Mai Bpen rai (do not worry) - A Thai phrase

Bijenti Irengbam *

Glimpses of Bangkok, Thailand in third week of January 2023 :: Pix - WT

"Mai Bpen rai", a Thai phrase which loosely interprets to "do not worry," on the first effect we'll assume that it is for the maximum good of all. The Thai people are known for their warm hospitality and kindness, and the phrase "land of smiles" is often used to describe Thailand due to the friendly demeanor of its people.

Smiles and Mai BPen Rai (No Worries/No Problem) : As quickly as Thais can become upset, they can just as quickly forget about it and go back to life if balance is restored usually. Thais try to not let the burdens of life upset them too much. As the nickname may suggest, in the Land of Smiles, people like to wear a smile. This is a way of keeping your troubles to yourself and making those around you feel relaxed.

Sanuk mai ? (Is it fun?) is a question frequently asked in Thailand, and the choice of question says a lot about the priorities of this fun-loving place. For Thais, anything that is not sanuk (fun) is not worth doing, so a positive response to the query ("Sanuk, krup" for men or "Sanuk, ka" for women) is bound to be met with a beaming smile, showing pleasure that outsiders are able to enjoy the Thai lifestyle. Thailand is considered the most visited vacation destination in Asia that offers plenty of exciting tourism destinations.

With its pleasant weather, rich history and well-known hospitality, Thailand is known to be a country filled with a lot of fascinations for tourists. Thais are generally courteous and respectful: they will come, spontaneously, to offer you help and always welcome you with a smile. In the tourist areas, they can sometimes appear cold or indifferent but they are never aggressive.

Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism. Thai temples known as Wats, resplendent with gold and easily identifiable with their ornate, multicoloured, pointy roofs are ubiquitous and becoming an orange-robed monk for a short period, typically the three-month rainy season, is a common rite of passage for young Thai boys and men.

The Wai is the typical Thai greeting, with hands together at chest level pointing up and the head slightly bowed. Never touch a monk and do not touch people on the head. Do not point with your finger, it is rude, turn your palm up with your hand facing what you want to point at. Tuk-tuks are abundant in many tourist resorts and towns mainly on the south coast for travelling short distances.

Tuk-tuks: These sputtering, three-wheeled motorcycle taxis can be found jockeying for position in the clogged streets of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other towns and cities in Thailand.

In 2016, THAILAND ranked second in the list of most dangerous countries in the world when it comes to road safety. Just behind Libya. Since then, the Thailand is also by far unsafest country when it comes to road safety in South East Asia. On average, 32.7 people per 100 k people die as a result of road accidents. Situation has improved a little, but not much.

At the age of ten or twelve they will be driving themselves and two or three friends, or brothers and sisters as passengers. No license, no safety training, no helmets, with cell phones in their hands. Life has little value.

The police are rarely seen and do not enforce the laws. Spot checks on the highways, for helmets, license, registration and insurance do happen and most Thai people cannot pass a driver's license test. Loud music all night is part of the culture.

Thailand has many holidays, mostly related to Buddhism and the monarchy. Thailand is a place of breathtaking natural beauty where we can have massive fun. Thailand's three major holidays: the Solar New Year, the Lunar New Year, and Songkran, Thailand's major water festival and new year celebrations.

Songkran — Thai New Year, sometime in April (officially April 13th to 15th, but the date varies in some locations). What started off as polite ritual to wash away the sins of the prior year has evolved into the world's largest water fight, which lasts for three full days. Water pistols and Super Soakers are advised and are on sale everywhere.

The best places to participate are Chiang Mai, the Khao San Road area in Bangkok and holiday resorts like Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket. After honoring local monks and family elders, folks hit the streets for massive water fights.

Loy Krathong — This festival falls on the first full moon day in the twelfth month of the Lunar calendar, usually in November, when people head to rivers, lakes and even hotel swimming pools to float flower and candle-laden banana-leaf floats called krathong.

The krathong is meant as an offering to thank the river goddess who gives life to the people. Thais also believe that this is a good time to float away your bad luck and many will place a few strands of hair or finger nail clippings in the krathong, according to tradition.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival : The highlight of this eye-popping spectacle is when devotees parade the streets with skewers, swords, and drill bits stuck through their cheeks.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival: Taking place in February, when the maximum number of flowers are in bloom in North Thailand, this festival features floats smothered with bright colored and sweet-smelling blossoms, accompanied by proud representatives from local schools and businesses dressed in elaborate costumes.

The Indians : There are around two hundred thousand Indians in Thailand, mostly in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Songkhla. Many work in textiles and tailoring. Thais refer to anyone from the Indian subcontinent as kaek, which literally means "guest." Thailand is also remarkably open, familiar, and friendly.

There's little wonder then that often prostitution and the drug trade continue, and nearly one million Thais suffer from AIDS. There is no question that these and other problems deeply affect Thailand. Most Thais drink 'lao', which means alcohol or spirit.

Thailand is the highest consumer of alcohol in all-Asia, and with an appalling rate of alcoholism, it's a recipe for social disaster. It's reckoned that over 60% of Thai women are single mothers – completely abandoned by their partners.

Many of them are forced into a situation where they not only have to graft to feed their own children, they are also forced by cultural pressure to look after their parents too. Women are pressurized to marry young – and if the marriage doesn't work they are discarded like garbage. Forever consigned to the scrap heap of life.

Isaan is the North Eastern part of Thailand, bordering Laos. The two main border crossings are Nong Khai Thailand to Vientiane Laos, or Mukdahan Thailand to Savannakhet Laos.

Isaan has the highest rate of liver cancer in Thailand. It is caused in part by the fish and partly due to the consumption of white whiskey, or white lightening, distilled from rice and known as Lao Kao. It can be purchased at any store for 10 Baht for a shot, or a bottle for 60 Baht. Many men die in their twenties or thirties due to alcoholism.