What to Know Before Visiting Thailand?

Country Facts:
 Thailand used to be known as Siam, and it is the country where Siamese cats
originated from.
 Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an
European country.
 Males were all Buddhist monks for a while. This practice is not observed as it
used to be these days, however.
 One-tenth of the entire population of Thailand lives in Bangkok.
 There are about 35,000 temples in Thailand. Thailand is truly a land of temples.
 There are thousands of elephants in Thailand.
 Thailand has many flags.
 Each year, about 6,000,000 tourists visit Thailand.
 The kingdom has more than 1,500 species of orchids.
 There is a museum on the outskirts of Bangkok – the Siriraj Forensic Museum –
with some ‘unconventional’ displays.
 Temples require demure clothing (covered shoulders and legs), and monks
should generally be given a wide berth.
 Thailand’s jungles, seas, rivers and skies are teeming with amazing animal
species.
Source:
1. https://www.samujana.com/25-interesting-facts-about-thailand/
2. https://www.backyardtravel.com/blog/33-fun-interesting-facts-about-thailand/

Country Flag:
Capital: Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.
Government: Until 22 May 2014, the politics of Thailand were conducted within the
framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the prime minister is the head of
government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of
the executive and the legislative branches.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Thailand
Prime Minster: Prayut Chan-o-cha is Prime Minister of Thailand since 2014.
Economy: The economy of Thailand is dependent on exports, which accounts for more
than two-thirds of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Thailand itself is a newly
industrialized country, with a GDP of 16.316 trillion baht (US$505 billion) in 2018, the
8th largest economy of Asia, according to the World Bank. For the 2019 estimate, GDP
per capita in Thailand will be $20365 in PPP per capita and $7792 in nominal per
capita.
Population: The population of Thailand was estimated to be 69.43 million in 2018.
Religion by Percentage:  Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand. 94.6
% are estimated to be Buddhist; 4.3 % Muslim; 1 % Christian; and 0.1 % other or have
no religion.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Thailand

Top Thailand Foods: A typical Thai meal includes four main seasonings: salty, sweet,
sour, and spicy. Indeed, most Thai dishes are not considered satisfying unless they
combine all four tastes. When eating out, a group of Thai diners would order a variety of
meat and/or fish dishes, plus vegetables, a noodle dish, and possibly soup. Below are
top “must try” dishes for visitors to Thailand:

 Nam Phrik: The term nam phrik refers to a vast range of chili-based sauces that
are found throughout Thailand. Although the sauces may vary in consistency,
they are traditionally prepared in a mortar, and apart from fresh or dry chili
peppers, they usually consist of lime juice, garlic, seasonings, as well as fish
sauces or shrimp paste. Different regional varieties include ingredients such as
galangal, sugar, tamarind, and even dry or fermented fish and fruits. Most nam
phrik are served as dipping sauces with vegetables and meat or fish.

 Yam khai dao: This simple Thai salad consists of fried eggs and sliced
vegetables such as onions and carrots, as well as a generous amount of freshly
chopped cilantro and various greens. The salad is drizzled with a dressing that
usually combines lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and fresh chili peppers. Yam
khai dao can be prepared with duck or chicken eggs, and although it can be
served with rice and enjoyed as a light main course, it can also accompany
various meat-based Thai dishes.

 Kaeng om: Kaeng om is a light herbal curry originating from northern Thailand.
Unlike the creamy curry varieties, this version does not employ coconut milk. The
meat stock is water-based and enriched with a pungent fish sauce known as pla
ra, kaffir lime leaves, dill, various vegetables, as well as a fragrant curry paste
which usually combines chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and lemongrass. Although
it is usually prepared with chicken, the dish can also incorporate other types of
 meat or fish. Kaeng om can be enjoyed on its own as a healthy, nutritious soup,
but it can also be served with rice or noodles on the side.

 Poo cha: Poo cha (a.k.a. poo ja) is a Thai dish consisting of stuffed, deep-fried
crabs. The dish is best prepared with fresh crabs that are steamed, and the meat
is then removed and flaked before it is combined with pork, shrimps, soy sauce,
garlic, fish sauce, and various other spices and seasonings. The mixture is then
stuffed inside crab shells, which are occasionally steamed before they are deep-
fried. The crabs are usually served with a dipping sauce on the side.

 Pla Muek Yang: Pla muek yang is a Thai-style chargrilled squid dish typically
coated in a spicy, sweet-and-sour sauce consisting of lime juice, fish sauce,
garlic, chilis, coriander roots, and sugar. The dish is often served with peanuts
and coriander leaves on top and is commonly sold at roadside eateries and
street stalls across Thailand. It can be consumed on its own as an appetizer or a
main course, or it can be mixed with salads.

 Mu manao: Mu manao or moo manao is a Thai dish that unites all the authentic
Thai flavors in one – sweet, spicy, savory, and sour. As the name suggests, this
dish consists of pork (mu means pork in Thai) soaked in a spicy dressing based
on lime juice (manao) and garlic, garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime
slices, then served alongside crispy, iced Chinese broccoli stems. The
combination of warm, tender meat and ice-cold broccoli stems creates a pleasant
experience for the taste buds. Beef, chicken, and seafood can be used instead of
pork, while Chinese broccoli stems can be replaced with regular broccoli stems
or asparagus. This dish can be eaten on its own or served along with rice.

 Mu daet diao: Mu daet diao is an authentic Thai dish made with sliced pork meat
that is soaked overnight or for a few hours in a marinade of salt and fish sauce. It
is then allowed to dry in the sun for several hours before preparation. For added
flavor, the marinade can be flavored with chopped garlic, pepper, coriander
seeds, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. The sun-dried pork slices are
deep-fried in heated oil until nice and fragrant, then served with cooked sticky
rice, tomato slices, green lettuce leaves, and hot chili sauce for added spiciness.
This Thai-style pork jerky is commonly sold by som tum vendors.

Language: By one count 74 languages are spoken in Thailand, including numerous

Thai dialects. Ethnic and regional dialects also are spoken, as are various dialects of
Chinese.

Dress for Men and Women: Traditional Thai clothing is called chut thai (Thai: ชุด ไทย),
which literally means 'Thai outfit'. It can be worn by men, women, and children. Chut
thai for women usually consists of a pha nung or a pha chung hang, a blouse, and a
pha biang.
Holidays: There are several national holidays in Thailand such as:
  New Year's Day
 Māgha Pūjā
 Chakri Memorial Day
 Songkran
 Family Day
 Labour Day
 Coronation Day
 Vesak
 Royal Ploughing Ceremony
 H.M Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana's Birthday
 Asalha Puja
 Father's Day
 New Year's Eve
Travel Tips:

 Diseases can be spread by mosquitos, ticks, and even some flies. Thailand had
a staggering number of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever this year, for which
there is no specific antiviral treatment.
 Thailand’s tropical climate can be brutal, and overexposure to the sun can cause
visitors to get some pretty bad sunburns.
 Many vaccinations are required for those who travel to Thailand, so those hoping
to head to the Land of Smiles should first make sure they are up to date with all
of their shots.
 No particular organization recommends those traveling to Thailand to drink
bottled water as opposed to water from a faucet.
 By law, visitors to Thailand are required to carry a form of identification on them
at all times.
 Hit the streets and find some serious eats, however, be aware that not all of the
vendors in the Land of Smiles are concerned with cleanliness.
 Many tourists come to Thailand and assume that they can drive a motorcycle
simply because everyone else does.
 There are plenty of red-light districts in both Bangkok and other parts of the
country. While they are certainly worth a visit to see the strangeness of it all, we
advise steering clear of partaking in the activities.
 Feel free to have a beer or two and do some people-watching, but be aware that
prostitution has been illegal in Thailand since 1960.
 Visitors should be wary of their most precious belongings at all times.
 All types of gambling are prohibited in Thailand, and even so much as having a
deck of cards could potentially get visitors into unwanted trouble because of the
Playing Cards Act.
 Tourists are really good at getting ripped off in Thailand. From gems to jet skis,
there are certainly more than a handful of con artists ready to prey on tourists.
 Be wary of what the most common scams are (taxis without meters, sex-show
scams, etc.) and try to avoid them.
  Animal tourism is big business in Thailand, but tourists are often unaware of the
systematic torture these animals must endure before they are able to be ridden,
paint pictures, dance, or whatever activity it is they are forced to do for
spectators.
 There are plenty of places in Thailand where visitors can get close to monkeys in
their natural habitats; there is even an entire beach in Koh Phi Phi dedicated to
them.

Top 10 Attractions and places to visit:

1. Mu Ko Chang National Park

2. Ayutthaya
3. Koh Tao
4. Temples
5. Railay
6. Khao Yai National Park
7. Koh Kood
8. Mae Hong Son
9. Lopburi
10. Phuket
Thailand Boys Name:
 Akara
 Chaow
 Chati
 Dang
 Gamon
 Dusit
 Apinya
Top 10 Universities in Thailand:
1. Kasetsart University
2. Mahidol University
3. Chulalongkorn University
4. Khon Kaen University
5. Chiang Mai University
6. Prince of Songkla University
7. Burapha University
8. Thammasat University
9. Naresuan University
10. Srinakharinwirot University
Top 10 Websites:
1. Google.com
 2. Youtube.com
3. Google.co.th
4. Facebook.com
5. Shopee.co.th
6. Line.me
7. Pantip.com
8. Lazada.co.th
9. Live.com
10. Yahoo.com
Top 3 Search engines used:
1. Google
2. Yahoo
3. Bing
Top exports:
 Machine parts
 Integrated circuits
 Delivery trucks
 Cars
 Broadcasting equipment
Top 5 Cars:
Top cars in Thailandincludes:
1. Toyota Hilux
2. Isuzu
3. Toyota Yaris
4. Ford Ranger
5. Mazda
Natural Disasters:
Many types of natural disasters occur in Thailandsuch as:
 Drought
 Storm surge
 Forest fires
 Typhoons
 Floods
 Landslides
Home Designs / Architecture:
Thai houses usually feature a bamboo or wooden structure, raised on stilts and topped
with a steep gabled roof. The houses from each of Thailand's regions have distinctive
styles, which reflect the people's living style, including social and cultural beliefs or
religious customs and occupations.
Deaths and Mortality:
In 2019, death rate for Thailand was 7.8 per 1,000 people. Death rate of Thailand fell
gradually from 10.1 per 1,000 people in 1970 to 7.8 per 1,000 people in 2019.
Source: https://knoema.com/atlas/Thailand/Death-rate