ABOUT THAILAND

The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.

The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.

THAILAND - REGIONS AND CITIES:

Thailand, formerly Siam, officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand, is a constitutional monarchy in South East Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) to the north and west, by Laos to the north-east, by Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand (Siam) to the south-east, by Malaysia to the south, and by the Andaman Sea to the south-west. The total area of Thailand is 513,115 sq km (198,115 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Bangkok.

Thailand is divided into four natural regions: the North, the Northeast or the Korat Plateau, the Central Plains or the Chao Phraya River Basin and the South, or the Southern Peninsula.

Apart from the capital city of Bangkok, other major cities include; Chiang Mai in the North, Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) and Khon Kaen in the Northeast, Ayutthaya and Chon Buri on the Central Plains and Songkhla, in the South.

THAILAND WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons. Hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity). Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast at night. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round. The best time to visit Thailand is during the cool season, between November and March.

THAILAND POPULATION

Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 7 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok. About 10 million people live in Bangkok.

THAILAND BUSINESS HOURS

Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week, usually from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm except on public holidays.

THAILAND CURRENCY

The Thai unit of currency is the baht 1 baht is divided into 100 satang. Note are in denominations of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht. Most foreign currencies and traveller cheques are easily changed at banks, hotels or moneychangers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the kingdom.

LANGUAGE

Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.

THAILAND VISA REQUIREMENTS

Foreign nationals visiting Thailand must possess valid passports or acceptable travel documents and appropriate visas before entering the country. Visitors from certain countries are permitted to stay up to 15 days without visas, provided they possess tickets confirming departure within 15 days, while visitors from several other countries are allowed to apply for tourists visas at all ports of entry. Transit visas are granted for up to 30 days and tourist visas for up to 60 days. Non-immigrant, diplomatic, and official visas are valid for up to 90 days.

ELECTRICITY:

The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travellers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels will make available 110-volt transformers.

DRINKING WATER:

Tap water is clean but drinking from it directly should be avoided. Bottled water is recommended

CLOTHING:

Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

There are no required vaccinations, unless you are coming from an infected area.

WHAT TO SEE IN THAILAND

Bangkok is the usual gateway for most travellers. You should try and plan on three or five days in the capital. This should allow sufficient time for seeing the major sights such as the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Arun, Wat Pho and Vimanmek Mansion. Perhaps also a trip along the Chao Phraya River or a shopping jaunt to Chatuchak Weekend Market. You could also take an out-of-town excursion (Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi are top choices).

If a beach vacation is your priority, Bangkok could be followed by a week at Phuket or Samui Island, which offer the most exotic settings. Should your time be limited, the resorts of Pattaya, Rayong, Cha-am and Hua Hin are closer to the capital.

For a different scene, northern Thailand affords plenty of scope for both cultural sightseeing and refreshing escapes into the countryside. Chiang Mai is the best base for exploring the region, offering its own sights as well as numerous hiking and trekking options, and a stay of three or four days gives a good introduction. If you have more time, overnight visits to Mae Hong Son or Chiang Rai are well worthwhile. Travellers who already know Thailand, will find the Northeast region rewarding. The most traditional part of our country, it is best toured by car or bus allow five to seven days.

Thailand further provides excellent facilities for sporting vacations. Golf, scuba diving, yachting, and mountain biking. A two-week stay gives time for general sightseeing and special interest activities. The variations for a visit to Thailand are endless, and perhaps the best advice to bear in mind when arranging your trip is to plan on coming back.

THAI FOOD

Thai food is internationally famous. Whether chilli-hot or comparatively bland, harmony is the guiding principle behind each dish. The characteristics of Thai food depend on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked, for what occasion, and where it is cooked. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients. Large chunks of meat were eschewed.

With their Buddhist background, Thais shunned the use of large animals, cut into big chunks in their food. Big cuts of meat were shredded and laced with herbs and spices. Traditional Thai cooking methods were stewing and baking, or grilling. Chinese influences saw the introduction of frying, stir frying and deep-frying. Culinary influences from the 17th century onwards included Portuguese, Dutch, French and Japanese. Chillies were introduced to Thai cooking during the late 1600s by Portuguese missionaries who had acquired a taste for them while serving in South America.

Thais were very adapt at 'Siamese-ising' foreign cooking methods, and substituting ingredients. The ghee used in Indian cooking was replaced by coconut oil, and coconut milk substituted for other daily products. Overpowering pure spices were toned down and enhanced by fresh herbs such as lemon grass and galanga. Eventually, fewer and less spices were used in Thai curries, while the use of fresh herbs increased. It is generally acknowledged that Thai curries burn intensely, but briefly, whereas other curries, with strong spices, burn for longer periods. Instead of serving dishes in courses, a Thai meal is served all at once, permitting dinners to enjoy complementary combinations of different tastes.

A proper Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spiced salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal.

FESTIVALS

Thailand has a kaleidoscope of festivals. Thai people love celebrations. Festivals in Thailand can be roughly categorized into religious, social, regional and official royal ceremonies. Religious ceremonies are normally performed on important Buddhist holy days. These include Makhabuja Day, Visakhabuja Day, Asarnhabuja Day, Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa. These ceremonies, celebrated by most Thai Buddhists nationwide, are officially proclaimed as national holidays as well. The most important social ceremonies include Songkran and Loy Kratong. Both festivals are celebrated among the majority of Thai people and are even recognized worldwide. They are traditional Thai festivals. Other events are celebrated only among certain groups of people in particular regions. The uniqueness of these festivals has given them a reputation at the national level, and some are even promoted internationally. The most distinguished festivals include the Rocket Festival in Yasothon (in May), Poi Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son (in April), Phi Ta Khon Festival in Loei (in June), Vegetarian Festival in Phuket (in October), and Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani (in July). The government also organizes official or royal ceremonies, for example, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, HM the King's Birthday, HM the Queen's Birthday, Coronation Day and Constitution Day. For more details on some of the prominent festivals, see below.

Elephant Round Up Show

(November - Surin Province)

Surin is a province in the northeast of Thailand. Once a year, on the third weekend of November, it is the venue for the annual Elephant Round-Up. The people in Surin are known for their skill in capturing and rounding up wild elephants, as well as training and taming them. Every year, more than 100 elephants take part in this event. The Elephant Round-up displays the amazing grace, strength and intelligence of this huge creature in games of soccer, log carrying, and the tug-of-war against human teams. The highlight of the show is the mock battle, which best shows the talent and strength of this lovable animal.

Khao Phansa

(July - nationwide)

With the arrival of the eighth lunar month in July, Thai Buddhists all over the kingdom celebrate Khao Phansa, one of the most important events in the religious calendar. Celebrations are held in Buddhist temples all over Thailand. Special highlights (most colourful) at Tung Si Muang, Ubon Ratchathani, Phra Phutthabat shrine and Saraburi.

Boat racing festivals

(September - Nationwide)

Long-boat racing is a traditional event for the Thais, who are used to living by the rivers. Although not restricted to any particular region, boat racing can be traced back to Ayutthaya, some 600 years ago. The Pichit, Phitsanulok and Narathiwat boat racing festivals are best known, but other notable provinces include Nan, Angthong, Pathum Thani, Surat Thani and Ayutthaya. Previously, boat races were held to keep the young men physically and mentally fit in preparation for invasions by rival states. Today, boat racing is considered a national sport.

Loy Kratong

(Usually in November - Nationwide)

On the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, the tide in the rivers is highest and the moon at its brightest, creating a romantic setting ideal for lovers. The Thai people choose this day to hold the 'Loy Kratong' festival, or the 'festival of light.' Loy Kratong is one of the two most recognized festivals in the country. Loy Kratong is probably the most picturesque and beautiful of all Thai celebrations. 'Loy' literally means 'to float,' while 'kratong' refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water. Originally, the kratong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A kratong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. The making of a kratong is much more creative these days as many more materials are available. The Loy Kratong ritual is a simple one. One needs only to light the candles and the joss sticks, make one's wishes and let it float away with the current of a river or a canal.

Ok Phansa

(End of the Rains Retreat (October-November) - Nationwide with spectacular events in the northeast and south)

After three months restricted to their temples, learning dharma and practicing meditation, the Buddhist monks once again return to their social duties. At the end of Buddhist Lent, it's also time for another big celebration, referred to as 'Ok Phansa.' Thai Buddhists celebrate this occasion by offering food and lavish gifts to monks.

Phi Ta Khon Festival

(June - Dan Sai district, Loei province)

In Thailand, the spirit-world comes alive in June, with the Phi Ta Khon festival, an event filled with fun, mischief and of course, a touch of the unknown. Phi Ta Khon is part of a Buddhist merit-making holiday known locally as 'Bun Pha Ves.' The precise origin of Phi Ta Khon is unclear. It is believed that the roots of the festival revolve around an important tale of the Buddha's last life, before he reached nirvana. According to Buddhist folklore, the Buddha-to-be was born as Prince Vessandorn, a generous man who gave freely to the people. One day, he gave away a white elephant, a royal creature, revered as a symbol of rain. The townspeople were so angry for fear of drought and famine, that they banished the prince into exile. The prince left the village for a very long journey. Finally, the king and the people got over their anger and recalled him to the city. When he eventually returned, his people were overjoyed. They welcomed him back with a celebration so loud that even the dead were awakened from their slumbers to join in the festivities. Phi Ta Khon is held with the arrival of the sixth or seventh lunar month. Young male villagers prepare their ghostly attire and masks, while children roam around town playing tricks. Sheets or blankets are sewn together to look like shrouds while traditional wooden bamboo containers used to store sticky rice (huad), are creatively fashioned into bizarre hats. The huge masks are carved from the bases of coconut trees. The spirit masks are the integral part of the celebrations, which last for three consecutive days.

Poi Sang Long Festival

(April - Mae Hong Son)

Between late March to early April, the Tai Yai ethnic group in Mae Hong Son province hold a special religious ceremony called 'Poi Sang Long'. Poi Sang Long is a Buddhist novice ordination ceremony, but unlike any other ceremony of its type in the country. Young boys aged between 7 and 14 are ordained as novices to learn the Buddhist doctrines. It's believed that they will gain merit ordaining for their parents. The origins of this festival lie in Buddhist legend. It is believed that the tradition is probably following in the footsteps of Prince Rahula, the Buddha's own son, who gave up his worldly life to follow his father's spiritual teachings. Prince Rahula became the youngest ordained monk and the first novice in Buddhism. Subsequently it became a tradition that young boys should ordain to learn Buddhist teachings. With such high reverence to the Buddhist religion, the people here consider that the celebrations should be as grand as possible. The festival lasts for three days.

Buddhist Ceremonies

Most Thai people are ardent Buddhists, who celebrate the frequent Buddhist holidays with fervor. According to Buddhist belief, the most important days of the year are Makhabuja Day, Visakhabuja Day and Asarnhabuja Day. These major Buddhist holy days are also national holidays. Makhabuja Day falls on the full moon of the third lunar month. It is to commemorate the day when 1,250 disciples, all ordained by the Lord Buddha himself, gathered together to hear the Buddha preach, all without prior arrangement. Visakhabuja Day falls on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. It is to commemorate the day when the Lord Buddha was born, reached enlightenment, and entered nirvana. All happened on the same day of the year. Visakhabuja Day is considered the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar. Asarnhabuja Day falls on the eighth lunar month. It commemorates the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to the first five disciples.

Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival

(May - Phya Thaen Park in the Northeastern province of Yasothon)

The rocket festival, known in Thai as 'Bun Bang Fai,' is an ancient local festival. The month of May is the beginning of the rainy season and farmers are ready to begin planting their rice fields. The festival is associated with traditional beliefs in the supernatural powers, which help promote the production of rice crops for the coming planting season. Legend has it that once there was a rain god named Vassakan, who loved to be worshipped with fire. The townspeople created a rocket or 'Bang Fai' to send to heaven, where the god resided. They believed that the god would hear their prayers and bless them with plentiful rain for rice cultivation. Like many Thai festivals, Buddhist monks are in attendance for the ceremony. The rockets, launch platforms and other decorations for this event are prepared for several weeks in advance. An average rocket is some nine metres in length and carries 20-25 kilograms of gunpowder

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

(Ninth Chinese lunar month - Phuket town)

Phuket is recognized worldwide for its spectacular beaches and islands. But, during September to October, is one of the most unusual and bizarre festivals in Thailand, i.e. Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

This celebration lasts for nine days from the first to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. During this time, devout Buddhist Chinese descendants undertake a strict vegetarian diet, wear white clothes and observe ten rules in order to purify their minds and bodies. To prepare themselves for the event, devotees must fast for several days beforehand. They must abstain from sexual intercourse, killing, quarrelling, telling lies and residing in hotels during the previous three weeks. The event also attracts Chinese Buddhists from different parts of Thailand and from nearby countries. The most impressive part of this event is the ritual procession of devotees performing acts of asceticism along the route. The devotees, called 'the soldiers of the god,' perform unbelievable and often quite gruesome feats. Events include walking barefoot across hot coals, climbing ladders with rungs made of knives, a ritual of bridge-crossing and a street procession in which the mediums, in a state of trance, have their cheeks pierced and bodies spiked with hooks, skewers and various other sharp objects. The processions are accompanied by the long parade of the lion dance while on-lookers throw fire-crackers, making the entire atmosphere one of religious frenzy. During the celebrations, the townspeople can find food at various shrines. Besides, various rituals based on mythical beliefs are performed at Chinese temples.