In the Western world shows that public sentiment are very common. You will often see couples holding hands and kissing in public. No-one even thinks twice if they see this in public. It is considered very normal behaviour. But despite Thailand’s reputation among many Westerners as being the sex capital of the world, Thai culture actually frowns upon public displays of affection.

No Thai women, even bar girls, feel comfortable with public displays of affection. Public kissing is seen as shameful and lack of thought. As Thailand has started to become more westernized, you may see some couples holding hands, but this only tens to happen in Bangkok.

If you have a Thai girlfriend, she may even expect you to walk a few feet away from her when out in public in Thailand. To the Western man this may seem like she has lost interest in you, but this is very important to the Thai woman. In most parts of Thailand, if a Thai woman is seen holding hands with a Western man, it might be assumed that she is a bar girl and that you are her customer. She wants to avoid these judgements at all costs, so respect her wishes.

But what’s interesting is that it parts of Thailand it’s very normal to see two women holding hands, because they are friends and are therefore allowed to show affection to each other.

On Thai television, lip kissing has only recently begun to appear in some of the latest films. And often, the kissing will be done by a double, because the Thai actress doesn’t want the stigma of being seen kissing.

Thai culture is very conservative, despite what you may have seen in parts of Bangkok. If you visited Soho in London for a weekend, you wouldn’t assume that the whole of the UK is like that, so don’t make the same assumption about Thailand, based on visiting a few of Bangkok’s entertainment districts.

Hmong are one of the hill tribes that live in Thailand. There are two major sub groups in Thailand namely the White and Blue. These people are found mainly in China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The Hmong have supposed to have migrated to Thailand from China and Laos. They settled in the hills of Thailand and carried out their traditional shift cultivation in relative peace and isolation. There are approximately 60,000 Hmong living in the northeast Thailand. In addition, there are another 50,000 living as refugees in Thailand. They came in small groups, crossing the Mekong River. Later they moved to the northern province of Phetchabun and joined their relatives in Ban Huay Nam Khao.

They live in houses that sit on earth not on stilts like other hill tribes. Their main occupation is cultivating opium poppy. After a government initiative, the Hmong have gradually changed their ways and have started to sell needlework, which is exquisitely designed.

The Hmong people are experts in needlework. They make clothes for themselves as well as sell them. Their clothes are decorated with rich embroidery work and silver. Each sub group has its own way of dressing. The Blue Hmong women wear rich embroidered clothes with attractive colors, while the White Hmong women wear black baggy pants and simple jackets. The Hmong men produce musical instruments and items of wood. They are also skilled as blacksmiths and gunsmiths.

The Hmong people are animists and are strong believers in spirits. The Hmong shamans perform many unknown rituals to invoke spirits.

Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire and keep some sort of retirement job, out of choice rather than necessity. To some, this is the end of the road of years of heading off to work each day.To others, it is a fresh start in life, the excitement of new things each day on their time and terms.

Some have meticulously financially planned for retirement. Many others find themselves at retirement age with little or no plans, and savings to match. The amount of money that the experts suggest will be necessary to retire comfortably is ridiculous! If you are at retirement age you are probably saturated with retirement information including financial planning, pension plans, social security, retirement communities, medical expenses, insurance, and other choices to be made.