How to wai - a guide to the Thai greeting

[girlsome]

The wai, the Thai greeting.

Everyone goes through the same questions and hesitations when they visit Thailand for the first time. How do I do this, where do I put my hands. Who goes first?

After having lived in Thailand for almost 10 years now I think I master the wai pretty well, but I still sometimes get confused in some situations.

A few days ago I stopped at a police check point and with my bike engine still running and a little bit stressed (athough I have a license) I shook the policeman's hand after he checked my documents. The look on my face was probably the same as on his. I then attempted to wai him but he was already walking away so my wai was directed at a policeman talking to another guy on a motorbike,. Awkward, especially when he returned the wai.

So we decided to write a little guide to the wai. Hope it will help newcomers or even expats that have lived here for years, to master the Thai greeting like a pro.

[Lamkyong]

oh please this has been done to death   even in the last month  much discussion  please moderate and refer to previous thread 

[CharlieH]

As this has been done many times, heres one from earlier this month with a larger response ;

This one is now CLOSED