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Facts at a glance
Full
Country Name : Thailand (Prathet
Thai, meaning "land of the freedom")
Capital :
Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "
city of angels")
Geography
: The kingdom of Thailand lies
in the heart of Southeast Asia, making
it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar
and Southern China. Its shape and geography
divide into four natural regions : the
mountains and forests of the North;
the vast rice fields of the Central
Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of
the Northeast plateau; and the tropical
islands and long coastline of the peninsula
South. The country comprises 76 provinces
that are further divided into districts,
subdistricts and villages. Bangkok is
the capital city and centre of political,
commercial, industrial and cultural
activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's
revered Royal Family, with His Majesty
the King recognized as Head of State,
Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of
the Buddhist religion and Upholder of
all religions.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy
with His Majesty the King recognized
as Head of State, Head of the Armed
Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion
and Upholder of all religions.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy
with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej,
or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the
Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The
King has reigned for more than half
a century, making him the longestreigning
thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich
diversity of cultures and traditions.
With its proud history, tropical climate
and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom
is a never-ending source of fascination
and pleasure for international visitors.
Population :
Thais are well known 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.
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.
Weather :
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.
Time : The time
in Thailand is seven hours ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).
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.
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 , 06 or 09 is
added to the existing numbers.
-
The new system has no effect on international
phone calls.
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The international dialing code for Thailand
is 66.
-
When making international calls to Thailand,
add 66 and omit the leading 0.
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When making international calls from
Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area
code+telephone number
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Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100
(international)
Emergency Telephone Numbers
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Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance,
Fire) : 191
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Highway Patrol : 1193
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Crime Suppression : 195 or 0
2513 3844
-
Tourist Police (English, French and
German spoken) : 1155
-
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Call Centre : 1672
-
Immigration Bureau : 0 2287
3101-10
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The
Monarchy : Thai people
have a deep, traditional reverence
for the Royal Family, and a visitor
should be careful to show respect
for the King, the Queen and the
Royal Children.
Religion
: Visitors should dress
neatly in all religious shrines.
They should never go topless,
or in shorts, hot pants or other
unsuitable attireIt is acceptable
to wear shoes when walking around
the compound of a Buddhist temple,
but not inside the chapel where
the principal Buddha image is
kept.
Each Buddha image, large or small,
ruined or not, is regarded as
a sacred object. Never climb onto
one to take a photograph or do
anything which might indicate
a lack of respect. Buddhist monks
are forbidden to touch or be touched
by a woman, or to accept anything
from the hand of one. If a woman
has to give anything to a monk,
she first hands it to a man, who
then presents it.
Social
Norms : Thais don't normally
shake hands when they greet one
another, but instead press the
palms together in a prayer-like
gesture called “Wai”. Generally
a younger person wais an elder,
who returns it.
Thais
regard the head as the highest
part of the body, literally and
figuratively. Therefore, avoid
touching people on the head and
try not to point your feet at
people or an object. It is considered
very rude.
Shoes
should be removed when entering
a private Thai home.
Public displays of affection between
men and women are frowned upon.
Special Advice :
- Beware of unauthorized people
who offer their services as guides.
For all tourist information, contact
the Tourism Authority of Thailand,
Tel : 1672. For information about
Bangkok, contact the Bangkok Metropolitan
Tourist Bureau, Tel : 0 2225 7612-4.
- Observe all normal precautions
as regards to personal safety,
as well as the safety of your
belongings. Walking alone on quiet
streets or deserted areas is not
recommended. Be sure that all
your valuables-money, jewelly,
and airline tickets are properly
protected from loss. Visitors
needing assistance relating to
safety, unethical practices, or
other matters, please call the
Tourist Police at Tel: 1155.
- Drop your garbage into a waste
container. The Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration id no strictly
enforcing the law in an effort
to keep the city clean and healthy.
The fine will be imposed on a
person who spits, discards cigarette
stubs, or drops rubbish in public
areas.
- Do not get yourself involved
with drugs. Penalties for drug
offences are very severe in Thailand.
-
Do not support any manner of wild
animal abuse. Never purchase any
products or souvenirs made from
wild animals including reptiles
like snakes, monitor lizards,
and also turtle shell and ivory.
Avoid patronizing local restaurants
that serve wild animal delicacies.
It is against the law to slaughter
wildlife for food in Thailand.
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| Here
are a few Thai basic greetings and phrases
to try. |
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| English |
Thai |
| Good morning,
Good evening, Good afternoon,
Good night, Hello, Good-bye |
Sa-wat-dee
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| Hello (male speaker) |
sawatdee krup |
| Hello (female
speaker) |
sawatdee kaa |
| Yes |
Chai |
| No |
Mai |
| Mr./Miss/Mrs. |
Khun |
| How are you?
|
sabai dee reu |
| Fine thanks |
sabai dee |
| Thank you |
kop koon |
| Never mind |
mai pen rai |
| I can't speak
Thai |
phoot Thai
mai dai |
| I don't understand |
mai kao chai |
| Do you understand? |
kao chai mai |
| May I take a photograph? |
tai ruup dai mai |
| Where is the
rest room? |
hong nam yoo
tee nai |
| I am going to.. |
Chan-cha-pai.. |
| No, I won't
go |
Chan-mai-pai |
| Please drive slowly |
Prot-khap-cha-cha |
| Be careful |
Ra-wang |
| Turn to the right |
Liao-khwa |
| Turn to the
left |
Liao-sai |
| Drive straight on |
Khap-trong-pai |
| Slow down |
Cha-cha |
| Stop |
Yut |
| How much does
this cost? |
nee tao-rai |
| What is this ? |
nee arai |
| Very expensive |
paeng maag |
| Any discount? |
Lot-ra-kha-dai-mai |
| Please wrap
it for me. |
Ho-hai-duai |
| The bill please |
gep taang |
| please speak slowly |
Prot-phut-cha-cha |
| Very Good |
Di-mak |
| Not Good |
Mai-Di |
| Good-bye |
la gon |
| See you again |
laew phob gan mai |
| Good luck |
kor hai chok dee |
| Sorry/excuse me |
kor thoad |
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Flying
is the most convenient mode of transportation
for most visitors traveling to Thailand.
Domestic flights are also easy and convenient,
cutting down on journey time. A number
of domestic carriers service a majority
of large provincial cities dotting generously
across the country. Travel to neighboring
countries is cheaper when booked within
Thailand. Train services connect Bangkok
to all regions of the country at reasonable
prices. A regular rail service also
runs between Bangkok and Singapore via
Malaysia. Long distance coaches, both
air-conditioned and open-aired, connect
all major cities. At the local level,
diverse forms of transportation are
provided: provincial buses, city buses,
songthaews, tuk-tuks, rickshaws, boats,
and even rental cars.
International
Travel
Air : With
Bangkok serving as the international
travel hub of SE Asia, the capital serves
as the landing port for numerous international
airlines, most with direct flights from
their destinations. Some chartered and
regional flights may land at one of
the other international airports within
Thailand, consisting of Chiang Mai,
Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Ubon
Ratchatani. The country's national airline
is Thai Airways. Airport departure taxes
for international departures costs 500
baht/person. The check-in counters open
2 hours and close half an hour prior
departure time.
International
flights information
(662) 535-1254 (departures) (662) 535-1301
(arrivals)
Those traveling from neighboring countries
may enter Thailand via road, rail, ships,
or ferries.
Domestic
Travel
Domestic
travel during public holidays and on
weekends, particularly to popular destinations
, should be booked well in advance for
all modes of transportation. Booking
is particularly difficult during the
Songkran Holiday and New Year's Holiday.
Air : Local carriers
Thai Airways(TG) and Bangkok Airways
(PG) fly to most major provincial
airports beyond 250 km distance from
Bangkok. Thai Airways' 2 most popular
routes are
Chiang Mai and Phuket. Services to Koh
Samui and Sukhothai are only provided
by Bangkok Airways. Other smaller local
carriers include Angel Air (mainly servicing
Phuket) and PB Air which flies to fewer
destinations. Air Andaman services is
limited to the Southern cities only.
The domestic terminal is located at
the southern end of the Bangkok International
Airport. Normally, check-ins for domestic
flight is one hour prior to departure
time and closes half an hour before
flight time. Departure tax has already
been added to your ticket fare.
been added to your ticket fare.
Domestic flights Information
(662) 535-1192 (departures) (662) 535-1253
(arrivals)
Reservation / Ticket
Tickets can be purchased through travel
agencies (cheaper for international
flights, same for domestic flights)
or by booking with the airlines themselves,
either via phone, internet, or e-ticketing
kiosks (Thai Airways only).
Buses : Inter-city
bus services offer a fast means of transport
to all corners of the country. Air-conditioned
buses service many provincial areas
and bookings for both regular and tour
coaches (private companies) can be made
through major hotels and travel agents,
or at the following bus terminals:
Northern Bus Terminal :
Kampaengphet 2 Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2936-2852-66
ext. 614 0-2936-3670
Eastern
Bus Terminal :
Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok. Tel: 0-2391-6846,
0-2391-2504
Northeastern
Bus Terminal : Kampaengphet
2 Rd, Bangkok
Tel: 0-2936-2852-66 ext.605 0-2936-0657
Southern Bus Terminal
:
Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok Tel:
0-2435-1200, 0-2435-1199
Central
Bus Terminal :
Kampaengphet 2 Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2936-2841-8
ext.311 0-2537-8055
The government bus company, called Bor
Kor Sor (BKS), provides the
cheapest mode for getting around Thailand.
Being frequent and reliable, no advance
booking is necessary. Both air-conditioned
ones and open-aired ones stop almost
everywhere along their route, with the
latter being the cheapest and slowest.
Trains : The State
Railway of Thailand runs an efficient
rail service linking Bangkok (Hua Lam
Phong is the central train station)
to the rest of the country at very reasonable
prices for express, fast and ordinary
trains. Limited western and southern
routes out of Bangkok also operate from
the Thon Buri Station, traveling to
destinations as far as Kanchanaburi
province in the west and Chumporn province
in southern Thailand.
On express trains, sleepers are available
in three classes: first and second class
(air-conditioned), and second class
(non air-conditioned, but with fans).
Advance tickets are available at all
principal stations or the Bangkok Railway
Advance Booking Office at Tel : 0-2220-4444
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Bangkok
is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities.
Created as the Thai capital in 1782
by the first  monarch
of the present Chakri dynasty, Bangkok
is a national treasure house and Thailand’s
spiritual, cultural, political, commercial,
educational and diplomatic centre.
Bangkok exceeds
1,500 square kilometres in area and
is home to one-tenth of the country's
population. Major tourist attractions
include glittering Buddhist temples,
palaces, timeless “Venice of the East”
canal and river scenes, classical dance
extravaganzas, and numerous shopping
centres.
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| Getting
around. |
 BTS
Skytrain : With stations in
major commercial areas and departures
every 5 minutes, it is an ideal means
of transportation to escape the traffic.
Service is via 2 routes: the Mo Chit
- On Nut route (runs along Sukhumvit
Rd.) and the National Stadium-Taksin
Bridge route (runs along Silom Rd.).
Running from 6 am to midnight, the fare
depends on distance traveled, ranging
from 10-40 Baht per person. Routes and
fares are posted at every station, where
tickets must be purchased. |
 Bangkok
Subway : Bangkok’s newest mass
transit system, the subway, is to open
on 3 July 2004. The first 99,999 commuters
on the opening date will also receive
souvenirs. From the opening date, until
August 12, 2004, the royal birthday
of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, commuters
will be allowed to use the subway at
a specially low rate of 10 baht for
all routes.
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 Boat
: Taxis that are even more
unusual, though equally convenient,
are the river taxis that ply the Chao
Phraya River. Some are just cross river
ferries, but others serve the many landing
stages on both banks and cover a route
that goes up as far as the northern
suburb of Nonthaburi.
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| Taxi
: Taxis cruising city streets
are metred. They charge a minimum of
35 baht for the first 3 kilometres,
and approximately 5 baht per kilometre
thereafter. Make sure you have change,
as taxi drivers often don’t! Passengers
must pay tolls in the case of using
an expressway. |
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 TUK-TUKS
: These three-wheeled ‘open-air’
motorised taxis are popular for short
journeys. Fares must be bargained in
advance. Minimum fares, for journeys
of up to 3 kilometres, are approximately
30 baht.
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Bus
: Public buses are plentiful
and cheap, with a minimum fare of 3.50
baht to most destinations within metropolitan
Bangkok. Air-conditioned buses have
minimum and maximum fares of 8 and 18
baht, respectively. Air-conditioned
micro-buses charge a flat fare of 25
baht all routes. A Bus Route Map is
available at bookshops and the TAT office.
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| Festival |
Song
Kran Festival . April 13-15
The
traditional Thai New Year is an occasion
for merriment all over the city, but
most notably at Sanam Luang, near the
Grand Palace, where the revered Phra
Phuttha Sihing image is displayed and
bathed by devotees. In the Wisutkasat
area, a Miss Songkran beauty contest
is held and accompanied by merit-making
and entertainment. Khao San Road, Bang
Lamphu area is also one of the high-spots
in the city to experience the water-throwing
activities between locals and tourists.
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H.M.
The King’s Birthday Celebrations. December
5
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s
longest reigning monarch is well beloved
and deeply respected by all Thais old
and young. The occasion of his royal
birthday provides his loyal subjects
the opportunity to express their reverence
for him. All over the country, buildings
and homes are elaborated and the area
around the Grand Palace is spectacularly
illuminated.
H.M. The
Queen’s Birthday Celebration. August
12
To display their loyalty and to honour
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion
of her royal birthday, the Thai people
decorate their houses and public buildings.
Around Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue,
the area around the Grand Palace and
other well-known locations are bedecked
with coloured lights and magnificent
adornments.
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