The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, at the Gulf of Thailand or Siam, covering an area of 513,115 sq.km., roughly the size of France and slightly smaller than the US state of Texas. It is a natural gateway to Laos in the east along the Mekong River, Cambodia in the southeast, Malaysia down the Malay Peninsula in the south, and Myanmar (Burma) in the northwest.
The contours of Thailand resemble an elephant's head, whose narrow trunk reaches down south.
Thailand is roughly the size of France and a little smaller than Texas.
Its shape and geography divide the country into four natural regions: the mountainous north with its fertile valleys; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the northeast plateau, also called Isaan; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula in the south. The well developed Eastern Seaboard with Pattaya, Rayong and Koh Chang as well as Kanchanaburi in the west could be called sub-regions.
Although Bangkok is geographically part of the central plain, as the capital and largest city this metropolis may well be considered a separate region. The country's capital is situated near the 14th degree latitude, similar to Madras, Manila, Guatemala and Khartoum. From north to south the country measures approximately 1,860 km.
Each of the four geographical regions differs from the others in population, basic resources natural features and level of social and economic development.
Thailand's coastline offers numerous stunning beaches, rocky coasts and wetlands with a total length of 2,710 kilometres. Hundreds of islands are nestled along the coastline. Only a few of them are developed for tourism purposes. In the west the country is bordered by the Andaman Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean. In the center Thailand encircles the rather shallow Gulf of Thailand which is part of the South China Sea.
Thailand in brief
Their Majesties, the King and the Queen of Thailand - The national flag
The highest peak of the kingdom - Doi Inthanon in Chiang-Mai
Name of country:
Thailand (Thai, which means "land of the free")
Capital city:
Bangkok (in Thai: Krung Thep, which means "city of angels") The full name is:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit - which makes it the longest geographical name in the world.
Head of state:
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. Its present monarch is His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, known as King Rama IX, as he is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. The king, who has been reigning since July 9, 1946 and was crowned on May 5, 1950, is now the world`s longest reigning monarch.
National holiday:
December 5 (it’s the king’s birthday)
Land area:
514,000 sq km or 198,455 sq miles (including territorial waters)
Population:
66.001.652 inhabitants (2009) = 128,4 inhabitants per sq km
Currency:
Thai Baht (THB)
1 Baht = 100 satang (hardly used anymore)
Coins: 1, 2, 5, and 10 Baht
Notes: 10 (phased out), 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 Baht
Rail system:
Total length of tracks: 4,218 km (2008)
Road network:
Roads with solid surface: 64,712 km (2009)
The main ports:
Laem Chabang, Bangkok (Klong Toey), Sattahip, Phuket, Pattani, Songkhla
Airports:
116 in all (2007)
Local time:
Seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT)
Highest mountains:
- Doi Inthanon (province of Chiang-Mai) - 2,565 m.
- Doi Luang (province of Chiang-Rai) - 2,175 m.
- Loi Un (province of Chiang-Rai) - 2,131 m
- Phu Soi Dao (province of Uttaradit) - 2,102 m
- Khao Mokochu (province of Khampaeng Phet) - 1,960 m
The largest rivers:
- Chao Phraya 372 km / 231 miles - this is the country`s main waterway
- Chi 765 km / 475 miles
- Mekhong 4,880 km / 3,000 miles - a few hundred kilometres of it form the border to Burma, Laos and Cambodia
- Mun 750 km / 466 miles
- Nan 740 km / / 460 miles
- Ping River 658 km / 409 miles
Because of the confluence of tributaries he lengths of the rivers are somewhat disputed.
The main islands:
- Phuket (province of Phuket) - 543 sq km
- Koh Samui (province of Surat Thani) - 229 sq km
- Koh Chang (province of Trat) - 217 sq km
- Koh Lanta Yai (province of Krabi) - 180 sq km
- Koh Pha Ngan (province of Surat Thani) - 168 sq km
Electrical voltage:
- 220 volt
Geographical location:
Thailand is a tropical country of Southeast Asia and is located between the 6° and 20` of latitude north and 98° and 105` of longitude east.
Climate
In Thailand it’s warm all year round - except perhaps in high mountain areas or on the occasional cold day. However one should not forget that there are certain rainy periods and some dry spells. The daytime temperatures hover throughout the year between 22 and 32 degrees (72° - 90° F). The closer one gets to the equator, the smaller are the temperature variations. In coastal areas and on islands very special wind and rain conditions prevail. Usually only between July and October does it occasionally rain for two or three consecutive days. But then there can also be a huge monsoon rain which drenches the earth with more water than you would see in a whole month anywhere in Europe, which often leads to severe flooding. Sitting sheltered under a roof, a tropical deluge is an exciting experience that has a soothing effect on the soul, yet this is not an ideal time for travelling or sunbathing.
From May till October Thailand lies under the influence of the south-west monsoon, which from July onwards causes heavy rainfalls. Then, from November till February, the north-east monsoon brings rain to the Gulf of Thailand’s east coast from about Prachuab Khiri Khan right down to the Malaysian border.
Therefore it can be said, that Thailand has only three seasons, which affect the various regions of the country in different ways:
THE RAINY SEASON (May till October):
Brings rainfalls mainly to the west coast (Phuket, Krabi). In inland regions, the rains come later and less plentiful, but there too rainfalls increase around September, October. Yet already in May there can be minor floods in Bangkok.
THE COOL SEASON (November till February)
Is generally the most ideal time for travelling, with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees (68° - 86° F) and almost constant sunshine.
THE HOT SEASON (March till May):
From about end of February the mercury begins to rise. Afternoon temperatures of around 36 degrees are not uncommon and especially in the inland regions life begins to slow down when temperatures rise to the 40 degree mark. This is a good time to be near a cool body of water or in higher mountain regions.
This information should be regarded as a general guide. Even during the rainy season there are lengthy periods of sunny weather. Therefore, when only a short holiday is being considered, it is advisable to consult the website of The Meteorological Institute of Thailand: www.tmd.go.th
The ideal travel season
For extended holidays, the cool season (from mid November till March) would have to be the ideal time. On the islands around Samui the rains continue until December. When planning a trip it is important to take in consideration the local school holiday periods as well as public holidays. There are holidays in mid January (Chinese New Year) several more from the middle of April (Songkran) until the middle of May (various religious festivals), then again in November (Loy Krathong) and finally the festivities around year's end. At all these times public transport is booked out and road traffic can be chaotic. On secondary roads and in localities frequented mainly by foreigners, the situation is not bad. On weekends, the surroundings of the capital Bangkok (Pattaya, Hua-Hin and Rayong) are generally overrun by tourists. Nature lovers should preferably travel on weekdays. During the touristic off season from May 1 until October 15, hotels and resorts offer discounts of up to 50 percent. More importantly there are fewer people around, so that the atmosphere at beaches, waterfalls and temples is much more quiet and relaxed.
The language
The Thai language belongs to the family of sino-tibetan languages. Like Chinese, Thai is a monosyllabic language, a structure that is totally unknown to westerners. In Thai a word can have five different meanings, depending in which tone it is spoken. In the common language there are five different tones: Rising, falling, the high, the middle and the dropped tone. This is even for the keen learner among foreigners quite a challenge. A well developed sense of hearing could be an advantage here. The Dewanagari Alphabet used by the Thais, which was introduced in the 13. century and is based on the South-Indian Pali writing, represents a further difficulty. But there is one consolation: The structure of sentences and the grammar of the Thai language are relatively simple.
The People
Why is Thailand known worldwide as the "Land of Smiles"? When you visit Thailand, you will notice immediately that Thai people put on a smile in all situations of life. Even though because of modern pressures this smile is slightly fading, especially among the city population, it is still an ever present feature of Thai culture.
This smile can be a sign of friendliness and good will, an attempt to instill confidence in another person or to appease someone in a confrontation, or it may be an expression of hope to camouflage one's own insecurity in an embarrassing situation. Then there is the smile when making a request or to show one's respect or to appear less blunt when denying a request. Even though foreigners may find this difficult to understand, the Thai people's smile makes the daily contact with them extremely pleasant.
Passports:
To enter Thailand, a passport valid for six months on date of application is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Passport note:
Travellers coming from or have recently travelled through yellow fever-infected areas may be required to show an International Health Certificate proving they have been vaccinated, before being allowed to enter Thailand.
Visas:
Visas for Thailand are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 30 days (if entering via an international airport) or 15 days (if entering by land from a neighbouring country), provided they hold valid passports, sufficient funds (10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family) and confirmed airline tickets to leave Thailand within the time allowed by their visa, except:
Nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Malta who may apply for visas on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.
Visa note:
- The total duration of stay in Thailand for persons who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six month period, counting from the date of first entry.
- If you intend on staying for longer than 30 days you must obtain a Tourist visa for stays of up to 60 days or a Non-immigrant visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Types and cost:
Transit: £17. Tourist: £28 (per entry). Non-immigrant: £45 (single-entry/3 month); £100 (multiple-entry/1 year); £300 (multiple entry/3 year). There is also a £15 administration fee.
Validity:
- Tourist: three months, six months for more than one entry.
- Non-immigrant single-entry: three months.
- Non-immigrant multiple-entry: one year; three years.
Application to:
Nearest consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission).
Temporary residence:
Visitors to Thailand who wish to conduct business, work or study in the country can apply for a non-immigrant visa. This allows holders a stay period up to 90 days. In addition, to be able to work, visitors must hold a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour.
Working days:
Applications must be made in person and take two working days to process.
Sufficient funds:
Proof of adequate finances for the duration of your stay in Thailand is required at the point of entry into the country (i.e. traveller’s cheque and/or cash equivalent to 10,000 Baht (£200) per person and 20,000 Baht (£400) per family).
Extension of stay:
Tourist visas can be extended at any immigration office in Thailand to extend validity for another period.
Be wary of visa-run or visa extension services offering to renew your visa - these are illegal and each year a number of tourists are jailed, having turned up to border crossings with a fake Thailand visa or entry stamp in their passport.
Thailand visa extensions must be made before the current visa runs out, otherwise you will be charged a fine of 500 baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. A lengthy overstay can incur a maximum penalty of a spell in jail before being deported and banned from returning to the country.
Entry with pets:
An incoming passenger can import up to two pets at one time.
These include all domestic animals such as dogs, birds, cats etc. subject to the production of a required health certificate from their country of origin. Pets are still liable for the usual quarantine checks upon arrival.
Time
Time in Thailand is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+ 7).
Religion
Thailand is one of the most strongly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism, a branch of Hinayana Buddhism, practiced by more than 90 % of all Thais.
The remainder of the population adheres to Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and other faiths all of which are allowed full freedom of expression. Buddhism continues to cast strong influence on daily life. Senior monks are highly revered. Thus, in towns and villages, the temple (wat) is the heart of social and religious life. Meditation, one of the most popular aspects of Buddhism, is practiced regularly by numerous Thai as a means of promoting inner peace and happiness. Visitors, too, can learn the fundamentals of this practice at several centres in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.
Language
Spoken and written Thai remain largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and other European languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants, in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nation-wide.
Traveller's Cheques/ Cheques/Credit Cards
US dollar traveler cheques can be conveniently cashed at all provincial banks and authorized money changers. Traveler cheques in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok where better rates prevail. Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower then those offered by banks and authorised money changers. Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops. Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nation-wide, Monday through Friday, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30 AM and 3.30 PM. Major banks such as Bangkok Bank, Thai Danu Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank operate currency exchange centres in most tourist areas from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM, seven days a week, including holidays. Many first-class hotels provide 24'-hour money exchange services, but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss francs. Travellers’ cheques are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel guests.