Visiting a temple :  Many people are leery of visiting a Buddhist temple for the first time.  Here are a few simple things to remember. Then you can enjoy the fantastic exotic colors and gold that make all the pictures you have seen seem dull. Dress modestly, this means no short shorts or tank tops. Visitors are welcome, but are expected to show respect. Buddhist images are not idols but, they are sacred and should be respected. It does not matter if the Buddha statue is large or small, all are considered sacred.  Do not stand in front of a Buddha to have your picture taken, or sit on a Buddha statue. Some temples will have signs that ask you not to take pictures.  If you do not see a sign, then it would be polite to ask first before taking pictures inside any of the buildings on the temple grounds.  When entering a building in the temple complex with a small raised wooden threshold in the doorway, step across it and not on it.   
        Jai yen :  This saying means to keep a "cool heart".  Displays of anger are considered bad manners. Thais tend to put on a smile and show little emotion even in very difficult times.  It is not that they don't get frustrated, sad, or unhappy, but to show these emotions would be unthinkable since it might make others uncomfortable.  It is best to use a smile and go on in a pleasant atmosphere than to cause others discomfort.  If you lose control of your emotions, then your outbursts might cause others to lose face, and that would be very bad. 
        Saving Face :  Most Thais will go to almost any length to make sure that they and you do not lose face.  To point out something wrong about someone might cause them to lose face. Many times we ask Thais for an opinion and we will get the answer they think we want to hear.  It is not the honest opinion because to tell us honestly that we look ridiculous would cause them to lose face by causing us undo stress.  Saving face is very important, be careful of giving constructive criticism. 
        Talking loud, being loud :  It is considered bad manners to be loud in public.  Raising ones voice is seen as being rude and disrespectful to those around you.  As a rule Thais will feel very uneasy around someone who is loud.  This is very important to remember when negotiating a price of something you want to purchase.  Raising your voice will definitely not help to get a price lowered but in fact may have just the opposite effect. 

      One can not really appreciate all things Thai without a little knowledge of the form of Buddhism and its practice in Thailand.  Theravada (Doctrine of the elders) Buddhism, also know as Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle), and Mahayana (the Greater vehicle) are the two main schools of Buddhism established after the death of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) who lived in the 6th century B.C (c.563-483 BCE). Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia are the centers of Theravada Buddhism while Mahayana is predominate in China, Korea and Japan. In the Theravada school of Buddhism, emphasis is on the individual self enlightenment, the monastic order and the monks who achieve Nirvana in this lifetime. Nirvana is the achievement of complete peace.
       There is no deity to worship in Theravada Buddhism.  Why then do Thais spend so much of their life centered around the temples?  When Thais are bowing to the statue or image of the Buddha, isn't that worshiping the Buddha?  In fact, the fast easy answer is No.  They are showing respect for the Buddha, his order of monks and for the truth of his teachings.  Likewise, the offerings of flowers, fruit and the lighting of incense are ways to show respect.  The idea of Karma and merit making are also very strong in Theravada Buddhism.  Since everyone is on their own path to enlightenment, any act of kindness no matter how small, helps to build merit to assist in the progression in the next life cycle.  Most Thai males join the monk hood at least for a short period, thus assuring merit is built for, no only their future, but for their family and friends as well.