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THAILANDGeography
 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 recognized as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder
of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.Country &
Population
Originally called Siam, Thailand is a country rich in culture and natural
beauty. It has been blessed with expansive natural parks, fertile plains, remote
jungles, beaches washed by turquoise waters and tropical islands bathed in
endless sunshine. The country has more visible historical evidence of its past
cultures than any other country in Southeast Asian. Its history is very complex,
involving the invasion of many different peoples, the rule of different kings,
the establishment of various kingdoms and the interaction of diverse cultures.
The period of time from the mid 1800's until now is probably the most important
in terms of the formation of modern day Thailand. King Mongkut, who ruled the
country from 1851 to 1868, was a well educated, ex-monk who kept Thailand safe
from European expansion. His son, Chulalongkorn, took over in 1868 and continued
the enlightenment and modernization of Thailand. King Chulalongkorn made great
strides in improving the country, however he refused to allow his people
democratic rights. This finally led to a takeover by Thai intellectuals, along
with military help, in 1932.
The name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand in 1939 by Prime
Minister Phibun Songkhram, mainly because he wanted to disassociate his country
from the past. Translated literally, Thailand means "Land of the Free".
The Thai race was previously believed to have originated somewhere near
Mongolia, later moving southward. However, new theories based on historical
discoveries regard the northeastern part of Thailand as the birthplace of the
Thai race.
Over the years, the country has become home to many immigrants. The Thai people
have managed to preserve the traditions of their unique culture, at the same
time absorbing the practices of modern living. Nevertheless, the combination of
cultures and backgrounds of these immigrants make Thailand an interesting and
memorable country to visit.
Tourism has become an important industry in the country. More people visit
Thailand than any other country in Southeast Asia. In 1999, about eight million
people visited Thailand.
Passport & Visa
All visitors must have a passport valid at least six months beyond than their
intended stay in Thailand. Those who are staying for 30 days or less and have a
ticket for an onward journey may enter the country without a visa. Visitors who
stay longer than their limit are fined B200 for each day upon departure at the
airport. Foreign nationals who intend to stay more than 30 days must obtain a
visa in advance from a Thai diplomatic mission.
Customs & Formalities
Duty-Free Items: Cigarettes, cigars or smoking tobacco must not exceed a total
of 250 grams in weight. Cigarettes not exceeding 200 in quantity and one liter
of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty. One still camera or one movie
camera, five rolls of still camera film or three rolls of 8 to 16mm movie camera
film may be brought into the country. All kinds of narcotics and obscene
literature, pictures or articles are prohibited.Currency
The unit of currency in Thailand is the Baht. It is divided into 100 satang.
There is no currency black market in Thailand.
Traveler's checks can be cashed at banks throughout the country - even small
towns have foreign exchange services. Visitors are allowed to bring up to B2,000
per person and unlimited foreign currency, although amounts exceeding US$10,000
must be declared.
A maximum amount of B500 per person is allowed to be taken out of the country.
Copper coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang while silver coins are in
denominations of 1, 2 and 5 Baht. A 10-Baht coin is composed of both silver and
copper.
Bank notes come in denominations of 10 Baht (brown), 20 Baht (green), 50 Baht
(blue), 100 Baht (red), 500 Baht (purple) and 1000 Baht (gray).
45 Baht = US$1.Climate
Thailand has a humid, tropical climate, and it is hot all year round. Summer is
from March to May with average temperatures around 93F (34oC), but the
temperature can reach over 105F (40oC) for extended periods.
Summer monsoons begin as the warm humid air masses flow towards the north from
the Indian Ocean. The monsoons end in the fall when the wind reverses direction
with the dry southwester lies. The rainy season, with periods of sunshine, lasts
from June to September, with temperatures ranging from 80F to 89F (27oC to
32oC). The amount of rainfall varies with topography.
The northeast receives the least rain, while the south is flooded during the
summer months. The best time to visit Thailand is during the cool season, from
October through February, when it is not as humid as during the summer and the
rainy seasons. The average temperature is around 18oC to 32oC. During this
season, it can be very chilly in the north, with temperatures dropping to 7oC)
at night.Heath Requirements
Of the insect-born diseases, there have been recent large outbreaks of dengue
fever in the region, so you should take appreciate measures to avoid mosquito
botes. Malaria is mostly restricted to a few rival areas - notably the islands
of the eastern seaboard (Rayong to Trat) and the provinces (but not the
capitals) of Kanchanaburi, Chaiyaphum, Phetchabun, Mea Hoang Son and Tak. There
are small epidemics of Japanese encephalitis in northern Thailand each rainy
season, so tourists should consider getting vaccinated in case of planning to
spend long periods of time in these areas.
Language
Although Thai is a rather complicated language with a unique alphabet, it's fun
to try at least a few words. The Thai phrasebook by Lonely Planet gives a handle
basic introduction to the language and contains many helpful words & phrases.
Public Holidays
| Jan 1 : |
New Year's Day |
| Feb 14 : |
Makha Bucha (Full moon day) |
| Apr 6 : |
Chakri Memorial Day |
| Apr 12-14 : |
Sonkran Festival (Thai New Year) |
| May 1 : |
International Labor Day |
| May 5 : |
Coronation Day |
| May 13 : |
Wisakha Bucha (Full moom day) |
| Jul 11 : |
Wisakha Bucha (Full moom day) |
| Jul 12 : |
Buddhist Lent Day |
| Aug 18 : |
H.M the Queen’s birthday |
| Oct 23 : |
Chulalongkron Day |
| Dec 5 : |
H.M the King's birthday |
| Dec 10 : |
Constitution day |
| Dec 31 : |
New Year's Eve |
Tipping
Tipping is not customary except in the big tourist hotels of Bangkok, Pattaya,
Phuket and Chiangmai. Even here, if a service charge is added to the bill,
tipping isn't necessary.
CapitalBangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels")
International Flights
Thailand has three international airports: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Flights are available from Cambodia (Pnom Penh/Siem Reap - Bangkok), to China
(Hong Kong - Bangkok/Chiang Mai), from Laos (Daily Bangkok - Vientaine by Laos
Aviation & THAI, Vientiane & Chiang Mai in Thursday & Sunday only & Chiang Mai -
Luang Prabang in Thursday by Laos Aviation), from Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur -
Bangkok/Chiang Mai, Penang - Bangkok & Hat Yai - Phuket), from Myanmar (Bangkok
- Yangon - Bangkok), from Philippines (Manila - Bangkok) & from Vietnam
(Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok).
Two domestic carriers, Thai Airways International (THAI) and Bangkok Airways,
make use of international and domestic airports in 26 cities around the country.
Airport tax
Domestic departure tax costs 30B and is usually collected at the airline
check-in counter.
The departure tax on international flights is 500B. When you're flying out of
Thailand, the tax must be paid at separate booths in the airport before the
departure lounge.
Office HourStart from 8:00 AM to 16:30 PM (except Saturday and Sunday )Business
Hours
Thailand has one time zone. It is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It is 14
hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 11 hours ahead of Pacific Standard
Time.
Electricity
 The electric current is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country.
There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travellers with shavers, tape
recorders and other appliances
should carry a plug-adapter kit. The better hotels will make available
110 Volt transformers.
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