange... I've stuck money in my sock before (for safe keeping when carrying a lot of money in a dodgy area). And no one (Thai or Foreign) thought it unusually or offensive...

[gburns57au]

down the side of your sock is fine....

it is not under foot....if you put it the bottom of the sock then put your sock on....that would be offensive.

[dave111223]

down the side of your sock is fine....

it is not under foot....if you put it the bottom of the sock then put your sock on....that would be offensive.

So it is only the soles of people's feet which are offensive then? I see...

[seonai]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

[dave111223]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

Edited July 28, 2007 by dave111223

[Neeranam]

A Nigerian got 2 years for standing on a coin intentionally.

Those feet masseuses are considered more like doctors - why you shouldn't tip them.

[Tywais]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

Not much different then from a barber where normally touching another person on the head is taboo. It's an occupational function in these cases.

[dave111223]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

Not much different then from a barber where normally touching another person on the head is taboo. It's an occupational function in these cases.

I just mean it is odd because back home i can't remember the last time i saw a foot massage shop although there is nothing bad about feet there. But here feet are offensive but yet every 10 minutes walking down the street you come across a foot massage shop...

[Gary A]

It is a serious thing. I was at a sky train station and a lady dropped a ten baht coin. I was actually a little proud of my reflexes and trapped it with my foot. She spoke pretty good English and asked me why I stood on her King. I thought I did a good thing and ended up being wrong. Nothing came of it because I explained that it was just a reflex action.

[gburns57au]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

The bottom of the foot is offensive in that the Thais perceive the head as the entry point for all the good things...this why you shouldnt touch the top of a Thais head as you interupt the good going in.

The bottom of the foot is where the bad comes out, which is why it is rude to point your feet at someone or use your foot to point... you are sending bad things to them...

There are all sorts of amulets, charms and things in Thailand to protect people from harm or bad spirits...it would not surprise to find that Foot masseuses would either be wearing them or going to the temple a lot.

[gburns57au]

It is a serious thing. I was at a sky train station and a lady dropped a ten baht coin. I was actually a little proud of my reflexes and trapped it with my foot. She spoke pretty good English and asked me why I stood on her King. I thought I did a good thing and ended up being wrong. Nothing came of it because I explained that it was just a reflex action.

Yes, some would rather a note blow away in the wind then put a foot on it....However I have seen Thais use their feet to catch a note...especially the larger denominations....After all one must practical, but they looked real guilty about it.

[AlexLah]

I had a weird/nice experience a few weeks ago.

I was at the India embassy and had to pay for my visa.

When I took out my wallet five or six Thai coins fell out on the floor.

Faster then the speed of ? , some four or five (Thai?) people where picking up the coins and return them back to me.

I was very surprised and impressed by their politeness.

Still a bit confused....

Alex

Edited July 28, 2007 by AlexLah

[SiamSquare123]

do you have a link to the nigerian who went to jail?

[gburns57au]

nothing to get confused about

It would have been offensive to leave the King lying on the floor...they knew it was accidental and hastened to pick them up so that the coins spent the least amount of time on the floor

[Fred Sanford]

I once had a farang, who is very well versed in Thai culture, take his shoe off sitting right next to me and point the sole of hhis foot at me, wiggling his toes all the way. It was about 30 seconds or more I had to endure this. Afterwards I thought about it and wondered if he was trying to offend me. If he was, it didn't work but man his foot stunk up a storm.

[chownah]

You shouldn't sit on a picture of H.M. the King so you shouldn't sit on a newspaper since it might have a picture of H.M. the King in it...and if you use newspaper to line the bottom of your bird cage then you should examine every piece to make sure it has no pictures too.

Edited July 28, 2007 by chownah

[Donnyboy]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

Not much different then from a barber where normally touching another person on the head is taboo. It's an occupational function in these cases.

and like a BG touching your.........well like Tywais says its an occupational function in these cases!

[gburns57au]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

Not much different then from a barber where normally touching another person on the head is taboo. It's an occupational function in these cases.

and like a BG touching your.........well like Tywais says its an occupational function in these cases!

You are quite right even though off topic...

There are many things that a Thai may find offensive in their normal life, that they will do because of occupational function...

[dave111223]

Kind of reminds me of the line in the Ali-G movie when he meets the Queen and says:

Next time i put a fifty pence piece in me pocket, i will be honoured having ur head so close to me nuts

I am assuming similar statements made here might get you in quite a bit of trouble.

Edited July 28, 2007 by dave111223

[Ping]

Many first-time tourists either won't believe, or will treat lightly, these snippets of information. Some of them also find it difficult to understand that criticism of certain people is unlawful. The astonishment usually quietens them down when the penalties are mentioned. I never cease to be amazed how many tourists seem to think that they are immune to local laws - quite often the same ones who are disrespectful of local customs. And of course, when it comes to the yobbos (the low-life), you can't tell them anything...

Edit: typo

Edited July 28, 2007 by Ping

[rainman]

well my wife told me that you can not stand on the king, i understand the respect thing, so i enquiredj so why is it ok to put notes in to my arse pocket, why is it ok for women to put money in there bikinis, down there bra etc, response because its ok.

You really don't expect that anyone has the answer to that, do you?

[Kimera]

the other day i made a huge message of standing on some coins my sons was playing with, the looks i got from the family were, to say i thought i had of killed someone,

well my wife told me that you can not stand on the king, i understand the respect thing, so i enquiredj so why is it ok to put notes in to my arse pocket, why is it ok for women to put money in there bikinis, down there bra etc, response because its ok.

can someone enlighten me as like a lot of things in thai, baffles me

Its simple really treat Buda and the King with total reverance. then you will be safe. it is difficult though you can make mistakes, most will be forgiven

[allexx]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

The bottom of the foot is offensive in that the Thais perceive the head as the entry point for all the good things...this why you shouldnt touch the top of a Thais head as you interupt the good going in.

The bottom of the foot is where the bad comes out, which is why it is rude to point your feet at someone or use your foot to point... you are sending bad things to them...

There are all sorts of amulets, charms and things in Thailand to protect people from harm or bad spirits...it would not surprise to find that Foot masseuses would either be wearing them or going to the temple a lot.

...but it’s OK for a Thai boxer to kick the head…the bad foot kicking the good head…confusing indeed.

[kayo]

well my wife told me that you can not stand on the king, i understand the respect thing, so i enquiredj so why is it ok to put notes in to my arse pocket, why is it ok for women to put money in there bikinis, down there bra etc, response because its ok.

You really don't expect that anyone has the answer to that, do you?

Have you got your answer yet?

And, Does anybody have an answer for a woman, yet?

Has nobody learned the lesson of ages?

just agree

[Head Snake]

The AOT airport limousine person tried to pull that guilt trip on me about the king on the 1000 baht note and how I should not "throw" the money to her. So asked for the money, I "slid' the note to her.

Are we supposed kneel, genufliict or present all money in a 2 handed offering with angel music in the background?

Apparently so with this idiot person who must enjoy using that ruse on all foreigners.

There should be a special law for those people who try to hold you hostage based on their interpretation of who is disrespecting the king.

[chownah]

One of the rudest things you can do to offend a Thai is show them the sole of your foot

It is kind of weird that foot massage is so popular here. I mean if the foot is so offensive, then someone who rubs feet all day for a job must be considered the lowest of the low?

The bottom of the foot is offensive in that the Thais perceive the head as the entry point for all the good things...this why you shouldnt touch the top of a Thais head as you interupt the good going in.

The bottom of the foot is where the bad comes out, which is why it is rude to point your feet at someone or use your foot to point... you are sending bad things to them...

There are all sorts of amulets, charms and things in Thailand to protect people from harm or bad spirits...it would not surprise to find that Foot masseuses would either be wearing them or going to the temple a lot.

...but it’s OK for a Thai boxer to kick the head…the bad foot kicking the good head…confusing indeed.

Perhaps the desire to avoid insult is why Thai boxers try to AVOID being kicked in the head.