Thailand: General Information

• Official name: Kingdom of Thailand (Prathet Thai)
  Around until 1949, the country was known as "Siam". Then it was changed to the current name, "Prathet Thai", or "Thailand", on May 11, 1949.
  "Thai" means "free" and so, "Thailand" means "Land of the Free."
  

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• King and the country
  The current king is Rama 9.
  (King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) the Great)
  
  Even while another countries around Thailand got colonialized by England or France, Thailand kept itself independent.
  (The right photo is from the factory in Ayuttaya that Queen Sirikit manages.)

  Related Links
  - Thailand's Monarchy
  (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand)
  - Biography of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
  (The Golden Jubilee Network)

  
  

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•  National Flag
  The current national flag of Thailand was adopted on September 28 in 1917 (B.E.2460) by Rama VI (King Vajiravudh).
  (Until then, the design of a white elephant on a red background had been used since the era of Rama IV.)
  
  Like the design above, the national flag of Thailand is called "Thong Trairong"; Blue stripe in the middle, white bands up and down of it, and red stripes sandwiches them.
  Those colours have important meanings below:
  
   - Blue: The monarchy of Thailand.
   - White: Buddhism
    (looks like it came from white elephant that is very sacred for Thai people)
   - Red: Thai people
  
  On week days (I don't know about weekends) , the national flag is raised at 8.00 a.m. and lowered at 6.00 p.m. at public places, offices and schools mostly with the Thai National Anthem.
  

  Related Links
  - Historical Flags (Thailand)

  
  

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• National Anthem:   Phleng Chaat ("Phleng": song, "Chaat": country)
  
   In Thailand, the national anthem is played in public places, on TV or radio.
   If you hear this song, stand still until the song finishes.
   (You don't need to be bewildered (like me :-D). Just do as people do.)
  

  Related Links
  - National Anthem (Be careful ! The music will start at a moment !)
  - nationalanthems.info - Thailand lyrics

  
  

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• Capital:   Bangkok
  
  Commonly called "BKK" for short. In Thai, it's called "Krung Thep" (means "The city of angels").
  
  The ceremonial name is actually really long:
  "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuttaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit" (Why is this so long ???)
  
  This long name means "The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam." by Wikipedia about Bangkok.
   
   Looks like even for Thai people, a little difficult to remember this, a musician made a melody for this long name to sing and remember. :-)
  
  

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• Language:   Thai
  
  As the same in Japan, looks like they have dialects in south or north.
  And the letters of Thai language is quite different from Japanese or English alphabets, like,
  " ขอบคุณครับ" (this means "Thank you").
  
  About English:
  English seems like understood in hotels or restaurants.
  
  

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• Electricity:   220 volts 50 cycles

  Related Links
  - Electricity in Thailand
  (This page has the photo showing the wall receptacle design usually found in Thailand.)

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• Currency:   Baht (or "THB", "B")
  1 U.S. Dollar is about 38 Thai Baht (THB).
  100 Japanese yen is about 33 Thai Baht (THB).(July in 2006)
  
  Check out "Exchange Rate by Yahoo.com" to know more about Exchange Rate.
  
  Prices are inexpensive compared in Japan, and you can have a light meal with about 30 Baht (about 1 U.S. Dollar or 100 Japanese yen).
  About fruits, 1kg is about 30 or 40 Baht, depending on the kind or the freshness, though.

  Related Links
  - Finance & Banking (Phuket-discovery.com)

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• Religion
  Buddhism: 95 percent (Theravada Buddhism). The rest are Muslim or so.
  
  Compared to Japan, Buddhism is really sacred for Thai people.
  When you visit temples, they might not accept to enter if you don't care about clothes, like if you wear clothes with showing a lot of your skin such as shorts and sleeveless shirts. Correct behavior and proper clothes are necessary when visiting temples in Thailand.
  
  About Thai Buddhism:
  Different in Japan, Buddhism in Thailand is "Theravada".
  (Buddhism in Japan is "Mahayana".)
  ("Theravada" is also called "Hinayana" (Lesser Vehicle) against "Mahayana" (Greater Vehicle), but this is inaccurate or disparaging term. Trying to define superiority or inferiority is funny.)
  
  This Buddhism was spread from India to southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar including Thailand, and the purpose is the emancipation of the individual by own efforts. It is believed that ordinary people can earn merit by giving something as charity or doing good things to monks or temples and can be happy. This means that the one who is thankful is not monks but ordinary people.
  
  By the way, monks until 20 years old have 10 religious precepts and have 227 at the age of 21 years old or more.
  
  

  Related Links
  - Buddhism in Thailand (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

• Climate:   Tropical monsoonal climate
  The average temperature: around 29 degree Celsius.
  The highest temperature: around 35 degree Celsius.
  The lowest temperature: around 24 in Bangkok and 14 to 24 degree in Chiangmai in the North.
  
  The humidity: 70 to 80 percent.
  
  

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• Dry or rainy season
  Mainly 3 seasons.
  (My wife from Thailand often says jokingly like,
  Thailand has three seasons; Hot, Hotter, Hottest. :-D)
  
  - Dry season (November to February)
  A lot of comfortable and fine days in this season.
  But the area close to Gulf of Thailand in the south is exceptional. Around November to December, the amount of rain in this area is highest. If you want to visit there, February to April might be the best season.
  
  - Hot season (March to May)
  Even at night, the temperature doesn't go down, and it's hot from early morning.
  In the latter half of this season, sudden showers in everyday.
  
  - Rainy season (June to October)
  It rains and stops, rains and stops. Not means rain all day.
  
  

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• Climate in Bangkok
  It's hottest in April. The average temperature is 30 degree but around 40 degree when it's the hottest.
  The average temperature in December: around 25 degree.

• Songkran Festival
  
  In the hottest season, in April, the distinguished and dynamite "Songkran Festival", also known as "Water Festival", comes. The festival starts on April 13 every year and mostly lasts for 3 days.
  
  Everyone splashes water at anyone else with a hose, a bucket or a water gun, and the city and people unbelievably all get wet.
  (Check what Songkran Festival looks like)
  
  

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• Loy Krathong Festival
  
  One of the most fascinating and popular festivals in Thailand is this "Loy Krathong".
  (This looks similar "Shoro-Nagashi" in Japan.)
  This takes place at night on the full moon in November (in December on the lunar calendar).
  
  People go down to their local canal or river and float their "krathongs" (lotus-shaped or boat-shaped ones, usually decorated with banana leaves, candles and so on) to say thank you to the god of water or water itself and at the same time to throw away their misfortune and purify their souls.
  (Check what Loy Krathong Festival looks like)
  

• Race:   about 85% Thai
  Others are Mon, Akha and various races.
  

  Related Links
  - Various races in Thailand (Japanese)

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• The Land of Smile
  In Asia, I have been only to Hong Kong except for Thailand, and my impression was that people in Hong Kong didn't smile. (I often felt they were angry ...)
  But, my impression about Thailand is that it is a fantastic country with a lot of smiles of the people. That's why the country is called "The Land of Smile".
  
  
• Becoming a monk
  In Thailand, people are devout Buddhists, and men become a monk at least once in their life.
  (Looks like this depends on their circumstances, though.)
  
  The term of being a monk is one week to about 3 months. This is for themselves and also means a great merit against their parents. Especially, moms can not be a monk and therefore, this also means sons become a monk instead of their moms. It is also believed that if sons become a monk, their parents can go to a heaven.
  
  
• Military service
  They have a military service for two years.
  When males reach to the birthday at the age of 20, they gather at each place and draw lots (!) if you have to be a soldier or not. (Unbelievable way to decide)
   Looks like those who loose shout "Chaiyo" (Wow, I'm lucky !) in great delight. Those who win are divided into each section at that moment; the army, the navy or the air force, and have to have strict practices.
  
  I heard that this is not for all men but can be exempted if you have a class about military service in a certain period.

• Subway:   In Bangkok)

• The subway in Bangkok got started in 2004.
• The construction was started on 19th, November in 1996.
  (Chalaem Ratchamangkhon Line, named by the King.)
• 20 km long, 18 stations from "HUA LAMPHONG" station to "BANG SUE".
  (Looks like Japan did financial aid to this project.)
• 19 cars were imported from 15th, October in 2003 to 20th, April in 2004.
• The big ceremony with the royal family and important persons was held on 3rd, July in 2004.
  (The scene where the King, Queen and Princess got on first and the train departed.)
• The line is planed to be expanded to 91 km long from 2005 to 2010.

Related Links
- MRTA (Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand)