The Kingdom of Thailand, previously known as Siam, is situated in the heart of Southeast Asia with Bangkok as the capital city. It shares a border with Cambodia to the east, Laos to the northeast, Myanmar to the west, and Malaysia to the south. Thailand, with its shape resembling a head of an elephant, is around 198,114 square miles, or roughly the size of the state of Texas. or France; The Kingdom borders two bodies of water—the Gulf of Thailand to the south and the Indian Ocean to the west.

About Thailand

Geography

Thailand is divided into four natural regions: the north, northeast, the central plain, and the south. The north is a mountainous region comprised of ridges, natural forest, and deep, narrow alluvial valleys. The northeast is an arid region characterized by a rolling surface and undulating hills. Central Thailand is a lush, fertile valley and possesses the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the country. The south is hilly with thick forests and rich deposits of minerals and iron ores. The southern region is also the center for rubber production and the cultivation of other topical crops.

Climate

Thailand has a warm, tropical climate affected by a seasonal monsoon. Thailand experiences a rainy season from June to October and a dry season for the rest of the year. Temperatures average 24 to 33 degrees Celsius (75 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit), with the highest temperatures occurring from March to May and the lowest appearing in December and January.

Population

As of 2003, the population of Thailand stood at around 64.2 million, about 8 million of whom live in the capital city of Bangkok. The largest ethnic minority is the Chinese. Other ethnic groups present in Thailand include Malays, Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Indians. The official language, spoken by almost 100 percent of the population, is Thai. Thai is a tonal, uninflected, and predominantly monosyllabic language borrowed from Khmer, Pali, and Sanskrit. Chinese and Malay are also spoken in some areas, while local dialects are common in rural communities. English is widely spoken in Bangkok and other major metropolitan areas.

Festivals :: Songkran

Each year beginning on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese year (usually late September or early October) Phuket islanders of Chinese ancestry commit themselves to a nine-day vegetarian diet. The regimen is undertaken in the belief that the body and spirit will be purified through it, that participants will gain great merit and that the subsequent year will be trouble-free. The festival’s first day is marked by a parade of white-clothed devotees and several ascetic displays, including fire-walking, ascending sharp-bladed ladders and pushing iron rods through various parts of the body.

Festivals :: Loy Kratong

Each year beginning on the first day of the ninth month of the Chinese year (usually late September or early October) Phuket islanders of Chinese ancestry commit themselves to a nine-day vegetarian diet. The regimen is undertaken in the belief that the body and spirit will be purified through it, that participants will gain great merit and that the subsequent year will be trouble-free. The festival’s first day is marked by a parade of white-clothed devotees and several ascetic displays, including fire-walking, ascending sharp-bladed ladders and pushing iron rods through various parts of the body.

Religion

Buddhism is the faith of approximately 95 percent of the population. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and other faiths are also openly practiced and protected under the Constitution.

History

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized. Its government structure has undergone gradual and practical evolution in response to the changing environment. Since 1932, Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy, with a king as head of state and a parliamentarian form of government. The bicameral parliament is composed of 500 representatives and 200 senators. The Prime Minister is selected from the members of the House of Representatives. Furthermore, Thailand is divided into 76 provinces, each administered by appointed governors. Appointed governors administer 75 of Thailand's 76 provinces. Bangkok, the 76th province, is administered by an elected governor.

Economy

During more than 60 years of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's reign, Thailand has enjoyed enviable economic growth. With a predominantly agrarian base and a sophisticated growing manufacturing sector, Thailand’s economy is well-diversified. Thailand possesses a developed tourism, agricultural, manufacturing, minerals, and telecommunications industry. It also embraces the latest technologies. Another reason for Thailand's successful economic recovery is the increased demand for Thai export, which rose by 16 percent in 2003. To meet this figure, the Kingdom has actively sought new markets for its exports while strengthening its traditional markets in the United States, Europe and Japan. Furthermore, the Government has been pursuing free trade agreements (FTA) with several countries, including Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, and the United States.

In conclusion, the Kingdom of Thailand is a country blessed with political stability and economic prosperity. The Kingdom, a society that is also free, cohesive, and open, remains one of the most attractive places in the world to visit and conduct business.