Jacob Maslow Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thai police are searching for the presumed Chinese tourist that was caught kicking a sacred prayer bell in a Buddhist temple. Thai police are on the hunt for a tourist, whom they presume is Chinese, who was filmed kicking a prayer bell in a 14th century Buddhist temple. Officials are threatening to ban the tourist over the incident, which took place at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai. Locals and tourists consider the temple a sacred site. A gentle ringing of the bell is said to bring good luck. The filmed tourist, who was seen speaking Mandarin in the video, has further increased tensions between Thai locals and Chinese tourists. The video was posted on social media and quickly went viral. Local and immigration police are now searching for witnesses and taking a closer look at the CCTV to identify the tourist. Police Maj. Gen. Bundit Tungkhaseranee said that once the tourist’s identity has been confirmed, he will be subject to a Thai etiquette and culture education course. If he refuses to attend, he will be barred from re-entering Thailand. Local police have been speaking to Chinese travel agents and guides, and checking outbound Chinese tourists at border checkpoints. Tour operators are being urged to educate their clients on appropriate temple etiquette. The incident comes shortly after the Thai tourist board began handing out etiquette manuals to Chinese tourists visiting Thailand for the Chinese New Year. Complaints of Chinese tourist behavior sparked the creation of the manuals. Locals complained of visitors causing traffic accidents and vandalizing tourist attractions. Just a few weeks ago, Chinese tourists were banned from Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) for half a day because of a bad bathroom behavior. Thailand’s Tourist Authority estimated that 90,000 or more Chinese tourists would visit Thailand for the New Year holiday. The Tourism Authority of Thailand director says that he has been informed of the bell incident, but also says that he believes the majority of Chinese visitors are fully cooperating with local guidelines. -- 2015-02-24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post daoyai Posted February 24, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2015 Was the bell damaged in any way? if not then just inform temple visitors on how to ring the bells in the future. Funny how religion makes folks irrational. 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post daveAustin Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 Big deal. You did invite them over and it's not like he murdered anyone. Authorities could do with spending all this time and resources on something real and useful, like road safety!! 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Smiles Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post joesanunu Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 Maybe they could call in the USA and get satellite imagery of the culprit then drone him. A better idea. Send all this investigative manpower down to Phukett/Pattaya Beach and round up the notorious gangs of jet ski thugs that have been assaulting, kidnapping, extorting tourists for the last 20 years......in broad daylight! 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post daoyai Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post joesanunu Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes. Boggles the mind sometimes. Feet are dirty but they will prepare a meal on the floor... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ttthailand Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?so kick boxing and football should be banded, disrespectful to the other person or people. The guy should not have kicked the bell but sometimes this country goes to the extreme for minor things and do nothing for major things.... Thainess ! 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jerojero Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 What is wrong with these tourists? Drugs, drunks, or plain stupid? You can have a good vacation time without desecration of host country's religion. Utter stupidly! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxpwzrd Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jerojero Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 Obviously you think such disrespect is OK. Maybe you need to join the tourist in culture education. Or understanding mutual respect. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunano Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far. Besides, the guy is probably long gone, back in rural Guilin and kicking his cattle... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far. Besides, the guy is probably long gone, back in rural Guilin and kicking his cattle... Perhaps he puts bells around their necks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycallahan Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 What a ding dong. Only a bell-end would show such disrespect for a sacred artifact. If anyone sees this guy do ring the authorities. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jlwilliamsjr18 Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It's so comforting that the cops are on the case. There will be no bell kicking in this country. Of course the alleged kicker can claim his arms didn't work. Thailand...your priorities are a bit twisted these days. So it goes in the land of smiles. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller45 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? I do indeed. Would not be at all surprised if the Chinese kicked the bell BECAUSE he had received the instruction manual. Sense of humour. A bit drastic but not undeserved. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jasun Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 "Is that the guy who did it?" "I'm not sure, but his foot rings a bell" 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudhopper Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 What a horrible crime! Hope the bib works in shifts to find him before any more irrational superstitions can be offended and he can be successfully rehabilitated to the local standards of cultural hubris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Katipo Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? Yes, most of us do. That doesn't change that the only thing hurt were peoples feelings. There was no theft, no violence, no death.... just hurt feelings, which while don't make it right, in a list of priorities of things wrong with this country, should be well down the bottom. But there is nothing like a dose of Xenophobia to distract people from the real problems. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lucky11 Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? Nobody died, nothing was damaged, they have been reminded of how to behave, so forget it happened, put it in the past and tell the police to go and catch criminals and to ensure the safety of it's fellow citizens rather than carrying out border checks, questioning tour operators and generally wasting everybody's time with this futile operation!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 If ringing the bell brings luck, where is the problem...the tourist created some luck.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ? As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes. Boggles the mind sometimes. Feet are dirty but they will prepare a meal on the floor... ...or stand their kids on one of the dining tables at TOPS restaurant in Chiang Mai. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post spermwhale Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 Don't mind all the rapists and murderers running free, coppers -- there's a larger villain on the loose: Put out an all points bulletin for the bell kicker. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongoose11 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I've seen those feet before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Preman Posted February 25, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2015 Penance: Take him to a bar in Chiang Mai and have him ring the bell and pay for drinks for everyone seven times. Then he may lose his fetish for bells. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bung Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 They should mark that bell as it obviously won't bring anymore good luck. Its ruined and should be replaced with much pomp and ceremony! Maybe replace it with a picture of the offender and let people kick it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NextStationBangkok Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Chinese might have mistaken for Muey Thai bells, his bells should be cut off for doing this at a temple! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaidaGwaii Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I must admit this is one of those "culture gap" that I fail to understand... Don't the police have better things to do? Like catching real criminals??? Is there a video of this Thai Etiquette and cultural education course? I'm curious.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yann55 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) OK. What that guy did is wrong. Even if he didn't know how shocking it is for Thai people and the heavy symbolism of feet in this country, he ought to have some common sense, and show a measure of respect in a temple. But the thing is ... The Maoist version of communism (which never had anything to do with Karl Marx's theories, by the way) worked for years on destroying religious feelings, rites, thoughts, which were deemed 'debilitating products of the feudal system' (and.. are they ? are they not ? the question is worth asking...) The result is that China today is arguably the most a-religious country in the world. Are Thai authorities aware of that ? Yes, they are. So... what bugs me in this case is that the police are suddenly running around and issuing patronizing statements not so much because the guy did something wrong but because he was filmed doing it. They say you can't have your cake and eat it, well, you can't have hordes of Chinese tourists visiting Thai temples ... and respect, discipline, manners. Not compatible, solly na krub. Edited February 25, 2015 by Yann55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangmod Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Kicking a temple bell sparks a manhunt. Bringing a whole country on their knees, murdering thousands, and you'll earn yourself a free pass to Dubai.. Strange world.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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