Foreign Tourists Apologize for Taking Sacred Offering at Pattaya Beach
Two foreign tourists apologized after unknowingly taking a sacred coconut offering from beneath a tree at South Pattaya Beach for photos, sparking online discussion about cultural awareness at Thailand's spiritually significant sites.
CHONBURI — Two foreign women have apologized after unknowingly taking a coconut left as an offering to local spirits at Pattaya Beach for a photo, sparking widespread discussion on social media.
The incident came to light after a Facebook user posted a 45-second video showing the tourists picking up a coconut from beneath a tree at South Pattaya Beach, Chon Buri, and using it as a photo prop by the sea.
Reporters visiting the site found that local residents regularly leave coconuts, desserts and bottles of red soft drink beneath the tree as offerings to guardian spirits, believing the practice brings good fortune.
The spot is also popular with both Thai and foreign visitors taking photos of the beach. Locals believe the women were unaware the coconut was part of a religious offering and had no intention of showing disrespect.
Wannachai, 35, who recorded the video, said he had earlier seen a group of four or five foreign tourists resting under the tree. After asking whether they planned to visit Koh Larn, one tourist picked up the offering coconut and walked to the beach to take photographs.
He later used a translation app to explain that the coconut had been placed there as an offering.
"Once they understood, they looked shocked and immediately apologised," he said. "They said they did not know about the Thai custom, offered an apology in Russian, and returned the coconut to its original place."
The incident has prompted online discussion about the importance of cultural awareness when visiting religious or spiritually significant sites in Thailand.
