herrbecker

We have been following all the great advice given here and and will be going to BKK and Samui this week.

Now this might be a silly problem but one thing came up today that leaves me unsure: there has been talk about what's appropriate attire and what isn't, mostly regarding temple visits.
My wife wears dresses every day, meaning she covers her legs either down to her knees or down to her ankles all the time but her shoulders are always always always bare. Her long dresses have thin straps or halter necks and she was planning on bringing a cardigan for aircon places but not for outside in the heat- now she is confused.
No tank tops- does that mean no dresses with thick straps, thin straps or no straps? Will she have to do some major shopping this week before we leave? She hates trousers and tees. She is 5"10 and wasn't planning on shopping in BKK as we suspect it would be hard to find stuff for tall people. She was raised very conservatively with a middle-eastern mother so she doesn't show leg or cleavage but no bare shoulders? Really?

Please give us a bit of advice on this. She understands she will be stared at for being tall, she'd hate to be stared at for being inappropriately dressed.

We will be staying at the Mariott Resort and at the New Star Beach Samui.

Your comments will be highly appreciated.

Nywoman

Tell your wife to get a thin cotton shirt with sleeves to put on before she enters a temple or a thin shawl to drape over the shoulders.

rhkkmk

my wife takes a thin scarf or shawl that she can just keep in her purse or travel pack for those times when you might need something....good in a/c too, which can be a problem in some places....silk, cotton or similar....

its only an issue in places that are "royal" like the grand palace and certain wats....

she will be fine with just this type of cover-up...

herrbecker

so everywhere except temples would be okay with bare shoulders?

Kathie

Yes, everywhere except temples (and royal residences) she will be fine with bare shoulders. I'd suggest she buy a beautiful silk shawl in Bangkok to drape over her shoulders when she enters wats.

Have a wonderful trip!

herrbecker

thanks to you all. much appreciated!

khunwilko

you will find the dress code at Samui temples - (e.g. Big Buddha)much more relaxed - thousands of tourists traipse around the place in very scanty attire. In most communities the Temples are sites for fairs, markets and even second-hand cars.....the only thing you really need to do is keep an eye open for what others are doing - the most important is to take your shoes of in the right places.
THe steps on Big Buddha get very hot and they often let folk walk up them with shoes on. - there's a sign usually.

shanek

Wilko is correct about the relaxed dress code at Samui temples. Unfortunately some take it too far. I saw a rather large man there a few days ago with his non-gender specific "friend", and he was walking around at the top of the Big Buddah statue with shoes on but no shirt. I really think that this type of blatantly ignorant behavior is plain rude.The fact that he was being escorted by a Thai made it even worse.
There is a sign at the foot of the stairs that states that it is OK to climb the stairs in footwear between 10am and 4pm to avoid burning your feet.