Appropriate (small) thank you/goodbye gift....

[KateB]

Just wondering, what would be a good token gift of appreciation to give someone here? I'm particularly referring to some of the people we meet regularly, usually on the street - such as our daily street noodle soup vendor, she is so lovely and happy and welcoming and makes ace soup, or the coffee stall we go to, or fruit-cart-bloke, or the woman with the cart who we buy those tiny little spicy sausage balls from which come with loads of dried chillies and pickled ginger which we buy to eat with Singhas from the beer stall at the market*.....these people all do good business and provide a professional service - so I guess what I'm getting at is....do we really just bung them a bit of cash? Is there an alternative?

(*we really really don't want to leave Thailand....)

[lomuamart]

Other than cash...
The best present I ever got from here was from an employee at the first hotel I stayed at on holiday some 15 years ago. It was simply a small, reed-made model of a bicycle rickshaw with "Good Luck" written on the back of it.
Probably not appropriate to present to a Thai person but what I'm getting at is that simple is almost always the best.
Do you have any postcards of "back home"? They always go down a treat. Anything for them to remember your home country by would be good.
Other than that, maybe some clothes? If the person(s) have children then that would be even more appreciated.
Not cash.... but that's just me talking.

[STEVE G]

Other than that, maybe some clothes? If the person(s) have children then that would be even more appreciated.

I would agree with that, I find that T-shirts are always appreciated whatever they are and they'll always fit someone in the family.

[BaaBaa.]

I can't say I buy gifts for every person I've bought things off.

So yes, bung them a bit of cash, straight after they give you whatever it is they are selling.

[KateB]

Thanks for that. I know wanting to give a small present may seem a bit odd but we see some of these people almost everyday and their friendliness and welcome make a big difference.

When I worked in a pub years ago, I was often bought drinks but it's the people who would occasionally give me a bunch of flowers that I really appreciated and still remember. Actually, that has just reminded me that I was once given a big bunch of chives rather than flowers....which were ace, so, yes, I guess it is the thought that counts.

Thanks again.

[crazy88]

Good for you Kate8. Too many people do not realise that in LOS most of those smiles are genuine from people who are "Jai dee". Possibly because they hang out in the wrong places.

Cash is good and so is a bottle of whisky. Pretty much any gesture is well received in my experience but something from "Farang land" that you cannot get here goes down really well as does something for the children.


Crazy 88

[moja]

If buying for children, especially if young, then crayons, pens, colouring books etc are always welcome.

[Amarita]

I have heard that money is never a problem ..
Otherwise a lottery coupon with a good luck
will also be appreciated.

[Johnnywastaken]

Thai honey in the Sang-Som bottle....is a great gift....maybe costs 100b.....

[Siani]

It depends on the person you are giving it to. We gave out gardner/pool man money...big smile. I also made card on my computer with thankyou both in english and thai. I think whiskey is a favorite for older Thai's..for children maybe books or T shirts

[kendo]

Any beauty creams or that sort of stuff from farang land will go down well, something as simple as a bottle of Johnsons baby oil.
Kendo.