More than a year in the sleepless city of Bangkok, Thailand, pursuing her masters, BT’s reporter Sonam Dema, stands still for a while and wonders why Thai people smile a lot

Most Bhutanese are captivated by the striking manifestations of smiles the moment they set their feet in Thailand. That moment, they realize why it is called the ‘land of smiles’.

 “It is refreshing to see people smile so often which is rare back home,” says Sonam Zangmo, 21, a student in Thailand, “Bhutanese people should learn Thai art of smiling.”

A Bhutanese shopper to Bangkok says that the Thai shopkeepers’ smiles are so appealing and welcoming that she lands up buying almost everything she wants from one shop.

In Thailand smiling is an essential part of their culture. A tourist is often pleased by its abundance. Some also calls it ‘smile therapy’ where smiling does wonders.

According to a popular Thai Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, “sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

The Thai people follow the ancient Taoism belief that says a constant inner smile ensures health, happiness and longevity.

“Smiling to yourself is like basking in love: you become your own best friend. Living with an inner smile is to live in harmony with yourself,” said a Taoist Master who has taught about the inner smile for years in Thailand.

He also explained that as sickness starts from negative emotions settling in the organs, the inner smile breaks this cycle. “By transforming destructive emotions into positive energy the inner smile removes the cause and symptoms of disharmony.”

Similarly various other religious beliefs also state on the benefits of smile. Ayurveda advises to greet others with a pleasant face to nurture loving relationships, Buddhism encourages friendliness to all and Taoism teaches that giving a grin is the best medicine.

A research by a French physiologist Dr Israel Waynbaum, states that smiling signals happy healing hormone such as immune boosting cells whereas frowning triggers the secretion of stress hormones.

Some British researchers have found that receiving a smile could give more pleasure than sex or eating chocolate and would generate much higher levels of stimulation to the brain and the heart than being given money or smoking a cigarette.

However, the Thai smile is not just for good news or delight; they smile even in anger, doubt, anxiety or grief. Thus, a farang (foreigner) is often confused, and misinterprets the reason behind the smile.

“The Thai smile is natural, yet unpredictable,” says Sangay Tshechu, 26, a student in Bangkok, “It is frustrating at times, we don’t really understand what they are trying to express. They smile almost every time and everywhere.”

It is also known that the Thais use smile as a defense mechanism as a tactic in the general Thai approach for avoiding conflict.

“The smile and gentleness are, perhaps, to encourage an external appeal of encounter, protecting the smiler against the possible bad intentions of the strangers,” says Kinchho Tshering, 27, studying in Thailand.

According to an account, once a Washington journalist was banned from Thailand for writing that the Thais “smile like a Cheshire cats” meaning just like the constant smile of Cheshire cat could still be seen hovering in the air, long after rest of the creatures had disappeared.  The impression of the Thai smile remains similarly vivid even after the smiler has gone.

The account also adds that a western professor of Thai studies, once openly rejoiced on leaving Thailand for the last time, knowing he would never again be irritated by that unfailing smile.

According to a research on smile statistics in Britain, if you smile at 100 people, 70 people will smile back in Bristol, 68 in Glasgow, 18 in London and only 4 in Edinburgh. Whereas, in Thailand it is seen how people go out of their way to smile to others while in many other places people often check their gaze to avoid a smile.

“The Thai smile is an advance warning of the system, advertising a desire for gentle and peaceful relationships. It is also an expression of pleasure and delight in Thailand’s bountiful natural environment,” states a report written on Thai personality.

Regardless of the endless industrialization and democratic crises, the people of Thailand never let their smiles fade away. (The origin name of Thailand was ‘Siam’ derived from the native inhabitants. Since 1940s the name ‘Thailand’ has been officially adopted; the locals however, call it ‘Muang Thai’, meaning ‘country of the free’. )