A Perplexing Question Needs Answering.

[breadbin]

Why do Thai people feel the need to swim fully clothed?

You see them in jeans, t shirts, shirts etc.

Then you see some in swim suits etc.

Don't tell me it 'shy' thing as its not,

Also, how do they get the skin tight jeans off when they're wet?

I need to know.

My wife and her friends have no good or plausible reason for these acts!!

Thank you.

[PalMan]

1. It's a shy thing - even the most jaded P2P player wears a towel coming out of the bathroom.

2. Keeps the skin out of the sun

3. That's just the way it's done here - wearing a bikini is for those shameful western "free sex" girls who give it away

[Eesat]

It's also to keep the sun off them,they don't want to get a suntan as that is looked down on in Thailand and means you're a poor farm girl from Isaan!

[shaggy1969]

Could be just that they don't own a swimsuit.

Or maybe it's quicker than getting changed into a swimsuit......after all they are probably dry after 15 minutes anyway.

Or it's as Palman says.... they don't want the sun browning those precious white bits.

[yoslim]

They swim in whatever clothes they are wearing while going to the beach.

Lots of p2p dont wear towels, have dark skin, wear bikini at the pool etc..

[pattayadingo]

Decorum

[breadbin]

Mmmm.. Thanks for replied thus far. Sun tan I agree with but no one has fully sold me thus far.

Also, no one has attempted to explain the removal of skin tight jeans!!

It must be a task known only unto the wearer?

Thanks.

[PalMan]

Lots of p2p dont wear towels, wear bikini at the pool

-

Well it's true I've only ever been attracted to the newer girls, but I'd say for the two behaviors above my experience is well under 1%, and that's from such a large sample over a decade I won't admit it here.

[PalMan]

Mmmm.. Thanks for replied thus far. Sun tan I agree with but no one has fully sold me thus far.

Also, no one has attempted to explain the removal of skin tight jeans!!

It must be a task known only unto the wearer?

Thanks.

-

My answer is fact regarding normal poor/upcountry girls, not trying to convince anyone of anything. Many may become brave/shameless enough as they age, gain experience with westerners, but the only Thai virgins that would ever wear a bikini in front of mum and dad are those raised overseas, or one parent is a foreigner.

Re the jeans, they peel them off so they end up inside out.

Actually I imagine you're supposed to "help" them with that part. . .

[PalMan]

Could be just that they don't own a swimsuit.

Or maybe it's quicker than getting changed into a swimsuit......after all they are probably dry after 15 minutes anyway.

-

Ran these answers past the Thais with me and they all laughed, 100% consensus it's because Thais are shy about showing skin, protection from tanning a side benefit.

One mentioned the European habit of kissing people on the cheek when greeting each other, "even when they aren't lovers, and in front of other people"!! and that regular Thais (unfamiliar with Western ways) would all point and gossip to each other about that.

Edited May 21, 2013 by PalMan

[breadbin]

Lol, peel them off?

In the 70's I swam in jeans and they were stuck to me, had to cut them off, or my dad did!

That's why I ask,

Thanks for your replies,

It's nearly 8.20pm here in UK and now I'll be able to sleep like a baby having this perplexing scenario explained.

[Loptr]

Mmmm.. Thanks for replied thus far. Sun tan I agree with but no one has fully sold me thus far.

Also, no one has attempted to explain the removal of skin tight jeans!!

It must be a task known only unto the wearer?

Thanks.

It's a 2-person operation. The wearer lays down and someone else peels them off. Perhaps you could apply for the job of peeler?

[PalMan]

I'll be able to sleep like a baby having this perplexing scenario explained.

-

sweet dreams

[anachack]

aww PalMan you let the side down asking Thai's the reason why

go back and ask them again if it is because of tham niiam choon chon

[falkan]

shy and dont want to have black skin..

[anachack]

^^ Nope

next answer please....

[krisb]

Could be just that they don't own a swimsuit.

 

Or maybe it's quicker than getting changed into a swimsuit......after all they are probably dry after 15 minutes anyway.

 

Or it's as Palman says.... they don't want the sun browning those precious white bits.

That's probably right. Same reason they like skin whitening cream?

Sent from my LG-E612 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[homeownership]

As I understood it Thai People associate white skin with wealth and prosperity and darker skin with poverty and lowly educated. Therefore having attained the level of skin colour, no doubt through decades of skin lightening products, exposing their entire bodies until they are in a stable cash cow relationship seems ultimately self defeating. While others cant seem to break the habit of doing it from their earlier days.

My housemaid will drink a bottle of water/cola/orange what have you. But she will not let the bottle touch her lips, she sort of pours it into her mouth from a distance, with some skill I might add. Her explanation is an animal might have unrinated on the bit you put your mouth on.

Her logic in this is impeccable and make complete sense. Thai People are just like that.

[GuestHouse]

I believe its a cultural backlash.

I have friends (now retired) who during their working life where University Lecturers, so one would imagine well settled in the Thai middle class.

Their family photo album includes photos of them and friends at the beach sporting 1970s bikini swimsuits - when I was first shown these photos they were a source of embarrassment to their grown children, who offered apologies that their parents had 'got caught up in the spirit of the age' - well I hope they did.

However I also note that around up market resorts/beach front developments, Thailand's wealthy are returning to bikinis..

[Scully]

As I understood it Thai People associate white skin with wealth and prosperity and darker skin with poverty and lowly educated. Therefore having attained the level of skin colour, no doubt through decades of skin lightening products, exposing their entire bodies until they are in a stable cash cow relationship seems ultimately self defeating. While others cant seem to break the habit of doing it from their earlier days.

My housemaid will drink a bottle of water/cola/orange what have you. But she will not let the bottle touch her lips, she sort of pours it into her mouth from a distance, with some skill I might add. Her explanation is an animal might have unrinated on the bit you put your mouth on.

Her logic in this is impeccable and make complete sense. Thai People are just like that.

Why don't you give her a glass?, even a plastic bag she would be happy with.

[homeownership]

As I understood it Thai People associate white skin with wealth and prosperity and darker skin with poverty and lowly educated. Therefore having attained the level of skin colour, no doubt through decades of skin lightening products, exposing their entire bodies until they are in a stable cash cow relationship seems ultimately self defeating. While others cant seem to break the habit of doing it from their earlier days.

My housemaid will drink a bottle of water/cola/orange what have you. But she will not let the bottle touch her lips, she sort of pours it into her mouth from a distance, with some skill I might add. Her explanation is an animal might have unrinated on the bit you put your mouth on.

Her logic in this is impeccable and make complete sense. Thai People are just like that.

Why don't you give her a glass?, even a plastic bag she would be happy with.

I am not denying her a glass, sometimes she just opens her bag and starts drinking from a bottle, in the manner described. Theres really no time to go and get a glass, its gone LOL.

[PalMan]

Yes, wealthy Thais are a completely different culture IMO, much closer to ours in both bad and good ways.

And very rare to see a Thai drink without a straw.

[chrisinth]

Why do women do what they do?

If you have any insight into the above, then you may be able to answer the Thai swimming clothes question....................

Remember, because they walk and talk the same as us doesn't necessarily mean they are the same species...................

[Om85]

Well, there is nothing to be perplex about,doc, is just a question of shyness, most of thai women are very shy, they don't like to expose their butts and armpits(specialy if they dont have a fair skin), besides that, most of thai men don't like their woman showing theirs bodies around and the same happends in many asian countries.

Edited May 22, 2013 by Om85

[krisb]

As I understood it Thai People associate white skin with wealth and prosperity and darker skin with poverty and lowly educated. Therefore having attained the level of skin colour, no doubt through decades of skin lightening products, exposing their entire bodies until they are in a stable cash cow relationship seems ultimately self defeating. While others cant seem to break the habit of doing it from their earlier days.

 

My housemaid will drink a bottle of water/cola/orange what have you. But she will not let the bottle touch her lips, she sort of pours it into her mouth from a distance, with some skill I might add. Her explanation is an animal might have unrinated on the bit you put your mouth on.

 

Her logic in this is impeccable and make complete sense. Thai People are just like that.

Why don't you give her a glass?, even a plastic bag she would be happy with.

I am not denying her a glass, sometimes she just opens her bag and starts drinking from a bottle, in the manner described. Theres really no time to go and get a glass, its gone LOL.

your meant to say that's the butlers job..

[Payboy]

Most of the time they're not swimming, just standing around in knee deep water.

[Theoutsider]

I can't see what's perplexing about it. Maybe they want to.

Edited May 22, 2013 by Theoutsider

[Thongkorn]

Probably did not bring a towel or swimming costume, so just go for a swim , you think too Mut.

[Sheryl]

Among ordinary Thais, bathing suits are not considered normal attire and most mainstream Thai women would be way to embarrassed (and would draw unwanted stars and gossip) if they wore one. At any upscale resort where everyone is doing it, it's another matter.

Don't make the common mistake of confusing the attitudes and behaviors of the Thai women westerners have the most contact with, with that of the average Thai woman. Big difference.

As a Western woman, I too will swim in shorts and a top rather than a bathing suit when at a "Thai" beach as opposed to a tourist one. As I too do not like the stares and unwanted attention that would otherwise result.

[PalMan]

Which brings us to another interesting bit, when your fresh-from-the-farm cutie sees you're about to bring her into a place full of wealthy international people, and she starts to cry and shake and moan that she can't go in there, it's not appropriate for such a low girl from peasant stock to set foot in the valhalla's of the hi so. . .

Have to train 'em up slowly, build their confidence.

Or just stick to the places they feel confident.