Why Are There So Many Muslims In Bangkok These Days?

[TheFishman1]

No worry look at all the muslims i :jap: n France

[StreetCowboy]

...I know it is something Westerners will never understand. Arab women don't talk to total strangers, especially married ones. This is especially true in conservative countries like Saudi Arabia. Arab men are known to divorce on the spot when they catch their wives talking to strangers. It is scandelous. It is like their wives are cheating on them. In Yemen you might get shot, so count yourself lucky you were just attacked. I still don't understand why a Westener would want to work in such a restrictive and respressive countries like Saudi Arabia. There is only so much moonshine you can drink before you turn blind and for single guys, well...goodluck.

Max2010

I think some people do it for the money.

I can imagine that for those who can't get a job somewhere more hospitable, like Alaska, or the North Sea, it's a good fall-back.

SC

[WebBangkok]

I just feel sorry for the Muslims who are in the US who genuinely want to get there pilots license.

[transam]

No worry look at all the muslims i :jap: n France

Yep, shagging, drinking, looking at unclothed ladies etc etc.

[bina]

the code word here is 'killing for family honour'... and its very serious. just asked room manager at hotel if his soon to be wife has ever travelled like other girls from 'our' social /religious spectrum. he was aghast. with us he is modern, but for marriage, his fiancee will only travel with him. he's been to thailand several times buthas chosen a cruise for his future honeymoon feeling that thailand is 'too wild' for his soon to be wife (she will be 18 next year)...

his shopping days are over ... trends come and go. nowadays, bulgaria has become the new site since egypt is not on the fave list for anyone here including the younger muslem arab set. in teh past it was turkey. dubai is for older folks with lots of money like the dentists doctors etc...

access to known foods are one reason a group will choose a destination. most of the moslems here prefer to eat hallal even if they drink alcohol for instance, just like my son prefers kosher slaughtered chickens and beef and wont touch seafood and pork. he's not fanatic, but will choose areas of travel that will have the food he prefers to eat. for muslems, some countries are easier then other countries to travel and eat in. also, bangkok does have mosques that can be visited.

i suppose it would be like asking why there are suddenly tons of orthodox jews in a particular country. friends bring friends, word of mouth, food, attractions, price, fad, etc.......

bina

israel

[ChristopherWilliamsBKK]

definately a lot more muslim presence recently.

good or bad? who knows

[vpi78]

definately a lot more muslim presence recently.

good or bad? who knows

Judging strictly from the lack of tourists in low season from other places it seems to be good for now. Went to Bumrungrad for a physical last week and if you mistook the Thai staff as being Filipinas you might have thought you were in Saudi or Kuwait.

[toybits]

I couldn't help but notice the number of middle-eastern tourists at Robinsons (Sukhumvit) and at MBK. I had the feeling that this might be what it looks like in Dubai.

[toenail]

I think the positive side of Thailand as a tourist destination is its ability to attrack the "two star tourist" to the " five star tourist"; also, its culture is unique and interesting to other cultures around the world. As for the Middle Easterns that are increasing in numbers is due to various reasons: (in BKK) medical care that they find better than in their own country (though their hospitals look "state of the art" the imported doctors and management is not...); there are restaurants and hotels that cater to "Halal food"; there are mosques to go to...and the Thai attitude to not "judge" adds to the attraction.

However, after living in the Middle East for a total of 12 years I must say the following: (which may seem bias to those who have never lived in the "rich" oil Arab countries). If you notice, they children are usually out of control --why??? Because the Arab families in countries such as Kuwait, Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have Fillipino, Indonesian nannies to take care of their 6-8 children. They do not. Next, it is interesting how one can run into the Arab male in some of the "bars" ; yet it is "haram" (forbidden) in their holy land. Interesting how the man can walk around in a tank top and shorts while his wife/wives can trot along with her black abya (black robe).

Once while living in Saudi Arabia, I ran into a Saudi man who bragged about having "girl friends" in London and New York...they were nothing but protitues. What made me angry was when he said that the rest of the world was a "sewer" and his country was Allah's chosen land. I didn't say anything since I could be thrown in jail but it ran across my mind to challeng him why he looked for the "sewers" in other countries and not other sights....

[ronz28]

It's because of the bonus..... Thailand is reaping the benefits of revolution in the Arab world. That's thanks to a two-month salary bonus that Saudi King Abdullah ordered to maintain the prevailing peace in his kingdom, as part of a massive public-benefits package intended to stave off unrest. (Owing to the troubles, Gulf vacationers are staying away from closer holiday spots in Egypt and Lebanon this summer.)

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/07/19/all_play_no_work?page=0,0

[blunotes]

Man, on a lighter note. In July 2009, I was standing in front of Platinum Plaza one day. Three women came walking out in full Burka and I can only see the eyes. One is must have been in early 20's with an absolutely perfect body. I was starring at her beautiful eyes for a good 4-5 minutes as they were looking around for a cab. The girl has noticed my bushman like stare, she turned toward my eye sight and removed the head scarf. I came so close to a Heart attack! She was an incredibly beautiful girl more than I can ever describe. She took a quick look toward me (I don't know it could have been a pole behind me but I didn't care), then she shook her hair and slowly wrap her head and hair back in the most sensual way I have ever seen. I have taken many photos of models back in the days, no one could compare to this girl. Then a black S550 pulled up and picked them up. I was daydreaming for 4 days. Until these days I'm still haunted by visions of her face in slow motion.

That was my experience with a Muslim girl in BKK.

[thaibeachlovers]

Man, on a lighter note. In July 2009, I was standing in front of Platinum Plaza one day. Three women came walking out in full Burka and I can only see the eyes. One is must have been in early 20's with an absolutely perfect body. I was starring at her beautiful eyes for a good 4-5 minutes as they were looking around for a cab. The girl has noticed my bushman like stare, she turned toward my eye sight and removed the head scarf. I came so close to a Heart attack! She was an incredibly beautiful girl more than I can ever describe. She took a quick look toward me (I don't know it could have been a pole behind me but I didn't care), then she shook her hair and slowly wrap her head and hair back in the most sensual way I have ever seen. I have taken many photos of models back in the days, no one could compare to this girl. Then a black S550 pulled up and picked them up. I was daydreaming for 4 days. Until these days I'm still haunted by visions of her face in slow motion.

That was my experience with a Muslim girl in BKK.

This must have been a dream- you can't see the body shape in a burka, LOL.

My own experience was rather different. Working in a saudi hospital, I was not normally permitted to go in a woman's room ( as their husband could then kill me ), but in an emergency I could.

There was a female patient that walked the corridors wearing her abaya ( of course ) and face veil, and her eyes looked so lovely that I used to daydream about what she looked like. Then one day she had a heart attack and we all went in to do CPR. Well, to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement!

[vpi78]

Man, on a lighter note. In July 2009, I was standing in front of Platinum Plaza one day. Three women came walking out in full Burka and I can only see the eyes. One is must have been in early 20's with an absolutely perfect body. I was starring at her beautiful eyes for a good 4-5 minutes as they were looking around for a cab. The girl has noticed my bushman like stare, she turned toward my eye sight and removed the head scarf. I came so close to a Heart attack! She was an incredibly beautiful girl more than I can ever describe. She took a quick look toward me (I don't know it could have been a pole behind me but I didn't care), then she shook her hair and slowly wrap her head and hair back in the most sensual way I have ever seen. I have taken many photos of models back in the days, no one could compare to this girl. Then a black S550 pulled up and picked them up. I was daydreaming for 4 days. Until these days I'm still haunted by visions of her face in slow motion.

That was my experience with a Muslim girl in BKK.

This must have been a dream- you can't see the body shape in a burka, LOL.

My own experience was rather different. Working in a saudi hospital, I was not normally permitted to go in a woman's room ( as their husband could then kill me ), but in an emergency I could.

There was a female patient that walked the corridors wearing her abaya ( of course ) and face veil, and her eyes looked so lovely that I used to daydream about what she looked like. Then one day she had a heartm attack and we all went in to do CPR. Well, to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement!

Actually you can when wind and/or rain or combination thereof is involved you can see quite a lot in outline. There is an example floating around the media of this piece of lard from the UK on a beach... Australia I think... In a Burkini.

Hope that fashion does not catch on.

[jaideeguy]

"why are there so many Muslems in BKK now??"

The men love to watch their women sweat under their heavy black burkas while they are comfy in their shorts and t shirts.