Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
People & Culture
Bangkok is both utterly Thai and totally foreign. Old and new ways clash and mingle,
constantly redrawing the lines of what it means to be 'Thai'. But despite the interna-
tional veneer, a Thai value system - built primarily on religious and monarchical de-
votion - is ticking away, guiding every aspect of life. Almost all Thais, even the most
conspicuously consuming, are dedicated Buddhists who aim to be reborn into a better
life by making merit (giving donations to temples or feeding monks), regarding merit-
making as the key to their earthly success.
