Same Same...But Different!

Same, same...these words are used over and over by the Thai people when they are offering goods or services that are not exactly what you asked for. But different... is the reply of the Farang, or foreigner.

We have experienced this many times in looking for rooms at guest houses or buying products at markets. Things are the same in the broadest sense, like both items are t-shirts, but have different logos or colors- clearly not quite the "same."

The most recent example was with our bungalow on the hill (which we have moved from). We reserved a different bungalow, closer to the water, and they kept insisting that the one all the way at the top of the hill was the same because it was also for two people...so, you see, many things that are the same, are actually different. Maybe this would make a good algebra lesson! It reminds me of comparing x's and y's to apples and oranges, even though it's all fruit.
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