Neighboring countries:
1) Myanmar - west and
north,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast,
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south.
Area: 513,115
sq. km.
Topography:
Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions:
1) The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured
orchids, fastinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures
are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate
fruits such as strawberries and peaches;
2) The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards
its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries;
3) The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice
and fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture
and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East
Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok;
4) The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and
idyllic islands complement economically vital tin mining,
rubber cultivation and fishing.
Population: Thais are wellknown for their friendliness and hospitality.
A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand
are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic
origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 7 million
people reside in the capital city of Bangkok.
People: Thai (80%), Chinese
(10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers,
hilltribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area
has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus
produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such,
however, that culturally and socially there is enormous
unity.
Language: Spoken
and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual
visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly
in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language.
English and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels,
shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and
Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.
Religion: Buddhism (95%), Muslim
(4%), others (1%)
Government: Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy
since 1932. Parliament is composed of 2 houses, The House
of Representatives and the Senate. Both representatives
and senators are elected by the people. A prime minister
elected from among the representatives leads the government.
The country is divided into 76 provinces. The Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration comes under an elected governor. Appointed
provincial governors administer the other 75 provinces (Changwat),
which are divided into districts (Amphoe), sub-districts
(Tambon) and villages (Mu Ban).
Head of State: H.R.H. King
Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty)
Prime Minister: Thaksin Shinawatra
Administration: 76 provinces, each subdivided into amphoe
(district), tambon (sub-disrict) and muban (village)
National Flag: The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize
the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively.
Time: The time in Thailand
is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).
Climate: Thailand enjoys
a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry
from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius
and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June
to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and
87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures
range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius
with a drop in humidity).
Much lower temperatures
are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime.
The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures
averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.
Electricity: The electric
current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country.
Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travellers
with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other
appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels
will make available 110-volt transformers.
Tap water :
Tap water is clean but drinking from it directly should
be avoided. Bottled water is recommended
Clothing :
Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed
for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts
(except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts,
tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate
dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.
Weights & measures :
The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals
on vehicle speed ometers, highway markers and speed limits
all indicate kilometres.
Business hours : Most comercial
concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week, usually
from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from
10 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between
8.30 am and 4.30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday
to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays
to Fridays from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm except on public holidays.
Postal Services : Thailand's
mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide
basic postal services on their premises. Provincial post
offices are usually open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
International Roaming Mobile Phone : A
Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available
for Thai and foreigh customers who are travelling around
for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with
a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a
Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range.
Fax and E-mail : All of
Thailand's leading hotels offer facsimile (fax) and e-mail
services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities,
most often in conjunction with translation services.
Internet Services : Thailand
has been expanding its information service for residents
and tourists alike through the Internet system. Services
are now available at Thailand's leading hotels and at the
many " cybercafes " that are cropping up in all major tourist
destinations.
Telephone services : At
present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long
distance calls within the country) have nine digits.
- For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the
existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222.
- For provincial calls, an area code is
added to the existing numbers. For example, area code
for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 5324 8604; area code for Phuket
is 076 = 0 7621 1036.
- For mobile phones, 01 or 09 is added
to the existing numbers.
- The new system has no effect on international
phone calls.
- The international dialling code for Thailand
is 66.
- When making international calls to Thailand,
add 66 and omit the leading 0.
- When making international calls from
Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone
number
- If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is
a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
- When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area
code+telephone number
- When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area
code+telephone number
- Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100
(international)
