Facts about thailand

7/28/2019 Facts about thailand

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TIPS AND FACTS ABOUT THAILAND

(Source: Thaiways. "A Guide for Tourists & Businessman")________________________________

FACTS ABOUT THAILAND________________________________

GEOGRAPHY: Thailand has a land area of 513,115 Sq. km. bordered by Malaysia(South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East) and Cambodia (Southeast).

CLIMATE: Temperature varies from 38oC to 19oC; humidity from 82.8% to 66% .

SEASONS: Hot (March to May), Rainy (June to October) and Cool (November toFebruary); average temperature 27oC

POPULATION: About 61.5 million. Of the total, 84.7% live in rural areas, 9.9% inBangkok, and 5.4% in other towns and cities.

RELIGION: Buddhist 95%, Muslim 3. 9%, Christian 0. 5%, Others 0. 6%

GOVERNMENT: A constitutional monarchy headed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej,(Rama IX) with 76 provinces, each sub-divided into amphoes (districts), tambons (subdistricts), and mubans (group of villages).

Head of State: H.R.H. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty)

Prime Minister : Mr.Samak Sundaravej (Recently elected from PPP)

President of the Council of National Security:

Administration: 76 provinces, each subdivided into amphoe (district), tambon (sub-district) and muban (village)

NATIONAL FLAG: The red, white and blue bands symbolize the Nation, Buddhismand the Monarchy respectively.

lARGEST PROVINCES

Nakhon Ratchasima 20,493. 96 sq.kmChiang Mai. 20,107.06 sq.km.Kanchanaburi 19,483.15 sq.km.

HIGHEST PEAKS

Doi Inthanon 2,565 m.Doi Luang 2,175 m.Phu Soi Dao 2,102 m.


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LARGEST ISLANDS

Phuket 543.00 sq.km.Samui 239.90 sq.km.Chang 212.09 sq.km.

PRINCIPAL RIVERS

Chi 765 km.Mun 750 km.Nan 740 km.Chao Phraya 370 km. (or 1,110 km. if Nan is included).

MEASUREMENT OF AREA:Thailand has its own system of area measurement. The basic units are square wa (4sq. m.) and rai (400 sq. wa or 1,600 sq.m. or 0.16 hectare).

CLOTHING: Thin cotton is the best. A jacket or sweater may be necessary in the coolseason, especially in a mountainous area of the North or Northeast.

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts 50 cycles throughout the country.

WATER: Drink only bottled or boiled water.

DINING: You can find places to eat 24 hours a day, but better avoid sidewalk stallswhere, though food is cheap and palatable, hygienic conditions may sometimes not beup to standards.

SHOPPING: You have a wide range of good buys to choose from. They are beautifulbecause Thais are gifted artists, and inexpensive because the labor cost is low.

VISA Almost all foreign nationals can stay in Thailand for up to 15 days without a visa.Contact the Royal Thai embassies or consulates for details. To extend your visa afterarriving in Thailand, contact the Immigration Division in Soi Suan Phlu off Sathorn TaiRoad, Bangkok, Tel. 2864231.


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CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS_____________________________

Thailand is a Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred.Sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreignvisitors.

Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence,and so will not tolerate foreigners talking about them in disrespect.

Generally Thai women are conservative. So do not touch them without theirconsent.

Dress properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Take your shoes off beforegoing inside the hall of worship. Ladies must not on any account touch aBuddhist monk, give things direct to him or receive things direct from him.

Intimacies between man and woman should not be shown in the public.Sunbathing in the nude is prohibited.

Call Thais their first names; use the title "Khun" to all adults (male & Female).

Thai people smile to express gladness and happiness, to thank for smallservices, to return the wai (a way of greeting) of children and inferior persons,

and even to excuse small inconveniences.__________________________

CURRENCY__________________________

Foreign visitors may freely bring in foreign currencies or other types of foreignexchange. Upon leaving Thailand, they may freely take out all foreign exchangethey have brought in. For residents, unlimited amounts of foreign notes andcoins, but no more than US$20,000 in drafts or cheque, may be taken out fortraveling expenses.

Foreign visitors may bring in an unlimited amount of Thai currency. Fortravelers leaving Thailand, the maximum amount permitted to take out withoutprior authorization is 50,000 Baht per person or, if they are going to one ofThailand's neighboring countries, 100,000 Baht per person.

Foreign tourists are allowed to take out gold ornaments free. But import andexport of gold other than jewelry are subject to licensing by the Ministry ofFinance.

The basic monetary unit in Thailand is the Baht. A Baht is divided into 100satang. The following coins and notes are currently in use:


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Coins: 25 and 50 satang; 1,5 and 10 Baht.Bank notes: 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1,000 (pale

brown) Baht.

Major foreign currencies can be exchanged for Thai Baht with banks andauthorized money changers. Major credit cards are also widely accepted intourist centers.

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CUSTOMS REGULATIONS__________________________

Exports of Buddha images (except small ones carried on person), antiques andgenuine works of art require export licenses from the Fine Arts Department.The shop you deal with can provide such service for you.

It is prohibited by law to bring any of the following items into Thailand: Narcotics(e.g., marijuana, hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin); obscene literature orpicture; firearms or ammunition - unless a permit has been obtained from thePolice Department or the local Registration Office; certain species of fruits,vegetables and plants.

One still camera with 5 rolls of unused film, one movie-camera with 3 rolls ofunused film and used household effects may be brought in free of duty.

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DINING__________________________

Most Thai food is already cut into small pieces before serving or made softenough to be cut with a spoon or fork; thus, knives are not necessary.

Salt-shakers are rarely found on Thai dinner tables, so add a little caramel-colorfish-sauce (called nam-pla in Thai) instead, if you find your food not saltyenough.

English is spoken in large restaurants; and most establishments have menus inThai and English, except street-side food stalls and some small restaurants.

Normally, a tip of 10-20 Baht or 5 -10% of the bill should be left when dining in amiddle-or high-class restaurant.

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SHOPPING__________________________

Bargaining is an art long practiced in Asian countries including Thailand. So feelfree to ask for a proper discount when shopping in places where prices are notmarked.


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Be careful in dealing with sidewalk vendors who may not offer genuine goods at

fair prices.

Receipts should be obtained for the goods you buy. For jewelry you must get a

certificate of guarantee as well

Some shops can offer a money-back guarantee, but you should clearlydetermine all conditions with the shopkeeper beforehand.

LIST OF USEFUL THAI EXPRESSIONS

Kharp The Important word spoken by males only; can meanyes sir or yes Maam

Kha The important word spoken by females only; meansthe same as Khrap

Phom I or me (spoken by males only)

Chan I or me (spoken by females only)

Khun Mr, Ms, Mrs

Sa Wat Di Hello; Good morning, Good evening, Good afternoon,Good night, Good-bye

Khop Khun Khrap/Kha Thank you

Khaw Thot Excuse me, Sorry

Mai Pen Rai It does not matter. Never mind

Ki Baht/Tao Rai How much?

Phaeng Expensive

Lot Ra Kha Dai Mai Any discount?


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Chai Yes

Mai No

Ah Rai What?

Sai Left

Khwa Right

Trong Pai Straight ahead

Yud Stop

Pai AIT Go to AIT

Khap AIT Go back to AIT

Hong Nam Rest room, Toilet

Ta lat Market

Ran Ah Han Restaurant

Phoot Thai Mai Dai I cant speak Thai

Mai Kao Chai I dont understand

Tai Ruup Dai Mai May I take a Photograph?

Food and Beverage

Cha Tea

Kafae Coffee


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Cha/kafae ron Hot tea/coffee

Nam Water

Nom Milk

Nam Som Orange Juice

Khai Egg

Kai Chicken

Pla Fish

Mu Pork

Kung Prawn

Phak Vegetable

Klui Banana

Sap pa rot Pineapple

Ma la kaw Papaya

Kuai teaw Noodle

Kin dai mai Is it edible? Is it fit to be eaten?

Kin dai Edible; It can be eaten

Kin mai dai Not edible; cannot be eaten


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Pham/Chan

Pen muslim

I am a muslim

Ah han muslim Muslim food

Numbers

soon Zero

neung one

saung Two

sam three

si Four

ha Five

hok six

jet seven

paet eight

kao nine

sip ten

sip et eleven

sip saung twelve

yi sip twenty

yi sip et twenty one

yi sip saung twenty two


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sam sip thirty

sam sip et thirty one (substituting sam for yisip)

si sip forty (substituting si for yi)

ha sip fifty

hok sip sixty

chet sip seventy

paet sip eighty

kau sip ninety

neung roei one hundred

neung phan one thousand

neung meaun ten thousand

neung sean one hundred thousand

neung land one million

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