Understanding Thailand: Some Rules of Thumb That Explain a Lot [S5.E63]

Greg and Ed pull together all their accumulated wisdom about
Thai culture and society into six pithy theories to aid expats and
tourists alike. Ed begins with his classic 'Universal Theory of
Thailand," that everything good in the country comes from Thais
being so nice, and that everything bad in the country ALSO comes
from Thais being so nice. The guys discuss how true this is, before
Greg drops his own grand theory that nothing gets improved in
Thailand until it becomes embarrassing for Thailand
internationally. The boys realize that if a charity or NGO was
REALLY smart, they would spend their money on some ultra-famous
influencer like Kim Kardashian to harp about some social ill in
Thailand. The government would get right on it!

Ed follows with his idea that you can say anything you want
to a Thai person, as long as you are smiling while you are doing
it. Greg then brings up some VERY practical advice for safety on
the streets of Bangkok, and Ed finishes with the irony of how
rules work in Thailand, usually not mattering but then eventually
REALLY mattering. Then guest of the show Jon concludes with his
'range of the acceptably wrong' theory to help tourists and
expats manage expectations in the Land of Smiles.


This may be the episode of the Bangkok Podcast with the
most wisdom and insight per minute! 


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