Because walking around in the nude is completely anathema to how Thais are brought up. In the West, and some parts of Asia (China, Korea, Japan), it is quite natural to be in the buff around other men -- in locker rooms, spas, frat houses, etc. Many Thai guys, on the other hand, grow up never seeing anyone naked but themselves (after hitting puberty, I mean). It just isn't done. So these "naked zones" are far more exotic and titillating to the Thais than to the rest of us. The hand goes in front as a reflex. They're just not used to showing all (yet).

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