Am I suddenly old? Everyone is smiling and helping me!

[simon43]

I jump into a taxi to go to the nearby shopping centre.  I pay the driver at our destination and he hands back the small tip that I gave him. I press the tip money into his hand and he is all genuine smiles.

 

I go to the supermarket, getting the items on my list.  As I push my trolley slowly down the aisles, women (young and old smile at me).  I check that my trouser zip is not undone!!

 

At the cashier payout, I pay the cashier and start to put my items into my backpack.  Several young women crowd round to help me, fetching extra bags from the cashier and packing my items.  All smile genuine smiles as they help me.

 

I go to the pharmacy and buy some cough syrup.  Again, as I put the purchase into my bags, 3 young staff help me to put my backpack on my back.

 

Throughout my shopping trip this morning, total strangers smile at me and say hello.

 

So...... what's happened?  Do I suddenly look decrepit?  Do I have $100 notes glued to my jacket?

 

No!  The only difference between my shopping trip last week and today, is that last week I went shopping in Thailand and today I am shopping in the city of Mandalay, in Myanmar, where civil war is rife and a white-skinned foreigner is rarer than a virgin in Soi Cowboy...

 

Perhaps they are smiling and helping out of pity for the foreigner who missed the last plane out of dodge 🙂  (An exaggeration actually, there are flights every day).

 

As to how I have ended up (AGAIN!) in Myanmar, let's just say that my sense of direction at airports isn't very good in my old age 🙂

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

It's exactly opposite when I was in Thailand 

Even though I'm very fit for my age (in the gym most days of the week ) I still got people push in front of me etc 

Some people even walk into you in the street ,phone in hand not paying attention or the the gang of 4 walking side by side as you have to stop ! and go to the side to let THEM pass !

 

In Thailand and I don't know MYANMAR but in Thailand they have LESS respect that the West I believe to older farang guys 

 

I have NEVER had anyone hold a door open for me in Thailand like in the Western countries 

They just push in 

 

I remember in Thailand people barging into the lift BEFORE I got out !

 

I remember walking towards a glass door in the Condo I was staying in (Pattaya Arcadia Beach Resort) and I went to walk with my bags when Asian girls just barged in front of me letting the door slam in my face this is in Thailand !

 

Yesterday I'm in Brisbane Australia and several times young people held the door open for me in the Airbnb Condo I was staying in 

I was surprised,this is Australia yet they were more polite young people than Thailand!

 

Last night Im walking in Brisbane a young tattooed guy moved to the side to let me pass ,you wouldn't find that in Thailand 

 

Now MYANMAR I don't know ,I want to go ,and if I do I expect to stay with YOU Simon 

 

Anyone here saying people especially YOUNGER people in Thailand have more RESPECT and MANNERS towards older farang than in the WESTERN Countries is bull<deleted> ....maybe they did in the PAST but not now !

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by georgegeorgia

[Henk Langeweg]

Maybe you are pregnant ...

[Hummin]

54 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

 

I have NEVER had anyone hold a door open for me in Thailand like in the Western countries 

They just push in 

 

My two days last week in Bangkok, they opened the doors for me a few places. At our hotel and the restaurants we visited.

Edited 4 hours ago by Hummin

[bendejo]

Store workers wanted to see if you stole anything and put it in your backpack.

 

[scottiejohn]

21 minutes ago, bendejo said:

Store workers wanted to see if you stole anything and put it in your backpack.

 

Store workers wanted to see if you stole anything and put it in your Zimmer frame bag  backpack.

[StreetCowboy]

A few years back, I was embarrassed about getting ushered to the front of the Covid-check queue at the supermarket as an “elderly” person - particularly since I had cycled there.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, simon43 said:

I jump into a taxi to go to the nearby shopping centre.  I pay the driver at our destination and he hands back the small tip that I gave him. I press the tip money into his hand and he is all genuine smiles.

 

I go to the supermarket, getting the items on my list.  As I push my trolley slowly down the aisles, women (young and old smile at me).  I check that my trouser zip is not undone!!

 

At the cashier payout, I pay the cashier and start to put my items into my backpack.  Several young women crowd round to help me, fetching extra bags from the cashier and packing my items.  All smile genuine smiles as they help me.

 

I go to the pharmacy and buy some cough syrup.  Again, as I put the purchase into my bags, 3 young staff help me to put my backpack on my back.

 

Throughout my shopping trip this morning, total strangers smile at me and say hello.

 

So...... what's happened?  Do I suddenly look decrepit?  Do I have $100 notes glued to my jacket?

 

No!  The only difference between my shopping trip last week and today, is that last week I went shopping in Thailand and today I am shopping in the city of Mandalay, in Myanmar, where civil war is rife and a white-skinned foreigner is rarer than a virgin in Soi Cowboy...

 

Perhaps they are smiling and helping out of pity for the foreigner who missed the last plane out of dodge 🙂  (An exaggeration actually, there are flights every day).

 

As to how I have ended up (AGAIN!) in Myanmar, let's just say that my sense of direction at airports isn't very good in my old age 🙂

 

 

When I go to the local pharmacy, the lady comes from behind the counter and helps me down the 3 steps and I get a genuine smile. The post office manager does the same for me when I simply buy a bottle of OTOP honey.

 

The staff in the local supermarket ask what I want and fetch it for me.

 

To me it is like the UK used to be 50 or 60 years ago.

 

To me (at 80) the Thai people are always kind, helpful and smile genuine smiles. Perhaps because I am old, perhaps because I live in rural Thailand and not in a tourist area. Perhaps because I am polite, smile a lot and try to speak Thai if I can.

 

I have no idea, but I am grateful and thankful for the attention.