An opinion piece by a frequent tourist to Phuket:
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism ... lse-smiles
In the many years I’ve lived in Thailand I have only experienced this sort of behavior 1 time in 19 years. I think in areas inundated with tourists shop owners, vendors, taxi drivers etc. must at some point develop burnout and seeing how some tourists act it can be of no surprise. Yesterday, I was at Pattaya’s Terminal 21 when I noticed a table full of young Arabs, one got his order which was a mistake he pushed it across the table it landed in the floor and the whole group had a good laugh!
Land of False Smiles
Re: Land of False Smiles
I have never heard any Thai utter "Go to Hell" or anything like it! But then I have not been to Phuket for more than a dozen years and frankly have no desire to return. I do see false smiles though, and some behaviour that I consider bordering on being impolite. Like holding a door open for a Thai and getting no thank you or even nod of acknowledgement - and when Thais open a door first they rarely will hold it open for the person behind them. But that's more cultural, I expect.
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