Thursday, July 06, 2006

SUPER SIAM ME

Instead of shaking hands, people in Bangkok greet each other by placing their hands together (as if praying) with their fingers close to their face between the chin and the nose. This gesture is called a wai (with a ^ above the i, but I don't know how to type that).

If a Bangkokian greets you with a wai, you should return the greeting. Some might offer a handshake to a foreigner, but in general a wai is preferred.

It should be of no surprise that one of the most popular American advertising icons has already mastered the wai. While Bangkokians and Westerners may have different ways of saying hello, one can always count on McDonalds as the universal symbol for a stomachache.

No comments: