How High is Hi-So?

[Guest thaiworthy]

I was recently told a story from a reputable friend of mine about an experience he had in a mini-van departing from the transportation center among 15 other Thai. He said there was one Thai lady who insisted the driver make an unscheduled stop in their journey. For some strange reason, the van was now idling in the parking lot of a nearby KFC. A hi-so Thai lady and the driver were discussing something intensely. The next thing you know they were waiting in the drive-thru window line. My friend wasn't really sure what was going on at the time, nor was anybody else.

 

The next thing you know, the hi-so Thai lady was ordering chicken nuggets. My friend said the other Thai seemed to know their place, including the obliging driver, and did not want to confront the hi-so lady for the (rude) trip interruption and inconveniencing her fellow travelers-- just so she could order chicken nuggets at the drive-thru window. He was amused and fascinated by the ordeal and did not fully understand the situation until it was all over. Had it been me, I don't think I would have been too amused, but not sure what I could have done about it, anyway. I suppose if there were a way, I could have exited and left the driver without his 30 baht fare, which would have been rude too, I suppose. But I'm not sure how a farang is supposed to behave in situations like this. Is this a common occurrence? Do you find it amusing and/or fascinating as well? What would you have done? Mind you, I did not experience this firsthand, I am just relaying another's experience, so I cannot give you any more details.

 

I am reminded now and then to show respect for Thai people, but how far does that respect go in situations like this? I wouldn't want to confront anyone either. How high a status can one be if riding in a minivan, and does social status entitle them to walk all over people? This lady may have only been a very distant great, great, great grand aunt of King blah-blah-blah who reigned some centuries ago, so one can never know. Is any confrontation with so-called high-so deemed disrespectful (against members of the Royal Family) and in violation of Thai law?

 

Truly Amazing Thailand!

[Guest fountainhall]

I'm not sure how a farang is supposed to behave in situations like this . . . how far does that respect go in situations like this?

I think it’s true in almost any country that “there’s nowt so queer as folk!”

 

That said, though, I think you got it right in your doubts that the Thai lady was not in fact “hi-so”. I do happen to have one acquaintance/colleague who is pretty close to hi-so. When her driver died a few months ago, she drove herself for the dew days until she found another. Indeed, anyone who is “hi-so” will definitely have a car and a driver, and will never be seen dead on any form of bus.

 

But even though she was probably just one of us common folk, I would have just kept quiet. It was a Thai matter and in such situations I think us farang are best advised to maintain their silence!

 

You are also correct about Thais showing respect for those of a higher status than their own. Indeed, there is a very rigid social hierarchy in the country that goes well beyond deference to monks and elders. There is a host of different Royal titles too numerous to mention. Then, look at the Thailand Tatler or other society publications and you will often see the letters MR (Mom Rajawongse) or ML (Mom Luang) in front of someone’s name. These are essentially old feudal titles still given to minor royals and some of their children. And there seems to be quite a few of them around!

 

Then, like Britain, there are titles bestowed upon non-royal ladies in society who do good works or merit a title for other reasons. The highest is Thanphuying, virtually the equivalent of “Dame”. This is almost always given to Thais, but there are one or two farang wives who have found their way to that status. Khunying is the next in the pecking order, and such a lady is equivalent, I guess, to being titled “Lady”.

 

They may not demand the same sort of deference given to the Dowager Countess of Grantham (superbly played by Dame Maggie Smith) in that marvellous TV series Downton Abbey, but most Thais offer it without blinking an eye.

 

My friend has not attained Khunying status yet, but I have no doubts she is working on it

[Gaybutton]

I would have said, "As long as you're inconveniencing everybody, bring orders of chicken nuggets for all of us. And since you didn't have the courtesy to even ask if the rest of us mind the stop, no matter who the fuck you think you are, since I do mind, you're paying. Oh, and I'll have an iced tea with mine."

[pong]

no this is not common. But it happens- like the old verbum: expect the unexpected in Thaild.

HiSo is more and more getting the same status as VIP once had-untill they start misusing it so much it looses any significance. There is also a noodle chain in most foodcourts of tesco that is named as such- nothing remarkable, just that all bowls cost 5 or 10 bt more as usual.

Stopping for pangs of hunger-that 24 hr Thai crave for the khin khao- is more common. ON longer bustrips you often can hear the people ask when that stop for yet another bowl of rice or kwaytiaw is going to happen to the moneyboys.

Here in BKK the private white citybuses often stop at roadside stalls that staff know for -either ordering food to be collected on the backtrip-or for a quick buy. Even happens for unexpected bargains spotted- 2nd hd trousers for just 79 bt or so.

[Guest fountainhall]

I would have said, "As long as you're inconveniencing everybody, bring orders of chicken nuggets for all of us. And since you didn't have the courtesy to even ask if the rest of us mind the stop, no matter who the fuck you think you are, since I do mind, you're paying. Oh, and I'll have an iced tea with mine."

And your detailed command of the Thai language would no doubt have had everyone applauding!

[TotallyOz]

I would have said, "As long as you're inconveniencing everybody, bring orders of chicken nuggets for all of us. And since you didn't have the courtesy to even ask if the rest of us mind the stop, no matter who the fuck you think you are, since I do mind, you're paying. Oh, and I'll have an iced tea with mine."

 

Hell, I would have paid if I were sitting next to you just so I could hear it!

[Rogie]

The next thing you know, the hi-so Thai lady was ordering chicken nuggets.

 

That said, though, I think you got it right in your doubts that the Thai lady was not in fact "hi-so".

My friend has not attained Khunying status yet, but I have no doubts she is working on it (my italics)

Just be sure to tell her that an order of chicken nuggets is terribly down-market and would surely have the good Col. in apoplexy were he still alive, God bless 'im. Please no wisecracks that nuggets were his favourite food - my suspicion is they are a recent invention and addition to the menu, but if anyone reading this remembers eating them when they were kids I happily apologise - but even were that so it ain't so Hi-so to eat 'em, of that I am truly convinced!

 

Stopping for pangs of hunger-that 24 hr Thai crave for the khin khao- is more common. ON longer bustrips you often can hear the people ask when that stop for yet another bowl of rice or kwaytiaw is going to happen to the moneyboys.

. . . or for a quick buy. Even happens for unexpected bargains spotted- 2nd hd trousers for just 79 bt or so.

Khun Pong, what a post! Firstly, can you educate an ignorant farang? what is khin khao and kwaytiaw? You make it sound as though they are an indispensable part of a moneyboy's diet, and of course we all know how hungry they always seem to be. On a recent bus trip from Surin to Pattaya (the bus originated in Ubon) it didn't stop once for food in the entire 8 hour journey - I guess there were no moneyboys or Hi-so types stomachs to accommodate so it sped on.

 

You have me most intrigued regarding the trousers! Whilst I fully agree 79baht is a steal, would you really consider your wardrobe so desperate to be replenished that you would cough up for a pair of second-hand ones? As a frequent shopper in charity shops in the UK I have found some real bargains (jackets mostly) but so far the only time I have bought second hand trousers was as a part of a suit or once when I bought the trousers to go with a black tie outfit.

[Guest fountainhall]

Just be sure to tell her that an order of chicken nuggets is terribly down-market

I'm not sure if she has been to KFC, but we were once being driven back to the city after a dinner outside Bangkok. At around 11:00 pm we still had about 60 kms or so to go when she announced she was hungry! So we stopped at the only eatery we came across, McDonald's. There she happily consumed a hamburger, chips and a coke! Typically Thai, but not so hi-so!

[Bob]

I'm not sure about the "hiso" or "loso" view of KFC by the Thais but want to share a Thai KFC story that a friend told me.

 

My friend traveled to Thailand since the early 90's and he decided to walk over to the brand new (first?) KFC chicken joint he heard they opened in Bangkok (I think he told me it was in the mid or late 90's). As he approached the place, he noticed the normally obnoxious 8-to-10-foot statue of Colonel Sanders (the KFC mascot, so to speak) outside the place but what struck him were the incense sticks, flowers, and fruit and other offerings placed in front of the plastic/fiberglass Colonel. Then he watched as most of the Thais who walked in front of the Colonel were either bowing or waiing the good Colonel. My friend told me that he burst out laughing when he realized that the Thais, new to the KFC thing, were treating Colonel Sanders as some type of American buddha! Kinda funny (and even slightly embarrassing to the yanks) if you think about it.

[Guest fountainhall]

. . . a Thai KFC story that a friend told me.

Nice! Keep 'em coming. 'Tis the season to be merry!