Been in Samui for a few days now and, am totally fookin appalled by the lack of respect on Chaweng Beach. Women walkin round starkers all over the place.

Now don't get me wrong I'm no prude I love boobs but, this is taking the ppiiss . Have these people no brains , have they that little regard for Thai people and Bhuddism.

Wrong wrong wrong.

redrus

Walking around nud_e? I prefer people not go topless, but if you do get then stick to it when you lying around, then cover up when you are walking about.

Yes i think sunbathing topless shouldnt be done in Thailand although it doesnt bother me, but i also seen girls walking around topless which i think is TOTALLY disrespectfull.

In fact forget toplessness, I really want to get you smart gals down to this island somehow, one day. Bambi is the only one who has made it so far, and to keep on topic, there won't be any topless sunbathing here.

While I said that I don't understand the fuss about boobs, I still respect where I live very much. In fact, shock horror, I most often wear a head scarf to the village.

Kat I know you have gone but....... soon okay. I know you will pop down. Look forward to that.

Thanks Seonai

Been in Samui for a few days now and, am totally fookin appalled by the lack of respect on Chaweng Beach. Women walkin round starkers all over the place.

Now don't get me wrong I'm no prude I love boobs but, this is taking the ppiiss . Have these people no brains , have they that little regard for Thai people and Bhuddism.

Wrong wrong wrong.

redrus

I totally agree, redrus.

so what do all the thai's working at night think of the ladyboys revealing thier 'bits', alot of previous posts seem to be their own personal view on the subject, not the real question.

maybe everyone will start wearing jumpers on the beach and have thier massages fully clothed, its a problem that wont be solved and peoples opinion will always differ.

alot of thai women dont want to wear anything remotely skimpy in case they are thought of as a 'bar girl', which is sad but will never change.........

My views have already been expressed and most who have trawled the thread will not be surprised by my opinion that Chaweng is not subject to the usual social mores that mark what many observers may agree to be the cultural ethos of the Thai, whatever that might be.

It is simply a revenue centre generating a fat income benefiting vested interests who couldn't give a fig leaf for the immodesty that might otherwise be concealed.

Anyone venturing there complaining about " lack of respect " have evidently missed the point. Would you enter a casino and complain that gamblers anonymous are not adequately represented?

It is a homogenized playground for all to disport themselves in a manner befitting their own cultural standards whether that be the inebriate, the licentious, the exhibitionist or simply a quite modest secretary from Basildon who prefers topless sunbathing whilst she spends her well earned 2 weeks holiday accompanied by her chums.

The preposterously prudish of this forum are simply exhibiting their own neurotic emotional baggage carted over to Thailand and trundled about thinly disguised as a sympathetic protest on behalf of some mythical culturally abused Thai ingenue.

Personally, my own philosophy is less is more....er, let me rephrase that.... swimwear enhances what the eye cannot see but what the heck, others think differently. But certainly, in Chaweng, Patong etc., etc. I do not think the Thai worry overly. It aint Thailand, after all.

My views have already been expressed and most who have trawled the thread will not be surprised by my opinion that Chaweng is not subject to the usual social mores that mark what many observers may agree to be the cultural ethos of the Thai, whatever that might be.

It is simply a revenue centre generating a fat income benefiting vested interests who couldn't give a fig leaf for the immodesty that might otherwise be concealed.

Anyone venturing there complaining about " lack of respect " have evidently missed the point. Would you enter a casino and complain that gamblers anonymous are not adequately represented?

It is a homogenized playground for all to disport themselves in a manner befitting their own cultural standards whether that be the inebriate, the licentious, the exhibitionist or simply a quite modest secretary from Basildon who prefers topless sunbathing whilst she spends her well earned 2 weeks holiday accompanied by her chums.

The preposterously prudish of this forum are simply exhibiting their own neurotic emotional baggage carted over to Thailand and trundled about thinly disguised as a sympathetic protest on behalf of some mythical culturally abused Thai ingenue.

Personally, my own philosophy is less is more....er, let me rephrase that.... swimwear enhances what the eye cannot see but what the heck, others think differently. But certainly, in Chaweng, Patong etc., etc. I do not think the Thai worry overly. It aint Thailand, after all.

Presented in that light I think I am duty bound to say you have changed my mind and think you are right.

Your words were not many but insightful and right on target.

I have on occasion taken six go go dancers home because I felt sorry for their plight as abused women and they looked tired and over worked. I thought they needed a friendly port in the midst of a storm. I would have taken just one home but that would not have been statistically significant.

Upon reaching my modest abode all of the ladies turned from frolicking exhibitionists into poo bear pajama wearing decent Thai women. From this experience and your post I have concluded that Thai people will allow nudity and not be offended by it because of the substantial level of remuneration they receive when nud_e.

Besides that I know the real reason Thai women wear overly tight bras. My 37 year old Thai girlfriend has breasts that would be the envy of any 25 year old western woman. And she is not your average small built Asian woman. So I formally bow to your superior reasoning and admit I was wrong.

[. It aint Thailand, after all.

spot on, that remark hit the nail smack bang on the head, this is a holiday resort and all bikini bashers should take note and reel their heads firmly back in...........( why do they sell bikini's in thai....to wear elsewhere...???)

get a grip

Mark45y,

Sorry old boy, but are we at cross purposes?

If you are yet another broken down, frazzled, loopy old american then so be it but if you are not and are simply another member of the former subject races unable to employ irony or sarcasm efffectively then there may be hope for you.

What is your point?

Apropos nothing in particular, do you recommend Sihanoukville for a spot of R&R ?

Mark45y,

Sorry old boy, but are we at cross purposes?

If you are yet another broken down, frazzled, loopy old american then so be it but if you are not and are simply another member of the former subject races unable to employ irony or sarcasm efffectively then there may be hope for you.

What is your point?

Apropos nothing in particular, do you recommend Sihanoukville for a spot of R&R ?

No, I was serious. I had not thought about it in that light i.e. nudity beaches for profit. I was not attempting to use sarcasm at all. I think your point was, Thai’s trade cultural prohibitions for money all of the time and this is another example of that. I had not thought about that and you are correct. Why all of the name calling? I was agreeing with you. Sihanoukville, the last time I heard that name I was controlling air traffic and it was not a nice job. That would be the last place I would go for R&R.

Mark,

Please accept my sincere apologies.

The gent is unused to fulsome agreement with his often contrary views that seldom accord with the mainstream. Incipient paranoia is a consequence I'm afraid, and I misunderstood the tenor of your post.

Your philanthropy in providing temporary refuge for 6 ladies does you inestimable credit and perhaps marks a triumph of hope over stamina !!

Regards,

the gent.

But certainly, in Chaweng, Patong etc., etc. I do not think the Thai worry overly. It aint Thailand, after all.

My b/f is from Samui .... his village is about 10 minutes from Chaweng. We visit Samui several times a year and everytime we go he comments on how he doesn't like Chaweng (beach) because of all the topless women. Believe me, my b/f like boobs .... but he doesn't like seeing random women, either laying sunbathing or walking along the beach with their boobs on show. Maybe it's because he and his family are not originally from Samui (although they've lived there for 15 years), I don't know, but they are offended by it to a point, just as I am. (But not enough to stop going there )

Mark,

Please accept my sincere apologies.

The gent is unused to fulsome agreement with his often contrary views that seldom accord with the mainstream. Incipient paranoia is a consequence I'm afraid, and I misunderstood the tenor of your post.

Your philanthropy in providing temporary refuge for 6 ladies does you inestimable credit and perhaps marks a triumph of hope over stamina !!

Regards,

the gent.

Thank you. It is not really hope over stamina. It is more like Nam keun hai reep dtak.

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

I think the point one of the other posters was trying to make is there are places in Thailand where cultural prohibitions are traded for monetary gain as in a night club atmosphere with all parties agreeing to the trade. I think the poster meant the beach was one of those areas. I don’t know because I have never been there. I am not a beach guy I like the mountains.

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

I think the point one of the other posters was trying to make is there are places in Thailand where cultural prohibitions are traded for monetary gain as in a night club atmosphere with all parties agreeing to the trade. I think the poster meant the beach was one of those areas. I don’t know because I have never been there. I am not a beach guy I like the mountains.

Well the beach is no way one of those areas.

Going topless at a beach anywhere in Thailand were locals go with families etc is disrespectful.

No matter if its in Patong, Cheweng, Karon or krabi.

Especially walking around the beach.

Im sure the girls would be horrified if i walked around the beach nud_e (some wont be thought)

Im sure the girls would be horrified if i walked around the beach nud_e (some wont be thought)

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

I live far from touristy places, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng or Patong but this evening, as my husband, my daughter and I were eating outside on our front porch in our gated community, a shirtless tatooed bald farang, cigarette on his lips drove by on a huge chopper with the prerequesite young girl at his back.

Everyone on the street looked on as they went back and forth a few times on the street, even riding the bike on the sidewalk and on the foot path near the children's play ground.

... on our front porch in our gated community, a shirtless tatooed bald farang, cigarette on his lips drove by on a huge chopper with the prerequesite young girl at his back.

There goes the neighborhood

Gent, I would love to discuss your views one day. When will you next be passing the Krabi region?

PS: Maybe Kat will join me for a three way chat??????

I'm seriously thinking about going to Phuket and to your island, to see you and Khall, Seonai, but I'm waiting around BKK to finalize working papers with immigration. So, I'm still trying to figure it out.

I've also got this sudden attraction thing going on with someone *(here in BKK), and I'm trying to figure out where that's going

Edited April 8, 200620 yr by kat

Gottcha Kat, well we are here when you want to come down. Good luck with the other stuff... !!!!

No really, support is here, Khall and I know each other well.

Look forward to the day we meet up....

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

I live far from touristy places, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng or Patong but this evening, as my husband, my daughter and I were eating outside on our front porch in our gated community, a shirtless tatooed bald farang, cigarette on his lips drove by on a huge chopper with the prerequesite young girl at his back.

Everyone on the street looked on as they went back and forth a few times on the street, even riding the bike on the sidewalk and on the foot path near the children's play ground.

should of kicked his bald ass

Whats this about Samui not being Thailand??

have i missed something??

Ofcourse its disrespectful to do the topless thing in ALL of Thailand.

Now stop trying to make people think otherwise.

I live far from touristy places, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng or Patong but this evening, as my husband, my daughter and I were eating outside on our front porch in our gated community, a shirtless tatooed bald farang, cigarette on his lips drove by on a huge chopper with the prerequesite young girl at his back.

Everyone on the street looked on as they went back and forth a few times on the street, even riding the bike on the sidewalk and on the foot path near the children's play ground.

Of course you are going to see that kind of thing in thailand. there are plenty of places in the world, in fact most, where you would not have to be subected to it. I think it is a shame that you chose the capital of this kind of thing. Deal with it

I had an upstanding Thai woman in my house for dinner. She was visiting from the US, where she has lived for 4 years. She brought up Koh Samui and the rampant toplessness that she saw there. She had zero problem with it, in fact quite the contrary. Again, deal with it. Nothing wrong with a little T & A on the beach. I applaud it and encourage it

Edited April 9, 200620 yr by monochaser

There seems to be a lot of criticism of all the poor German tourists here, and their lack of "respect" for Thai culture by going about topless. The fact is that all these German and other European tourists come here because Thailand is marketed as a winter sun destination. It is pushed as a place where you can have a cheap winter beach holiday. The people who buy these packages want to have the same experience they have in August in the North Sea resorts, only it is too cold to wear anything less than a duffel coat on the North Sea in January.

To expect Helmut and Heidi from Frankfurt to realise that topless bathing is so offensive to the Thai people, based on the way Thai beach holidays are marketed, is expecting a bit much I think.

A lot of the people that are being criticised on here probably never read a guidebook on Thailand at all, never mind the etiquette section, in the same way that one would not expect a holiday-maker to Ibiza or Grand Canaria to have read the guidebook. I agree that it is unfortunate that there are people in the world who are that culturally incurious, but they are responding to the way Thailand has often been marketed.

Surely the Thai government has some responsibility for the sort of tourism that has developed in the country in the last 30 years?

And, I take the earlier posters points about Thais being too shy to tell peole to cover up on the beach. But surely the authorities could post SIGNS on the beach stating that topless bathing is unacceptable.

I have bean on Patong beach in Phuket, and i saw topless sunbathing. But I do not remember seeing signs stating that this was disallowed (maybe there is, and I missed them). However, when i visited Ayutthaya, it was impossible to miss all the signs stating that you had to treat all the Buddha statues with respect, particularly in the way you photographed them. Obviously making tourists treat Buddha statues with respect is an important priority to the Thais, seemingly more so than enforcing bikini tops on beaches.

Edited April 9, 200620 yr by RonanTheBarbarian

Actuallya good point, i didnt see no signs either.

Im sure alot of people dont even know its disrespectful to go topless.

My mate was going around the pubs with no shirt on because i forgot to tell him about it.

But i would love to see what the sign would look like?? what picture would they use for eveyone to understand

Unless they just put it in text in all different languages.

But if you know its disrespectful then dont do it

There are signs up on Koh Chang, and they have the desired effect there, I saw not a single person sunbathing topless. I think I saw a few signs on Koh Samet also but I can't remember for sure.

You're quite right though, Ronan, it seems that the touristy beaches in Samui, Pha Ngan, Phuket and Krabi are an acceptable place for people to sunbathe topless; and it is tolerated and accepted as a concession to western tourists with their holidaying habits. I don't think you'll ever see signs up on Patong because the Thais want people to be able to go topless on those beaches, so that the tourists who like to sunbathe topless will be back again next year.

I was in a bkk bar last night and 2 fat farangs were in there with no shirts on. Guess what? Nobody cared, they were just making morons out of themselves is all

Lying on the beach is one thing, but I think running around topless is another!