Thai Smile

**guava** · #1 24-07-10, 07:54 AM

You can read so many threads in Thai forums about the Thai smile. So many theories.. Is it genuine? Is it from embarrassment? Is it real at all? A very common perception seems to be that "they smile while they take your money"

Well, the smiles in this photo are 100% real

... the more you stray from the tourist track, the more you will find genuine joy that you show an interest in real Thai culture.
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**Betti** · #2 24-07-10, 12:43 PM

I don't care if it's fake or not, or why they smile, the result is that I feel better and I am treated as a human being 99% of the time, not being walked all over in every day life etc. doesn't matter if it's embarrassment or saving face or whatever if it means everyday life is liveable.
(again, not a very good photo but I like it - national elephant day in Mae Sa, btw)

karen boy.JPG

**Norb** · #3 24-07-10, 11:26 PM

It seems to me men don't smile as much as women and children. If they do it's more subtle. Going through my photos it took me a while to find a man smiling.

**ravip** · #4 25-07-10, 01:16 PM

In some countries, a smile comes naturally to the people there and it is done without any ulterior motive. It is a sign of acceptance and welcome to the visitor - who could be either foreign or national.

This is more prominent in the villages & amongst the lower strata of the society - with the development in the big cities, people tend to become more aloof.

**fileeep** · #5 25-07-10, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norb

It seems to me men don't smile as much as women and children. If they do it's more subtle. Going through my photos it took me a while to find a man smiling.

Could be true Norb, but these lovely ladies outshone any man�s camera shyness�..don�t you think?

IMG_4545.jpg

AzureAussie · #6 15-08-10, 03:03 PM

This was a smile between friends. Good times.

Mikel.

**ian71** · #7 15-08-10, 07:49 PM

The Thai smile is why i love this place, real or fake a happy face makes the world so much a better place to live in. when at home i really do struggle to understand why people thrown and are so grumpy all the time? it cant be just the weather????? Rain or shine here in Thailand its pointless counting the amount of smiles i see daily.more the better keep um coming,

**David_Loves_Ubonwan** · #8 15-08-10, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian71

The Thai smile is why i love this place, real or fake a happy face makes the world so much a better place to live in. when at home i really do struggle to understand why people thrown and are so grumpy all the time? it cant be just the weather????? Rain or shine here in Thailand its pointless counting the amount of smiles i see daily.more the better keep um coming,

Just my opinion from observations of travelling in Europe (here, there, and everywhere) and Asia (Thailand and Vietnam in the east, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt in the west) is that Western people live for tomorrow whilst Asian people live for today as tomorrow may never happen.

Life in the West is far too stressful (for me.)

David

**ian71** · #9 16-08-10, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Loves_Ubonwan

Just my opinion from observations of travelling in Europe (here, there, and everywhere) and Asia (Thailand and Vietnam in the east, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt in the west) is that Western people live for tomorrow whilst Asian people live for today as tomorrow may never happen.

Life in the West is far too stressful (for me.)

David

I must admit i agree with most of Asia with the land of smiles but, Jordan!!!! and middle east!!!! i have to admit i felt very uneasy in Jordan, we only went from the airport to hotel, 7 long hours and back was enough of a stay for me, but cant say i saw one smile,

Also there's plenty grumpy Asian men all over Asia, spitting and grunting, but i agree Thais live for today, but i would not agree with that for other parts of Asia, especially the places with money, they all seem to plan properly for tomorrow like in the west, Singapore for example, but yes they dont seem to have the stress like back in the west.

**paul_au** · #10 16-08-10, 10:20 AM

Lets face facts, most smiles are genuine, but if your looking in the wrong places for love, like in Walking Street Pattaya, then the smile in genuine only for your wallet.