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Geography
Capital
Climate
People
Sport
Food
Language
Geography
Situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, Thailand
covers an area of 513,115 square kilometres. It is bordered
by Laos to the northeast, Myanmar to the north and west, Cambodia
to the east, and Malaysia to the south.
The North is a mountainous region characterized by natural
forests, ridges, and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys. Central
Thailand, the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is a lush, fertile
valley. It is the richest and most extensive rice-producing
area in the country and has often been called the “Rice Bowl
of Asia.” Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located in
this region. The Northeastern region, or Korat Plateau, is
an arid region characterized by a rolling surface and undulating
hills. Harsh climatic conditions often result in this region
being subjected to floods and droughts. The Southern region
is hilly to mountainous, with thick virgin forests and rich
deposits of minerals and ores. This region is the center for
the production of rubber and the cultivation of other tropical
crops
Capital
Thailand’s capital, known internationally as Bangkok but
to Thais as Krung Thep (City of Angels), sprawls over an area
of some 1,500 square kilometres on both sides of the Chao
Phraya River. Established in 1782 by King Rama I, founder
of the Chakri Dynasty, Bangkok has been the home of the Royal
Family ever since. Today, Bangkok is home to over 6 million
people. Here also are located all government ministries, the
police and military headquarters, the Supreme Patriarch of
the Buddhist faith, the most prestigious universities and
schools, the best medical facilities, important international
organizations, and the greatest collections of art, museums,
newspaper publishers, and television stations in the country.
Climate
Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country. The
climate is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy season
lasting from about May to September and a relatively dry season
for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in
March and April and lowest in December and January. The average
temperature is 23.7 to 32.5 degrees Celsius.
People
Though the great majority of Thailand’s 61 million people
are ethnically Thai and Buddhist, the country has a substantial
number of minority groups who have historically lived together
in harmony. Of these, the Chinese are perhaps the most numerous
(particularly in urban areas) though they have become so thoroughly
assimilated it would be difficult to isolate them as a distinct
group. Similarly, while there are Lao and Khmer groups in
the Northeast and East, nearly all regard themselves as Thai,
culturally as well as by nationality. More clearly defined
as an ethnic group are the Muslims, who are mainly concentrated
in the southern provinces, and assorted hill tribes who live
in the far North; there are also sizeable communities of Hindus
and Sikhs in large cities like Bangkok.
Some 80 percent of all Thais are connected in some way with
agriculture, which, in varying degrees, influences and is
influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that
make Thailand such a distinctive country.
Sport
The most famous of Thai traditional sports is Muay Thai, or
Thai boxing. It is an ancient art of self-defence that is
gaining popularity worldwide. It features the use and skill
of different parts of the body as both defensive and offensive
tools. Thai boxing allows the use of elbows, knees, calves,
and feet. This is in contrast to international boxing regulations,
which permit the use of only the fists. Another distinguishing
aspect of Thai boxing which is highly attractive to visitors
is the "Wai Kru" dance, performed before the tournament
as an act of respect to the teachers. The "Pi" pipes,
adding an element of drama and ritual to the art accompany
the dance.
Food
Most Thai food is highly spiced, chilli hot, and varies from
region to region. The traditional ingredients of Thai food
have changed little up to the present day, consisting largely
of seafood and locally grown vegetables and fruits, a diet
common to most of the country. What gives the distinctive
Thai flavour, and the differing taste from region to region,
is the carefully blended sauces and chillies. These go into
dishes ranging from salty and bland soups to the spiciest
salads and sweetest desserts, often all present within a single
meal. The wide variety of Thai food tastes is a reflection
of the combination of influences from various surrounding
nations, which, with Thai ingenuity, have culminated in one
of the world's favourite cuisines.
The Northeast is famous for its spicy dishes, but it really
covers all taste extremes, being also strongly sour and salty.
Its most famous dish, a regional staple that can also be found
all over the country, is som tam, a Thai salad that simultaneously
covers the four extremes of taste, and is eaten with a form
of sticky rice.
For those whose taste buds shy away from the grand taste of
the Northeast, the generally milder taste of northern dishes
may be more palatable. The Burmese influence is present here,
as several mild curries are integral to many of the dishes.
The cuisine of the Central Plains has over the years come
to include the influences of all the surrounding regions,
and a meal usually includes everything from hot, spicy dishes
to relatively bland ones. Here the sticky rice of the North
is less common than plain rice, either steamed or fried. Many
of the spicy soups, like tom yam and popular coconut milk
curries, have their roots in this region.
The proximity of India and the religious Muslim influence
have both shaped the taste of southern Thai cuisine, with
the focus always on seafood and vegetables, both in abundance
in the region.
Language
The official national language, spoken by almost 100 per cent
of the population, is Thai, classified by linguists as belonging
to a Chinese -Thai branch of the Sino -Tibetan family. It
is a tonal language, uninflected, and predominantly monosyllabic.
Most polysyllabic words in the vocabulary have been borrowed,
mainly from Khmer, Pali, or Sanskrit. Dialects are spoken
in rural areas. Principal other languages are Chinese and
Malay. English, a mandatory subject in public schools, is
widely spoken and understood, particularly in Bangkok and
other major cities.
In Thailand's major cities, the level of English can be quite
good, but visitors will find that the Thais' ability to speak
English diminishes as one moves further away from the population
centres.
In Thai there is a "politening" word attached to
the end of anything you say. For men it is "khrap,"
for women it is "kha."
Here are a few words you may find useful during your travels;
Sawadee – Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening
EG: Sawadee khrap – foe men / Sawadee kha for women
Khob-khun – Thank you
Ratree-sawad – Good night
Sabai-dee-mai? – How are you?
Sabai-dee – I am fine
Cha Cha – Slowly
Wan-nee – Today
Hong-Nam- Rest Room
Chai – Yes
Mai-Chai – No
Chok-Dee – Good Luck
Dam-Naam – Diving
Tao-Rai? – How Much?
Naam - Water
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