Thailand
Name of Thailand:
Thailand (Prathet Thai, meaning "land of the free")
Capital:
Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels")
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Thailand Flag
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Geography:
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.
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Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the
Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for
more than half a century, making him the longest reigning
Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures
and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and
renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source
of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.
Neighboring Countries:
1) Myanmar - west and north,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast,
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south.
Area:
513,115 sq. km.
Topography:
Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions:
-The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured
orchids, fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures
are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits
such as strawberries and peaches;
-The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards
its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries;
-The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice
and fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture
and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast
and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok;
-The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic
islands complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation
and fishing.
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.
People:
Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities
(Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority,
though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads,
and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration
is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous
unity.
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
Religion:
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
Government:
Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. Parliament
is composed of 2 houses, The House of Representatives and
the Senate. Both representatives and senators are elected
by the people. A prime minister elected from among the representatives
leads the government. The country is divided into 76 provinces.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration comes under an elected
governor. Appointed provincial governors administer the other
75 provinces (Changwat), which are divided into districts
(Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon) and villages (Mu Ban).
Head of State:
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Administration:
76 provinces, each subdivided into amphoe (district), tambon
(sub-district) and muban (village).
National Flag:
The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism,
and the monarchy, respectively.
Time:
The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean
Time (+7 hours GMT).
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 during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest
climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost
all year round.
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.
Tap 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.
Weights & Measures :
The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals on
vehicle speed ohmmeters, highway markers and speed limits
all indicate kilometres.
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.
Postal Services :
Thailand's mail service is reliable and efficient. Major
hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Provincial
post offices are usually open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
International Roaming Mobile Phone : A Subscriber Identity
Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Thai and foreign
customers who are travelling around for work. The SIM Card
must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone
within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within
the 1800-MHz range.
Fax and E-Mail :
All of Thailand's leading hotels offer facsimile (fax) and
e-mail services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities,
most often in conjunction with translation services.
Internet Services :
Thailand has been expanding its information service for residents
and tourists alike through the Internet system. Services are
now available at Thailand's leading hotels and at the many
" Cyber-Cafes " that are cropping up in all major
tourist destinations.
Telephone Services :
At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long
distance calls within the country) have nine digits.
-For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e.
0 2694 1222.
- For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing
numbers. For example, area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0
5324 8604; area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 7621 1036.
-For mobile phones, After september 1,2006, all Thai mobile
phone numbers will be extended to 10 digits. Simply add an
8 in the middle of the existing two-digit prefix, followed
by the existing seven-digit number.For example, numbers starting
with (66) 01 will become (66) 081 XXX XXXX
-The new system has no effect on international phone calls.
-The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
-When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and
omit the leading 0.
-When making international calls from Thailand, first dial
001+country code+area code+telephone number
-If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which
is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
-When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone
number
-When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone
number
-Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Highway Patrol : 1193
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10
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