Brief information
It is not for nothing that Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles”, because very polite and hospitable people who love to smile live there. Probably, the habit of smiling among Thais is developed from an early age under the influence of Buddhism. This is not surprising given that there are over 18,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. Something else is amazing in Thailand – nature, mountains, palaces, ancient monasteries and temples, pagodas, floating bazaars, Thai cuisine, Thai massage, coral islands, and, of course, white sandy beaches surrounded by palm and coconut groves.
Geography of Thailand
Thailand is located on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Thailand borders Laos and Cambodia to the east, Malaysia to the south, and Myanmar and Laos to the north. In the east of the country is the Gulf of Thailand, which belongs to the South China Sea, and the western shores are washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea. The total area of Thailand, including the islands, is 514,000 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,863 km.
There are several geographical regions in Thailand. In the west, south and north are mountain systems, and in the east – the Korat plateau. The highest peak is Mount Doi Inthanon, whose height reaches 2,565 m. In the central part, along the Chao Phraya River, there is the Menam lowland. It is the Chao Phraya that is considered the largest river in Thailand.
Capital
According to itypemba.com, the capital of Thailand is Bangkok, which is now home to more than 15 million people. The history of Bangkok goes back to the 15th century.
Official language of Thailand
The official language of the people of Thailand is Thai, belonging to the Thai-Kadai language family.
Religion
More than 94% of the population of Thailand professes Theravada Buddhism (the most conservative direction of this religion).
Government of Thailand
According to equzhou.net, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the King and the head of government is the Prime Minister.
The bicameral parliament in Thailand is called the National Assembly, it consists of the Senate (150 senators) and the House of Representatives (480 deputies).
The main political parties in Thailand are the For Thailand Party and the Democratic Party.
Climate and weather
The climate in Thailand is tropical with a lot of rainfall. On the west coast of the country, the monsoon brings rain from April to November, while on the east coast the rainy season lasts from September to December.
In general, the best time to visit Thailand is from November to February. During this cool season, the air temperature in Bangkok ranges from +18C to +32C.
The summer period (i.e. hot, dry season) lasts from March to June. In Bangkok at this time of the year, the average air temperature is +34C, but often reaches +40C. Try not to get to Thailand in April, unless, of course, you plan to constantly swim in the ocean. April is the hottest month in Thailand.
From July to October, the monsoon season continues in Thailand. During this time, floods often occur in the country.
Sea in Thailand
In the east of Thailand is the Gulf of Thailand, which belongs to the South China Sea, and the western shores are washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea. The total length of the coast is 3,219 km. The average annual water temperature is +26-29C.
Rivers and lakes
The largest river in Thailand is the Chao Phraya River, which flows through the Menam Lowland in the central part of the country. Another large local river is Mun, which is a tributary of the Mekong River. The Tapi River flows through the south of Thailand, it originates in Khao Lang and flows into the Gulf of Thailand near the city of Surat Thani.
Also in the south of Thailand is the largest lake in this country – Songkhla Lake, located near the city of the same name. Its area is 1,040 km. sq.
Story
Archaeological finds indicate that people on the territory of modern Thailand lived already 10 thousand years ago, and they began to grow rice more than 5 thousand years ago. The ancient Thais were nomads, and their ancestral home is still not exactly known.
Buddhism began to spread in the territory of modern Thailand from about the 3rd century BC. From the 9th to the 11th century, Thailand was part of the Khmer kingdom.
In the XIII-XVII centuries, there were two strong Thai states – Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, which formed the Thai principalities. It is interesting that the Europeans were never able to establish their protectorate over Thailand (it was called Siam in the Middle Ages and in modern times).
In 1932, after a bloodless revolution, the absolute monarchy in Thailand turned into a constitutional monarchy. In 1939, Siam officially became known as Thailand.
After World War II, Thailand experienced several military coups. Only in 1997, after the adoption of the new Constitution, the political situation in this Asian country stabilized.
Culture of Thailand
Thailand’s culture is rooted in family and Buddhist traditions. Thai children are taught to respect their parents, the elderly, teachers, Buddhist monks. Every Thai settlement has a Buddhist temple, which is the center of local life. That is why Thais are so polite and friendly.
In April, the people of Thailand celebrate the onset of the New Year (Songkran). To be more precise, Thais celebrate this holiday for three days – from April 13 to 15. Before the onset of the New Year, Thais carry out a general cleaning in their homes to throw away all the failures of the outgoing year.
Songkran begins with the distribution of food to Buddhist monks who appear on the streets on this holiday from the very morning. Then the youth pours water on everyone (including themselves), after which festivities, games, and dances begin.
Other popular festivals in Thailand are Visakha Puja (May), Rocket Festival, Full Moon Night (November) and Elephant Festival (November).
Kitchen
Thai cuisine is considered one of the best in all of Asia. Indian and Chinese culinary traditions had a noticeable influence on her. The staple food is rice, which is eaten at every meal. Other staple foods in Thailand are fish noodles and seafood. Meat is not often eaten in this country (because of its high cost).
Be warned that most Thai dishes are very spicy. Therefore, if you do not like a lot of spices, in a restaurant just tell the waiter “No spicy”.
In Thailand, tourists are recommended to try rice in oyster sauce, khao phat (rice with vegetables and crabs), laap (fish salad with spices), mi krop (noodles with sweet and sour sauce), nay ( pork sausages), “mu daeng” (pickled meat), “salaphao” (patties with different fillings).
In the bazaars in Thailand, tourists are offered a variety of exotic fruits that grow in this country all year round.
Fruit season in Thailand:
Lychee – June
Durian – May-August
Mangosteen – May-September
Rambutan – May-September
Longan – June-August
Longkong – August-October
Mango – March-May
Sapodilla – January-May
Do not forget also that in Thailand there are also other fruits – watermelons, bananas, coconuts, pineapples and papaya.
Landmarks of Thailand
In Thailand, tourists are waiting for a huge number of various historical, cultural and architectural monuments. According to official figures, there are now several thousand temples, palaces, pagodas and other attractions in Thailand. The top 10 most interesting sights in Thailand, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok
- Buddha’s footprint at Phra Buddha Bath
- Royal Palace in Bangkok
- Wat Mahathat temple in Ratchaduri
- Hill Temple in Bangkok
- Sitting Buddha statue at Mahahtati Si Chum
- Temple of Dawn in Bangkok
- Wat Lok Moli temple in Chiang Mai
- Marble Temple in Bangkok
- Temple of the Mountain in Bangkok
Cities and resorts
The largest Thai cities are Nonthaburi, Pakkret, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Phanom, and, of course, the capital is Bangkok.
In Thailand, tourists are waiting for excellent beach resorts. The most popular of them are Cha-am, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Samet, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phi Phi, Chan.
Many tourists believe that Thailand has some of the best beaches in the world. Which one to choose from them? In our opinion, the top ten beaches in Thailand include the following:
- Patong – the largest beach in Phuket, soft white sand, warm sea, a large number of hotels, restaurants. shopping, and a lively nightlife.
- Railay Beach – This small beach near Krabi is only accessible by boat and is surrounded by clear waters and majestic mountains.
- Maya Bay, Koh Ley – the beach is located in a small bay, surrounded by high cliffs. This beach can only be reached by boat.
- Hua Hin – This beach, located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand, is considered an ideal beach for families with children.
- Kata Beach – This beach is located in the quiet southern part of Phuket, in the low season there are quite large waves, and therefore there are many surfers.
- Lamai Beach, Koh Samui – this beach combines beautiful nature and dozens of bars.
- Sairi Beach, Koh Tao – is considered a great place for a beach holiday and diving.
- White Sand Beach, Koh Chang – This beach, located on the island, is surrounded by palm and coconut groves.
- Haad Rin, Koh Phangan – once a month, this beach hosts a fun music party that lasts all night.
- Koh Mun Nork – This beach is located on a desert island in the Gulf of Thailand. The white sandy beach is surrounded by palm trees. You can get there in 45 minutes by ferry.
By the way, Thailand and the Andaman Sea are among the top ten places in the world for diving. The infrastructure on the islands is very poorly developed, and therefore the coral reefs and the underwater world remain untouched. On the west coast, diving can be practiced almost all year round (the best time is from mid-November to the end of April).
Souvenirs/Shopping
From Thailand, tourists usually bring handicrafts (including wooden carvings), ceramics, Thai silk, silk scarves, clothes, Buddha figurines, silver jewelry, objects depicting elephants (elephants are the symbol of Thailand), Thai sauces and spices.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:30-15:30
Shops:
Mon-Fri: 10:00-20:00 (shop opening hours vary)
Visa
If tourists plan to stay in Thailand for up to 15 days, then a visa can be issued directly upon arrival at the airport.
Currency in Thailand
Baht is the official currency of Thailand (its international designation is THB). One baht = 100 satang. Most hotels, restaurants and upmarket shops accept credit cards.
Customs restrictions
You can import foreign currency into Thailand without restrictions, but if it is more than 10 thousand dollars, it must be declared. Each tourist can bring in or take out of Thailand no more than 50 thousand baht.
This country has very strict rules – the death penalty is threatened for the transportation of drugs.
If you want to take any art objects out of Thailand, you must obtain a special permit.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Address of the Consulate of Thailand in Ukraine:
Index: 02140, Kiev, Bazhana Ave., 12-A T:
(044) 502-29-83
email: [email protected]
Address of the Ukrainian Embassy in Thailand:
Thailand, Bangkok 10330, 33 rd Wireless Road, CRC Tower 87 T:
(662) 685-3215
mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
191 – all emergencies
199 – call the Fire Brigade
1554 – call the Ambulance
1555 – call the Police for tourists
Time
The difference with time in Kyiv is +5 hours. those. if in Kyiv it is 10:00, then in Bangkok it is 15:00.
Tips
Tips are not expected in Thailand, but often tourists simply do not take change. Most hotels and prestigious restaurants usually include a 10% service charge on the bill.
The medicine
Before visiting Thailand, doctors recommend that tourists be vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid, diphtheria, malaria, rabies, tetanus, and hepatitis A and B as a preventive measure. But mandatory vaccinations are not needed.
Security
The people of Thailand are hospitable, polite and friendly people. However, Thailand is not one of the safest countries in the world. Therefore, tourists are advised to observe reasonable security measures there. Keep valuables and money in your hotel safe, be careful at night. Of course, it is tempting to sit under the moonlight on a deserted beach on the ocean or take a walk through the streets of Bangkok at night, but it is better not to do this.
Remember that it is very hot in Thailand, so wear hats, sunglasses and always have sunscreen and water with you.
