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Major Events/Holidays Health Issues Visa and Entry Information Thai Food Currency and Banking Phuket Bangkok Thailand |
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Thailand Basic Facts At
a Glance
Full country
name:
Kingdom of Thailand GDP:
US$166 billion
Geography : The Kingdom of Thailand, covering an area of 514,000 square kilometers, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. (Large Map 256k). Topography : Thailand is divided into four distinct areas : the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula South, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands including Phuket.
Climate : Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29oC, ranging in Bangkok from 35oC in April to 17oC in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October), though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours. Population : Thailand has a population of about 60 million. Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Indian and most strongly, Chinese stock produce a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Many festivals are linked to Buddhist or Brahman rituals and follow a lunar calendar. New Year, Songkran, is celebrated in mid-April by 'bathing' Buddha images, paying respects to monks and elders by sprinkling water over their hands, and generally tossing a lot of the H2O in the air for fun. Expect to be soaked unless you want to party-poop in your room. The sowing and harvesting of rice has given rise to a cycle of festivals. To kick off the official rice-planting season in early May, the king participates in an ancient Brahman ritual in a large field in central Bangkok. The Rocket Festival is held in May in the country's north-east, using a volatile mixture of bamboo and gunpowder to convince the sky to send rain for the new rice season. The rice harvest from September through to May leads to joyous local celebrations throughout Thailand. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket and Trang, during which devout Chinese Buddhists eat only vegetarian food, runs for nine days from late-September to early-October. Merit-making processions are the most visible expression of this festival, but there are also ceremonies at Chinese temples. The Elephant Roundup in Surin in November is an elephantine festival popular with the kind of people who enjoy watching pachyderms play soccer. During the Loi Krathong Festival, held after the rainy season (usually in November), candle-lit floats are cast into waterways to bring good fortune for the coming year.
All visitors to Thailand should have up to date inoculations as recommended by their doctors. Visitors should take preventive measures against mosquitoes as in any tropical country, especially at dusk. Health insurance, is recommended as international standard healthcare is available but only at privet hospitals and can be very expensive. Do not expect to get international standard healthcare in rural areas. Thailand is not a Malaria risk-free country, but your health will not be at risk if a proper precaution are undertaken. Consult your doctor is the best advice. Generally, the anti-malarial pills like Chloroquine and Mefloquine are recommended, however, if you were going to the remote area, then Doxycycline may be a better choice. Proper clothing and insect repellent can help a lot from insect disturbance. Other Health risk are Dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, Cholera and Rabies. Tap water is not fit for consumption, always drink bottled water, ice in major hotels and for the most part in large cities is safe but we do not recommend consuming ice in rural areas as most of this will be made from local water supply or tap water. Very good medical care is available in Thailand but it does come at a price. There is a complete listing of hospitals for each city in their sections.
Entry into Thailand is very easy most foreigner visitors will be given a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival, there is no need to get a visa before hand unless you wish a longer visa. 99% of all westerners make entry into Thailand by Air. Check on Flights and Prices here. Visa
Extension:
Exit Tax:
We really feel that you can not have a information site about Thailand without taking the time and talking about the internationally famous Thai food. Thai food really depends on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked, for what occasion, and where it is cooked to suit all palates. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients. Large chunks of meat were eschewed. Subsequent influences introduced the use of sizeable chunks to Thai cooking. With their Buddhist background, Thais shunned the use of large animals in big chunks. Big cuts of meat were shredded and laced with herbs and spices. Traditional Thai cooking methods were stewing and baking, or grilling. Chinese influences saw the introduction of frying, stir frying and deep-frying. Culinary influences from the 17th century onwards included Portuguese, Dutch, French and Japanese. Chilies were introduced to Thai cooking during the late 1600s by Portuguese missionaries who had acquired a taste for them while serving in South America. Thais were very adapt at 'Siamese-ising' foreign cooking methods, and substituting ingredients. The ghee used in Indian cooking was replaced by coconut oil, and coconut milk substituted for other daily products. Overpowering pure spices were toned down and enhanced by fresh herbs such as lemon grass and galanga. Eventually, fewer and less spices were used in Thai curries, while the use of fresh herbs increased. It is generally acknowledged that Thai curries burn intensely, but briefly, whereas other curries, with strong spices, burn for longer periods. Instead of serving dishes in courses, a Thai meal is served all at once, permitting dinners to enjoy complementary combinations of different tastes. A proper Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spiced salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal. Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks obviating the need for a knife. The spoon is used to convey food to the mouth. To me the best part about Thai food is that it is best when shared. Thais see meal time as a communal affair with laugh, drink, friends and family it is absolutely fantastic. Thai Fast Food One of the things that I enjoy is the Thai fast food, since most Thai's in the urban area's have very limited cooking space they tend to stop and buy dinner most nights before going home (its very cheap as well). You will see food carts and stands everywhere selling everything from Tom Yam (spicy soup) to watermelon slices. This is where you will also find the more... lets just say unusual things to munch on. Spiders, roaches, frogs....oh my, I have yet to try this, but the friends that have are still living, so you might give it a go if you have the guts.
The official currency in Thailand is the Bhat which come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Bhat notes. Banks or legal moneychangers offer the best rates. When buying Baht, US dollars are the most readily acceptable exchange currency, though travelers' cheques get a better rate than cash. Credit cards are becoming increasingly acceptable in quality shops, hotels and restaurants. Visa is the most useful, followed by MasterCard. ATMs which accept Visa and other credit cards are easily found in the larger cities, and many exchange booths will give you a cash advance on your credit card.
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