[Cydayshosse]

I have read that expression several times before, when I reflected upon my visits there, Bkk. Pattaya, ..etc., I could hardly remember anyone smiling at anyone else, as a matter of fact I could count ALL the smiles I saw on fingers of my one hand. Few smiles I saw were "plastic" smiles-the trained, obligatory smiles, mostly of hotel doormen (who were perhaps hoping for bakshish), or store clerks. But I can`t remember one sincere hearty smile (other than from people in my church)...you know a genuine smile, from the heart, smile that tells you I am really glad to see you, and I am happy to share this world with you, if you I can do something for you, and serve you in some way-let me know....that kind of smile...have not seen even OME while in Thailand. Most people in Bkk. are passing by each other trying not even not to notice each other, bumping into each other and ignoring the bumper...and contenuing on their way un-noticed by each other....Yes smiles are scarcer than DRAGON`S TEETH in the "Land of smiles", I see more smiles here in Chicago on average day, than I did in a week in Thailand.

[ireleda]

Well damn hand, I think that you must have been somewhere else.
I have always seen smiles, and I mean real ones, I smile every time I make eye contact with someone and it is always returned,, maybe because I am 6 feet 1 inch of pobly the ugliest farang that you will ever meet, with a short full grey beard and a huge moustache, all my hair and not an ounce overweight.
I was behind a songteau with a load of fair size Thai girl students awhile back and one of them waved to me, I waved back and smiled and the back of that bus really lit up.
Damn I sure feel sorry for you, something must be wrong with you, sure seems to be OK with the folks here.

[Adamdjeffe]

I have always found BKK and Pattaya unfriendly places, Chiang Mai is somewhat better-but as it gets bigger....
However, for the full smiles and friendliness etc, nothing beats the little country villages/towns. I suppose it because things run more slowly in such and people have a lot more time to be friendly, also they have a style of life they enjoy more than someone forced to leave home and work elsewhere more crowded, polluted and generally less pleasant.

[largonioulurI]

Yes I noticed not many smiles as well, when just walking the streets, but when you meet some one smile, say hello, and then they almost always smile back.. I find Filipino woman the best smilers in the world.

[Izzy]

I am really suprised with Hunsolo's perception of Thais. I don't think i've ever heard of any foreigner having such a complaint about Thais on this subject before.

There is a lotta scum in Pattaya and it isn't a very friendly place - but still, as a single man he'll be waved at and smiled at by innumerable bar hostesses, and i can say that their smiles are original.

I'd kinda agree with Bangkok though, not too many smiles there these days - but still, a lot more that most capital cities in the world.

Now, i've been to Amercia twice - i can admit that i found (once you struck up conversation) the folk to be nice and friendly - but still, no-one smiles at you for no reason unlike Thailand. And England is even more conservative - smile at women on the Tube and she'll think your a suspected rapist. Smile at some guy and he'll think you are gay. Smile at someone's kid and her mother may think you're a pedophile.

[ireleda]

Steve, you hit that right in the slot.
I worked in Alabama once in a small town and I ran a fabrication shop and was well known for my job and as a westerner, Friendliest damn place I ever was, try to walk from your car into the supermarket and a dozen people stop you and just shoot the breeze, like they had not a thing in the world to do.

But I live in a village and everyone around here is friendly, I lived in CM when I first came here and there were a lot of smiles there too tho, But I too an a fairly friendly guy most times, not so much to farang and not at all if want a fight.
But I am in their country so it should be me that makes the effort.

[Adamdjeffe]

Spot on about the UK, Steve-'cept you left out one category-walk around generally with a smile on yer face and people will think you have a mental problem of some sort !

[Thifiadardivy]

London the most unfriendly city in the world. and i have been in it for 50+ years

[EbrsaRynleot]

yes and no.

Thailand used to be more 'smiles' but things have definitely changed.

I do get people smiling at me as I walk down the streets. I have even had them turning their heads following me with a smile on their faces. But I guess they would only smile to non-Thai(??!). For I have observed they do not do such to their own kind.

I bet what FIP experienced would not have been done to another Thai.

Where I work, all of them smiled and wai-ed at me - but again I guess that is because I hold a 'respectable' status there. Trust me, I smile more than any Thais do. I have been labelled as the girl with the sweet smile and the beautiful wai (yes, the locals told me I wai nicer than most of them do!! ). I have even experienced doing the smile first and then after which would they return.

In many occassions when I stood next to the greeting ladies at the front desk, I feel (being a non-Thai) I do a better job at it (and so I have been told) - I smiled and at times I wai-ed (for I do not need to) genuinely. And many feedbacks been made that I would make a better greeting person.

I have also wondered why is it called the Land of Smiles?? Is it also known as City of Angels (Or is that Los Angeles?? ) - if it is, I wonder why too? Most would only smile to non-Thais and not much to each other. I have even noticed when they wai-ed to each other, some were serious in their faces.

Anyway, the place that I find to be a beauty when it comes to smile is Bali - The Land of Gods - now even by stating that puts a warm smile on my face and Java

Both men and women there are truly gently, they even smile at each other. Customs and traditions are very much held high, unlike here in Thailand (well not as much at least) - again through my many observations and having had travelled alot throughout asia.

Just for your information, I am an asian - meaning I have dark hair and I am a female. Just in case, as we are on the topic of Thailand being the Land of Smile, would they smile to just about anyone or that would have to depend on situation, as in being a caucasian/asian/local?

In my opinion, not enough smiles to go around to be labelling it as Land of smiles.

[RalfDweflywex]

In contrast to the general feeling here, I find bkk and Pattaya the most smiley places.

Hunsolo, if you think the only real smiles were on the happy clappies in church then I think you have a perception problem.

[JennyStewarta]

Often farang don't receive "yim tak tai" - the polite smile for strangers - because they are generally so bad at giving them. Many Thai people have smiled at farang so many times only to be met with blank stares or worse. So lots of them eventually just give in and stop smiling at farang.

When I'm in Thailand I go around smiling at everyone. Thais always smile back. Some farang males get ready to punch you.

Here in Oz I always walk into Thai restaurants and grocery shops smiling and I always get a smile back.

[Golotop]

Why do I feel like you have a negative thought about Thailand in all aspects in all of your threads? What brought you to Thailand? You mentioned a church group. Are you in a missionary group? !!!!!

You didnt see a real smile BUT did you do the same to them? I wonder what you thought when you looked at Thai people.

People anywhere in this world can sense a bad, unsincere vibe.

There are good and bad people everywhere. I am not saying that all Thai people are sincere.

BTW, by any chance you will come back to Thailand again? I hope.......

[Diwokfkq]

thailand is the land of smiles. Nowhere else in the world, will you see countless children playing and laughing in the streets in such grand joy. Most of these children have little to smile about according to foriegn standards, but they smile nonetheless.

[tipokot]

When I was consulting for telecomms company in Bangkok all non-Thai had to attend a one day seminar on "Working with Thais".
During this seminar they tried to teach us the 20 "basic" smiles with the added advice that just because a Thai is smiling doesn't mean they are happy, happy with you or pleased to see you.
Having said that the genuine happy smile is wondrous to behold....especially from the kids.

[ireleda]

will you see countless children playing and laughing in the streets in such grand joy. Most of these children have little to smile about according to foriegn standards, but they smile nonetheless. I don't know about that, I have seen kids doing that in every country that I have ever been in to visit or have lived there.
Kids seem to get along better with their circumstances, A lot better than adults that have formed an opinion or have more worries.

[JennyStewarta]

I don't know about that, I have seen kids doing that in every country that I have ever been in to visit or have lived there.
Kids seem to get along better with their circumstances, A lot better than adults that have formed an opinion or have more worries.

Many of the circumstances of Thai kids are more conducive to happiness than in Farangland IMHO.

Here's a piccie of dropping the kids off at school, Thai-style. One morning my mate Pit said: "Come on Bill, we have to drive the kids to school." We drove every kid in the village and there were no tantrums or bickering.

[EbrsaRynleot]

I don't know about that, I have seen kids doing that in every country that I have ever been in to visit or have lived there.
Kids seem to get along better with their circumstances, A lot better than adults that have formed an opinion or have more worries.

Ditto that. I have travelled to enough third world country to see content children just about anywhere. It is in their nature!

Little kids can be our best teachers! We learn to learn (un-learn) from them. They smile naturally. They laugh heartily. They dance and jump for joy impromptuly and these are the things we adult 'forgot'

[LasTins]

I've been experimenting with smiles and have come to the conclusion that if you (I mean I) don't seek eye contact, then of course there will be no smiles, but if I start eye contact, the smile is inevitable. but I guess in our western culture we don't make eye contact with strangers passing by in the street or sometimes not even with the waiter who takes our order.

I agree with Steve that back home if you look and smile at a stranger, you'll be taken for a half-witted person or worse.

[Cydayshosse]

Thank you all for such interresting comments. . Mr. Synn. thank you for your questions. What brought me to Thailand was Boeing 747 (I believe) and JAL . ...no, actualy whole reason I went to Thailand (2 times) was LOVE, for my sweetheart & now my wife, if it was not her, I would never have set foot in Thailand. All the natural beauty of the land, all the awesome culture would not have made me come there-seeing it all on National Geographic would have been enough for me.And honestly though Thailand has beautyful natural resources-tourist attractions-I don`t think its the most beautyful place/country in the world. It may appear that lot of my comments/posts are negatively inclined towards Thailand, but I guess that`s because people, new visitors, notice those negative things most, And really I have watched people of Bkk. passing on the streets for hours, and have not seen one smile between them. ..but its same in all big cities where you are surrounded by strangers. And there are some positive impressions of Thailand I have as well...I will try to post ..in next few days. And yes, I will go back to Thailand..in few months..(God willing)...my honeymoon is not finished...

[largonioulurI]

I also found Pattaya to be a smiley place, specially the cleaning staff at the Ambassador city Jomtien, every day they would clean my room out, I would say hello, they liked that, they did not speak a word of English, but they would smile the whole time they cleaned my room.