When I researched, wrote, and published “Wieng Kum Kam – Atlantis of Lan Na” in 2002, I made a number of predictions about what would happen with the medieval archaeological site near Chiang Mai, and offer some of my hopes for it too.

Today I stumbled upon a YouTube video by an American tour leader taking a group around the site by bicycle. In his video, I recognised many of the locations that were once serene and humble, but have now been prettified and Disneyed beyond all recognition of what first enchanted me eight years ago.

Thankfully, in the video is also evidence that the prime archaeology has been respectfully preserved without embellishment, and I hope the main sites will remain available for many generations to come.

Here’s the video (roughly seven and a half minutes long) ….

One of the aspects of that video (made at the end of 2009) that I found disturbing, and forgive me – this is personal prejudice – was that some of the basics of cultural dress code for visiting temples were neither observed nor seem to have been recognised by the tourists in the bicycling party.

Now OK, I know it’s hot in Thailand, and I know they were using their own steam to get around, but …. that’s not really an excuse.

If you’re visiting any Buddhist temple in Thailand, follow these simple rules -

• Ladies
• Carry a lightweight cotton sarong in your handbag or backpack – use it to cover your legs if you’re wearing shorts that don’t reach your knees, or that reveal the outline of your upper legs.
• Don’t expose cleavage – no low cut T-shirt frontage etc.
• Guys
• Similar leg rules as for the ladies – make sure your shorts reach knee length – at most markets and night bazaars in Thailand, you can buy the cargo-pants type trousers where the lower legs are attached with a zip, allowing you to revert to shorts on the bicycles, but cover your legs in the temple – they cost about $5 to $8 depending where you get them.
• Everyone
• Try to avoid exposed shoulders and armpits – I know the monks always have one side bare, but that’s part of the design of their robes, it doesn’t mean laymen (and women) should emulate it.

This simple respectful dress code will earn you a lot of kudos with locals and monks, and with your tour guide, and you’ll be amazed just how much more warmly you are greeted and treated because of it. When in doubt – observe how the locals dress, and follow their lead.

Garry

Updated – more useful YouTube videos

Please add links to any others you find.