About Thailand

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THE ORIENTATION OF THAILAND TOPOGRAPHY POPULATION ADMINISTRATION TRANSPORTATION LANGUAGE CLIMATE TIME CURRENCY CLOTHING ELECTRICITY WATER BUSINESS HOURS DINNING SHOPPING LITTLE THINGS TO KNOW THE ORIENTATION OF THAILAND The Kingdom of Thailand (Prathet Thai, which means “Land Of Freedom”) is situated in the South East Asia with the population approximately 65 million (July 2004). In the past, the world has known Thailand as “Siam” (The Land of Kingdom) and it is changed to “Thailand” since 1939. The Capital of Thailand is Bangkok (Krung Thep) which means the ‘City of Angles’.
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TOPOGRAPHY Thailand covers a land area of 513,115 square kilometers (from North5o 30" to 21o and from East 97o 30" to 105o) and borders by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East) and Cambodia (Southeast) including the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Thailand can divide the geological varieties into four natural regions Mountains and Natural Forests of North and West, where included the top three highest mountains of Thailand i.e. Doi Inthanon (approx. 2,565 m.), Doi Pha Hom Pok (approx. 2,285 m.) and Doi Chieng Dao (approx. 2,220 m.). Northeast Plateaus, the semi-arid region is made up of hill to mountain which rises over the sea level up to 200-300 meters. Central Plain, the lush and fertile areas where are its profusion of the fruit-growing field and vast rice-producing area. Peninsula (South), the region is mountainous with virgin forests including narrow strips of land and idyllic beaches and islands.
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POPULATION Approximately 65 Million (July 2004) included a majority of ethnic Thai, and ethnic diversity such as Chinese, Lao, Indian, and others.
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RELIGION Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%) ADMINISTRATION Constitutional monarchy with His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, known as Head of State who is the longest reigning of Thai Monarch. The government of Thailand is a parliamentarism that is composed of 2 houses, The House of Representatives and the Senate that both are elected by the people. Thailand comprises 76 provinces (Changwat) which are divided into districts (in Bangkok called Khet and not only that called Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon or sometimes called Kwang in Bangkok) and villages (Moo Baan). Only Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, where is the center of commercial, political and industrial, that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration comes under an elected governor. The Provincial Administration in the other 75 provinces comes under appointed governors.
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TRANSPORTATION The outstanding transportations of Thailand are Boat, Bus, Train, Air-plane, Taxi and Tuk-Tuk (For more details, please see Bangkok page)
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LANGUAGE The official national language is Thai but the major commercial language is English. Besides both languages are ethnic languages e.g. Chinese, Malay, etc and also regianl dialects.
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CLIMATE Thailand is a humid tropical country with three seasons i.e. Hot (March to May), Rainy (June to October) and Cool (November to February) and varied temperature.
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TIME Seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT)
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CURRENCY Thai Baht (THB) that 1 baht = 100 satang Coins: 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht Notes: 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht
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CLOTHING Light clothes are the best. The jacket or suite is necessary for the formal place or in the cool season.
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ELECTRICITY AC 220 Volts (50 cycles) with many different types of plugs and sockets throughout the country
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WATER Tap water is clean for use but not for drink. Drink only bottled or boiled water.
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BUSINESS HOURS Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five days a week from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm., Government offices are generally open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, five days a week except on public holiday. Many stores open seven days a week usually from 10 am. to 10 pm. (depends on each stores). Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm except on public holidays. Official post offices are open Monday to Saturday (half day on Saturday) from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
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DINNING Thai food is the one of famous foods that is well known by the gourmet around the world. The favorite menus are Tom Yam Kung, Pad Thai including Som Tam (Spicy Thai Salad). Thai flavor especially spicy taste may be different from region to region and the South region’s food is the spiciest.
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SHOPPING Thailand has several categories of good buys to choose for example Thai Silk, Antique, Ornaments, Silverware, Leatherwear and Garment. The favorite products of Thai are luxurious silk and cotton, wood crafts, pottery and ceramic, wickerwork, brass, bronze and gold, gems and jewelry, pearls, silverware, etc. Most of them are the Thai products which are very beautiful, stylish and useful but it’s not expensive under the “OTOP (One Tambon One Product)” campaign.
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LITTLE THINGS TO KNOW National Flag Five horizontal stripes of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red symbolize the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively. Ceremoniously raised each morning at 08.00 and lowered in the evening at 18.00 with the national anthem. National Day The national day is December 5, the birthday of His Majesty the King. Public Holiday Most of Thai public holidays are of religious, monarchic and national nature. Standard Public Holiday of Thailand: New Year's Day (January 1) Children Day (the Second Saturday of January) (* the festival for children) Chinese New Year (within January-March) (depends on Chinese calendar) (* For Chinese people in Thailand) Makha Bhucha Day (within January-March) (depends on lunar calendar) Chakri Day (April 6) Songkran Day (April 13-15) National Labor Day (May 1) Coronation Day (May 5) The Royal Ploughing Ceremony (within May) (depends on lunar calendar) Visakha Bhucha Day (within May-June) (depends on lunar calendar) Asalha Bhucha Day (within July-August) (depends on lunar calendar) The beginning of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa Day) (within July-August) (depends on lunar calendar) H.M. the Queen’s Birthday (August 12) Piyamaharaj Day (October 23) The end of Buddhist Lent (within October) (3 months since the beginning) Loy Krathong Day (within November) (depends on lunar calendar) H.M. the King's Birthday (December 5) (* the national day) Thai Constitutions Day (December 10) New Year's Eve (December 31) Telephone Service Thailand’s Country code is 66 and Thailand’s area code depends on each province. For Bangkok, the telephone number prefixes with 02, for the mobile phones prefix with 01, 09, 06 or 07. For the international calls must prefix 66 and omit the leading 0 The international call center is 001, 007, 008 and 009 (the charges of each international call center may be variable) When making an international call from Thailand, dial the international call center + country code + area code + telephone number. When making an international call to Thailand, dial 66 (for country code) + area code (by omitting the leading 0) + telephone number Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international) Important Emergency Telephone Numbers: Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191 Highway Patrol: 1193 Crime Suppression: 195 or 0 2513 3844 Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken): 1155 Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre: 1672 Immigration Bureau: 0 2287 3101-10
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