Yet UK

The British Foreign Office is famed for the reserve of their diplomats, however back in 2009 the BBC uncovered the true feelings of their ambassadors thanks to the Freedom of Information laws. The smiles, the speeches, and promises of friendship are a front for the traditional English bias against anyone not from the right school or blood.

The UK's ambassador to Thailand during the Viet-Nam War expressed his opinion of the Thais in his reports without disguising his disdain.

"They have no literature, no painting and only a very odd kind of music; their sculpture, ceramics and dancing are borrowed from others, and their architecture is monotonous and interior decoration hideous. Nobody can deny that gambling and golf are the chief pleasures of the rich, and that licentiousness is the main pleasure of them all."

Harsh words from a long-nosed farang.

Of course the Thais express their opinion of such comments either with a murderous smile or a bullet to the back of the head.

Either way works, especially if you're telling the truth and there in nothing better than 'sanuk' with Thais in Ban-nok drinking Lao and listening to Luk Thung.

Chai you!!!

Thai Smile Onward

Thailand is renowned as the Land of Smiles. Every year the country is host to millions of tourists. These visitors for the most part return home extolling the hospitality of the Thais. Few foreigners understand that the Thais have as many smiles as the Eskimos have names for snow and the nation has been showing its best face during the current political crisis. Red shirt supporters grinning in defiance of the government. Threat of private armies. Coup or ga boht.

Nothing is what it seems and it's all thanks to the Thai library of smiles.

Click image to see more.Thailand is renowned as the Land of Smiles. Every year the country is host to millions of tourists. These visitors for the most part return home extolling the hospitality of the Thais. Few foreigners understand that the Thais have as many smiles as the Eskimos have names for snow and the nation has been showing its best face during the current political crisis. Red shirt supporters grinning in defiance of the government. Threat of private armies. Coup or ga boht.

Nothing is what it seems and it's all thanks to the Thai library of smiles.

- yim tak tai: The polite smile, used for strangers

- feun yim: The “I-am-forced-to-smile-even-I-do-not-want-to” smile

- yim cheuat cheuan: The winner’s smile over a rival

- yim tang nam dtah: The truly happy smile

- yim tak tan: The “sorry-you-are-wrong-again” smile

- yim sao: The smile masking sadness or unhappiness

- yim mee lay-nai: The evil smile

- yim cheun chom: The admiring smile

- yim yor: The arrogant smile

- yim mai ork: The forced smile

- yim yair-yair: The smile to apologize and take the heat out of an awkward, embarrassing situation

- yim hairng: The nervous, apologetic smile

- yim soo: The “it-cannot-get-any-worse-therefore-I-better-smile” smile

Read more: http://absolutelybangkok.com/the-thai-smile/#ixzz0fAgo08X4

I'm particularly impressed by the last offering 'yim yor' or the smile that says I'm right and you're wrong.

Anyone who has lived in Thailand has seen that too many times to count, but worse probably didn't recognize it either because they thought that they were so right that they could never be wrong.