3. Government
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy under the
beloved king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has
reigned since 1946. King Bhumibol is the world's
longest-serving head of state.
4. Thailand's current Prime Minister is Yingluck
Shinawatra, who assumed office as the first
ever female in that role on August 5, 2011.
5. Geography
Thailand is divided into
76 provinces (
, changwat), which are
gathered into 5 groups
of provinces by
location.
6. Totaling
513,120 square kilometers
(198,120 sq mi), Thailand is the world's 51st-largest
country by total area. It is slightly smaller than
Yemen and slightly larger than Spain. The north of
the country is the mountainous area whether The
Southern Thailand consists of the narrow land
bridge called Kra Isthmuts widen into Malay
Peninsula
Thelocal climate is tropical and characterized by
monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy
southwest monsoon from mid-May to
September, as well as a dry, cool northeast
monsoon from November to mid-March. The
southern isthmus is always hot and humid.
7. Religions and Language
The most common religion is Theravada
Buddhism. Thai Buddhism ranks amongst the
highest in the world. According to the last census
(2000) 94.6% of the total population are Buddhists
of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the
second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%.
Christians represent 0.7% of the population and
0.1% for the other religions.
Thailand‟s national language is called Thai, which
many scholars believe is a form of Chinese that
was gradually brought to the area between the
7th and 13th centuries. Like Lao, Vietnamese, and
Chinese, Thai is a very tonal language. Its
alphabet has 32 vowels and 44 consonants.
8. Native Sports and Foods
Muay Thai is a native form of kickboxing and Thailand's national
sport. It incorporates kicks, punches, knees and elbow strikes in a
ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing and this has
led to Thailand gaining medals at the Olympic Games in boxing
9. Takraw is a sport native to Thailand, which the players hit a rattan
ball and only be allowed to use their feet, knees, chest and head
to touch the ball. Sepak Takraw is a form of this sport which
appears in volley ball style, the players must volley a ball over a
net and force it to hit the ground on opponent's side.
10. There are so many famous local foods from thailand such as Tom
Yam Goong, Pad Thai, Som Tam, Gai Med Ma Moung (Chicken
Cashew Nuts) and many more.
11. Tourism Spot and Culture
Mae Hong Son is the capital of Thailand‟s northwestern-most province. Its
close proximity to the Burmese boarder gives the city a very different feel
to the rest of Thailand. Very quiet and isolated this mountainous city is often
shrouded in an atmospheric mist. Visitors come here for the unusual and
beautiful natural scenery, the mountain trekking and to see the local hill
tribe communities – one of which is the famous Karen long neck tribe.
12. Ayutthaya was an important Siamese kingdom existing from 1351 to 1767.
The ancient city is now ruined but the remains of the extraordinary and
once towering temples are classed as an UNESCO world heritage site and
should not be missed.
13. The Floating Market- made famous by the James Bond classic “The Man with the
Golden Gun” – can be found on the Damneon Saduak Canal. Although now a major
tourist attraction, the market is highly photogenic and visitors can get an idea of what
trading was like in Thailand before the modernization of the city. It‟s also tons of fun. If
you want to buy something here you will have to hail down a narrow long boat piled
high with produce (which is quite an experience in itself). The region also has plenty of
vineyards, orchards and thriving local businesses which are great to view by canal
boat on route to the market.
14. The spiritual city of Chiang Mai is a much calmer city than Bangkok but still
an essential visit on the travellers trail if you want to see the best of
Thailand. Dotted with temples, craft shops, great restaurants and plenty of
Thai massage and cooking schools, the city has a somehow relaxed and
comparatively tranquil atmosphere
15. Bangkok is a restless and chaotic metropolis and an essential part of a trip to Thailand.
Although not everyone‟s cup of tea, the culture-shock inducing capital has some
incredible places of interest that you would be foolish to miss. The impossibly
bejewelled Grand Palace should really be visited and if you have time, take a trip to
Wat Arun (one of the oldest and best known landmarks in Bangkok) and Wat Po
which is home to a huge reclining Buddha. The more adventurous head for the
notorious backpacker‟s road Khao San, the bazaars and alleyways of Chinatown and
the infamous Patpong Night Market, located in the city‟s red light district.
16. San Kamphaeng is a district located 36km from the northern city Chiang
Mai. The area is home to the popular hot springs which are set in a 40 acre
beautifully landscaped parkland. They are well known for their restorative
properties and people come from miles to visit. The springs come from a
deep source, are over 100 degrees centigrade and high in sulfur. Here you
can camp, dine, bath in the mineral rich waters or if you fancy – boil some
eggs.
17. Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are islands on the east side of Thailand
popular with both vacationers and backpackers. The islands are known for
their palm tree lined white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters and laid
back attitudes. On Koh Phangan you‟ll find plenty of bohemian style bars
and cafes and of course the world-famous full moon parties. Nearby, the
islands of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are much less touristy due to their
more isolated locations and are perfect for those looking for peace. These
islands also offer world-class snorkelling and diving
18. Divers should head for Hin Daeng located in the Andaman Sea. Literally
meaning the Red Rock, this area is often said to be one of the top diving
spots in Thailand – if not the world. Swim among underwater
pinnacles, swaying carpets of anemone and colorful coral. It‟s also
teeming with wildlife including large shoals of fish, round batfish, manta
ray, barracuda and the odd whale shark or two
19. The tiny but idyllic west coast island of Koh Phi Phi is seen by many as the
ultimate island paradise. Even though it has now fully recovered from the
devastating 2009 tsunami, the island has suffered from rapid tourist growth
especially since the release of the “The Beach” (starring Leo Dicaprio).
Having said that it still manages to retain a relaxed vibe which seems to
keep both the backpackers and the vacationers happy. Island highlights
include climbing a steep viewpoint to watch the sunset and hiring a long
tail boat to snorkel the beautiful surrounding waters.
20. Railay and the surrounding coast of the Krabi province (located in the South of
Thailand) is a tropical paradise characterised by towering rugged limestone
cliffs, turquoise water and powder white sand. From this area it‟s also easy to take a
trip to nearby Phang Nga to see the iconic „James Bond Rock‟. Railay is a beautiful
secluded beach – accessible only by boat – which attracts a mixture of in-the-know
backpackers, well-heeled tourists and enthusiastic rock climbers. Surrounded by
dense vegetation and mountains, the area is also good for trekking. The beach is
unique because it‟s completely cut off from the daily grind and visitors kick back and
often stay a lot longer than originally planned.
