Thailand |
Thailand Tours & Thailand Tour Packages |
This section covers many valuable resources on Thailand such as the travel guides or tips to travelers. Some of the topics contain links to the other related sites of similar subjects. In certain topic, we include lists of useful contacting address for your information.
INTRODUCTIONS
Thailand, being known as the land of smiles, the land of elephants and the land of Buddhism, is unique for its fascinating cultures, tradition, and philosophical attitude towards the world and life, making the country shrouded with mystery waiting for the wide-opened eyes and opened mind to explore its charming distinctiveness.
A number of magnificent temples in Bangkok, the stunning mountains in the north like Chiang Mai, the world famous beach resort with its vibrant nightlife in Pattaya, and the idyllic beaches and clear water in Phuket are just a few of Thailand's highlighted attraction. Thailand still implausibly has a large array of unseen pockets to discover. Meanwhile, Thailand is still graced with its charming tradition which remained strong among Thai people although affected by flows of modernization and westernization which make it one of the highly developed countries in the region. Buddhism has always played a significant role in the embodiment of Thai tradition, value, and attitude towards of people in society. This characteristic may be the real charm of Thailand which is represented as the simple lifestyle, peaceful mind, and optimism.
Now it comes to you to explore this land on your own route and with your own mind. It is up to you how you view Thailand. But one thing you can witness by yourselves: Thailand will be your travel paradise and will give you an exceptional experience for your lifetime.
THAILAND COUNTRY FACT FILE
Conventional Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Local Name: Thailand (formerly Siam)
Capital: Bangkok
Independence:1238 Year of Establishment (never being colonized)
Constitution: Constitutional Monarchy
Land Area: 513,115 Sq. Kilometers
Climate: Average: 29 degree Celsius but varies 9-38 degree Celsius
Seasons: Hot (March to May), Rainy (June to October) and cool (November to February)
Population: 61,878,746 (year 2000)
Language: Thai; English is widely understood in cities
Sex Ratio: 0.97 male/female
Birth Rate: 1.66%
Death Rate: 0.75%
Labor Force: 32.6 million
Literacy: 93.8% (Age 15 and over)
Religion: Buddhism 92.55%, Muslim 5.29%, Christianity 1.34%, Others 0.79% (2000)
Currency: Thai Baht
Exchange Rate: 44.5 Baht / US$ (approx. 2001)
GDP: US$ 413 Billion (est. 2000)
Time: GMT+7
Airport Tax: 500 Baht for International, 40 Baht for Domestic
Electricity: 220 Volts 50 cycles
Clothing: Thin Cotton is best. A jacket or sweater may be necessary in cool season, especially in the mountainous area in North and Northeast
Geography
Kingdom of Thailand, located in Southeast Asia on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, shares boundaries with Myanmar (Burma) on the west and northwest. Laos on the east and northeast, Cambodia on the southeast, and Malaysia on the south. Thailand, although rich in rubber and in mineral resources, was never colonized by Europeans and has existed as a writing monarchy since 1350. The capital, Bangkok, an attractive blend of Western and Thai architecture, was established in 1782.
Thailand has covered a land area of 513,115 square kilometers, from North 5 30” and 21 and from East 97 30” to 105 30”, and extends about 2,500 kilometers from North to South and 1,250 kilometers from East to West, with a coastline of approximately 1,840 kilometers of the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometers along the Indian Ocean.
The Climate
The climate is tropical with long hours of sunshine and high humidity. There are three seasons:
Hot from March to June
Rainy from July to October
Cool from November to February
Average low temperature is 20C and high temperature is 37 C. the geographic and climatic conditions make the country suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of tropical and semi-tropical agricultural crops.
Population
The country has a population of approximately 60 million, of which around 6 million live in the capital city, Bangkok. The most important ethnic minority are Chinese. Other minority groups include Malays, Cambodians, Indians, non-Thai hill tribes, and some Vietnamese. Immigration is controlled by a quota system.
The National Flag
The five horizontal stripes of three colors-red, white and blue have very significant meanings. Red signifies the life-blood of Thai people; the white stripe symbolizes the purity of Buddhism, the national religion; and the dominant blue stripe, the monarchy and the important it plays in the daily life of the Thai people.
The present national flag, the “Tri-Rong” of three colors, was designed by King Rama VI and was on September 28, 1917.
The flag is raised daily at 08.00 am and lowered at 06.00 pm at all official buildings, public places, large private enterprises and schools, usually to the accompaniment of the Thai Nation Anthem. The flag is also flown nationwide holidays.
National Anthem
The National Anthem is played on all ceremonial of national flag is being raised and lowered. Its music was composed in 1932 by Professor Phra Jenduriyang, while the lyrics, as presently constituted, were written in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhands. A literal translation is as follows:
Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body
The whole country belongs to the Thai people, maintaining thus far for the Thai
All Thais intend to unite together
Thais love peace, but do not fear to fight
That will never let anyone threaten their independence
Thais will sacrifice every drop of their blood to contribute to the nation, will serve their country
With pride and prestige-full of victory. CHAI YO
Public Holidays
Most national holidays and festivals are of a religious nature and serve to evoke a sense of the monarchy, the religion, and the nation. Some are celebrated by the calendar and thus vary in date from year to year, while others are celebrated according to the solar calendar.
Food
Thailand’s culinary heritage is blessed with an abundant amount of food found in the seas and in the fields which offers ample opportunity to the adventurous cook to use his 1 and resourcefulness in concocting a variety of nutritious and delicious dishes.
The food in general is rather spicy with the most commonly used ingredients being ginger, garlic, chili, pepper, knob khaa, coriander leaves and roots, cumin seed, manglak leaves and seeds, lemons grass and basil leaves. Equally important in bringing out the distinctive Thai flavor are prepared curry paste, nam prik, biachan, and the high quality Thai nam pla.
Fruit
Thailand is a paradise of tropical fruits. At any time during the year at lease a dozen different kinds can be found in the market. Their strong aromas and distinctive tastes are addictive once more acquires a liking for them. These include the durian, rambutan, mangosteen, longans, lychee, langsat and many others.
While the most common way fruit is eaten, in Thailand is simply by removing the skin and biting into it, for very special occasions the fruits are intricately carved and sometimes stuffed one into another or simply mixed to give a blend of tastes. Although Thai prefer to eat fruits in their fresh state and a little ripe, they turn a lot into jams and juices and other preserved.
