Comments on: Do’s and DONT’s how to greet http://www.mythailanddiary.com/26/dos-and-donts-how-to-greet/ This is my journal of living in Thailand Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:31:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: kind http://www.mythailanddiary.com/26/dos-and-donts-how-to-greet/#comment-804 kind Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:45:33 +0000 http://www.mythailanddiary.com/26/dos-and-donts-how-to-greet/#comment-804 I spent 4 weeks in Thailand so far and I don't think I got the wai right yet. First mistake I think was to keep looking up at the person while bowing down with the upper body. I also didn't realize the fingers touch the nose, I will try that and try to remember to also look down and mainly move the head down. Also some foreign people tend to put their feet together when waing, maybe something seen on TV or so .. that does not seem to be required. I spent 4 weeks in Thailand so far and I don’t think I got the wai right yet. First mistake I think was to keep looking up at the person while bowing down with the upper body. I also didn’t realize the fingers touch the nose, I will try that and try to remember to also look down and mainly move the head down.
Also some foreign people tend to put their feet together when waing, maybe something seen on TV or so .. that does not seem to be required.

]]> By: Andy http://www.mythailanddiary.com/26/dos-and-donts-how-to-greet/#comment-6573 Andy Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:27:11 +0000 http://www.mythailanddiary.com/26/dos-and-donts-how-to-greet/#comment-6573 Actually the tip of the nose is only for people you know or you are certainly higher up the (thai) pecking order. I read hundreds of posts, blogs and articles about when and when not to wai. The anser is simple you can wai ANYONE, yes even a child which many say is taboo. Just use the "strangers" wai ALL the time - that is tip of fingers under CHIN not nose. Even if you got it wrong i.e. if you met a high ranking monk or royalty - you would be forgiven for having the good grace to try. It is nonsense that you MUST use a particular wai or only to particular people. Just wai everybody in this manner and you will make a lot of new friends. Actually the tip of the nose is only for people you know or you are certainly higher up the (thai) pecking order.

I read hundreds of posts, blogs and articles about when and when not to wai.

The anser is simple you can wai ANYONE, yes even a child which many say is taboo. Just use the “strangers” wai ALL the time - that is tip of fingers under CHIN not nose.

Even if you got it wrong i.e. if you met a high ranking monk or royalty - you would be forgiven for having the good grace to try.

It is nonsense that you MUST use a particular wai or only to particular people. Just wai everybody in this manner and you will make a lot of new friends.

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