1. Language
2. Architecture
3. Cuisine
4. Massage
5. Art

Thai Language

• Dai languages family; sprout in Thailand, Laos, Burma, China
• a tonal language; there are 5 basic tones; vowels can be long or short
• the alphabet consists of 44 letters and several diacritic signs, based on Khmer
• rich in sounds, difficult to learn for westerners
• words are not separated by spaces; no big or small letters
• spoken as the first language by 20 millions of people; big differences in dialects, people don’t understand each other
• lack of grammar, very basic syntax
• schools of Thai language for westerners in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai

Thai Architecture

• roofs: sloping, slightly bended, wood covered; bottom parts prolonged by smaller roofs; impression of being covered by several roofs one on another; the ends rich decorated, pointed forms on the border, simplified dragons – bad spirits can’t enter the house; sloping roofs dry faster; prolonging roofs outgoing behind the wall lines give more shadow
• sanctuaries: Khmer style; differences between Khmer and Thai temples invisible; Khmer are more compact, soaring, vertical lines accentuated; Thai temples: Temple of the Emerald Buddha, The Great Palace, Wat Suthat, Who Pho, Wat Benchamabophit, and Wat Phra Kaeo.
• houses: made of wood, mounted on pales; pales fixed under the sharp angle for 2 reasons: rain, animals; inner patios, a tree in the center; fast construction, one day only, parts prepared before, nails not used
• kuti: small wood houses for monks in the forest monasteries; surface few square meters; stairs recoiled about 30cms from the house; plants cleared; pales fixed vertically rounded by belt of water to avoid contact with snakes, ants etc.

Thai Cuisine

• influences from China, Europe, Malaysia, India
• very spicy condiments; spicy additives are not Thai, Portuguese brought them from India (India: to diminish the smell of putrid meat)
• a lot of fruits; coconut milk, typical: khanoon (jackfruit)
• no bread, no butter, no cheese, no potatoes
• rice as the base of all dishes; Thailand is the biggest rice exporter in the world; rice for the breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper
• the breakfast is the smallest meal; dinner and supper served early; typical meal: soup, rice, meat, vegetables; meat: chicken or sea fruits
• don’t use forks or knifes neither, chopsticks are squarer than Chinese
• eating out of the house, a lot of small restaurants everywhere
• not advised to keep food at home because of insects, ants etc

Thai Massage on Phuket

• traditional Thai massage executed without any oils, without erotic implied meaning; the massaged person wears clothes and lies on a mat; strong stretching and kneading of the body, deep body massage; full massage about two hours
• oil, herbal massage, massages of shoulders, head and reflexology are not traditional Thai massages
• hundreds massage studios on Phuket, in Pattaya; like bars, places of work for Thai women searching for white husband or credit card owners

Art Galleries on Phuket

• hundreds galleries in Patong Beach and on Phuket, very low artistic value
• Phuket Town: Soul of Asia – conservative buyers, Buddha sculptures, some works of Dali, Picasso, Warhol, stylish furniture
• Phuket Town: 111 Phuket Art Gallery – contemporary painting, banal, decorative, colorful Buddha portraits, technically well done
• Phuket Town: Art Rendez-Vous – kitsch, lack of taste, too many colors, French owners?
• Rawai/jungle: Art in Garden – colorful paintings, very simple forms, authentic unpretentious style