One little gesture can go a long way
I’d like to encourage foreign tourists and expats to learn how to “wai”. Thais would melt and do anything for you if you wai them. Here’s how.
Press both palms together, raise them until both thumbs touch the tip of your nose, then bow slightly. Do this when you need help, when you want to be forgiven or when you are about to be beaten up by thugs.
You’ll be surprised how a wai can turn an ugly situation into a pleasant one. It’s a magic gesture. When I cross a busy street I always wai drivers who are coming at me and they always bring their car to a screeching halt. (Ok, I exaggerate a little, but they always stop.) You may try this on cabbies who refuse to use the meter or on police or immigration officers when they give you a hard time.
When you wai Thais it makes them feel important and respected, something all human beings long for.
Somsak Pola
Samut Prakan
