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culture
- 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.
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.
When comparing Thailand to an European country it is almost as big
a France. People say that the shape of Thailand can be compared to
an elephant.
- Climate:
Thailand lies within
the tropics and remains warm throughout the year. Average temperatures
are about 29 C.
- Population:
Thailand has a
population of about 60 million. Ethnic Thais form the majority.
The Thai people are well known for their tolerance, hospitality and
cheerfulness. This is one of the reasons that makes Thailand so popular
for the tourist, the Thai people are so very friendly, hence the nick
name "The Land Of Smiles"
- Religion:
The national religion is Theravada Buddhism, practiced by more than
90 percent of all Thais. The remainder of the population adheres to
Muslim, Christian, Hindu and other faiths, all of which are allowed
full freedom of expression.
Everywhere in Thailand you will encounter Buddha statues and temples.
- Currency:
The Thai monetary unit is the baht, which is subdivided into 100 satang.
- Electricity:
The standard electricity supply in Thailand is 220V. Electricity sockets
are usually of the flat or round two-pin type, but there is a trend
towards earthed three-pin outlets in many modern buildings
- Cuisine
The Thai cuisine is considered to be one of the most finest in the
world. During your visit you can taste a great variety of delicious
meals. Enjoy your meal !
do
and don'ts
- The Monarchy:
All members of the Royal Family are held in the highest reverence
in Thailand and visitors should show similar respect. Do not insult
the monarchy.
- Religion:
Do not insult the religion in any way, whether it be the majority
religion, Buddhism, or any of the minority faiths. For the traveller,
this means proper conduct in temples or any location containing religious
images. All Buddha images, large or small, are considered sacred.
Don't climb atop or pose for photos in front of images of the Buddha.
Always dress neatly in temples - shorts and sleeveless shirts are
considered inappropriate. Do not wear shoes in the main chapel of
a temple where the principal Buddha image is kept.
Monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman.
- Social etiquette:
- Thais greet
each other with a ' wai ' , a prayer like, palms-together gesture,
not a handshake. Generally, a younger person ' wais ' an elder
or senior person, who will then return the gesture. Even though
most Thais are familiar with the Western handshake, a ' wai '
is always appreciated.
- Thais regard
the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively.
Don't touch Thais on the head, even playfully.
- The foot
is considered the lowest part of the body. Don't use your feet
to point at either people or objects. Don't touch anyone with
your feet. Don't rest your feet on tables or chairs.
- When handing
objects to people, use both hands or the right hand only.
- Never raise
your voice or show anger, it will get you nowhere. Keeping cool,
hiding your emotions and smiling is far more productive.
- When visiting
someone's home or at certain offices and shops, it's polite to
remove your shoes at the entrance. If you see shoes arranged on
the floor at the door, don't wait to be asked - remove your shoes
before entering
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