Thai monks, no matter what their age (8 to 80+ !), must always be treated with respect. When a monk wishes to sit down on a bus, you should give up your seat and leave space so that he does not have to sit close to you.

Women should not have any contact with monks, or the monks would have to go through a cleansing ritual. If a woman wants to give something to a monk, she should do so through a man or the monk may extend a corner of his robe, on which the woman can then place the object; alternatively she can put it on the floor.

Generally, Thai monks will not shake hands with people.

In Europe, monks (male) live in monasteries; nuns (female) live in convents or ‘nunneries’. Unlike in Thailand, in Europe women are allowed to shake hands and speak with local monks. But normally only male pilgrims are allowed to stay under the roofs of monasteries, and only female pilgrims in convents.