I feel I have to weigh-in on this one. I have been living in Thailand for a number of years, and I can assure you that the way a male would say "hello" is SA-WAT-DEE-KRAP, and a female would say, SA-WAT-DEE-KA. Please note that this is also the Thai way of saying, "Good-bye". Both 'hello' and 'good-bye' are accompanied with the 'wai'--bringing your open hands together so that the open palms touch, close to the upper center of your chest, and at the same time a slight bow of the head. This is universal in greeting and parting. If someone gives you a 'wai', it is only polite to return the 'wai'--and with a smile.
[Note: "u" is a hard "oo" sound, like in "too". Every syllable in Thai has to be spoken on one of five tones, but Thai people are pretty forgiving when they hear foreigners try to speak Thai. And if the Thai person doesn't understand what you are trying to say, that person will likely be too polite to say so.]
Thank you: a male would say KOP-KUN-KRAP, ad a female would say KOP-KUN-KA.
Please: a male would say, KA-RU-NA, and so would a female.
I do not wish to enter into political debate: POHM MAI YAAK PUUT GAAN MEUANG KRAP (for a male); DEECHAN MAI YAAK PUUT GAAN MEUANG KA (for a female). At least, that's how I would say it. [Here the 'eu' is like the French 'eu''; there is no equivalent in English.]
Actually, if you go to Thailand, just about the last thing in the world people will want to talk to you about is politics. Thai people generally seem to be a-political. Of course, there are exceptions among the well-educated, but even among them, they would probably not feel comfortable talking Thai politics with non-Thais, and they would probably be too polite to ask what you think about the politics in your own country. Thai people know there are problems in Thai society, just as there are problems in every society, but they tend not to want to dwell on these. At least this is what I observe.
What people will be more interested in talking to about is where you come from, whether you like Thai food, Thai music, why you are in Thailand, what do you do in your own country for work or for fun--social friendly kinds of questions. If a Thai should ask you how old you are, he or she is not being impolite--just curious. You can answer with a smile, and that will be signal enough for the person not to pursue the question.
I hope this helps.