Thai people are extremely polite and their behaviour is tightly controlled by etiquette, much of it based on their Buddhist religion. It is, if nothing else, an exremely non-confrontational society, in which public dispute or criticism is to be avoided at all costs. To show anger or impatience or to raise your voice is a sign of weakness and lack of mental control. It is also counter productive, since the Thai who will smile, embarrassed by your outburst of anger or frustration is far less likely to be helpful than if you had kept better control of your emotions.

Revealing clothing, worn by either men or women, is a little disgusting to most Thais. Short shorts, low-cut dresses and T-shirts and skimpy (or no) bathing suits come into this category. In temples, long trousers or skirts must be worn, and monks should on no account be touched in any way by women (or men for that matter). Shoes should always be removed when entering temples and private houses. For this reason, most Thais wear slip-on shoes to avoid constantly tying and untying laces.

The head is the most sacred part of the body, so should not be touched. The feet are the least sacred, so when sitting they should not point at anyone - most Thais sit on the floor with their feet tucked under their bodies behind them. To point, particularly with one’s foot, is extremely insulting.

Avoid touching Thai people, it is too intimate a gesture and an invasion of personal space.

When eating, it is considered very rude to blow your nose or to lick you fingers. The right hand must be used to pick up food that is eaten with the fingers.

Clothing from the lower parts of the body should never be left anywhere in a high position. This applies particularly to socks and underwear, but also to shorts and skirts. This is the case even when washing and drying clothes. Thais have two clothes lines - a high one for most clothes and a low one for underwear and socks. Some laundries will not accept underware for cleaning - they would be impressed with your asking if this is the case.

Thais do not traditionally shake hands; the wai is the usual greeting. The hands are placed together as in prayer, and raised upwards towards the face, while the head is lowered in a slight bow. The height to which the hands should be raised depends on the status of the person you are waiing. In the case of monks, dignitaries and old people the hands are raised to the bridge of the nose; with equals only as far as the chest. Young people and inferiors are not waid, but nodded slightly to. You will be regarded as a little foolish should you wai to them, or go about waiing everyone, putting them on the spot and making yourself appear foolish.

When you consider that shaking hands, and kissing, are perhaps the easiest means of passing germs, the wai is in fact a suitable greeting.

It is very easy, when entering a foreign culture for the first time, to make mistakes in etiquette. If you do so, just smile, politely wai the person you may have offended, and all is usually forgiven.

I have seen many a western man married to a Thai arrive home late, a little worse for wear, and get into an argument with his wife. As is the way of women the world over, the subject of the argument rarely relates to the offence, confusing the poor man further. The offence is neither coming home late or being ‘in his cups’ - it is that he has caused her to lose ‘face’ by his actions.

All he really had to do on entering his house was wai his wife in apology, and in a suitably humble manner. She would forgive him. How could she not?!  And, having received forgiveness he would politely ask what was for dinner...