Food cleanliness
By joannbilon
@joannbilon (111)
Philippines
March 14, 2012 11:17am CST
It seems to me that food cleanliness in Thailand is not top priority. You see people eating near garbage, sewers and they don't seem to mind even if flies are all over their food. And these are professionals, sometimes even wearing what appears to me are very expensive business suits
3 responses
@lampar (7584)
• United States
14 Mar 12
Thay are wearing expensive suits isn't necessary means that they know it is unhealthy to eat near garbage, or sewers, they don't have any idea eating under these type of condition can be a hazard to their well being, or they just love the smell of those garbage while enjoying their meals. You never understand certain culture and habit some of these local people have until you see it yourself, it will never stop amaze you what you can see when you travel around the world and observe some practices in different countries, Sigh!
@flamez3r0 (319)
• Puerto Rico
14 Mar 12
Hello :). I have never been to Thailand, but human bodies adapt pretty much to anything. Once I traveled to South America and in the Atacama desert there were towns in which the drinking water was so acidic, only the locals could drink it without getting ill. In fact, it was so common that in most of those places they used water treatment plants for the tourists, while the locals drink normally because their bodies got used to it. So I doubt some flies could really be that much trouble if you are used to them. As to the location where one eats, we live in a world where busy people can't be really picky on where they eat, since most of them are in a hurry to get back to work, so being professionals actually works against their choosing. Also, one could argue that the chemicals used to make what we consider clean are more dangerous to one's health than any trashcan some feet away, specially if they are all around us, including the forks and spoons we put in our mouths and the dishes in which the food is served :).
@joannbilon (111)
• Philippines
14 Mar 12
I guess you might be right there that some food might be acceptable to one country while not to another. But with regards to professionals being busy... aren't that' what fast food chains for? But I guess again it all depends on what your stomach has gotten use to
@flamez3r0 (319)
• Puerto Rico
14 Mar 12
Yep, preferences are important, and also in some countries franchise fast food is actually more expensive than homemade or street cooked food. In my country you could get like a week's worth of food ingredients for the same price you could eat twice or thrice (one day's worth) in a mcdonalds or burger king. Of course you have to cook it so that might not be possible for everyone that works a lot of hours, but if you are really short on money cooking is the secret to survive :). And if you really can't make time for it, eating hamburgers without brands (like in a small restaurant or from a food vendor) actually can cost less than half the price of a franchise one, most of the time they are bigger too. If that's how it is in Thailand, I would eat by the flies too, since avoiding flies isn't worth paying double for less :p.
@constancenunn (72)
• United States
14 Mar 12
Hello!
I know, people in different countries and cities are exposed to different type of cleaness. i can't have flie, bugs and everything around my food. And a sewer stings I can't stand the smell of that and just ingesting the smell of a sewer. Some people in different countries are use to that type of environment.
Have a blessed day!
@joannbilon (111)
• Philippines
17 Mar 12
Hi! Thanks. Yeah, maybe I just need to understand their culture rather than try to fit in :) coz I really can't do what they're doing:(