(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

arrow_drop_up 25 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

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

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

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

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply