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Geography
Thailand is bordered by Burma in the West and North, Laos
and Cambodia to the East, and Malaysia to the South. It was
originally known as Siam, but the name was changed to Thailand
in the 1930's. Thailand means "Land of the free".
Thailand covers about 517,000 square kilometers and has a
population of about 61 million growing at a rate of 1.5% per
annum. Slightly smaller then the state of Texas and close
to the size of France. Because Thailand has been a cultural
crossroads for so long, many different types of people make
up the Thai population. Chinese, Cambodians, Laotians, Burmese,
Malays, Indians,
and Europeans have all helped populate the country. As a result,
the Thais are a very tolerant people. There is even a village
on the Thonburi side of the river opposite Wat Po whose inhabitants
are descended from Portuguese settlers from about 400 years
ago.
Most people in Thailand are Buddhist, but Muslims, Christians
and other religions are all integrated into Thai society.
It is divided into six major regions: the mountainous North
where you can enjoy jungle trekking, visit hill tribes, buy
beautiful handicrafts and savor mouth watering fruits such
as strawberries and peaches; the sprawling North-east plateau
where the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization flourished
some 5,000 years ago and today the colorful E-Sarn people
farm a wide variety of crops; the Central plain, one of the
world's most fertile rice stands one of the leading rice exporters
to the world and fruit-growing areas; the Eastern coastal
plain where you will find Pattaya, Koh Chang and Koh Samet;
the Western mountains and valleys where you can visit the
infamous Bridge over the River Kwai: and the southern peninsula
where you can visit Koh Samui and Phuket islands.
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Seasons/Weather
Thailand only has 3 seasons: The dry, hot season (March to
June); the rainy season (July to October); and Winter (November
to February). You will need light clothing most of the year.
Cotton is good, but anything light will do, especially during
the hot season. You will need an umbrella for the wet season
and a hat for the hot season. You might need a sweater, jumper
or jacket during Winter. But about the only people you see
wearing warm clothing during Winter are the Thais and Westerners
who have lived here a long time. Temperatures reach as low
as zero degrees C in the northern mountains. If you are going
trekking in Winter, take warm Winter clothing with you.
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Cultural Manners
The pace in Thailand is often slow and the efficiency often
leaves a lot to be desired. Communication can be difficult,
because in Thailand English is not widely spoken. Be patience
and have a good sense of humor raising your voice will only
make matters worse! Also it shows that you are ill mannered.
In Thai culture the head is considered the highest and most
respected part of your body and the feet is the lowest. For
this reason one is expected to take off ones shoes when entering
a house or temple. Sitting on a pillow that a person puts
their head on is disrespectful as a guest. Books should never
be put on the ground or the floor as it shows the disrespect
for intelligence.
Proper attire is important to the Thais, especially visiting
temples or someone's house. Long trousers, dress no higher
then the knee, shirts that cover the shoulders and footwear
should never be thongs. When entering someone's home or a
temple the visitor must take off their shoes as a way of showing
respect and cleanliness.
Do not use your feet to point as it is bad manners and frowned
upon.
The Wai: Thais are traditionally polite. But instead
of shaking hands they place their palms together and raise
their fingertips level with the chest or face. This is the
"Wai". The exact position of the hands depends on
the status, relationship, and many other factors of the person
they are greeting. Generally speaking, if a person is senior
(either in age, social position, or job) to you, you should
raise your hands a little higher; say level with your eyes.
Younger people Wai older and senior people first. If this
all sounds complicated it is. A good rule of thumb is to "reply
with a Wai." If someone Wai's you, do the same back.
However, you shouldn't Wai waitresses, doormen, and other
people who Wai you as part of their job. But if you do, no
problem. For more information, go to www.ThaiMyWay.com
Other Social Considerations: You should also avoid
stepping on the raised entry way of any temple door, as this
is considered bad luck. If you see a pile of shoes outside
a door, take your shoes off before entering.
The Royal Family is highly respected in Thailand. His Royal
Highness Bhumibol Adulyaded Mahidol (Rama IX) is the longest
ruling monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. Together with his wife,
Her Royal Highness Sirikit, and children (three daughters
and on 1 son), he contributes a lot to the development of
his country. Criticism or insulting remarks towards the Royal
family are absolutely not tolerated.
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Money/Banking
Virtually all banks accept traveller cheques as well as cash
in most foreign currencies.
Business hours: Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00
hours in Bangkok and 08.30 - 15.30 hours in the provinces.Money
Changers have stalls throughout the tourist areas that change
for about
the same rate as the banks. Hotels can also change money but
will change at lower rates then the banks. Major credit cards
can use ATM machines to withdraw cash.
Currency: The Thai currency is the Baht. The smallest
coins are called stang (100 stang = 1 Baht, pronounced SA-TUNG),
but only 25 and 50 stang coins are available. Bank notes are:
10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000.
If you need to change money when you arrive at the airport,
change only enough to get you to town. There Are plenty of
money changers in town who will give you a much better exchange
rate than at the airport. And change your money at the exchange
booths. They give you a much better rate than the banks.
Whenever you change money make sure you ask for a receipt.
You may be asked to produce receipts at the airport as you
leave. You can bring in and take out any amount of foreign
currency. But you will need authorization from the Bank of
Thailand to take out more than 50,000 Baht.
Credit cards: Thailand recognizes most popular credit
cards, including American Express, Visa and Master Card. However,
American Express imposes severe restrictions on credit card
use in Thailand. If you are not sure about whether your credit
card will work in Thailand, ask your bank to
find out before you leave home to avoid being placed in an
embarassing situation.
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Post & Telephone
Post Offices: Monday to Friday, 08.30 to 17.00 hours
Saturday 08.30 to 12.00.
International calls can be made from most Post Offices. Credit
card phones are available, but not always readily available.
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Arrival Tips
When you arrive at the airport: You will be besieged by touts
trying to get you to book hotels with them, take their taxis,
and all manner of other 'services'. My advice is to ignore
them all. If you are booked into an international hotel you
should already have a car and driver waiting for you as you
come out of the arrivals lounge. But if you do not, take a
taxi or limousine from the airport. If you are on a budget,
head upstairs to the departure hall and take a meter taxi
from there. The average cost to go to Sukhumvit Road is 180
to 250 Baht depending on traffic congestion. Make sure your
driver turns on the meter.
Otherwise, go the the transport
desks as you exit to the left of the arrivals lounge:
Transport from the Airport Limousine 500 to 650 baht
per car to any hotel in Bangkok
Airport Taxi 400 baht per car to any hotel
Public Taxi 250 baht per car. Contact the public taxi
counter next to the limousine counter
Air-conditioned bus to Pattaya 200 baht per person.
Leave the Airport 3 times A day at 9 a.m., Noon and 7 p.m.
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Taxi
Bangkok taxis are usually small Japanese cars. But there are
plenty of them and prices are reasonable. Now that we have
metered taxis, getting into one is much faster and easier.
There is no need to negotiate a price in advance. Just get
in and make sure the driver turns the meter on. If he doesn't,
get out immediately and don't pay anything. If you stay in,
he will charge you whatever he feels like, or if you bargain
the price with him you will finish up paying much more than
the standard meter price. Find another taxi and avoid the
hassle. The starting price on the meter is 35 Baht.
Your driver will probably ask if you would like to visit a
massage parlour or jewelry shop. Decline any offers like this
politely. It is better to find your own way around. Get a
copy of Bangkok Metro Magazine to find out what's on and where
to go in Bangkok. The free tourist guide, 'Thailand This Week'
is available in most hotel lobbies. Get a copy and refer to
it frequently.
Most tourists will want to try out a Tuk Tuk ride at some
time. The Tuk Tuk is a Thai invention and consists of a 3
wheel vehicle powered by a motorcycle engine, with a canvas
canopy and a bench seat behind the driver. Go ahead and try
one, but try to make your journey a short one. These vehicles
are very frisky and have been known to go swimming in khlongs,
barking up trees, racing with 10 wheel trucks (and losing),
ducking under buses, and falling over and taking a rest in
the middle of the road. Your driver will usually be an uneducated
Esarn (Eastern Thailand) rice farmer who has just arrived
in town. He probably won't speak any English, and he will
try and take you for a financial ride as well. The average
price for a one block trip (the most you should consider)
is 20 Baht. The rule here is, Bargain, Bargain, Bargain that
price!
VAT Tax
The government will refund any VAT tax you pay as long as
you keep the receipts and present them to the VAT refund counter
at the airport before you leave.
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Time Zone
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+7). But once you step
off the plane at the airport you have entered a completely
different time zone: What we call "Thai Time", or
"Rubber Time". This means that any appointment you
make will not be the actual time of that appointment. If you
turn up on time, (highly unlikely with all the traffic) the
person you are meeting probably will be late. They too, will
Blame the traffic. This can be disconcerting at first, but
you soon get used to it. Just be prepared for a short wait
whenever you arrive for an appointment on time.
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Electrical Voltage
All electrical appliances in Thailand use 220V AC electricity,
and nothing is earthed. If you are bringing appliances from
the USA or Australia, be prepared to invest in a transformer,
or a plug adapter. Electrical plugs in Thailand use only 2
prongs.
If you bring computers from other countries it is almost impossible
to get them serviced here, whether they are under warranty
or not. If you do have trouble, contact Nikorn Viravatanadej
at Tel. 2539144, Fax 2532811, and Email: hotline@1-sys.com.
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Customs Restriction
Thailand bans importing the following illegal items Beware!
You can be EXECUTED or sent to prison for life for DRUG smuggling
or in possession:
Cameras: One still camera or one movie camera can be
brought in without duty. Five rolls of still camera film or
three rolls of 8 or 16 mm movie camera film may be brought
in duty free
Household effects: As a householder, you can bring
in a reasonable amount of personal and household effects duty
free
Firearms: You must apply for a permit to imort firearms
and ammunition. Once you have a permit you can bring them
in duty free.
Tobacco, alcoholic beverages: Not more than 200 or
not exceeding 250 gms of cigarettes, cigars, or tobacco. One
litre each of wine or spirits may be brought duty free
Plants and animals: Certain species of fruits, vegetables
and plants are prohibited from import into Thailand. The Agricultural
Regulatory Division) at Bangkhen, Bangkok can tell you exactly
what is prohibited. Phone them on (662) 5791581 or 5793576.
You can get permission to bring in animals arriving by air
at the airport. If they arrive by sea, you must apply to the
Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok, phone (662)
2515136, 2526944. Vaccination certificates are required.
In addition, you need a license to export various wild animals
or products made from the skins of reptiles like crocodile,
snake, monitor lizard, and long tail monitors You can apply
for an export license certified by the Forestry Department,
Wildlife Conservation Division, Phone: (662) 5614838.
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Shopping Tips
Shopping in Thailand is a real adventure. Prices can vary
considerably, depending on many factors. Department store
prices are fixed, but most shops, and market and street vendors
can all be talked into a lower price. In fact, they will quote
you an outrageous price when you first ask, expecting you
to bargain them down to something reasonable. Don't be shy
about bargaining. If you buy something for the first price
you are asked, you will not get much respect, and you certainly
won't get any bargains. Thais love to bargain, so play the
game and have fun.
How to Bargain: A good guide is to halve the first price
quoted, and then go up in small increments. If the seller
is not coming close enough to your price, try walking away.
If they call you back, the game goes on until you both agree.
Bargaining can take several offers and counter offers before
a final price is agreed on. It's a good idea to check out
a few places first to find out the median price being asked.
You might also want to check out the prices at department
stores first. You will be able to buy goods at about one third
less than the department stores once you start bargaining.
However, this is not always true. Department stores often
have sales where they cut the price by up to 80%. So shop
around. Don't buy in a hurry. Shopping in Thailand should
be fun...not a chore.
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Airport Departure Tax
is 500 baht for international flights, domestic airport tax
is already included in the ticket price.
Thai Language
Thai is a tonal monosyllabio language. There are 5 tonal levels
of pronouncing - normal or middle tone, low, high, rising
and falling. "th" and "z" don't appear
at all, while some Thai sounds are not commonly used in English
either. There are no plurals in Thai, nor are there tenses
as such. A word or two is usually added to determine the past,
present or future. If you run into difficulties, remember
to speak slowly and clearly, stick to the simple present tense
and don't use slang or idioms. In Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket
and Pattaya the level of English is quite good, but tourists
outside the city will find that the Thai's ability to speak
English diminish as one moves further away. In Thai there
is a "politening" word attached to the end of anything
you say. For men it is "Khrap", for women it is
"kha". The words have little if any direct translation
but a Thai will think very highly of you if you use it. Learning
to count one to ten, and saying "thank you" and
"excuse me" will bring you great admiration from
the locals. Learning the numbers also give wonders for your
bargaining savy.
Simple Words to Know:
| One |
Neung |
Eleven |
Sip-et |
| Two |
Sorng |
Twelve |
Sip-Sorng |
| Three |
Sahm |
Thirteen |
Sip-Sahm |
| Four |
See |
Twenty |
Yee-sip |
| Five |
Hah |
Twenty-one |
Yee-sip-et |
| Six |
Hok |
One hundred |
Neung-roi |
| Seven |
Jed |
One Thousand |
Neung-pun |
| Eight |
Pad |
Ten thousand |
Neung-meun |
| Nine |
Gao |
One hundred
thousand |
Neung-sann |
| Ten |
Sip |
One million |
Neung-lahn |
| |
| Hello |
Sawat-dee (khrap/kha) |
Do you have
…? |
Mee mai |
Thank you
(very much)
|
Khob khum (mahk) |
Where is
the toilet ? |
Hong nam yoo
tee nai |
| Never mind/
that's alright |
Mai pen rai |
I don't want
it |
Mai ow |
| Excuse me |
Khor thod |
I want it |
Ow |
| Yes |
Chai |
What's this? |
Nee a'rai |
| No |
Mai Chai |
What's your
name? |
Khun cheu a-rai |
| How much
? |
Tao rai |
What time? |
Gee mong leaw |
| Where is? |
Yoo tee ny |
Why? |
Tummai |
| My name is
… |
Pom/Di-Chun
cheu … |
When? |
Meua-rai |
| Please to
meet you |
Yin dee tee
dai roo-juk |
Who? |
Krai |
| Could I have
(a,some)… |
Kor |
|
|
| |
| I (male) |
Pom |
He/She/They |
Kow |
| I (female) |
Di-chun |
We |
Row |
| You |
Khun |
It |
Mun |
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Thai Cuisine
Thai food is widely known for being hot and spicy since almost
all Thai food is cooked with basic ingredients such as garlic,
chillies, lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander leaf and
fermented fish sauce (nampla) or shrimp paste (kapi) to make
it salty. Since rice is the staple food in Thailand, it is usually
eaten at every meal with soups, curries, fried vegetables and
nam phrik. Nam phrik is a hot sauce prepared in a variety of
ways and differs from region to region.
Thai food varies from region to region, for example, glutinous
or sticky rice is more popular in the North and Northeast than
steamed rice. Moreover, in some rural areas, certain insects
are also eaten e.g. crickets, silk worm larvae, red ant larvae.
At the same time, Thai desserts are often made from sticky rice
or coconut milk, flour, egg and coconut sugar while a variety
of fruit is available all the year round.
Food in the Northeast is hot, salty and sour. Their favourite
foods include papaya salad (som tam), sour chopped meat salad
"koi" , sour minced meat salad (larp). People use
a lot of condiments but no many spices. Their meals generally
consists of sticky rice and nam phrik pla raa accompanied by
a lot of vegetables including those found growing wild. On the
other hand, food in the South is renowned for being very hot,
salty and sour-tasting. Curries are popular and made with a
lot of spices and condiments. Khao yam (a mixture of rice) raw
vegetables and fermented fish sauce or boo doo is also a common
dish. Generally southern people eat little meat and other varieties
of nam phrik are not so popular, the most common one is nam
phrik kapi.
Though the major portion of Thai food is described as being
spiced and chilli hot, it currently enjoys worldwide popularity
especially the exotic Tom Yam Kung, a uniquely piquant prawn
soup that is renowed for its simplicity, creativity, artistic
flair and dilicious taste. Above all, the tastes of Thai cuisines
can be amended to suit individual desire, for example, by reducing
the amounts of lime juice to increase sourness. Visitors who
have tried the exotic Thai food will never forget to order them
again whenever their favorite dishes are available. (Thai foods
- information from Assumption University)
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Public Holidays
January 1, New Year's Day
April 6, Chakri Day (the Royal dynasty)
April 13-17, Songkran Festival Day (a real fun festival
- throw water over each other to beat the heat) Thailand closes
down for the duration, so plan your trip accordingly.
May 5, Coronation Day but long weekend extends from May
5 to 8 August 12, H.M. The Queen's Birthday, but holiday extends
to 13th August as the 12th is a Sunday
October 23, Chulalongkorn Day (anniversary of the King
who modernized Thailand)
December 5, H.M. The King's Birthday
December 10, Constitution Day
December 31, New Year's Eve
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