“Sawadee Kha”, an introduction to Thai culture and history

Greeting someone in Thailand is not that easy : the way in which you hold your hands or your head is significant and farangs may find it difficult to understand the nuances of this social code. The word farang, which means a westerner, is very ancient, since its origin dates back to the Franks and the Crusades. In fact, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonised so that many traditions are still alive, which gives this country a particular flavour.