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wants to a market at fmd_goodCity Market
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(Serious) Do a lot of Thai people think that foreigners spread Covid or other illnesses?
ngl it's not really about you being a foreigner specifically, it's more that thai people have been super cautious since covid and a lot of them just assume anyone outside their bubble might be sick. i've seen thais do the same thing to each other in the bts or on the bus, especially if someone looks like they're from a different part of the city. it's a bit of a leftover from the lockdown mindset where masks became a social signal for "i'm being careful" rather than just protection. your friends are probably right that it's not targeted, just a general wariness that's still lingering
honestly i think it's more about class and personal space than anything specifically against farang. a lot of thai people in condos or offices view foreigners as outsiders regardless of covid, so the mask thing is just an easy excuse to create distance. i've seen thai people do the same thing with delivery riders or construction workers in the elevator, it's not unique to you. the mask thing became a status symbol during covid too, like wearing one signals you're "clean" and careful, so they put it on when anyone unknown enters
tbh i think a lot of it is just covid habits that stuck, not specifically targeting farang. thais were already big on mask-wearing before 2020 during pollution season or if they had a sniffle, so now it's just routine for many. the elevator thing happens to me too sometimes and i'm thai, people just don't want to be in a small box with anyone they don't know when they're paranoid about flu season. that said, there's definitely a lingering stereotype from early covid when the government pushed that narrative about tourists bringing it in, but most people i know don't actively think that anymore, they're just overly cautious in general
best som tam in Bangkok? Krua Dok Mai Kao 2026
yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options