Sounds like you've been around the block Sophie 👍 and for the ladies playing along at home... females are not permitted to touch monks. If an exchange of item or offering is to occur, it is typically placed on a cloth and gathered by the monk, never directly hand to hand. Good lessons. TY Sophie 🙏
Stefan, I feel you misinterpreted my rambling. It was not directed at your own circumstances but rather to those whom might be reading that may be of lesser experience than ourselves. Whereby, a little knowledge may just enlighten their awareness of reality. We all started from the beginning. I realise You are already a little further along in your trails, but not everybody has experienced what you have. I hope your personal circumstances pan and develop to your favour.
Of course, I don't know the circumstances of this event... but, here is what I do know...
...the biggest mistake a foreigner can make in Thailand is assuming that an incident, circumstance, situation, event, etc, is viewed, compared, handled or seen as that equally to their own country of origin.
You must recognise and accept that you are a guest of the Kingdom. So many factors, when responding to any challenge in a foreign country can determine your best and most appropriate course of response. They can include culture, religion, society expectations, social acceptances, legislation and much more. Your immediate course of action should be to comply with the expectations of those in authority, especially law enforcement.
Always stop and think before you prematurely respond with an inappropriate, and potentially dangerous knee jerk reaction.
