A couple of things about Thai people...

A couple of brief points I forgot to write last time about Thai people:

• I had a couple of minor slips and bumps witnessed by local people... who laughed at me! Thankfully I'd already read in the Traveller's Bible, sorry I mean Lonely Planet, that this is not in any way mocking or uncharitable behaviour. In Thai society the concept of "saving face" is extremely important; when you embarrass yourself in public like this, making levity out of it, laughing 'with you', is considered the best way to help you save face.

• Thai people consider pale skin more attractive than tanned skin, and they find it very odd that Westerners believe the opposite. For this reason (i.e. forget any moral/religious considerations), they will tend to stay more covered up than we would expect in sunny weather. I was also astounded to see in a local Superdrug-style store that the vast majority of the men's skincare products, including the Nivea and Loreal, supposedly had a 'lightening' or 'whitening' effect...