Young tourists performing yoga at sacred temple criticised in Thai media

[webfact]

Young tourists performing yoga at sacred temple criticised in Thai media
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Foreigners showing a total lack of regard towards local customs strike again.

An upset Thai took some photos of young, free-spirited tourists performing a spread eagle move at Chiang Mai's Ratchabophit Temple. The local then shared the photos online, which is when the criticism started this weekend.

A local news site in Chiang Mai, CM108, posted the photos submitted by its reader and pointed out how extremely inappropriate the tourists were acting.

"A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said.

Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner, the report added.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2015/01/05/young-tourists-performing-yoga-sacred-temple-criticised-thai-media


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-01-05

[Somtamnication]

Another example of an overreaction by a Thai.

At least a monk isn't slapping them, they are not drunk and are not in a bikini.

[Bluespunk]

A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said. Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner"

Boo hoo hoo

If they are doing something wrong then say so to their face instead of this cowardly, chicken crud online BS outrage campaign.

Edited January 5, 2015 by Bluespunk

[AyG]

Another example of an overreaction by a Thai.

Not at all. I rather suspect the tourists wouldn't act the same way in a church, mosque or synagogue in their home country. Why should they even think it's remotely acceptable in a Buddhist temple?

They are also both dressed inappropriately to visit a temple. They have obviously spent no time learning about local ways and are completely devoid of any cultural sensitivity.

[NextStationBangkok]

Sitting posture with eyes closed like Buddha is OK, but not to do acrobatics without shirt! Coconuts going nuts with this news, this is not Yoga at all....

[I Like Thai]

A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said. Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner"

Boo hoo hoo

If they are doing something wrong then say so to their face instead of this cowardly, chicken crud online BS outrage campaign.

Say you on an Internet forum 555

[SiSePuede419]

What country is Yoga, The Kama Sutra and Lord Gautama Buddha from?

Just sayin'...

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Another example of an overreaction by a Thai.

Not at all. I rather suspect the tourists wouldn't act the same way in a church, mosque or synagogue in their home country. Why should they even think it's remotely acceptable in a Buddhist temple?

They are also both dressed inappropriately to visit a temple. They have obviously spent no time learning about local ways and are completely devoid of any cultural sensitivity.

It appears to be on the grass outside the temple.

You'd be amazed what some youngsters in the west get up to on the grass outside (otherwise known as the graveyard).

[draftvader]

What country is Yoga, The Kama Sutra and Lord Gautama Buddha from?

Just sayin'...

India. Not sure I follow.

[Bluespunk]

A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said. Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner"

Boo hoo hoo

If they are doing something wrong then say so to their face instead of this cowardly, chicken crud online BS outrage campaign.

Say you on an Internet forum 555

Lets see: Whose picture did I publish to name and shame…oh, look no one.

If I saw someone doing something that I found offensive I would tell them.

Get me in contact with the knob head who started this campaign and I tell them what I think about their behaviour.

Remember the guy from the BTS who had a hole in his shoe, yet was vilified on the forums for having a camera shoe.

Netziens and their online outrage, make me want to puke.

[phuketrichard]

story went around about a person being arrested for spitting on a Buddha statue

when asked why,

he replied

"show me where buddha is not and there i will spit"

[Seastallion]

A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said. Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner"

Boo hoo hoo

If they are doing something wrong then say so to their face instead of this cowardly, chicken crud online BS outrage campaign.

Say you on an Internet forum 555

Lets see: Whose picture did I publish to name and shame…oh, look no one.

If I saw someone doing something that I found offensive I would tell them.

Get me in contact with the knob head who started this campaign and I tell them what I think about their behaviour.

Remember the guy from the BTS who had a hole in his shoe, yet was vilified on the forums for having a camera shoe.

Netziens and their online outrage, make me want to puke.

Not much point if he can't understand you....same for the photographer if she can't speak the tourist's language.

Besides, it's too confrontational for most Thais.

The fact remains that the tourists were being disrespectful.

[Bluespunk]

A group of farang was found doing a workout [at a temple], supposedly yoga. They spread their arms and legs while their friends were taking photos. This was done in public view of both locals and tourists," the caption said. Common temple etiquette requires visitors to remain calm, and act in a composed manner"

Boo hoo hoo

If they are doing something wrong then say so to their face instead of this cowardly, chicken crud online BS outrage campaign.

Say you on an Internet forum 555

Lets see: Whose picture did I publish to name and shame…oh, look no one.

If I saw someone doing something that I found offensive I would tell them.

Get me in contact with the knob head who started this campaign and I tell them what I think about their behaviour.

Remember the guy from the BTS who had a hole in his shoe, yet was vilified on the forums for having a camera shoe.

Netziens and their online outrage, make me want to puke.

Not much point if he can't understand you....same for the photographer if she can't speak the tourist's language.

Besides, it's too confrontational for most Thais.

The fact remains that the tourists were being disrespectful.

I speak thai well enough to let them know.

Did these tourists know they were being disrespectful? Was it deliberate?

If not do they deserve this type of cowardly online vilification?

[Seastallion]

Come come Blue...,...It's hardly vilification as they are unidentified and will probably remain so.

Your Thai may well be better than the photographer's Hebrew/French/Dutch/French/English. What was she supposed to do as obviously she was outraged or offended.

Did they know? Probably not, and that's the point of the article; ignorant farang.

When in Rome......

[doremifasol]

When in Rome you do as the Romans do.

[bluebluewater]

Are we sure it's not foreplay? Kinda looks like foreplay to me . . .

If not, that is what at least I would be telling her!

[Seastallion]

There's probably more than just "acrobatics" that offended.

Recall that female muay Thai fighters have to enter the ring under the ropes? Or that men can't stand under a washing line with female underwear hanging on it?

I daresay her position in the photo would have been offensive even outside the wat. You can't a muff higher than your head.

[Bluespunk]

Come come Blue...,...It's hardly vilification as they are unidentified and will probably remain so.

Your Thai may well be better than the photographer's Hebrew/French/Dutch/French/English. What was she supposed to do as obviously she was outraged or offended.

Did they know? Probably not, and that's the point of the article; ignorant farang.

When in Rome......

That's blues.

And publishing their picture is appalling behavior in this context.

They are being vilified on forums carrying their picture.

[paddyjenkins]

Is this really just an excuse to attack a person of white skin by yet another racist, over sensitive thai taking their oh so precious culture a little too seriously? And if there is a choice between some Chinese tourist publicly defecating and some westerners doing yoga, which do they choose? I bet if there were some young Thais doing yoga there they wouldn't have minded, probably would have cited it as an example of good, clean living people of their country.

Edited January 5, 2015 by paddyjenkins

[Fiddlesticks]

I have to admit that this display by the farang tourists is in bad taste and inappropriate. If you want to perform some nonsense like this in a Buddhist site AT LEAST have the common sense and respect to first determine if it is acceptable. To me that is just common courtesy but I think courtesy is not a strong character trait of many young people today, farang or Asian.

[BuddhistVirus]

What country is Yoga, The Kama Sutra and Lord Gautama Buddha from?

Just sayin'...

What're you trying to say? Please, continue...

[rainman333]

i need to see a closeup of her face, and body, and cleavage, then I'll be able to decide if it is appropriate

[Ceruhe]

Remove religion, 80% of world problems already gone.

Can we get back to traffic critisism and stuff now? There is more important stuff that needs attention than trivial stuff like this.

[Jeremy50]

They look nice. When will people get off their high horse about religion and national borders.

[JulieM]

I don't recognize the temple. Is that really in Chiang Mai? A google search turns up a temple with that name in Bangkok, but not in Chiang Mai. If it is in Chiang Mai, where is it?

[slapout]

as mentioned, they appear to be on the grass/footpath leading into the temple grounds. i have observed thais drinking booze and playing games of chance at the immediate gate entrance to temples during their/temple fairs. no dress code observed whatsoever as long as not inside the temple.

it appears that some thai are as racist toward farang (farang bashing) as some tv members are accused of being toward thai.

i took a group of hindu to a christmas service, at their request, one time, they got a kick out of prayer time as people kneeded, bowed, closed eyes, etc. serval of them took pictures throught the prayer and other parts considered holy, by some. afterwards, the majority on the church members stopped to welcome the hindus, visit, etc. not a single mention was made top their disrregard for chistian custom to me or them.

perhaps some people are a tad too religious, nationalist in the vocal blather and should be more concerned with how they are precieved by those they like to critize.

[chotthee]

Thai temple is not a place for female Farang to spread their legs; dress or otherwise.

[thailiketoo]

What country is Yoga, The Kama Sutra and Lord Gautama Buddha from?

Just sayin'...

India. Not sure I follow.

I think he means Thais don't know anything about Buddhism. Which after living in Thailand for quite a while I would have to agree with. So it's not really a big deal.

[baboon]

At the risk of being roundly abused here, I simply for the life of me cannot see what is wrong in that photo. It isn't like they are smoking crack or doing rudies or anything?

[PatOngo]

Thai temple is not a place for female Farang to spread their legs; dress or otherwise.

I think you should read the story of the Abbott in the temple at Uthai Thani in the publication that can't be mentioned here.