Even though the country has modernised and become a lot more prosperous over the past three decades, Thais at heart are still very traditional and bound by modest behavioural habits. They also have a profoundly superstitious approach to life, based on Buddhist and spiritual fortune.
There is karmic cycle to everything Thailand, according to the popular traditional school of thought, and appeasing the spirits through merit making is paramount if you are to avoid misfortune. This has a overwhelming effect on the daily routine of all Thais as they go about their business.
Don’t be alarmed if your taxi driver takes both hands off the wheel in heavy traffic while doing 100kph to offer a quick wai to a passing Buddha statue. Expect to be held up while merit making takes place or to be shown the long way round to avoid consecrated ground.
Be prepared for all sorts of odd shaped construction to accommodate the feng shui practices, and get used to all sorts of changes to schedules to meet the most auspicious timing on the calendar.