Southeast Asia
Thailand
Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast
Asia bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf
of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman
Sea and Myanmar to the west.
Thailand is also known as Siam, which was the country's
official name until May 11, 1949.
The word Thai means "free" in the Thai language.
It is also the name of the Thai people - leading some
inhabitants, particularly the sizeable Chinese minority,
to still use the name Siam.
Prathet Thai
Official language; Thai
Capital; Bangkok
King; Bhumibol Adulyadej
Prime minister; Thaksin Shinawatra
Area; 514,000 kmē
Population; 62,354,402
Establishment; 1238
Currency; Baht
Time zone; UTC +7
National anthem; Phleng Chat
Internet TLD; .TH
Phone Calling Code; 66
History
Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived
kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the
larger kingdom of Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th
century.
Thai culture was greatly influenced by both China and
India.
Contact with various European powers began in the 16th
century but despite continued pressure Thailand is the
only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken
over by a European power, though Western influence led
to many reforms in the 19th century.
A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional
monarchy.
Known previously as Siam the country first changed its
name to Thailand in 1939 and definitively in 1949 after
reverting to the old name post-World War II.
During that conflict Thailand was in a loose alliance
with Japan; following its conclusion Thailand became
an ally of the United States.
Thailand then saw a series of military coup d'états,
but progressed towards democracy from the 1980s onward.
Politics
The king has little direct power under the constitution
but is a symbol of national identity and unity and the
present monarch enjoys a great deal of popular respect
and moral authority, which has on occasion been used
to resolve political crises.
The head of government is the prime minister, who is
appointed by the king after having been designated from
among the members of the lower house of parliament,
usually the leader of the party that can organise a
majority coalition government.
The bicameral Thai parliament is the National Assembly
or Rathasapha, which consists of a House of Representatives
(the Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon) of 500 seats and a senate
(the Wuthisapha) of 200 seats.
Members of both houses are elected by popular vote.
Members of House of Representatives serve four-year
terms.
Members of Senate serve six-year terms.
The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court or Sandika,
whose judges are appointed by the monarch.
Thailand is an active member of the regional Association
of Southeast Asian Nations.
Provinces
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (changwat, singular
and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces.
The name of a province is derived from its capital city.
Provinces are further subdivided into 642 districts
(Amphoe) and 78 sub-districts (King Amphoe), and furthermore
into 7,236 communes (Tambon), 55,746 villages (Muban),
123 municipalities (Tesaban), and 729 sanitation districts
(Sukhaphiban) (numbers are for 1984).
Geography
Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions,
partly corresponding to the provincial groups.
The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest
point being the Doi Inthanon at 2,576 m.
The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered
to the east by the Mekong river.
The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly
flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf
of Thailand.
The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens
into the Malay Peninsula.
The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons.
There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon
from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast
monsoon from November to mid-March.
The southern isthmus is always hot and humid.
Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon
Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla.
Economy
After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from
1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased
speculative pressure on Thailand's currency, the baht,
in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector
weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency.
Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached
its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998
and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year.
The crisis spread to the Asian financial crisis.
Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding
4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports
- which increased about 20% in 2000.
An ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate
debt restructuring, combined with a softening of global
demand, however, slowed growth in 2001 to 1.4%.
Demographics
Thailand's population is dominated by ethnic Thais who
make up three quarters of the population.
There is also a large community of ethnic Chinese, who
have historically played a disproportionately significant
role in the economy.
Other ethnic groups include Malays in the south and
various indigenous hill tribes.
The majority of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada
tradition, but small minorities of Muslims, Christians
and Hindus also exist.
The Thai language is Thailand's national language, written
in its own Thai alphabet, but many ethnic and regional
dialects exist and English is commonly taught in schools.
Culture
Muay thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in
Thailand and its native martial art.
It reached popularity all over the world in the last
decade.
A notable social norm holds that touching someone on
the head may be considered rude.
It is also considered rude to place one's feet at a
level above someone else's head, especially if that
person is of higher social standing.
Thai cuisine is famous for the blending of four fundamental
tastes: sweet (sugar, fruits, sweet peppers) spicy hot
(chilies) sour (vinegar, lime juice, tamarind) salty
(soy sauce, fish sauce)
Most of the dishes in Thai cuisine try to combine most,
if not all, of these tastes.
It is accomplished by using a host of herbs, spices
and fruit, including: chili, cumin, garlic, ginger,
basil, lime, lemongrass, coriander, pepper, turmeric
and shallots.
Holidays
January 1 New Year's Day Wan Khun Pee Mai
February Mahka Bucha Based on thai lunar calendar
April 6 Chakri Day Commemorates King Rama I,
founder of the Chakri dynasty
April 13-April 15 Thai New Year Songkran
May Vaisakh Bucha Based on thai lunar calendar
May Royal Ploughing Ceremony Government only
May 1 Labour Day Bank holiday only
May 5 Coronation Day Commemorates coronation
of the current king Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950
July Asarnha Bucha Based on Thai lunar calendar,
government only
July Buddhist Lent Khao Phansa Based on Thai
lunar calendar
July 1 Mid Year Day Bank holiday only
August 12 Mothers Day Commemorates birthday of
the current queen
October 23 Chulalongkorn Day Wan Piyamaharat
Commemorates King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)... the anniversary
of his death
December 5 Fathers Day Commemorates birthday
of the current king Bhumibol Adulyadej
December 10 Constitution Day Commemorates the
change to constitutional monarchy in 1932
December 31 New Year's Eve
External Links
o O
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Retrieved from
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This information was updated & correct in December
2003 E. & O.E.
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