Thailand: Tourist’s Facebook Photo Offends Thais

By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Permalink |

No Comments | January 20th, 2013 | Trackback

A Facebook photo of a tourist posed with an ancient Buddha statue has come under fire for showing disrespect to the national religion and culture. Taken at Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the photo shows a foreign woman standing behind the relic, replacing its missing head and arms with her own. While the offense may have been unintentional, a sign at the temple’s entrance explains, in multiple languages, that touching the statues is not allowed—and it follows that mocking behavior would also be prohibited. One local reported witnessing similar incidents in the park before, though usually park staff will confiscate any inappropriate photos.