THAILAND
THE LAND OF SMILES
MAP
Is a country in southeast asia with coasts on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. It borders myanmar to the northwest, laos to the northeast, cambodia to the southeast and malaysia to the south.
Base Information
Capital: Bangko
Language: Thai
Religion: Buddhism
HOLIDAYS
FEB22- MAKHA BUCHA
MAR2O-MARCH EQUINOX
APR6- CHAKRI DAY
APR13-15- SONGKRAN
MAY1- LABOR DAY
MAY5- CORONATION DAY
MAY6- CORONATION DAY
MAY20- VISAKHA BUCHA
JUL18- EXTRA HOLIDAY
AUG12-THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY
JUL19- ASAHNA BUCHA
ASAHNA BUCHA
This day, the first full moon of the eighth lunar month, commemorates the Buddha's first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares, India and the founding of the Buddhist sangha about 2,500 years ago.
SONGKRAN
Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac. But the Songkran in this particular instance is when the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram.
CHULALONGKORN DAY
The day commemorates King Chulalongkorn who passed away on 23 October 1910.
DID YOU KNOW?
THE LAND OF SMILE
They called thailand the land of smiles because the culture of Thailand and the Thai people themselves would be seen as laid back in comparison to the frantic busy world of the west. The people have better manners, and are friendly, courteous and a genuine pleasure to interact with. When going to the market you can barter down a stores item up to 40% and the store owner enjoys the tricky bartering that you partake in.Thailand also has natural beauty and historical riches which tourists love.
THAI CUISINE (FOOD)
The juxtaposition of sweet, sour, hot and salty flavours is what makes Thai cuisine so distinct and nowhere is it more noticeable.
TOM YAM GOONG
This is the national aroma of Thailand, thanks to the generous use of fragrant herbs. Lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal, and shallots provide the memorable smells, with chilis and fish sauce providing the kick. Substance comes in the form of jumbo shrimp and mushrooms.
PAD THAI
Usually noodles are dressed up with tofu, bean sprouts, onion, and the brilliant final touch: peanuts ground to near dust. Pad Thai is a diner-participation meal; you put on the finishing touches of fish sauce, sugar, chili powder, and crushed peanuts to suit your taste.
kuay tiew
Noodles ' usually thin, occasionally broad ' are served up in a broth with just about any edible meat: pork, chicken, beef, duck, and seafood being the most popular.
FESTIVALS
PHI TA KHON
Phi Ta Khon is a tradition of the Dan Sai district of the Loei Province in Isan. It is better known as the ghost festival since it reflects the regions beliefs on ghosts and spirits. It occurs each year around June/July and is probably Thailand’s most colorful festival. Men dress up as spirits in bright colorful costumes and masks. Along with the costumes, there’s plenty of dancing and rejoicing.
MONKEY BUFFET
Animals lovers would get a kick out of this bizarre festival. On the last Sunday of November each year, the town of Lopburi shows appreciation to their main tourist attraction, monkeys. They do this by serving a huge buffet of food, solely for the adorable and smart animals.
LOI KRATHONG
Loi Krathong is celebrated on one night during full moon of the 12th lunar month. ‘Loy’ signifies ‘floating’, while ‘krathong’ is a small object in the shape of a lotis flower, usually made from banana leaves. On the evening of the festival, thousands of people head to their local river or canal to make a wish
PLACES TO VISIT
DOI INTHANON
Is the highest mountain in thailand. it is in chom thong district , chiang mai province. this mountain is an ultra prominent peak, known in the as Doi Luang.
KHORAT PLATEAU
The Khorat Plateau, a region of rolling low hills and small, shallow lakes, drains into the Mekong River system on its border with laos.
PHANOM RUNG
Is a kmer temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano at 402 metres elevation, in buriram province in the isan región of Thailand.
THINGS TO DO
Railay beach
A rock-climbing hotspot. Railay's karst peaks draw adventurers both experienced and novice to try their hand at climbing the towering limestone cliffs. Among the many other active things to do, you can go elephant trekking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and snorkeling, etc.
The grand palace
There's plenty to see and do in the capital, but it's perhaps best to start with the Grand Palace. This is the number one sightseeing attraction in the city, and it's staggering in historical significance and craftsmanship. The grounds are a maze of royal halls, temples, and ancient relics, the most important being Wat Phra kaeo.
City of ayutthaya
Ayutthaya presents a glimpse into the glory of ancient Thailand, where visitors can wander the haunting but romantic ruins of the former capital. After the Sukhothai period, the city was the most important in Thailand, and the old palaces and temples stand as a testament to this.
CURRENCY
The Thai baht is the currency of thailand. it is subdivided into 100 satang. the issuance of currency is the responsability of the bank of thailand. according to SWIFT, as of cotober 2014 the thai baht ranked as tha tenth mos frequently used world payment currency.
IMPORTANTCULTURAL ASPECTS
- The Royal Family of Thailand is held in very high respect. Making derogatory remarks about any of the royal family is against the law. The penalty is 3 – 15 years’ imprisonment, depending on the severity.
- Thai culture places certain spiritual importance to certain parts of the body. You should not point your feet at people, touch people with your feet, prop your feet up on seats or tables or step over people sitting on the ground. The head in contrast has a much higher importance. Avoid touching people on the head as this is considered very rude. You should also avoid sitting on pillows meant for head rests. In some rural areas, food is often served while seated on the ground. Stepping over food on the ground is another extremely rude gesture and will surely embarrass your Thai host.