Visiting a Funeral Home Mistaken for a Restaurant
Global Netizens Give a "Thumbs-Up" to Thai Hospitality
In Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand, foreign tourists who mistook a funeral home for a restaurant ended up being treated to a meal thanks to the warm hospitality of the bereaved family.
On February 4, foreign media outlets including the New York Post reported on the story of foreign tourists who visited a Thai funeral home after confusing it with a restaurant, only to be warmly welcomed and served food by the bereaved family instead.
On January 31, two German tourists had seen a space near a night market in Nakhon Si Thammarat with a colorful tent and an abundance of food prepared, and, mistaking it for a restaurant, sat down at a table. While they were looking around and waiting to place an order, they struck up a conversation with one of the mourners, Charanthon Charoemkiat, and came to realize that the place was actually a funeral home. Embarrassed, the tourists apologized, but the bereaved family welcomed them warmly and served them the same food as the other mourners. The tourists expressed their gratitude for the unexpected hospitality and then left.
The mix-up did not end there. Two days later, on February 2, three other foreign tourists from the Netherlands stopped by the same location and even asked, "Do you sell cocktails?" Once again, the bereaved family kindly welcomed the visitors and offered them food. The story has spread via social media (SNS) and foreign news outlets, drawing global attention from internet users around the world. Commenters have reacted by saying things like, "A misunderstanding made possible by the abundance of food and generosity at Thai funerals," and "The warm culture of Thai people, who graciously welcome foreigners, is impressive."
In Thailand, funerals are traditionally held over several days, and it is customary to provide mourners with plentiful food. This practice both honors the deceased and carries a communal meaning, allowing those left behind to share their grief and comfort one another. When funerals are held in cities or villages, elaborate tents, lighting, and seating are set up, which can make the venue look similar to a night market or an event site.
For foreign tourists in particular, this appearance can easily cause confusion. Similar cases have occurred in the past. In tourist areas such as Chiang Mai in northern Thailand or Pattaya, there have been reports of funeral homes being mistaken for restaurants, and in many of these cases, Thai bereaved families have chosen to understand and welcome the tourists rather than feel offended. Such anecdotes are seen as examples that illustrate a facet of Thai society’s broadly shared Buddhist tolerance and warmth, as well as its open and inclusive culture toward outsiders.
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