destination thailand

Part I: General Information

Countries' Motto

Thailand: Land of Smile.

Background

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as 'Siam' until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country which never has been colonized by a European power. A revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Thailand is known as "the west exotic country in Asia", and with good reason. It is colored by a distinct culture, with a rich and varied heritage, and it posses a remarkable range of scenic beauty.

Population

65,444,371

Languages

Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects.

Currency

Thai currency unit is 'Thai baht' and could be exchanged by any authorized money exchange dealers. Please note 1 USD approximately equals 40 Thai baht.

The following picture illustrates Thai bank notes and coins.

Geography

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma.

Head of State

The King

Capital

Bangkok

Major Cities

Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Pang-gna, Songkhla, Pattaya, Rayong, Phetchburi, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Kon Kean, Kanchanaburi.

Climate

Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon; dry, cool northeast monsoon; southern isthmus always hot and humid.

The 'wet season' monsoon rains start in late May or early June and continue until October. Temperatures in the lowlands are around 32 degrees C in the mid-afternoon, falling to a minimum of around 23 degrees C at night. It rains on most days but rarely continuously. A typical day will dawn bright and sunny, clouds build up during the afternoon leading to heavy rain for an hour or two, frequently followed by a sunny evening. In August and September, typhoons sometimes occur ( although rarely severe ), with heavy rain, thunderstorms and high winds for three of four days.

In the 'cool season' from early November to February, humid tropical air from the Indian ocean gives way to cold, dry air originating in Central Asia to the North. The sun is still high enough to send temperatures above 28 degrees C during the afternoon, but following sunset the temperature drops rapidly, frequently to below 10 degrees C., so that early mornings are delightfully cool and misty. The sky is generally cloudless all day, and rain is very unlikely - perhaps one shower a month. From December, many of the trees lose their leaves as a protection against drought, and the lush greens of the countryside give way to sombre browns.

The 'hot season' is mercifully short - from mid March to late May. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, daytime temperatures approach 40 degrees C., and humidity increases, making any exertion difficult.

Transportation

Railways, highways, waterways, air, Bangkok Transit System (BTS) (Skytrain and Subway system in Bangkok Metropolitan Area).

The Thai Cuisine

The difference between Thai and European cuisine lies not only in the ingredients used and the style of cooking, but in the manner in which individual dishes are selected to form the meal.

A group of Thais ordering a meal would start by selecting one or more appetizers (aharn len) to be nibbled accompanied by a drink whilst each group member selects one or two dishes from the menu as his or her contribution to the meal.

The individual choices are then the subject of much animated discussion to ensure that each dish selected compliments those chosen by the other members of the group, thus forming a well rounded and balanced meal to be enjoyed by all.

Once the meal has been ordered, (3 to 5 dishes are typical for a group of 2-4 people), they are placed on the guest's table. The meal is commenced once all group members have been served their first portion of rice, soups are invariably served in a soup kettle with each guest being provided with a small soup bowl, but the meal is served as a single course, fruit and coffee being ordered after the main meal.

"Thai Etiquette" requires that each guest transfers only a spoonful from a particular dish onto his plate at one time. This spoonful is then eaten accompanied by rice before taking a spoonful from another dish, and so on.

The most common mistake made during the meal by non-Thais is the tendency to ladel a spoonful of each dish onto their plate (buffet style) before they commence eating. This mixes all the individual tastes of each dish together, so should be avoided.

Spices are integral to the taste of Thai food. Not all Thai dishes are hot, many are mild or not spicy at all. The "Spiciness" of any particular dish can be diluted by mixing a little of it with a spoonful of rice. In this way almost anybody can enjoy "hot dishes" and the brave amongst you a "very hot" dish. Asking for a traditionally "Spicy Dish" to be toned down will only ruin the taste of that particular dish, and no doubt offend the chef. Note - if you have mistakenly eaten something that is far too hot for your individual taste, ask for a "sliced banana" , this will help remove the sting.