Thai culture has its own very specific way of honoring elders, and showing respect towards elderly friends and relatives is believed to be both a duty and the basis of good manners.
Thais show their elders respect in very specific ways. These include:
1) Greeting elders with a wai.
2) Never standing over or sitting above an elder.
3) Speaking in a quiet and respectful voice, and using formal language. This rule is often a problem for some westerners, as many western families show their love and respect for elderly relatives by including them in conversations and boisterous arguments.
4) Never interrupting an elder.