Travel Guide Thai Fruits CONTENTS Introduction to the Land of Smiles 4 Formalities and Other Regulations 16 How to Get to Thailand 19 General Tourist Information 24 Communication Services 29 Dining 30 Shopping 32 Entertainment and Recreation 34 Special Interests 40 Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok Introduction Travellers, as soon as they arrive, are safe from the to the Land of Smiles turmoil of life. Even in the big city of Bangkok, the uniqueness of the food, architecture, language, The Kingdom of Thailand is predominantly Buddhist customs, and religion stimulates the senses. Away and one of the best countries in the world in which from the capital city, on the pristine sandy beaches to spend a vacation. Blessed with a tropical climate, and emerald seas in the South or in the mountains it is possible to travel comfortably throughout the of the North, visitors can drowse their days away in a country at any time of the year. long, deep, peaceful dream. 4 Travel Guide The Royal Barge Procession The population is made up of a rich mix of ethnic groups- mainly Thai, Mon, Khmer, Laotian, Chinese, Malay, Persian, and Indian. Thai culture is evident everywhere in the Kingdom, in Buddhist rites which take place in numerous temples, in the succession of festivals that occur throughout the year, and at the country markets where locals haggle, politely, for everything from food to clothing. Travel Guide 5 Rice Field of Ban Pha Mon Village, Chiang Mai Landscape Thailand is divided into four main regions as outlined ancient temple ruins, distinctive food, architecture, below: and dialects. Central Plains: Twenty-six provinces make up Central South: Bound by the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Thailand with Bangkok as its centre. The rain-fed net- Sea, the South is a beach person’s paradise. Scattered work of rivers and canals makes this the most fertile islands off the coast decorate this tropical haven. part of Thailand, supporting vast fields of rice, sugar Brightly painted fishing boats catch a myriad of cane, and a variety of fruit. seafood, and long stretches of white sandy beaches beckon. North: The North’s hilly ranges are home to most of Thailand’s hill-tribe population. Lightly populated and Climate undisturbed by modern times, these mountain ranges Thailand’s weather is tropical, hot and humid all year have vast rugged vistas, waterfalls, and trails where round, with a plentiful rainfall that brings cooler conditions. one can discover remarkable sights. This region is rich in traditional culture and architecture, including some of the country’s most majestic temples. Time Time in the Kingdom of Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7). Northeast: Known as “I-San,” this area sits on the Khorat Plateau and traditional Thai customs strongly flourish. Compared to the rest of Thailand, I-san has a slower Government pace but the people retain the same friendliness that The government of Thailand is a constitutional is found throughout the Kingdom. Both Lao and monarchy inspired by the British democratic model. Khmer influences can be experienced in the region’s The national voting age is 18. 6 Travel Guide Similan Island, Phang-Nga Travel Guide 7 Songkran Festival 8 Travel Guide Loi Krathong Festival Holidays and Festivals Exact dates for festivals vary from year to year as many Asalha Puja Day (full moon, eighth lunar month) - A are based on the lunar cycle. The following are just a public holiday marking the Lord Buddha’s first sermon. few of the major holidays and festivals in Thailand: Khao Phansa (July) - A public holiday celebrating the New Year’s Day (1 January) beginning of Buddhist Lent. Magha Puja Day (full moon, third lunar month) - A H.M. the King’s Birthday (28 July) - A public holiday public holiday commemorating the gathering of the celebrating the birth of H.M. King Vajiralongkorn. Lord Buddha’s disciples that culminates with a candlelit H.M. Queen Sirikit’s Birthday / Mother’s Day (12 August) walk around the main chapel of every temple across - A public holiday celebrating the birth of Queen Sirikit the country. of Thailand. Chinese New Year (late January to early February) - A Ok Phansa (October) - End of Buddhist Lent. week of festivities and firework displays in the Chinese neighborhoods throughout Thailand. Chulalongkorn Day (23 October) - A public holiday to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn Chakri Day (6 April) - A public holiday commemorating (King Rama V). the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I. Loi Krathong Festival (full moon, twelfth lunar month) Songkran Festival (13-15 April) - During this Thai New - This most charming of all Thai celebrations usually Year, people pour scented water into the hands of falls in November. People launch Krathongs, lotus- parents and the elderly and ask for their blessings. blossom- shaped vessels made of banana leaves Water is splashed on others as a “gesture of good luck.” containing a candle, incense sticks, flowers, and coins Be prepared to get wet. onto the rivers, lakes, and/or canals to pay respect to the goddess of water. Labour Day (1 May) The King’s Rama IX’s Birthday (5 December) - A Coronation Day (5 May) - A public holiday celebrating public holiday to commemorate the King Bhumibol the coronation of H.M. King Vajiralongkorn (King Adulyadej’s (King Rama IX). Rama X). Constitution Day (10 December) - A public holiday Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day (May) - Held in May celebrating Thailand’s democratic constitution. when the rice-growing season begins. New Year’s Eve (31 December) - Celebrations across Visakha Puja Day (full moon, sixth lunar month) - A the country to ring in the New Year. public holiday commemorating the birth, enlighten- ment, and death of the Lord Buddha. Travel Guide 9 Sukhothai Historical Park History The earliest archaeological signs of human habitation in Thailand can be found in the Northeast villages of Ban Chiang and Ban Prasat, where evidence of rice cultivation dates back to 4000 BC. Over the next several thousand years, three major groups of people, the Mon, Khmer, and Thai, migrated south from China to present-day Thailand. The Mon settled in present day Myanmar, the Khmer moved to what is now Cambodia, and the Thais by 1200 had established dominance in three northern Thai states, Lanna, Sukhothai, and Phayao. Sukhothai (Dawn of Happiness), which declared its independence in 1238, saw the Thais’ gradual expan- sion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River basin, the esta blishment of Theravada Buddhism as the dominant religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet, and the emergence of true Thai art forms, including painting, music, architecture, and literature. The Sukhothai era declined in the 1300s and eventu- ally became a vassal state of Ayutthaya, a dynamic kingdom further south. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya, 86 kilometres north of Bangkok, was regarded by both Asians and Europeans as one of the most progressive Mahathat Temple in Sukhothai Historical Park 10 Travel Guide Ayutthaya Historical Park and wealthiest kingdoms in the world during that Today, Thailand has a constitutional monarchy. Since period. 1932, Thai kings, including the present monarch, During Ayutthaya’s 417 years of prominence, the H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, have exercised their Thais brought their distinctive culture to fruition, rid- legislative powers by means of a cabinet headed by a ding their lands of the Khmer presence and fostering prime minister and their judicial powers through the contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and law courts. European powers, especially Portugal and Holland. Ayutthaya’s destruction in 1767 by the Burmese was a Religion Even though the primary religion is Buddhism, Thai- severe blow to the Thais. However, the Burmese could land respects all religions. Thus, sizeable minorities of not maintain control of the Kingdom. In 1769, King Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and others freely Taksin the Great, ruling from the new capital in Thon practise their respective faiths in Thailand under the Buri, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, regained King’s patronage. control of the Kingdom. In 1782, King Rama I the Great, the first ruler of the Chakri Dynasty moved the royal Theravada Buddhism, a descendant from Dvaravati capital across the river to Bangkok. Buddhism of the 10th century, is the professed reli- gion of more than 95 percent of all Thais, and it casts Two Chakri monarchs, King Mongkut (Rama IV), who a strong influence on daily life. Thailand is the only reigned between 1851 and 1868, and his son King Chu- country in the world to successfully incorporate this lalongkorn (Rama V), who reigned from 1869 to 1910, form of Buddhism into its legal and moral structure. saved Thailand from Western colonisation through brilliant diplomacy and selective modernisation. It is It has long been a custom for Buddhist males over the largely due to these two monarchs that Thailand was age of 20 to be ordained for a period ranging from five able to retain dominance over its own destiny without days to three months. This usually occurs during the the interference of foreign powers. annual Rains Retreat (Buddhist Lent), a three-month Travel Guide 11 Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), Bangkok Language period during the rainy season when all monks forego Thai remains largely incomprehensible to the casual travel and remain within their temples. visitor because it is a tonal language with 5 tones, 20 Besides sustaining monastic communities, Thai vowels, and 44 consonants. However, English is widely temples have traditionally served other purposes; understood in most tourist areas, particularly Bangkok, such as, the village shelter, news centre, employment Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. English is spoken in information centre, school, hospital, dispensary, and most hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, international community centre.